Scratch resistant transparent articles and methods of making the same

A method of producing a transparent article, the method comprising:

• mixing nanoparticles, a solvent, and a polymer to form a transparent article precursor, in which:
• the nanoparticles comprise hydrophobic nanoparticles, the hydrophobic nanoparticles being a product of reacting silica nanoparticles, titanium oxide nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, zirconium oxide nanoparticles, or combinations thereof, with a modifying agent chosen from alkylsilanes, alkoxysilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylhalosilanes, alkoxyhalosilanes, alkylalkoxyhalosilanes, (haloalkyl)silanes, (haloalkoxy)silanes, (haloalkyl)alkoxysilanes, alkyl(haloalkoxy)silanes, (haloalkyl)(haloalkoxy)silanes, (haloalkyl)halosilanes, (haloalkoxy)halosilanes, (haloalkyl)alkoxyhalosilanes, alkyl(haloalkoxy)halosilanes, (haloalkyl)(haloalkoxy)halosilanes, and combinations thereof;
• the solvent is selected from C2-C5 chloroalkanes, C2-C5 fluoroalkanes, monohalomethanes, dihalomethanes, and trihalomethanes, and combinations thereof, and
• the polymer comprises poly(methyl methacrylate);
• pouring the transparent article precursor into a mold comprising a flat surface;
• placing the mold into a container having an adjustable opening;
• closing the adjustable opening of the container after placing the mold into the container;
• opening the adjustable opening of the container after closing the adjustable opening of the container;
• allowing the solvent to evaporate from the transparent article precursor, thereby forming the transparent article over the flat surface of the mold;
• and
• flattening the transparent article, in which flattening the transparent article comprises:
• positioning a flat article on a first side of the transparent article;
• and
• compressing the transparent article between the flat surface and the flat article.

A method of producing a transparent article, the method comprising:

• adding nanoparticles to a solvent to form a nanoparticle mixture;
• sonicating the nanoparticle mixture to disperse the nanoparticles within the nanoparticle mixture;
• adding a polymer to the nanoparticle mixture to form the transparent article precursor;
• pouring the transparent article precursor into a mold comprising a flat surface;
• placing the mold into a container having an adjustable opening;
• and
• allowing the solvent to evaporate from the transparent article precursor, thereby forming the transparent article over the flat surface of the mold;
• and
• flattening the transparent article by:
• positioning a flat article on a first side of the transparent article;
• and
• compressing the transparent article between the flat surface and the flat article.