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Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Polymer/Clay NanocompositesA novel class of polymer/clay nanocomposites has been invented in an attempt to develop transparent, lightweight, durable materials for a variety of aerospace applications. As their name suggests, polymer/ clay nanocomposites comprise organic/ inorganic hybrid polymer matrices containing platelet-shaped clay particles that have sizes of the order of a few nanometers thick and several hundred nanometers long. Partly because of their high aspect ratios and high surface areas, the clay particles, if properly dispersed in the polymer matrix at a loading level of 1 to 5 weight percent, impart unique combinations of physical and chemical properties that make these nanocomposites attractive for making films and coatings for a variety of industrial applications. Relative to the unmodified polymer, the polymer/ clay nanocomposites may exhibit improvements in strength, modulus, and toughness; tear, radiation, and fire resistance; and lower thermal expansion and permeability to gases while retaining a high degree of optical transparency.
Document ID
20110024006
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Other - NASA Tech Brief
Authors
Park, Cheol
(National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council Hampton, VA, United States)
Connell, John W.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Smith, Joseph G., Jr.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: NASA Tech Briefs, December 2003
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
LAR-16216
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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