U.S. patent application number 11/790804 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-24 for exfoliated polymer-clay nanocomposite.
This patent application is currently assigned to Northwestern University. Invention is credited to Kosmas Kasimatis, Klementina Khait, Andrew Lebovitz, John Mark Torkelson.
Application Number | 20080176980 11/790804 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32312683 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080176980 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Torkelson; John Mark ; et
al. |
July 24, 2008 |
Exfoliated polymer-clay nanocomposite
Abstract
A method of producing a polymer-clay nanocomposite comprises
providing a supply of polymer-clay mixture, exfoliating the mixture
through solid-state shear pulverization in the presence of cooling
sufficient to maintain the extruded mixture in the solid state
during the pulverization, and discharging the resulting exfoliated
mixture. The invention is also directed to a method of producing a
polymer hybrid nanocomposite, wherein a component is dispersed
throughout a polymer matrix by solid-state shear pulverization of a
polymer mixed with the second component.
Inventors: |
Torkelson; John Mark;
(Skokie, IL) ; Lebovitz; Andrew; (Des Plaines,
IL) ; Kasimatis; Kosmas; (Chicago, IL) ;
Khait; Klementina; (Skokie, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERENATO, WHITE & STAVISH, LLC
6550 ROCK SPRING DRIVE, SUITE 240
BETHESDA
MD
20817
US
|
Assignee: |
Northwestern University
|
Family ID: |
32312683 |
Appl. No.: |
11/790804 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10701067 |
Nov 5, 2003 |
7223359 |
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11790804 |
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60423591 |
Nov 5, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
524/262 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 48/40 20190201;
B29C 48/022 20190201; B29C 48/845 20190201; B29C 48/82 20190201;
B29B 7/90 20130101; B29B 7/484 20130101; B29C 48/766 20190201; B29B
7/007 20130101; B29C 48/54 20190201; C08K 3/346 20130101; C08K
2201/011 20130101; B29C 48/535 20190201; B82Y 30/00 20130101; B29B
7/82 20130101; B29C 48/57 20190201 |
Class at
Publication: |
524/262 |
International
Class: |
C08K 5/541 20060101
C08K005/541 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0001] This invention was made with government support under Grant
No. DMR-0076097 awarded by the National Science Foundation.
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. A polymer-clay nanocomposite, comprising: a nonpolar polymer
material; and at least about 3% highly exfoliated organoclay.
10. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene,
polyethylene, polystyrene, copolymers of propylene, copolymers of
ethylene, and blends thereof.
11. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material is a polyolefin.
12. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said organoclay comprises
between about 40-50% clay content and between about 50-60% organic
content.
13. The nanocomposite of claim 12, wherein said organoclay is a
montmorillonite.
14. The nanocomposite of claim 13, wherein said organoclay has:
40-50% nanoclay content, a density of 38-48 lbs/ft.sup.3, and a
maximum of 0.2% moisture content.
15. The nanocomposite of claim 9, including about 10% highly
exfoliated organoclay.
16-17. (canceled)
18. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said organoclay is a
hectorite.
19. The nanocomposite of claim 9, including about 7% highly
exfoliated organoclay.
20. The nanocomposite of claim 9, including about 5% highly
exfoliated organoclay.
21. The nanocomposite of claim 9, including less than about 12%
clay.
22. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises a polymethacrylate.
23. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises a polyvinylalcohol.
24. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises ply(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate).
25. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises polyhydroxystyrene.
26. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises poly(vinyl pyridine).
27. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises a polyvinylalcohol.
28. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises a polyacrylamide.
29. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises polycaprolactone.
30. The nanocomposite of claim 9, wherein said nonpolar polymer
material comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to a method of producing
an exfoliated polymer-clay nanocomposite. A polymer-clay mixture is
provided, and exfoliated through solid-state shear pulverization in
the presence of cooling sufficient to maintain the mixture in the
solid state during the pulverization. Preferably, the mixture is
first melt-extruded. The invention is also directed to polymer-clay
nanocomposites produced therefrom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The subject of polymer hybrid composites based on layered
inorganic compounds such as clays has been the subject of intense
industrial and academic study for more than a decade. Polymer
materials may be filled with several inorganic, synthetic and/or
natural minerals in order to increase properties like heat
resistance, mechanical strength and impact resistance. However,
there is little or no interaction between the two mixed components.
