Self-Healing Polyethylene

• US 20150291745A1
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pen Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pen Inc.
• Inventors: Mao, Dongsheng, Fink, Richard Lee, Yaniv, Zvi
• Application Number:
  US14/646,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20150291745A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/22 the article containing elements including a sealing composition, e.g. powder being liberated when the article is damaged
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2323/06 Polyethene
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/00 Manufacture of articles or shaped materials containing macromolecular substances manufacture of semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00 - B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/005 Reinforced macromolecular compounds with nanosized materials, e.g. nanoparticles, nanofibres, nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods or nanolayered materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/10 characterised by the additives used in the polymer mixture
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/013 Fillers, pigments or reinforcing additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 123/06 Polyethene

Abstract

A composite material implements self-healing microcapsules in thermoplastic matrices, such as polyethylene. A microencapsulated dicyclopentadiene monomer and a solid phase Grubbs'"'"'s catalyst is embedded in a polyethylene matrix to achieve self-healing properties. Nanofillers may be added to improve the properties of the polyethylene matrix incorporating a self-healing system.

Claims

1. A composite material comprising a polyethylene matrix and a self-healing system.

2. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the polyethylene matrix comprises a medium or high density polyethylene.

3. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the self-healing system is a microencapsulated dicyclopentadiene monomer and a solid phase Grubbs'"'"'s catalyst.

4. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the self-healing system is a microencapsulated tin catalyzed polycondensation of silanol functionalized poly(dimethyl siloxane).

5. The composite material as recited in claim 1, further comprising a nanofiller.

6. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is carbon nanotubes.

7. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is clay.

8. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is grapheme.

9. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is graphite.

10. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is carbon black.

11. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is ceramic particles.

12. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is carbon nanofiber.

13. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is oxide particles.

14. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is mineral particles.

15. The composite material as recited in claim 6, wherein the carbon nanotubes are functionalized carbon nanotubes.

16. The composite material as recited in claim 3, further comprising a nanofiller.

17. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the self-healing system is suitable for rupturing and filling in a crack formed in the composite material.

18. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein an average size of microcapsules in the self-healing system is less than 50 microns.

19. The composite material as recited in claim 1, wherein the composite material is a thermoplastic material.

20. The composite material as recited in claim 18, wherein an average size of microcapsules in the self-healing system is less than 50 microns.