Ohio, USA -- Applied Nanoinfusion Inc. will start using a new simplified technology (nanoinfusion) to produce nanocomposites.
This process has some simple steps where first of all a mild vacuum is applied to a thermoplastic polymer. It may consist of particles, pellets, film, or small objects of thickness from 0.1875 inch to 4.8 mm thickness. Then an organometallic or metal halide precursor is admitted to the vacuum chamber, and the vacuum is released. An the end, thermal, photochemical, or chemical conversion is used to convert the infused thermoplastic to a thermoplastic nanocomposite, with nanoparticles ranging from 3 to 10 nm in diameter and up to 10 percent/wt nanoparticle loading.
The product will be nanocomposite, with 100 percent dispersion and the capability to produce mono-sized nanoparticles. As per Dr. Stan Prybyla President of Applied Nanoinfusion, this technology works nearly with all thermoplastics, including numerous high performance thermoplastics. The nanoparticle filler can consist of metals, metal compounds, or semiconductor quantum dots.
Some of the Organometallics which were tested are TiCl4 (titanium tetrachloride), SiCl4 (silicon tetrachloride), Zn(Et)2 (diethylzinc), W(CO)6 (tungsten hexacarbonyl), Ni(CO)4 (nickel tetracarbonyl), VOCl3 (vanadium oxytrichloride), Fe(CO)5 (iron pentacarbonyl) and Fe(acac) (iron acetylacetonate and the thermoplastics which were tested are include PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), ETFE (polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), polyethylene, polypropylene, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PI (polyimide), PEK (polyetherketone) and PEEK (polyetheretherketone.
The major application of this technology are in the field of energy converting films; low wear rate polymers; erosion resistant EMI/RFI coatings and films; UV resistant coatings; sensors; enhanced adhesives; bonding and joining materials; toughened composites; and high-strength,high-modulus composites.
About Applied Nanoinfusion Inc.
ANI was created to provide rapid, low cost, functional nanocomposites for multiple industries and multiple applications.
The key technology behind ANI, nanoinfusion processing was developed by Integument Technologies, Inc. (Tonawanda, NY) and was made available to ANI by a licensing arrangement.
Specialchem Editorial Team
Based on information displayed on http://www.compositesworld.com/news/nanocomposite-technology-nears-commercialization