Polymer Nanocomposites and Properties Peer reviewed

Polymer Clay Nanocomposites in Infrastructure Applications

Dawei Zhang, Hanmant K. Gaikwad, Pooyan Vahidi Pashaki, Elisabeth Daiber and 5 more

Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering | Oct 20, 2026

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract Polymer clay nanocomposites (PCNs) have garnered considerable attention in both research and industrial applications due to their superior properties, ecological features, wide availability, and cost-effectiveness. However, key challenges remain in managing the interfacial interactions between nanoclays (NCs) and polymers and achieving uniform dispersion of the nanoclays within the polymer matrix. To address these challenges, nanoclay modifications are often employed to enhance the compatibility between polar nanoclays and nonpolar polymers while promoting the dispersion quality of nanoclays. An appropriate modification of montmorillonite (MMT) is expected to expand the d-spacing from 14.5 Å to around 30 Å in an intercalated state, and even up to 80 Å toward an exfoliated morphology. This review discusses the role of nanoclay modification, fabrication techniques for PCNs, and the influence of nanoclay concentration on the dispersion quality and properties of PCNs. In addition, it covers various techniques used for PCN characterization and highlights the application of PCNs in infrastructure. By carefully optimizing the fabrication parameters, the mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of PCNs can be enhanced by up to 270%, 15%, and 80%, respectively. This review highlights the effects of the morphological characteristics of nanoclays on the macroscale performance of PCNs, emphasizing their great potential in developing more durable, efficient, and sustainable materials in infrastructure applications.

Direct answer

What can I do from this paper page?

Use this page to scan "Polymer Clay Nanocomposites in Infrastructure Applications" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Polymer Nanocomposites and Properties research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.

Authors

Researchers on this paper

Dawei Zhang

first | Beijing Jiaotong University | ORCID 0000-0002-0277-6342

Hanmant K. Gaikwad

middle | North Dakota State University | ORCID 0000-0001-9078-8038

Pooyan Vahidi Pashaki

middle | North Dakota State University | ORCID 0000-0003-2620-4485

Elisabeth Daiber

middle | U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

William Meyer

middle | U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Rebekah C. Wilson

middle | U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center | ORCID 0000-0002-0993-0082

Ying Huang

middle | North Dakota State University

Dinesh R. Katti

middle | North Dakota State University | ORCID 0000-0001-9866-2683

Kalpana S. Katti

last | North Dakota State University | ORCID 0000-0002-1404-4018

Research areas

Follow related topics

Citation

BibTeX

@article{Zhang2026Polymer,
  title = {Polymer Clay Nanocomposites in Infrastructure Applications},
  author = {Dawei Zhang and Hanmant K. Gaikwad and Pooyan Vahidi Pashaki and Elisabeth Daiber and William Meyer and Rebekah C. Wilson and Ying Huang and Dinesh R. Katti and Kalpana S. Katti},
  journal = {Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1061/jmcee7.mteng-23163},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1061/jmcee7.mteng-23163}
}

FAQ

Using this paper in a discovery workflow

How do I find related work for this paper?

Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.

How can I keep up with new Polymer Nanocomposites and Properties research papers?

Follow Polymer Nanocomposites and Properties research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.

Can I cite this paper from this page?

This page includes a static BibTeX block for Polymer Clay Nanocomposites in Infrastructure Applications. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.

Follow this research in Scollr

Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.

Get the app