National Nanomaterials, Inc.

Other

Cryovac, Inc.

Texas State University

Gary W Beall

Michael D Grah

Drew V Speer

Michael Lee Becraft

Ray G Cook

Jeremy Bartels

Jesse R Hancock

Chad J Booth

Maedeh Dabbaghianamiri

Michael L Becraft

Disclosed is a transparent self-assembling polymer clay nanocomposite coating that is useful in food, drink and electronic packaging as a gas barrier and on textiles and clothing as a flame retardant coating. The coating includes two main components a water dispersible polymer and a sheet like nanoparticle. The coatings may be applied to any substrate. The coatings are applied sequentially with polymer being applied first followed by the nanoparticles. This sequence results in the self-assembly of a highly ordered nanocomposite film that exhibits high barrier properties and flame retardancy. The desired level of gas barrier or flame retardancy desired can be adjusted by the number of bilayers applied.

Molecularly self-assembling nanocomposite barrier coating for gas barrier application and flame retardancy

A towable mover includes a flexible mat and a hollow tow bar substantially contained in a sleeve at the leading edge of the mat. A tow rope is coupled to each end of the tow bar for towing. Couplings include a plug assembly securely received within the interior space at an end of the tow bar and a rope coupling assembly attached to the plug assembly. The plug assembly includes a resilient elastomeric cylindrical plug, the diameter of which swells when the ends are squeezed together by tightening a bolt. The rope coupling assembly is external to the tow bar and external to the sleeve. The sleeve is disposed between portions of the mat that may freely fold to allow passage through narrow spaces.

Towable flexible sheet mover

This disclosure includes a process that unexpectedly can produce very inexpensive graphene, functionalized graphenes, and a new compound called graphenol in particulate or dispersions in solvents. The process can also produce graphene layers on metallic and nonmetallic substrates. Further, the graphenol, functionalized graphenes, and graphene can be utilized to form nanocomposites that yield property improvements exceeding anything reported previously.

Method and system for producing graphene and functionalized graphene

An intercalated layered silicate comprises a layered silicate and an intercalating agent sorbed between the silicate layers of the layered silicate. The amount of intercalating agent is effective to provide an average interlayer spacing between the silicate layers of at least about 20 &#x212b;. The intercalating agent has a formula selected from formulas I through VII described herein. The intercalated layered silicate may be exfoliated by mixing it with a matrix medium and adding sufficient energy to form a dispersed-particle composition. A packaging film, such as a food packaging film, may comprise the dispersed-particle composition.

Intercalated layered silicate

This disclosure includes a process that unexpectedly can produce very inexpensive graphene and a new compound called graphenol in particulate or dispersions in solvents. The process can also produce graphene layers on metallic and nonmetallic substrates. Further, the graphenol and graphene can be utilized to form nanocomposites that yield property improvements exceeding anything reported previously.

Method and system for producing graphene and graphenol

A packaging film comprises a dispersed-particle composition, which comprises a plurality of particles dispersed in a matrix medium of thermoplastic polymer. The particles comprise silicate platelets. Intercalating agent of one or more phospholipids is sorbed to the silicate platelets.

Film comprising silicate platelets of exfoliated from phospolipid-intercalated layered silicate

A method of treating an amorphous CBDO polymer to impart self healing and shape memory properties by heat treatment, and products resulting from such method are described. An amorphous CBDO copolymer may include a copolyester prepared by reacting an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or ester or anhydride thereof, a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, or mixture thereof. The method may include heating said copolymer to a temperature above its glass transition temperature to impart self healing and shape memory properties.

Treatment method for imparting self-healing and shape memory properties to certain CBDO copolymers

An allergen and blocking sorbent for topical application to the skin comprising a surface-modified layered material, such as an intercalated clay, dispersed in a cosmetically acceptable solvent. The organic surface modifier is an organic molecule that contains a substantial dipole moment sufficient to bond, through ion-dipole interactions, with an exchangeable cation on the inner surface of adjacent clay platelets. Suitable organic surface modifiers include aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, alcohols, phenols, ethers, catecols, lactams, lactones and pyrrolidones. The preferred layered material useful in this invention includes the entire family of smectite type clays. The composition is topically applied to the skin to absorb or adsorb (hereinafter 'sorb' or 'sorbent') via intercalation between spaced layers of the layered material, and block allergenic organic compounds from plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, thus preventing skin rashes.

Growing community of inventors

San Marcos, TX, United States of America

Gary W Beall