In order to increase interaction between the polymer and
reinforcing material, the dimensions of the reinforcing elements on
a molecular level must be decreased.
[0004] Layered silicates or clays are one material class of
reinforcing elements on a nano-scale. Such elements have dimensions
of the order of one billionth of a meter, or one nanometer. Such a
composite is called a nanocomposite. There are many types of
nanocomposites, whereby the defining characteristic is that the
reinforcing component has the dimensions mentioned above.
[0005] The most heavily researched type of nanocomposite uses
layered mineral clays as the reinforcing component. Polymer-clay
nanocomposite materials have attracted a great deal of attention
because they provide enhanced mechanical and thermal properties as
compared to conventional materials. Specifically, these hybrid
composites exhibit increased tensile strength, modulus, and heat
distortion resistance, as compared with a pure polymer. The
composites also have lower water sensitivity, reduced permeability
to gases, and a similar thermal coefficient of expansion. Further,
it has been found that nanocomposites impart a level of flame
retardance and UV resistance not present in the pure polymer
component. Because of these enhanced properties, such
nanocomposites are useful in the electronics, automobile, aircraft,
and aerospace industries, among others.
[0006] The type of clay, the purity of the clay, and the choice of
clay pre-treatment are all controllable variables that influence
the nature and properties of the final nanocomposite. Many clays
are aluminosilicates, which have a sheet-like or layered structure,
and consist of silica SiO.sub.4 tetrahedra bonded to alumina
AlO.sub.6 octahedra in a variety of ways. A 2:1 ratio of the
tetrahedra to the octahedra results in smectite clays, the most
common of which is montmorillonite. Smectite clays are clays that
can be swollen with small molecules. Other metals such as magnesium
may replace the aluminum in the crystal structure.
[0007] Montmorillonite clay is the most common type of clay used
for nanocomposite formation. Montmorillonite naturally forms stacks
of plate-like structures, or platelets. Each platelet is less than
10 Angstroms thick, but over 200 times that in width. The spaces
between these platelets are called gallery spaces. Each platelet is
composed of silicon oxide and aluminum oxide. Under the proper
conditions, the gallery spaces can be swollen and filled with
monomer, oligomer, or polymer. Specifically, a swelling of the
gallery spaces increases the distance between platelets in the
stacks. Clay platelets swollen with polymer are said to be
intercalated. If the clay swells so much that it is no longer
organized into stacks, it is said to be completely exfoliated.
[0008] In addition to montmorillonite clay, other types of clay may
also be used, including hectorites, which contain very small
platelets, and synthetic clays. Synthetic clays can be produced in
a very pure form and can carry a positive charge on the platelets,
in contrast to the negative charge found in montmorillonites.
[0009] Depending on the precise chemical composition of the clay,
the layers generally bear a charge on the surface and edges of the
platelets. This charge is balanced by counter-ions, which reside in
part in the gallery spaces between the layers. Thus, the stacks of
clay platelets are held tightly together by electrostatic forces.
Because of the charged nature of pure clay, the clay is generally
highly hydrophilic. For example, montmorillonite is naturally
hydrophillic. This makes pure clay poorly suited to mixing and
interacting with most polymer matrices. As such, a necessary
prerequisite for successful formation of polymer-clay
nanocomposites is the alteration of the clay polarity to make the
clay organophilic. An organophilic clay can be produced from a
normally hydrophilic clay by ion exchange with an organic cation
such as an alkylammonium ion. The particular pre-treatment process
used may have an effect on the formation of the nanocomposite
product formed. Such pre-treatment processes are well known in the
art.
[0010] As noted above, a nanocomposite may be in the form of an
intercalated or exfoliated hybrid. In an intercalate hybrid, the
polymer component is inserted between the clay layers or platelets
such that the gallery spaces are expanded, but the platelets still
bear a well-defined spatial relationship to each other. In an
exfoliated hybrid, the layers or platelets comprising the clay
stacks have been completely separated and the individual platelets
are distributed throughout the polymer matrix. Various factors
affect this delamination of the clay stacks, including the exchange
capacity of the clay, the polarity of the reaction medium and the
chemical nature of the interlayer cations (e.g. onium ions).
