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DUPONT ENGINEERING POLYMER DEVELOP THERMOPLASTIC NANOCOMPOSITES THAT PROMISE NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Dr. Nandan Rao, vice president, technology for DuPont Performance Materials, announced that DuPont Engineering Polymers plans to introduce its first nanocomposites in 2007 and gave a preview of their potential benefits and underlying technology. DuPont Engineering Polymers is developing thermoplastic nanocomposites that promise to open new opportunities for design and production of parts delivering higher performance, lighter weight and/or increased molding productivity. Thorough dispersion of nano-sized particles in the polymer matrix can produce exponential increases in the interfacial area between polymer and particles and a large interfacial area produces major improvements in mechanical properties, high-temperature performance, barrier properties and processing characteristics. With proper dispersion, small amounts of a new DuPont nanomaterial called DNM in a polymer can produce substantial property improvements, according to Dr. Rao. He cited an example in which the addition of only 1.5 percent by weight of DNM in glass-reinforced PET material produced improvements in heat deflection temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius over typical glass-reinforced PET. The chart also shows the potential for combining DNM and glass fibers to produce composites with equivalent properties but that are lighter in weight than resins using only glass for reinforcement. Dr. Rao also presented examples showing that small amounts of DNM can produce significant improvements in high-temperature creep resistance and in the stiffness-toughness balance of PET resins. He also said that, as with all new DuPont products, the company is committed to product safety and product stewardship.
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