Nanocomposites are manufactured by combining a host material, such as an organic solvent or a matrix polymer and exfoliated intercalates formed by contacting a phyllosilicate with a polymer to adsorb or intercalate the polymer between adjacent phyllosilicate platelets. Sufficient polymer is adsorbed between adjacent phyllosilicate platelets to expand the adjacent platelets to a spacing of at least about 5 A, preferably at least about 10 A (as measured after water removal), up to about 100 A and preferably in the range of about 30-40 A, so that the intercalate easily can be exfoliated, e.g., when mixed with an organic solvent or a polymer melt, to provide a carrier material for drugs and the like, or to provide a matrix polymer/platelet composite (nanocomposite) material - the platelets being exfoliated from the intercalate.

Intercalates and exfoliates formed with oligomers and polymers and composite materials containing same

Thermoplastic composites offer some interesting advantages over their thermoset counterparts like a higher toughness, faster manufacturing and their recyclable nature. Traditional melt processing, however, limits thermoplastic composite parts in size and thickness. As an alternative, reactive processing of textile fiber-reinforced thermoplastics is discussed in this paper: a low viscosity mono- or oligomeric precursor is used to impregnate the fibers, followed by in situ polymerization. Processes that are currently associated to manufacturing of thermoset composites like resin transfer molding, vacuum infusion and resin film infusion, might be used for manufacturing of thermoplastic composite parts in near future. This paper gives an overview of engineering and high-performance plastic materials that are suitable for reactive processing and discusses fundamental differences between reactive processing of thermoplastic and thermoset resins.

Reactive processing of textile fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites – An overview

Provided herein is a composite material which comprises a polyamide-containing resin, a layered silicate dispersed therein, and a substance such as polyamine which controls the crystalline structure or molecular structure of the resin. The composite material has improved mechanical strength and toughness and high clarity or transparency.

Composite material and process for producing the same

"Living" polymers and their preparation from acrylic-type or maleimide monomers and organosilicon, -tin or -germanium initiators.

"living" polymers and process for their preparation

Intercalates formed by mixing the phyllosilicate with a polymer and a liquid carrier, and extruding the mixture through a die-opening to adsorb or intercalate the polymer between adjacent phyllosilicate platelets. Sufficient polymer is adsorbed between adjacent phyllosilicate platelets to expand the adjacent platelets to a spacing of at least about 10 Å (as measured after water removal), up to about 55 Å and preferably in the range of about 30-40 Å, so that the intercalate easily can be exfoliated into individual platelets by heating the polymer to its melting point, to provide a matrix polymer/platelet composite material.

Intercalates; exfoliates; process for manufacturing intercalates and exfoliates and composite materials containing same

Reinforced polyamides and process of preparation thereof

This invention relates to construction panels comprising metal-thermoplastic-metal laminates and a process for preparing same, said laminates possessing in combination critical service properties of high heat distortion temperature, low coefficient of linear thermal expansion, low inelastic ratio, and lightness in weight.

Metal-thermoplastic-metal laminates and a process for the preparation of such laminates

A process for polymerizing e-caprolactam to form a nylon-6 polymer in which a reactant stream containing e-caprolactam and a lactam polymerization initiator is brought into polymerizing admixture with a reactant stream containing e-caprolactam and a lactam magnesium halide, wherein sufficient 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl compound is added to the admixture either as 2-pyrrolidinone, 2-oxo-pyrrolidinyl magnesium halide or 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl capped initiator compound to enhance the rate of polymerization of the e-caprolactam.

Promotion of ε-caprolactam polymerization with lactam magnesium halide catalyst and 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl groups

Process for flexible polyester-ether compositions

A catalyzed process for the preparation of monomeric and/or polymeric compounds such as esters, polyesters, ester-amides, and polyester-polyamides which result from the reaction of an imide and an alcohol in the presence of a Group IA, IIA, IIB and/or IIIA metal or metal compound, imide-alcohol condensation catalyst.

Hedrick Ross Melvin

Papers

Reinforced polyamides and process of preparation thereof

Metal-thermoplastic-metal laminates and a process for the preparation of such laminates

Promotion of ε-caprolactam polymerization with lactam magnesium halide catalyst and 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl groups

Process for flexible polyester-ether compositions

Catalytic process for imide-alcohol condensation