[0011] Levels of exfoliation may be determined by an x-ray
scattering test. An absence of scattering peaks at a characteristic
scattering angle indicates high levels of exfoliation. Conversely,
a large scattering peak indicates decreased (or poor) exfoliation.
The scattering angle is inversely correlated with interlayer or
gallery spacing. Specifically, scattering angle (theta) is linearly
proportional to 1/d, where d equals interlayer spacing. Therefore,
the level of exfoliation is measured by analyzing the level of
scattering intensity at the expected scattering angle (based on the
interlayer spacing). Thus, the interlayer or gallery spacing is a
function of the particular clay. Complete exfoliation, wherein all
stacks are delaminated into single platelets surrounded by polymer,
may not be required to attain optimal nanocomposite properties.
However, substantial exfoliation is generally desired in order to
attain the above noted enhanced properties in the resulting
product. Substantial or high levels of exfoliation is defined
herein as an exfoliation level that lacks any significant
scattering peak in an x-ray scattering test.
[0012] In addition to an x-ray scattering test, electron microscopy
can provide a pictorial perspective of the exfoliation level in a
nanocomposite. However, it is does not provide as quantitative a
measure of the exfoliation level of the entire sample compared to
an x-ray scattering test. Dispersion of the clay or other
reinforcing material throughout the polymer matrix may also be seen
with electron microscopy. Generally, a consistent dispersal of the
reinforcing material is desirable, wherein the reinforcing material
is not clumped in certain areas of the matrix.
[0013] Various attempts have been made to produce a substantially
exfoliated nanocomposite. The most successful method has been in
situ polymerization, wherein a monomer is polymerized in situ to
give the corresponding polymer-clay nanocomposite. In the late
1980's and early 1990's, researchers from Toyota.TM.'s Central
Research and Development Laboratories demonstrated an in situ
polymerization method of monomer to nylon, producing nylon-6 (a
clay-nylon hybrid). Montmorillonite clay was exchanged with an
acid, replacing the cations on the clay surface and swelling the
clay. The modified clay was dispersed in the polar monomer,
epsilon-caprolactam, which was then polymerized into the polymer
commonly known as nylon-6.
[0014] Such in situ polymerization methods rely on chemical
processes to achieve the desired exfoliated product, and there
success has been limited. A polar monomer can intercalate between
clay sheets, and polymerization leads to exfoliation. However,
these chemical methods have not been successful for other polymer
components, particularly nonpolar polymers. Certain polymers, such
as polypropylene, require a much more complicated synthetic
approach than other monomers, such as those involved in producing
nylon-6. As such, polypropylene nanocomposites, or other such
polymers, have not been produced by in situ polymerization (i.e.
polymerizing propylene in the presence of clay).
[0015] Attempts to produce well-exfoliated polymer-clay
nanocomposites by non-chemical methods (e.g. melt blending or
solution blending of polymer-clay systems) have not been
successful. Twin-screw extrusion of polymer-clay mixtures has not
yielded well-exfoliated clays in the polymer, though it has
resulted in relatively good polymer-clay contact. Twin-screw
extrusion, or melt extrusion, is well known in the art, wherein a
mixture or compound is processed through a twin-screw extruder or
compounder, or an intensive mixer, such as a Farrel Continuous
Mixer.TM..
[0016] In addition to melt-extrusion, the method of solid-state
shear pulverization has been developed for preparing polymer
materials, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,673 to Khait and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,685 also to Khait, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference. As disclosed in the Khait
patents, a chemical change to a polymer material is effected by
application of mechanical energy through solid-state shear
pulverization in the presence of cooling sufficient to maintain the
material in the solid state during pulverization. However, the
Khait patents do not disclose or suggest a method of producing
highly exfoliated polymer-clay nanocomposites.
