This review is focused on the topical developments in the synthesis of nanocomposites using the simplest top-down approach, mechanochemical milling, and the related aspects of the interfacial interactions. Milling constraints include time duration of milling, ball size, the ball-to-sample content proportion, rotation speed, and energy that took part in a vital part of the structure–property relationships and composite interactions. Milled nanocomposites are being used in different structural applications for their higher performance rate and throughput. The synthesis of different nanocomposites and the effect of various parameters on the mill-ability of nanocomposites are discussed. Moreover, some of the major advancements in the energy sector are discussed in the latter part of the review.

The incorporation of bio-nanofillers such as starch nanocrystals (SNC) in polymer matrices received much attention owing to their biodegradable nature. In this work, starch nanocrystals have been isolated from modified corn starch by acid hydrolysis and their efficacy as a potential bio-filler for natural rubber latex (NR) has been explored. The quality of the SNC suspension was confirmed from dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. For the fabrication of nanocomposites of NR with corn starch crystals, a simple latex stage mixing procedure was employed. The platelet-like morphology of corn starch nanocrystals improved the barrier properties of NR based vulcanizates with the addition of the SNC suspension.

Graphene-related materials such as graphene oxide (GO)/exfoliated graphene oxide (XGO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) recently achieved much interest in nanocomposite research. In this study, we report the synthesis of RGO by a green route, and its efficacy as a potential filler for radiation-vulcanised natural rubber latex (RVNRL) was explored. The synthesised XGO and RGO suspensions were characterised. The mechanical, morphological and electrical properties of the RVNRL-XGO/RGO nanocomposites were evaluated as a function of filler content. The percolation threshold of the RVNRL-RGO composite was 0.1 wt%. Compared with gum RVNRL, significant improvements in tensile strength and elongation at break were obtained for RVNRL-XGO nanocomposites at 1 wt% XGO loading, indicating increased polymer–filler interaction. The morphological results showed aggregation of filler particles at a concentration of 1.25 wt%.