Structure-property relationships of thermoset nanocomposites

Nanocomposites hold the promise of advances that exceed those achieved in recent decades in composite materials. The nanostructure created by a nanophase in polymer matrix represents a radical alternative to the structure of conventional polymer composites. What differentiates nanocomposite materials from classical composites is the degree of control of fabrication, processing, and performance that can be achieved nearly down to the atomic scale. Thermoset polymer nanocomposites have received less interest in their scientific development and engineering applications than thermoplastic nanocomposites. However, some of these materials may be relatively easy to bring into production. The understanding of characteristics of the interphase region and the estimation of technology-structure-property relationships are the current research frontier in nanocomposite materials and will be considered in the present chapter.