POLYMERIC COATINGS INCLUDING NANOPARTICLE FILLER

• US 20080248201A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Naturalnano Research, Inc. (Omni Shrimp, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Naturalnano Research, Inc. (Omni Shrimp, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fleischer, Cathy, Corkery, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US11/697,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248201A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/256
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 2601/00 Inorganic fillers
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/346 Clay
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/02 Ingredients treated with inorganic substances
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/04 Ingredients treated with organic substances treated with macromolecular compounds C08K9/08
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/62 modified by treatment with other compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/70 characterised by shape, e.g. fibres, flakes or microspheres

Abstract

Disclosed is a novel polymeric composite coating including a nanoparticle filler, where the filler may be suitable to alter one or more characteristics of the coating. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention provides a novel halloysite nanoparticle filler which has the general configuration of a cylinder or a rolled scroll-like shape, and a polymer protective coating containing the halloysite nanoparticle or equivalent nanotubular filler.

Claims

1. A polymeric nanoparticle coating, comprising:

a polymer coating; and

a nanotube filler, wherein in combination with said polymer coating said nanotube filler forms the polymeric nanoparticle coating.

2. The coating of claim 1, wherein the nanotube filler includes halloysite nanoparticles.

3. The coating of claim 2, wherein said halloysite nanoparticles have a generally tubular shape.

4. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer coating includes an acrylic polymer.

5. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer coating includes a methacrylic polymer.

6. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer coating includes a thermosetting material.

7. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer coating is selected from the group consisting of:

epoxies;

epoxy-polyester hybrids;

phenolics;

melamines;

urethanes; and

copolymers thereof.

8. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer coating includes a thermoplastic material.

9. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer coating includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

polyesters;

silicones;

acrylic polymers;

methacrylic polymers;

fluoropolymers;

polyurethanes;

and polystyrene;

biopolymers; and

copolymers thereof.

10. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer includes a latex polymer.

11. The coating of claim 1, wherein said nanotube filler further includes at least one compatibilization agent.

13. The coating of claim 11, wherein said compatibilization agent includes an organosilane.

14. The coating of claim 11, wherein said composite exhibits a storage modulus greater than that of said polymer without filler.

15. The coating of claim 11, wherein said polymer consists essentially of latex polymer.

16. The coating of claim 1, wherein said nanotube filler includes halloysite nanoparticles having a generally cylindrical shape and exhibiting differential surface charges to form a localized network of tubes arranged generally end to wall.

17. The coating of claim 3, wherein said nanoparticles include a metal cladding thereon.

18. The coating of claim 1, wherein said nanotubes include at least one agent for elution.

19. The coating of claim 18, wherein said agent for elution is selected from the group consisting of:

biocides;

minerals;

light emitting substances;

fluorescent substances;

phosphorescent substances;

colorants;

antioxidants;

emulsifiers;

antifungal agents;

pesticides;

fragrances;

dyes;

optical brighteners;

fire retardants;

self-healing polymers;

lubricants, and combinations thereof.

20. The coating of claim 1, wherein the nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of:

imogolite;

cylindrite; and

boulangerite.

21. The coating of claim 1, wherein the nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of:

tubular 1;

1 sheet silicates, including those with effective area mismatches per charge in apposed octahedral and tetrahedral layers;

tubular double layer hydroxides, including those with effective area mismatches per charge in apposed octahedral and tetrahedral layers;

tubular metal sulfides;

tubular metal selenides

tubular metal tellurides;

surfactant templated silica nanotubes;

metal silicate nanotubes;

metal aluminosilicate nanotubes;

metal germanate nanotubes;

tubular metal oxide;

tubular metal hydroxides;

boron-containing nanotubes; and

organic nanotubes.

22. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer coating includes a gel.

12. The coating of 11, wherein said compatibilization agent is an organic compound.

23. A method for making a polymer nanocomposite coating, including:

producing a milled halloysite having a nanotubular structure; and

combining a polymer material with said surface treated halloysite to form the polymer composite.

24. The method of claim 23, where the milled halloysite is produced using an air milling process.

25. The method of claim 23, further including drying said surface treated halloysite.

26. The method of claim 23, further including surface modifying the halloysite.

27. The method of claim 23, further including forming the polymer nanocomposite coating using a process for application of the polymer nanocomposite selected from the group consisting of:

roller coating, slide bead coating, slot coating, knife or blade metering, free jet coating, rod metering, die coating, bead coating, dip coating, spray coating, casting, non-contact coating, screen printing, curtain coating, solid-film coating, metered film press coating, air knife coating, gravure coating and powder coating.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein said halloysite material is surface modified by exposure to a compatibilization agent.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said compatibilization agent includes an organic compound.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said organic compound is selected from the group consisting of:

neutral and ionic compounds.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said compatibilization agent includes an inorganic compound.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said inorganic compound is selected from the group consisting of:

neutral, ionic and zwitterionic compounds.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein said compatibilization agent is selected from the group consisting of:

organosilane;

organozirconate; and

organotitanate agents.

34. The method of claim 28, further including air milling the surface treated halloysite.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein said halloysite is combined with said polymer to produce a composite including a range of about 1 to about 20 weight-percent halloysite.

36. The method of claim 23, wherein said halloysite is combined with said polymer to produce a composite including a range of about 5 to about 15 weight-percent halloysite.

37. The method of claim 23, wherein said halloysite is combined with said polymer to produce a composite including about 10 weight-percent halloysite.

38. The method of claim 23, further including adding at least one additive selected from the group consisting of:

colorants, antioxidants, emulsifiers, biocides, antifungal agents, pesticides, fragrances, dyes, optical brighteners, self-healing polymers and plasticizers, lubricants, and fire retardants.

39. The method of claim 23, further including:

coating the halloysite with a metal;

drying the coated halloysite to provide hollow micro-capillary spaces; and

filling the micro-capillary spaces by exposing the dried halloysite to an active agent and the agent'"'"'s carrier or solvent.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein coating the halloysite is accomplished using an electroless deposition process.

41. The method of claim 39, further including applying the composite on a surface to provide a conductive coating thereon.

42. The method of claim 23, further including associating aa lubricant with the halloysite.

43. The method of claim 23, further comprising applying said the nanocomposite coating to only a portion of a substrate surface.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein application to the portion of the surface is accomplished using a selective printing technique.