[0017] The present invention is directed to a method of producing
highly exfoliated polymer-clay nanocomposites through a
non-chemical process, whereby the resulting product exhibits a high
level of exfoliation and dispersion. The polymer-clay
nanocomposites produced therefrom may be used in a wide variety of
applications, including barrier films for reduced permeability, and
applications requiring a polymer with improved solvent resistance,
reduced flammability, increased strength and/or hardness, light
weight, and resistance to heat distortion. Industrial applications
for such nanocomposites include, inter alia, the automotive,
aircraft and aerospace industries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention is directed to a method of producing a
polymer-clay nanocomposite, comprising the steps of: providing a
supply of polymer-clay mixture; exfoliating the mixture through
solid-state shear pulverization in the presence of cooling
sufficient to maintain the extruded mixture in the solid state
during the pulverization; and discharging the resulting exfoliated
mixture.
[0019] The invention is also directed to a polymer-clay
nanocomposite produced therefrom. The nanocomposite comprises a
nonpolar polymer material and at least about 3% highly exfoliated
organoclay.
[0020] The invention also relates to a method of producing a
polymer hybrid nanocomposite, comprising the steps of: providing a
supply of polymer material; mixing the polymer material with a
second component to form a mixture; effecting a high level of
dispersion of the second component throughout the mixture through
solid-state shear pulverization in the presence of cooling
sufficient to maintain the mixture in the solid state during the
pulverization; and discharging the resulting mixture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration for
screw elements of a twin-screw extruder;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a table of temperatures and functions of zones
corresponding to FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a graph showing data results from an x-ray
scattering test for various samples;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a graph showing data results from an x-ray
scattering test for unprocessed organoclay sample M from FIG.
3;
[0025] FIG. 5 is another graph showing data results for some
samples shown in FIG. 3;
[0026] FIG. 6 is an electron microscopy image of a sample of
polymer-organoclay mixture that was processed by two passes of
melt-extrusion; and
[0027] FIG. 7 is an electron microscopy image of a sample of
polymer-organoclay mixture that was processed according to the
disclosed method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] A method of exfoliation in a polymer-clay nanocomposite is
provided. A polymer-clay mixture is exfoliated through solid-state
shear pulverization in the presence of cooling sufficient to
maintain the extruded mixture in the solid state during the
pulverization. Preferably, the polymer-clay mixture is first
melt-extruded before solid-state shear pulverization.
[0029] The disclosed process is particular useful for nonpolar
polymers, such as polypropylene and polyolefins, though the
disclosed process may be applied to any polymer-reinforcing
component mixture. If a nonpolar polymer is used, an organically
modified clay is generally required, such as modified clays
manufactured by Nanocor.TM. and Southern Clay Products.TM., in
order to reduce the insoluble nature of the clay with the
polymer.
[0030] The present invention is best explained by way of the
following example:
Example 1
[0031] A mixture of polypropylene-organoclay was provided,
comprising about 90% polypropylene and about 10% organoclay. The
organoclay was obtained from Nanocor.TM., and contained about
40-50% clay content and about 50-60% organic content. Specifically,
Nanocor.TM. C.30P clay was used, which is a montmorillonite
nanoclay in de-agglomerated form. (Physical properties of C.30P:
40-50% nanoclay content; 38-42 lb./ft.3 bulk density; 0.2% max.
moisture).
[0032] Samples of 90/10 wt % polypropylene-organoclay mixture were
processed as follows: 1) sample A was processed by twin-screw melt
extrusion (1 pass); 2) sample B was processed by twin-screw melt
extrusion followed by a second twin-screw melt extrusion (2
passes); 3) samples C and D were processed by solid-state shear
pulverization, using two different screw element configurations;
and 4) sample E was processed by twin-screw melt extrusion followed
by solid-state shear pulverization.
[0033] Processing parameters for the twin-screw extruder were the
same for all samples tested. Standard extrusion parameters were
selected, as suggested by Nanocor.TM. for extruding polymer alone,
or mixing polymer blends. Specifically, standard screw element
configuration are best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0034] Standard processing parameters for solid-state shear
pulverization, for processing polypropylene, were also selected. A
25-millimeter diameter twin-screw pulverizer was used. The barrels
were cooled to about 10.degree. Celsius to maintain the polymer in
the semi-crystalline state during pulverization.
