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reportNano-polymers
3.5.2 Short description

Nanoscale polymers are in widespread use in various application sectors. However, they mainly appear as ingredient of composite end material or play a role in connection to biological nanomaterials. As these, their description is frequently covered by the appropriate chapters e. g. on nanocomposites. However, polymeric nanomaterials not being assigned to other material classes are being shortly decribed in the following.

Nano-polymers may be divided in polymer nanoparticles, polymer nanofibers, -wires and -tubes, nanostructured polymer films and coatings and dendrimers.

Polymer nanoparticles are nanoscale polymeric units such as e. g. polyalcylbenzene-polydiene nanoparticles (PAB-PDM). They frequently offer surface properties making them suitable for the binding of bio-chemical compounds and for usage in drug delivery systems. In larger quantities they are suitable as filler material in matrix composites. Their mechanical and surface properties allow for a thermally stable and homogeneous dispersion througout the bulk material.

Polymer nanotubes: The fabrication of one-dimensional nanostructures has attracted considerable and increasing attention due to their potential applications in electronic, magnetic, optical, optoelectronic, and micromechanical devices. 1D nanostructures such as nanotubes, nanowires, and nanorods, have been developed using different routes. Template synthesis has been one of the most popular methods. In this process anodized alumina membranes with channel diameters in the range of several tens to several hundreds of nanometers are used to template the formation of polymer nanorods and nano-tubes. These are frequently used as new templates for the fabrication of polymer/inorganic composites, in which the inorganic materials are selectively directed to some specific domains or sites within the polymer nanostructures. One of the promising polymeric nanotube types are polyaniline nanotubes (PANI) which show a good conductivity and may be used for e. g. conductive fabrics.

Polyglycidylmethacrylate (PGMA) fibers can be utilized to form fabrics and so called "smart fibers", which change their properties depending on the enviranomental conditions. Textiles based on PGMA fibers may switch e. g. between hydrophobic and hydrophilic, between conductive and non-conductive, between acidic and basic properties or may change colors etc.

Nanostructured polymer-films are polymeric nanoscale thin films appearing mainly as polyalcylthiophene-films, polystyrene-polyethylene oxide (PS-PEO) films or as acrylic glass (Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)) films. They are used as coatings in the bio-medical sector. However, their electric properties make them even suitable for utilization as surface coating in electrolyte batteries and as photosensitive film in optical detectors. Further application potential is thin-film transistor and LED material.

Nanofilms based on styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) are nanolayers consist-ing of a polyethylene-butadiene (PEB) matrix, which is reinforced by polystyrene (PS). The polystyrene nanodomains are arranged in an interconnected net which is connected to the PEB matrix. The material offers a high wear and stress resistance and, as a coating is suitable for optimizing tribological properties and lowering friction.

Polyacrylonitrile nanostructures (PAN) give rise for utilization in semiconductors, solar cells, sensors and membranes in filters. Their electrical properties are based on a variable and controllable bandgap for semiconductor use.

Dendrimers are chemical compounds with a tree-like structure branching out of cores. The general structure consist of repetitive units and shows a radial symmetry. Based on their clearly defined structure, dendrimers are monidispers, i. e. have similar size, shape and mass. Dendrimers are cascade polymers differing from other polymer types. Dendrimers exhibit various functional groups on their molecular surface making them a valuable material particularly for bio-medical applications such as drug delivery systems. Functional molecules may be encapsulated within dendritic structures allowing e. g. for the isolation of their active sites.

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