Preparation and modification of nano-TiO₂ and its application in polymer matrix composites research progress

The composite materials prepared based on the titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles as additives have excellent heat resistance, aging resistance, etc. The TiO₂ nanoparticles have special photocatalytic activity, such as, it has strong antibacterial and bactericidal ability after absorbing ultraviolet energy. Currently, TiO₂ nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in various fields of coatings, cosmetics and medicine. However, affected by the nano-dimensional effect, the TiO₂ nanoparticles in the polymer matrix have the disadvantages of being easy to agglomerate and difficult to disperse, which limits its application. Therefore, it is necessary to regulate the surface properties of nano-TiO₂ by various surface modification methods to enhance its compatibility with the polymer matrix. This paper first described the preparation, surface modification method and mechanism of TiO₂ nanoparticles in detail, subsequently, and the research progress on the TiO₂ nanoparticles modified polymer compound composite material is reviewed in the recent years. Finally, this paper discussed the TiO₂ nanoparticles exist problems in the research of polymer composites, and prospected its development direction in the future.