"With an addition of 20 percent by weight of this modified silicate, we achieve a decrease in permeability of a factor of five," says Runt. "This method is much more convenient than the chemical method and produces a far greater decrease in permeability."
The layers distribute through the polymer either as tiny stacks or as minute random placements of layers. The layers effectively block many of the paths through which air and water can migrate through the polymer.
The addition of the modified silicate does produce some stiffening and enhances strength. But, unlike conventional composites, the nanoparticles do not decrease ductility. This nanocomposite polymer has also not been tested for fatigue resistance.
The research team included Runt; David M. Weisberg, graduate student in materials science; Ruijian Xu, post doctoral fellow; James T. Garrett, recent Ph.D. in materials science; Evangelos Manias, assistant professor of materials science; Alan Benesi, department of chemistry, all at Penn State's University Park campus; Alan J. Snyder, associate professor of surgery and bioengineering; Gerson Rosenberg, professor of surgery and bioengineering; and Christopher Siedlecki, assistant professor of bioengineering and surgery, all at Penn State Hershey Medical Center; and Bernard Gordon, currently at Polymer Chemistry Innovations, Tucson, Ariz..
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Contact: A'ndrea Elyse Messer
aem1@psu.edu
814-865-9481
Penn State
26-Aug-2001