Process for preparing high barrier nanocomposites

US6713547B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The University of South Carolina Research Foundation · US

Inventors

• Robert B. Barbee · Kingsport, US
• James C. Matayabas, Jr. · Chandler, US
• Jack Wesley Trexler, Jr. · Kingsport, US
• Rodney Layne Piner · Kingsport, US
• John Walker Gilmer · Kingsport, US
• Gary Wayne Connell · Church Hill, US
• Jeffrey Todd Owens · Kingsport, US
• Sam Richard Turner · Kingsport, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 6, 2002
• Grant date: Mar 30, 2004
• Expiry date: Mar 6, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08K9/04
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to processes for preparing a nanocomposite comprising:a. preparing an organoclay material by reacting a swellable layered clay with an onium ion represented by Formula (I): whereini) M is nitrogen or phosphorus,ii) R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms,iii) R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from organic or oligomeric ligands or hydrogen, andiv) at least one of R2, R3, and R4 comprises an alkylene oxide group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms or a polyalkylene oxide group, andb. melt mixing the organoclay material with an expanding agent, andc. melt extruding the expanded organoclay and a polymer to provide a nanocomposite.