Nanocomposites of thermoplastic matrices with non-covalent fullerene reinforcement—Structural diversity, physical impact and potential

Fullerene has been acknowledged as a significant nanocarbon nanofiller enhancing the imperative polymer characteristics. Since, thermoplastic polymers constitute a large group of polymeric materials, fullerene has been used as reinforcement in these matrices mostly via non-covalent means. This state-of-the-art review article summarizes thermoplastic polymer nanocomposites reinforced with fullerene nano-additives without involving any covalent interactions. Accordingly, thermoplastic polymer/fullerene nanocomposites of interest have non-covalent or physical interactions in the matrix-nanofiller such as van der Waals forces, electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and aromatic stacking interactions. Number of thermoplastic polymers including polyamide, polyurethanes, and block copolymers have been non-covalently or physically reinforced with the fullerene molecules. Ensuing high performance thermoplastic polymer/fullerene nanocomposites exhibited improved microstructure, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and other physical properties. Enhancements in the thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of the thermoplastic/fullerene nanomaterials were found dependent upon the nanofiller contents, orientations, interfacial effects, and processing. Consequently, the polyamide/fullerene systems were found efficient to enhance the glass transition up to 260°C, in addition to optimum mechanical properties. Polyurethane/fullerene systems performed better for improved tensile strength and young’s modulus features up to 90 MPa and 48 GPa, respectively. System based on poly (methyl methacrylate) and fullerene has resulted in high thermal degradation temperature in the range of 501-633°C with fine electrical conductivity of 1.3 Scm−1. Using combination of fullerene and graphene nanofiller (due to synergistic effects) has been found to improve the electrical conductivity considerably in the range of 1.8–2.5 Scm−1 for a polystyrene and block copolymer system. However, attaining fine fullerene nanoparticle dispersion of non-covalently reinforced matrices have been found important affecting the final nanocomposite properties. Consequently, processability and essential characteristics of non-covalently fullerene filled nanocomposites can be influenced due to nanoparticle aggregation. Hence, the physical property enhancement potential of physical linking between the non-covalently linked thermoplastics-fullerene has been portrayed in this article. Research on non-covalently interacted thermoplastic polymer/fullerene nanocomposites revealed technical potential ranging from energy/electronic devices to engineering and biomedical sectors. This review article can be a useful guide for the field researchers towards the development of advanced systems using non-covalently linked polymer/fullerene nanomaterials for future technical applications.