Effect of hybrid nanofillers in polymer blends

The mixing of a minimum of two macromolecular materials such as polymers and/or copolymers to achieve a unique material with desirable properties that are cumulative of the individual components is not a new concept. Besides, the addition of inclusions, such as polymeric, ceramic, and metallic nanofillers, is known to further assist in the broadening of the realizable properties, across a wide spectrum of such materials. In the same light, the addition of a hybrid of these nanofillers has also opened new possibilities of polymer blends with unique characteristics. In this chapter, the impact of various nanofiller hybrids on immiscible polymer blends is explored. As such, an overview of various nanofillers and their hybrids is presented. Thereafter, there is a focused discussion on the effect of the different hybrids of quantum dot (one-dimensional nanofiller), nanofibers/nanoplatelets (two-dimensional nanofiller), and nanoparticles (three-dimensional nanofiller) on the physical, chemical, mechanical, and optoelectronics/electrical properties of polymer blends. Finally, the limitations and future trends of polymer blends reinforced with hybrid nanofillers are succinctly highlighted.