[0035] As best shown in FIGS. 3-5, relative levels of exfoliation
in the resulting nanocomposites were then compared by x-ray
scattering testing. Scattering intensity on graphed on the y-axis,
and correlated to scattering angle on the x-axis. Scattering peaks
are observed in poorly exfoliated samples at a scattering angle of
about 3 degrees, which is quantitatively related to the interlayer
distance between the layers of organoclay sheets that were not
exfoliated. Peak intensity decreases with an increasing degree of
exfoliation. The organoclay used in this example had an interlayer
distance of about 26 to 30 Angstroms. Therefore, the scattering
angle may vary depending on the specific properties of the
particular clay used, as noted above. The scattering peak of the
Nanocor.TM. C.30P organoclay masterbatch M, without any mixing with
polypropylene, is just under 15,000 counts scattering intensity, as
best shown in FIGS. 3-4. A sharp peak is present at a scattering
angle of between about 3-4 degrees in masterbatch M, which
indicates a high level of gallery spacing regularity. (The
approximate interlayer spacing distance is therefore approximately
2.5 nm). The scattering peak of the unmodified clay U (i.e. without
any organic content) used by Nanocor.TM. to produce the masterbatch
of organoclay is more than 10,000 counts scattering intensity, as
best shown in FIG. 3. The scattering intensity near 3 degrees of
samples M and U indicates a high level of spacing regularity, with
the clay sheets having a consistent layering distance from each
other of about 26 to 30 Angstroms.
[0036] With respect to the polypropylene-clay nanocomposites, the
highest level of exfoliation was achieved in sample E, which was
melt-extruded once followed by solid-state shear pulverization, as
best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. No significant scattering peak is
displayed in sample E. The lack of any significant intensity peak
is an indication that the vast majority of the original, spaced
interlayer clay sheets are exfoliated into single sheets or a very
small number of layered sheets. Thus, a high level of exfoliation
was achieved in sample E. Levels of exfoliation were slightly lower
for samples C and D, which were processed by solid-state shear
pulverization using two different screw element configurations.
Only slight scattering peaks are displayed in samples C and D,
which have comparable levels of exfoliation. Levels of exfoliation
were much lower for samples A and B, which were melt-extruded once
(1 pass), and melt-extruded twice (2 passes), respectively. The
reduction in peak intensity, from sample A to sample E, is related
in part to a reduction in the fraction of clay sheets that were not
exfoliated, which maintain a close and uniform interlayer
spacing.
[0037] The use of melt-state processing alone (as in samples A and
B) does not yield a highly exfoliated nanocomposite system compared
to the samples C, D and E, as demonstrated in FIGS. 3 and 5.
Solid-state shear pulverization alone yields significantly better
exfoliation and dispersion than the use of twin-screw melt
extrusion, and a high level of exfoliation is achieved when the
polymer-clay mixture is first mixed by twin-screw extrusion
followed by solid-state shear pulverization.
[0038] Pictorial perspectives of exfoliation and dispersion of
sample B is best shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is an electron microscopy
image of sample B, which was processed twice through a twin-screw
extruder. The micrograph shows the size of the remaining clay
sheets that were not exfoliated, as well as dispersion of clay in a
portion of sample B, as darker areas on the image. In sample B, the
dark areas indicate that the layered clay sheets, or clumps, have
not undergone substantial exfoliation or dispersion. The clumps are
typically about 100 to several hundred nanometers in length and
about 50 to 400 nm in width. Given a typical interlayer spacing of
about 2.5 nm, the image indicates that the clumps have at the low
end bout 15 to 20 layers of unexfoliated clay sheets and at the
high end about 140 to 150 layers of unexfoliated clay sheets.
[0039] In contrast, sample E, which was processed by melt-extrusion
followed by solid-state shear pulverization, shows fewer darker
portions, as best shown in FIG. 7. The clumps are of about 50 to
200 nm in length, and some single or double clay sheets are
evident. The widest clump is about 12 sheets. Sample E is not as
heavily layered (or clumped) as sample B. This is indicative of
substantial exfoliation and excellent dispersion, which further
supports the results shown by the x-ray scattering test in FIGS. 3
and 5.
[0040] Therefore, the method comprising an initial melt-extrusion
step followed by solid-state shear pulverization achieves the
highest level of exfoliation. The initial melt-extrusion step
thoroughly mixes the polymer-clay mixture, yielding an intimate
contact of polymer and clay. After the mixture is thoroughly mixed
(but not yet exfoliated), solid-state shear pulverization yields a
high level of exfoliation and dispersion.
