Exfoliated clay nanocomposites

• US 20060293430A1
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Blanton, Thomas N., Wang, Jin-Shan
• Application Number:
  US11/156,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293430A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 524/445
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/02 Ingredients treated with inorganic substances

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nanocomposite composition comprising a clay material splayed with an inorganic particle having a diameter equal to or less than 30 nanometers. Another embodiment of the invention includes a splayed material comprising a layered material splayed with a particle, wherein the particle comprises a diameter equal to or less than 30 nanometers. Another embodiment relates to a method for preparing an exfoliated nanocomposite composition comprising the steps of preparing an inorganic particle, mixing the particle with a layered material dispersed in a medium, and splaying the layered material to produce a nanocomposite, wherein the inorganic particle comprises a diameter equal to or less than 30 nanometers.

Claims

1. A nanocomposite composition comprising a clay material splayed with an inorganic particle wherein said inorganic particle has a diameter equal to or less than 30 nanometers.

2. The nanocomposite composition of claim 1 wherein said clay material splayed with an inorganic particle is clay material exfoliated with an inorganic particle.

3. The nanocomposite composition of claim 1 wherein the aspect ratio of the clay is greater than 10 to 1.

4. The nanocomposite composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic particle is between 5 nanometers and 30 nanometers.

5. The nanocomposite composition of claim 1 further comprising a matrix polymer.

6. The nanocomposite composition of claim 5 wherein the matrix polymer is dispersible in water.

7. The nanocomposite composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of inorganic nanoparticle to clay is six parts inorganic nanoparticle to one part clay.

8. The nanocomposite composition of claim 1 wherein the clay is a smectite clay.

9. The nanocomposite composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic particle is Sb₂O₃ having a diameter of 20 nanometers.

10. The nanocomposite composition of claim 1 wherein said inorganic particle is ZnSb₂O₄, SnO₂, Sb₂O₃, amorphous SiO2, or SiO₂ (cristobalite), SiO2 (quartz)

11. A splayed material comprising a layered material splayed with a particle, wherein said particle comprises a diameter equal to or less than 30 nanometers.

12. The nanocomposite composition of claim 11 wherein said clay material splayed with an inorganic particle is clay material exfoliated with an inorganic particle.

13. The material of claim 11 wherein said particle comprises a nanoparticle 5 nanometers and 30 nanometers in diameter.

14. The material of claim 11 wherein said particle is prepared by milling a polymer and a dispersant in a medium, wherein said polymer is not soluble in said medium.

15. The material of claim 14 wherein said medium comprises an aqueous medium.

16. The material of claim 14 wherein said medium comprises an organic solvent.

17. The material of claim 11 wherein said layered material is a clay.

18. The material of claim 17 wherein said clay comprises smectite clay.

19. The material of claim 17 wherein said clay comprises layered double hydroxide clay.

20. The material of claim 11 wherein said material comprises a coating element.

21. The material of claim 11 wherein said material comprises an imaging element.

22. The material of claim 11 wherein said material comprises a viscosity modifier.

23. A method for preparing an exfoliated nanocomposite composition comprising the steps of preparing an inorganic particle, mixing said particle with a layered material dispersed in a medium, and splaying said layered material to produce a nanocomposite, wherein said inorganic particle comprises a diameter equal to or less than 30 nanometers.

24. The nanocomposite composition of claim 23 wherein said splaying is exfoliating.