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US 2010/0249309 A1Published application
Nanocomposites and their surfaces
OwnerMenachem Lewin, Yong Tanginventors
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OwnerMenachem Lewin, Yong Tanginventors
Estimating the term…
A method for preparing nanocomposites and nanocomposite polymeric products by dispersing nanoparticles in a polymer either by melt processing or by solution processing and bringing about migration of the nanoparticles from the bulk interior to the surface of the nanocomposites so as to produce a new asymetric type of nanocomposite in which the concentration of the nanoparticles on the surface is many times higher than in the interior bulk of the nanocomposite. These surfaces impart highly enhanced properties to the nanocomposites as compared to the pristine polymer and to nanocomposites that have not undergone the migration process, including stability against aging, longer shelf life, higher hydrophobicity, higher wear resistance, higher hardness and lower friction. The new surfaces of the nanocomposite polymeric products are produced by inducing migration of the nanoparticles to the surface thereby producing a concentration gradient below the surface.
A method for preparing a nanocomposite, the nanocomposite having a surface and an interior bulk, the surface having a different chemical composition than the interior bulk, the method comprising the steps of:
A method for preparing a polymeric product, the polymeric product being a blend of nanoparticles and a polymer and having a surface and an interior bulk, the method comprising annealing the blend of the nanoparticles and the polymer at temperatures above the glass transition temperature (Tg) for a predetermined time, wherein the concentration of the nanoparticles on the surface is greater than the concentration of the nanoparticles in the interior bulk, whereby the polymeric product has a higher concentration of the nanoparticles proximal to the surface of the polymeric product and a lower concentration of the nanoparticles proximal to the interior of the polymeric product and thereby producing a gradient of concentrations of the nanoparticles below the surface of the polymeric product.
A nanocomposite comprising nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer, wherein the nanocomposite has a surface and an interior bulk, the surface having a higher concentration of the nanoparticles than the interior bulk.
A polymer product comprising nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer, wherein the polymer product has a surface and an interior bulk, the surface having a higher concentration of the nanoparticles than the interior bulk.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.