Silicone nanocomposite coatings for fabrics
AssigneeNEI Corporation
InventorsKenneth Eberts, Stein S. Lee, Amit Singhal, Runqing Ou
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Abstract
A silicone based coating for fabrics utilizing dual nanocomposite fillers providing enhanced mechanical and thermal properties to the silicone base. The first filler includes nanoclusters of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a metal oxide and a second filler of exfoliated clay nanoparticles. The coating is particularly suitable for inflatable fabrics used in several space, military, and consumer applications, including airbags, parachutes, rafts, boat sails, and inflatable shelters.
Claims20
A coating for fabrics produced by the process comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a silicone base;
- b) preparing a first filler of nanosized clusters of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a metal oxide, said nanosized clusters of said first filler having an ordered structure formulated by controlling the relative proportions of a PDMS oligomer and a metal oxide precursor;
- c) adding the first filler to the silicone base;
- and
- d) adding a second filler of clay particles to the silicone base, said first and second fillers providing enhanced mechanical and thermal properties to the silicone base.
A method for producing a coating for fabrics comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oligomer and a metal oxide precursor;
- b) controlling the relative proportions of a PDMS oligomer and a metal oxide precursor so that an ordered structure is formed comprising nanosized clusters of (PDMS) and a metal oxide, the ordered structure being at least one of:
- linear and tetrameric in configuration and said ordered structure forming a first filler;
- c) adding the first filler of nanosized clusters of (PDMS) and a metal oxide to a silicone base, and
- d) adding a second filler of clay particles to the silicone base, said first and second fillers providing enhanced mechanical and thermal properties to the silicone base.
A coating for fabrics produced by the process comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oligomer and a metal oxide precursor;
- b) controlling the relative proportions of a PDMS oligomer and a metal oxide precursor so that an ordered structure is formed comprising nanosized clusters of (PDMS) and a metal oxide, the ordered structure being at least one of:
- linear and tetrameric in configuration and said ordered structure forming a first filler;
- c) adding the first filler of nanosized clusters of (PDMS) and a metal oxide to a silicone base, the nanosized clusters containing reactive functional groups that will react with ≡Si—H groups of the silicone coating formulation upon curing to cause the nanoclusters to become part of the silicone elastomeric network structure;
- and
- d) adding a second filler of clay particles to the silicone base, said first and second fillers providing enhanced mechanical and thermal properties to the silicone base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.