[0041] In addition to polypropylene, other polymers may be used in
the mixture system of the present invention, including: polyolefins
such as polyethylene and copolymers of propylene and ethylene;
polystyrene and polymethacrylates, or blends of these polymers with
polyolefins; copolymers such as poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate);
polyhydroxystyrene, poly (vinyl pyridine), polyvinylalcohol,
polyacrylamide, polycaprolactone, copolymers of ethylene and
acetate, and the like; and condensation-type polymers such as
poly(ethylene terephthaltate), commonly known as polyester, and
nylon. These polymers are incorporated into the polymer-clay
mixture as described for the polypropylene-organoclay mixture.
Therefore, all parameters described above are applicable to these
other polymers. Similar levels of exfoliation and dispersion are
achieved with these polymers.
[0042] Other clay compositions may be used with the present
invention. Specifically, Nanocor.TM. formulates various clay
compositions for creating polymer nanocomposites, including C.30P,
C.44PA, C.44TPO, C.30EVA, and C.30PE. In addition, other clay
system may be used, such as those manufactured by Southern Clay
Products.TM.. It will be understood by those skilled in the art
that other comparable clays may be used in the present
invention.
[0043] Other mixture percentages between polymer and clay may also
be used depending on the desired properties of the nanocomposite.
For example, a mixture of polypropylene-organoclay may be provided
comprising about 97% polypropylene and about 3% organoclay content.
Alternatively, a mixture of polypropylene-organoclay may be
providing comprising about 93% polypropylene and about 7% wt.
organoclay content. Generally, a maximum organoclay content of
about 10% wt. is preferred, more preferably about 5% wt.
(Nanocor.TM. suggests that its organoclays be added to polymer at a
5-12% organoclay content (i.e. 2.5-6% clay content and 2.5-6%
organic content). A clay content of more than 12% wt. would
generally be undesirable given the advantages of polymer
nanocomposites provides for synergistic properties at low
non-polymer additive content.
[0044] Processing parameters and screw element configuration for
twin-screw melt extrusion may also vary, so long as the non-mixed
polymer alone may be melt processed with the selected parameters.
For example, polypropylene has a melt temperature of about
165.degree. Celsius. Therefore, the polypropylene must be melt
processed at temperatures exceeding 165.degree. C., as noted in
FIG. 2 (note that initial conveying functions at zones 4D and 8D
may be performed below 165.degree. C.). It is understood by one
skilled in the art, however, that processing parameters would not
include an excessively high temperature that causes degradation
during processing. For example, a temperature of 300.degree. C.
would not be selected for melt processing polypropylene.
[0045] Processing parameters for screw element configuration of the
twin-screw pulverizer for solid-state shear pulverization may also
vary. Specifically, screw element configurations set forth in the
above noted Khait patents are applicable to the present
invention.
[0046] The disclosed method is applicable to a variety of
polymer-organoclay systems, as noted above, as well as mixture
percentages of polymer to organoclay. Regardless of the selected
polymer-organoclay mixture, high levels of exfoliation and
dispersion are achieved by processing the mixture according to the
disclosed method of solid-state shear pulverization. Preferably,
the mixture is melt-extruded before the solid-state shear
pulverization. High levels of exfoliation and dispersion have been
achieved for nonpolar polymers, such as polypropylene, as well as
polyolefins. Similar levels of exfoliation for such polymers have
not been achieved by prior methods, including non-pulverization
methods (i.e. chemical methods such as in situ polymerization).
[0047] The disclosed method may also be applicable to the other
reinforcing components aside from clay. For example, excellent
levels of dispersion are achieved for the following: polymer-metal
nanoparticle mixture for high levels of dispersion (metal
nanoparticles are not exfoliated, as described herein);
polymer-carbon nanofibers and polymer-carbon nanotube
nanocomposites for high levels of dispersion; silicate
nanoparticles; and cellulose nanowhiskers. Excellent levels of
dispersion, wherein the reinforcing component is evenly distributed
throughout the polymer matrix, are achieved by processing these
polymer-reinforcing component mixtures to form polymer hybrid
nanocomposites.
[0048] It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that
various modifications and variations can be made in construction or
configuration of the present invention without departing from the
scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the
present invention cover all modifications and variations of the
invention, provided they come within the scope of the following
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *