Case Western Reserve University

The Procter Gamble Company

The United States Government As Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs

United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Stuart J Rowan

Steven Ray Merrigan

Ica Manas-Zloczower

Donald L Feke

Dustin J Tyler

Wade Monroe Hubbard, Jr

Christoph Weder

Maxwell Joseph Wingert

Vahid Karimkhani

Otto Van Den Berg

Jeffrey R Capadona

Elvis Cudjoe

Boran Zhao

Amanda Way

Mo Hunsen

Kadhiravan Shanmuganathan

Baochau N Nguyen

Reza Foudazi

Mary Ann Meador

Yefei Zhang

Cody Bezik

Wade Monroe Hubbard

A High Internal Phase Emulsion (HIPE) foam having cellulose nanoparticles.

High internal phase emulsion foam having cellulose nanoparticles

A dynamic cross-linked polymer nanocomposite adhesive has been developed by the oxidation of a thiol functionalized semi-crystalline and/or amorphous oligomer and thiol functionalized Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) to form a polydisulfide network. The resulting solid material has a melting point transition at ca. 75° C. which corresponds to the melting of the semi-crystalline and/or amorphous phase of the nanocomposite adhesive. At higher temperatures (ca. 150° C.), results in the dynamic behavior of the disulfide bond being induced, where the bonds break and reform. Two levels of adhesion are obtained, in some embodiment by (1) heating the adhesive material to 80° C. (melting the semi-crystalline and/or amorphous phase) resulting in a lower modulus/viscosity of the adhesive, thus allowing better surface wetting on a substrate and (2) heating the adhesive material to 150° C. (inducing dynamic behavior of disulfide bonds), further lowers the modulus/viscosity of the adhesive ensuring a much better surface wetting and stronger adhesive bond. The polymer adhesive has been demonstrated to bind to, relatively high surface energy substrates including metal and hydrophilic glass, and to low surface energy substrates such as hydrophobic glass.

Strong, rebondable, dynamic cross-linked cellulose nanocrystal polymer nanocomposite adhesives

Nano-emulsions and nano-latexes comprising functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a surfactant that impacts the stability and size of the emulsion droplets of oil-in water emulsions. Stable emulsions can be accessed by adding a desired organic, non-water soluble molecule as the oil phase to an aqueous CNC suspension followed by agitation. Depending on the functionalization of the CNCs, their hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance can be modified, which allows the ability to control the stability and droplet size of the emulsion. Methods for producing nano-emulsions and nano-latexes, when the oil phase contains a polymerizable monomer, are disclosed.

Nano-emulsion and nano-latexes with functionalized cellulose nanocrystals

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from the plant(MxG) and a matrix material are present in a composite composition. Impressive yields of MxG-CNCs are obtained through a combination of processing steps including base hydrolysis, bleaching and acid hydrolysis. MxG-CNCs are produced having high aspect ratios, are biorenewable and can be used for a wide range of applications such as nanofillers in composites.

Method for production of cellulose nanocrystals fromand composites therefrom

Composite materials including cellulose nanocrystals incorporated into a polymer aerogel scaffold, wherein the cellulose nanocrystals serve as a reinforcement agent to result in the formation of less dense aerogels, improve the tensile mechanical properties of aerogel films, and reduce aerogel shrinkage upon thermal exposure. After gelation, the gel is dried via a suitable method such as supercritical COextraction, freeze drying or other method, to produce the CNC/polymer composite aerogel. Properties of the composite aerogel can be tailored via surface modification of the cellulose nanocrystals as well as through the backbone structure of the polymer.

Polymer cellulose nanocrystal composite aerogels

Methods for isolating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from the plant(MxG). Impressive yields are obtained through a combination of processing steps including base hydrolysis, bleaching and acid hydrolysis. MxG-CNCs are produced having high aspect ratios, are biorenewable and can be used for a wide range of applications such as nanofillers in composites. MxG-CNC-containing composites are also disclosed.

[object Object]

A method for producing a High Internal Phase Emulsion foam is provided that comprises forming a first High Internal Phase Emulsion from an oil phase comprising monomer, crosslinking agent, emulsifier; and an aqueous phase. The High Internal Phase Emulsion is pumped into a water bath. The High Internal Phase Emulsion cures in the bath.

Method for the production of high internal phase emulsion foams

Polymer nanocomposites exhibit a reversible change in stiffness and strength in response to a stimulus. The polymer nanocomposites include a matrix polymer with a comparably low modulus and strength and nanoparticles that have a comparably high modulus and strength. The particle-particle interactions are switched by the stimulus, to change the overall material's mechanical properties. In a preferred embodiment, a chemical regulator is used to facilitate changes of the mechanical properties. Methods for inducing modulus changes in polymer nanocomposites are also disclosed.

Dynamic mechanical polymer nanocomposites

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Stuart J Rowan