Gelatin nanocomposites
AssigneeRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
InventorsRichard W. Siegel, Linda S. Schadler, Tao Li, John Mendel, Glen C. Irvin
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Abstract
Scratch-resistant nanocomposite materials contain at least one film-forming hydrophilic colloid and at least one ceramic nanoparticle material. In particular, the film-forming hydrophilic colloid may be a gelatin, and the ceramic nanoparticle material may be alumina. In another aspect, the invention relates to scratch-resistant imaging elements comprising a support and a layer comprising such a nanocomposite material. The nanocomposite layer may be employed as an imaging layer, or as a protective layer disposed between an imagining layer and the environment.
Claims12
A method for fabricating a scratch-resistant imaging element having optical clarity, the method comprising
- a. dispersing a ceramic nanoparticle material in an aqueous solution of a film-forming hydrophilic colloid comprising gelatin, dextran, gum arabic, zein, casein, pectin, collagen derivatives, collodion, agar—agar, arrowroot, albumin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) or a mixture thereof to form a coating composition;
- b. applying the coating composition to a surface of an imaging layer;
- c. drying the coated surface;
- and, optionally,
- d. aging the dried coated surface,
- whereby an element protective layer having both optical clarity and resistance to scratching formed over the imaging layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.