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AssigneeDrexel University
InventorElisabeth Papazoglou
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Methods for use of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles in the non-destructive, direct and dynamic determination of free volume and glass transition changes and mechanical property changes of polymers and polymer composites are provided. Also provided are methods for use of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles in tracking changes occurring in an individual component or components of a polymer composite. Methods for use of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles in the quantitation and dynamic monitoring of crack propagation and fatigue of polymers and/or polymer composites and in the delivery of repair agents such as adhesives and/or cross-linking agents to cracks of polymers and polymer composites are provided.
A method for dynamically monitoring changes in free volume of a polymer or polymer composite comprising measuring diffusion of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles or determining a concentration profile of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles through a polymer matrix or polymer composite matrix wherein the measured diffusion or concentration profile of the fluorescent nanoparticles through the polymer or polymer composite is indicative of free volume.
A method for tracking changes in different components of a polymer composite comprising contacting a polymer composite with fluorescent nanoparticles functionalized to follow a targeted component in the polymer composite and monitoring diffusion of the functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles through the polymer composite.
A method for monitoring or quantifying crack propagation and fatigue of a polymer or polymer composite comprising contacting the polymer or polymer composite with fluorescent nanoparticles functionalized with a molecule that recognizes a moiety at the damaged crack site and monitoring via fluorescence diffusion of the functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles through the polymer or polymer composite.
A method for delivering a repair agent to a crack in a polymer or polymer composites comprising attaching a repair agent to a fluorescent nanoparticle functionalized with a molecule that recognizes a moiety at the damaged crack site and contacting the cracked polymer or polymer composite with the repair agent attached to the functionalized fluorescent nanoparticle so that the repair agent diffuses to damaged crack site.
The method of claim 11 wherein the repair agent comprises an adhesive agent or a cross-linking agent.
A functionalized fluorescent nanoparticle comprising a fluorescent nanoparticle and a molecule that recognizes a moiety of a polymer or polymer composite attached to the fluorescent nanoparticle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.