Polymer nanocomposite comprising a matrix polymer and a layered clay material having an improved level of extractable material
AssigneeUniversity of South Carolina Research Foundation
InventorsShriram Bagrodia, Louis Thomas Germinario, John Walker Gilmer, Tie Lan, Vasiliki Psihogios
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is directed to a polymer-clay nanocomposite material comprising a melt-processible matrix polymer and a layered clay material having decreased levels of extractable material, such as extractable salts of organic cations. This invention is also directed to processes for preparing polymer-clay nanocomposites, and articles or products produced from nanocomposite materials.
Claims26
A polymer-clay nanocomposite comprising:
- a) a matrix polymer, and incorporated therein
- b) platelets obtained from a layered clay material having exchangeable cations, wherein
- i) the exchangeable cations of the layered clay material consist essentially of one or more organic cations, and
- ii) the layered clay material is substantially free of extractable salts of the organic cations.
A polymer-clay nanocomposite comprising:
- a) a matrix polymer, and incorporated therein
- b) platelets obtained from a layered clay material having exchangeable cations, wherein the layered clay material
- i) has been substantially cation exchanged with one or more organic cations and
- ii) is substantially free of extractable salts of the organic cations.
A process for preparing a polymer-clay nanocomposite comprising the steps of:
- a) treating a layered clay material with one or more salts of an organic cation, wherein the total quantity of the salts of the organic cation used to treat the layered clay material is selected to
- i) substantially cation exchange the layered clay material with one or more organic cations, and
- ii) provide an intercalated layered clay material substantially free of extractable salts of the organic cations, and
- b) melt mixing the intercalated layered clay material with a matrix polymer to form a polymer-clay nanocomposite.
A process for preparing a polymer-clay nanocomposite comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a concentrate comprising an oligomeric resin and an intercalated layered clay material having exchangeable cations, wherein
- i) the cations of the layered clay material consist essentially of one or more organic cations, and
- ii) the layered clay material is substantially free of extractable salts of the organic cations, and
- b) melt mixing the concentrate with a matrix polymer to form a polymer-clay nanocomposite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.