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US 8,569,428 B2Granted
High modulus polymer composites and methods of making the same
OwnerJohn R. Dorgan, Birgit Brauninventors
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Abstract
The invention provides methods of producing composite polymers by combining fillers with polymers in the presence of pre-formed high molecular weight polymer. Monomer polymerization can be initiated through the addition of initiators or by reactive chemical groups on the surface of the fibers. The composite materials formed possess superior mechanical properties compared to similar polymer composites made by either purely mechanical mixing or solely polymerization of monomers in the presence of the fillers.
Claims9
A method comprising:
- mixing a filler simultaneously with a monomer and a pre-formed polymer, wherein the monomer reacts to form a grafted polymer layer on the surface of the filler,
- wherein an interchange reaction takes place between the grafted polymer layer on the surface of the filler and the pre-formed polymer to form a composite polymer;
- wherein the monomer is a lactide and the pre-formed polymer is polylactide
- wherein the mixing is conducted in the presence of a catalyst that catalyzes the interchange reaction between the monomer and the pre-formed polymer on the surface of the filler.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- mixing cellulose fibers with lactide and polylactide to form a premix;
- contacting the premix with a composition comprising stannous octoate, triphenylphosphine, and titanium isopropoxide, to produce a composite polymer;
- contacting the composite polymer with polylactide to form a stabilized composite polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.