Nanotechnologies - The Expert's View

May 13, 2008 - Preparation and physical properties of photopolymer/SiO2 nanocomposite for rapid prototyping system by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A photopolymer material was applied in liquid rapid prototyping (RP) machine. The prototype fabricated from photopolymer was difficult for storage due to volumetric shrinkage and deformation during curing. The prototype fabricated from...
May 12, 2008 - Compatibilizers for producing nanocomposites, microcomposites and polymer blends and process for obtaining them by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The present invention relates to compatibilizers to be used for obtaining materials called polyolefin nanocomposites, microcomposites and polymer blends, and it includes the process for obtaining such compatibilizers. Such compatibilizers...
May 12, 2008 - Facile Synthesis of Highly Transparent Polymer Nanocomposites by Introduction of Core-Shell Structured Nanoparticles by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A high transmittance is the prerequisite for optically functional materials to be successfully used in practical applications. However, introduction of inorganic nanoparticles even at low contents into transparent polymers often leads to...
May 04, 2008 - A simple and efficient route to transparent nanocomposites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The use of multicomponent solvent systems and multiply functionalized emulsifiers opens a versatile avenue to high-quality nanocomposites. Transfer or particles from an aqueous dispersion directly to hydrophobic solvent, where aggregation...
May 04, 2008 - Impact modified polylactide resins by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

PLA resins are blended with core-shell rubber particles to improve impact strength. A good balance of impact strength and transparency is achieved when the rubber particles are distributed within the polymer matrix such that most of them...
May 04, 2008 - Impact modified polylactide resins by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

PLA resins are blended with core-shell rubber particles to improve impact strength. A good balance of impact strength and transparency is achieved when the rubber particles are distributed within the polymer matrix such that most of them...
May 04, 2008 - Optical film and production method thereof. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

An optical film capable of bringing about remarkably high visual effect, decorative effect and the like that cannot be produced, or is difficult to produce, by conventional lens films or prism films, as well as excellent light control...
Apr 29, 2008 - Morphology and flame-retardancy properties of ternary high-impact polystyrene/elastomer/polystyrene-encapsulated magnesium hydroxide composites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The effects of elastomer type on the morphology, flammability, and mechanical properties of HIPS encapsulated magnesium hydroxide (MH) were investigated. The ternary composites were characterized by cone calorimetry, mechanical testing,...
Apr 20, 2008 - Creating microenvironments using encapsulated polymers by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Miscible solvents are phase separated within microcapsules containing entrapped polymers, thereby creating stable, isolated microenvironments. In particular, we demonstrate that encapsulated polyethyleneimine induces phase separation of...
Apr 20, 2008 - Flame resistant natural fiber-filled thermoplastics with improved properties by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This invention relates to flame retardant systems including brominated flame retardants and chlorinated flame retardants with synergists and char formers for use in wood-filled resins in combination with compatibilizers to enhance...
Apr 20, 2008 - Thermoplastic elastomers containing organoclays by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A medical container seal comprising a styrene-isobutylene-styrene based thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposite is disclosed which has good processability and more effective barrier properties for oxygen and carbon dioxide transmission.
Apr 13, 2008 - Insights into the health effects of nanoparticles: why numbers matter. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Nanoparticle numbers do matter when estimating risk. Previous reports by others establish that particle surface area is related to changes in biological function of exposed cells. Many of these reports describe the impact of particle...
Apr 13, 2008 - Morphology and viscoelastic behaviour of a silica filled styrene/butadiene random copolymer by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

An investigation into SB rubber composites was conducted, aimed at investigating the influence of surface modification of silica on polymer-filler interactions. Two silanes were used and compared as surface modifiers. A morphological...
Apr 13, 2008 - Thermoplastic composites with improved thermal and mechanical properties by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A moldable composite sheet having improved thermal and mechanical property characteristics. A porous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin comprising discontinuous mineral reinforcing fibers, and skin layer materials possesses improved...
Apr 06, 2008 - Flame retardant rubber-modified styrene resin composition by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

