Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.

University of Houston System

William Marsh Rice University

Ramanan Krishnamoorti

Mun Fu Tse

Koray Yurekli

Andy Haishung Tsou

Hsien-Chang Wang

Anthony Jay Dias

Hsien C Wang

Cynthia Ann Mitchell

Tirtha Chatterjee

James Mitchell Tour

Valery Khabashesku

Weiqing Weng

David Y Chung

Alan Anthony Galuska

Caiguo Gong

Pawan Kumar Agarwal

Beverly Jean Poole

Molly Westermann Johnston

Jeffrey L Bahr

Kriss Randall Karp

Carmen Neagu

Jared L Hudson

Baburaj Eranezhuth

A nanocomposite having a nanomaterial dispersed into a polymer matrix, in one embodiment exfoliated nanoclay dispersed in a polyurea matrix. A method of making PU-nanocomposites for coatings for improved mechanical properties, in one embodiment the method comprises obtaining and treating a nanomaterial, dispersing the nanomaterial into a pre-polymer matrix, mixing the pre-polymer matrix under heating to form a coating; and depositing the coating on a substrate.

Organoclay-polyurea nanocomposites

The present invention is directed to carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer composites, i.e., nanocomposites, wherein the CNTs in such nanocomposites are highly dispersed in a polymer matrix, and wherein the nanocomposites comprise a compatibilizing surfactant that interacts with both the CNTs and the polymer matrix. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these nanocomposites. In some such methods, the compatibilizing surfactant provides initial CNT dispersion and subsequent mixing with a polymer. The present invention is also directed to methods of using these nanocomposites in a variety of applications.

Carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites

The present invention provides polymer nanocomposites with dispersed nanotubes and methods of making same. The polymer may be a polyether. For example, the present invention provides an effective method to successfully disperse single walled nanotubes (SWNTs) into both Polyethylenoxide (PEO) and its low molecular weight analog polyethylene glycol (PEG) with hydrodynamic percolation at about 0.09 wt % and an electrical percolation at about 0.03 wt % SWNTs at room temperature, and the resulting nanocomposites. The method may include providing a surfactant. Most notably the present inventors achieved a decrease in the melting point of the polymer and a retardation of polymer crystallization due to the presence of the nanotubes.

Nanocomposites of polymers with dispersed nanotubes

The present invention is directed to aryl halide (such as aryl bromide) functionalized carbon nanotubes that can be utilized in anionic polymerization processes to form polymer-carbon nanotube materials with improved dispersion ability in polymer matrices. In this process the aryl halide is reacted with an alkyllithium species or is reacted with a metal to replace the aryl-bromine bond with an aryl-lithium or aryl-metal bond, respectively. It has further been discovered that other functionalized carbon nanotubes, after deprotonation with a deprotonation agent, can similarly be utilized in anionic polymerization processes to form polymer-carbon nanotube materials. Additionally or alternatively, a ring opening polymerization process can be performed. The resultant materials can be used by themselves due to their enhanced strength and reinforcement ability when compared to their unbound polymer analogs. Additionally, these materials can also be blended with pre-formed polymers to establish compatibility and enhanced dispersion of nanotubes in otherwise hard to disperse matrices resulting in significantly improved material properties. The resultant polymer-carbon nanotube materials can also be used in drug delivery processes due to their improved dispersion ability and biodegradability, and can also be used for scaffolding to promote cellular growth of tissue.

Polymerization initated at sidewalls of carbon nanotubes

The present invention provides a method to form a nanocomposite including blending a high molecular weight elastomer, a low molecular weight elastomer, and a clay to form a nanocomposite; wherein the high molecular weight elastomer has a weight average molecular weight greater than 250000; wherein the low molecular weight elastomer has a weight average molecular weight less than 150000. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method to form a nanocomposite including the steps of blending a low molecular weight elastomer and a clay to form a first mixture; blending a high molecular weight elastomer and the first mixture to form the nanocomposite; wherein the low molecular weight elastomer has a weight average molecular weight less than 150000; and, wherein the high molecular weight elastomer has a weight average molecular weight greater than 250000.

Butyl nanocomposite via low Mw elastomer pre-blend

The invention provides for processes for preparing a nanocomposite compositions including the steps of: contacting a multifunctional intercalant including a cationic moiety separated from an anionic moiety by at least 1 carbon, with a clay at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to produce an at least partially intercalated clay; and contacting the at least partially intercalated clay with a functionalized interpolymer including one or more functional groups, at a temperature, and for a period of time sufficient to produce the nanocomposite compositions. Cured nanocomposite compositions, and articles including such nanocomposite compositions are also provided.

Nanocomposite compositions and processes for making the same

Compatibilized blends of an isoolefin polymer and an unsaturated diene polymer are prepared by utilizing a compatibilizing agent comprising a block/graft copolymer containing poly- or copoly-isoolefin segments and Cto Calkyl-substituted styrene polymer segments, such as poly(t-butylstyrene) segments.

Polymer blend compatibilization using isobutylene-based block copolymers II

The invention provides a thermoplastic composition of C isoolefin copolymers including halomethylstyrene derived units blended with a hindered amine or phosphine of the structure R R R N or R R R P wherein R , R and R are preferably lower and higher alkyl groups. The resulting ionically associated, amino or phosphine modified elastomers are used to prepare thermoplastic elastomer blend compositions, including dynamically vulcanized compositions, containing more finely dispersed elastomers which results in compositions having improved mechanical properties.

Thermoplastic compositions for halogenated elastomers

Compatibilized blends of an isobutylene polymer and an unsaturated diene polymer are prepared by utilizing a compatibilizing agent comprising a block/graft copolymer containing polyisobutylene segments and C to C alkyl-substituted styrene polymer segments, such as poly(t-butylstyrene) segments.

Growing community of inventors

Bellaire, TX, United States of America

Ramanan Krishnamoorti