Advancing thermoset polymer composites with nanoclay reinforcement: a comprehensive investigation within composite interfaces.

In the last several decades, there has been significant growth in research and development activities in nanomaterials. Nanotech has been used to improve the quality of several materials, including wood and polymer composites, for their application in various fields. Nanofillers, including metal particles, nano oxides, pyrogenic silica, and carbon black, have been employed as polymer additives. However, the value of natural, low-cost, and plentiful clay materials such as nanoclay becomes more apparent as environmental regulations and consumer awareness become more rigorous. This literature outlines the role of nanoclay on polymer composites, especially in the case of thermosetting resins, including epoxy, polyester, urea-formaldehyde, and phenol-formaldehyde resins. The current article is intended to provide a comprehensive source of recent studies and literature on nanoclay as filler, its classification, polymer modification processes using nanoclay, and comparing the performance of different thermosetting polymers based on their fabrication methods through physical and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]