LLDPE was blended with esterified SMA (ESMA) to improve the environmental degradability characteristics of LLDPE. ESMA was synthesized by esterifying SMA with n-decanol. LLDPE was blended with ESMA (EDP blends) and SMA separately in a...
Apr 06, 2008 - Influence of SEBS-g-MA on morphology, mechanical, and thermal properties of PA6/PP/organoclay nanocomposites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Nylon 6/PP blends (70/30) blends (PA6/PP) containing 4 phr of organically modified clay toughened with maleated SEBS-g-MA were prepared by melt compounding using co-rotating twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding. XRD and TEM...
Apr 06, 2008 - Microcompounding of organoclay-ABS/PA6 blend-based nanocomposites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

ABS and nylon 6 (PA6) were blended in the presence of an olefin-based compatibilizer and organoclays. The effects of ABS to PA6 ratio, clay content, and screw speed of the microcompounder were examd. by performing morphology (i.e., XRD,...
Mar 30, 2008 - Developments relating to plastic sheet materials by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The invention relates to a plastic sheet material having a pair of mutually obverse faces at least one of which faces comprises a mixture of polymeric particles of size of 1-50 microns suspended in a polymeric matrix. The surface including...
Mar 30, 2008 - Natural fiber reinforced polymer/clay aerogels by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Aerogels are the lightest and lowest density solids known, typically comprised of ca. 98% air and 2% solid material. Na-Montmorillonite clay aerogels are highly cost effective materials when compared to their silica counterparts and have...
Mar 30, 2008 - Synthesis of composite polymer-metal nanoparticles by miniemulsion polymerization. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Metallic structures with nanoscale dimensions exhibit interesting optical, electronic and catalytic properties, and their potential application in areas such as sensors and biomedicine has been widely recognized. Merging metal...
Mar 30, 2008 - Thermoplastic polymer microfibers, nanofibers and composites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The invention provides methods of making micron, submicron or nanometer dimension thermoplastic polymer microfibrillar composites and fibers, and methods of using the thermoplastic polymer microfibers and nanofibers in woven fabrics,...
Mar 23, 2008 - Laminate for laser marking by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The present invention relates to a laminate for laser marking, comprising: a layer with a multicolor developing laser marking thermoplastic polymer composition capable of producing markings having two or more different color tones by...
Mar 23, 2008 - Polymers and materials for antiterrorism and homeland defense by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Book: Polymers and materials play key roles in national security through detection and decontamination addressing chemistry, biology, radiology, nuclear and explosives threats. Proposed detection and decontamination methods utilize...
Mar 16, 2008 - Burning Rate, Mechanical and Rheological Properties of HIPS-PET and Clay Nanocomposites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

We analyzed the effect of montmorillonite clay nanoparticles on the burning rate (BR), mechanical and rheological properties of HIPS and blends of PET and HIPS produced by a twin-screw extrusion process. It is found that the BR of the...
Mar 16, 2008 - Method for producing bi-continuous and high internal phase nanostructures using polymer melts and solids by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A process for producing bi-continuous morphologies in polymer melts and solids, wherein two distinct domains or phases percolate and macroscopically connect throughout the composition. The process proceeds by simply mixing the components...
Mar 16, 2008 - Rubber - clay nanocomposites: from nanostructures to properties by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

In this contribution are discussed rubber-clay nanocomposites composed of a diene rubber and layered clays. Synthetic and natural poly-1,4-cis-isoprene and styrene/butadiene copolymers are used as the rubbers and a montmorillonite, either...
Mar 16, 2008 - Rubber-blended nylon/clay nanocomposite and method for its preparation by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Very low loading of impact modifier (< 4%) can significantly improve elongation and impact strength of nylon 6/clay nanocomposites and keep the high tensile strength and modulus. This rubber modified nylon nanocomposites have potential...
Mar 09, 2008 - Aligned Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composite Films with Robust Flexibility, High Transparency, and Excellent Conductivity by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This work reports a novel and general synthesis of aligned carbon nanotube/polymer composite films with high optical transparency, robust flexibility, and excellent electrical conductivity. These composite films show many potential...
Mar 09, 2008 - Composites for sound control applications by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Disclosed is a sound attenuating material includes a matrix, and a nanofiller, the material effectively reduces the level of low frequency sound incident thereon. Thus, a hydrogel-carbon nanotube composite was obtained by mixing 9 g HEMA...
Mar 09, 2008 - Electrically-conductive composite carbon foams by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Disclosed is a composite foam including a carbon foam material comprising a network of pores and a plurality of discontinuities and a secondary material deposited on at least some of the plurality of discontinuities of the carbon foam...