Self-Reinforced Polymeric Materials with enhanced Processability and Toughness

This technology provides self-reinforced polymeric materials with greatly improved physical and mechanical properties as well as a unique and simple method for generating these materials. The concept involves using a low molecular weight crystalline compound in a polymer blend to form reinforcing crystalline particles. The presence of the crystalline particles simultaneously improves the impact or fracture toughness, enhances processibility through reduced viscosity, increases or does not otherwise detrimentally decrease the modulus, and lowers the coefficient of thermal expansion, among other improvements. These advantageous characteristics will allow self-reinforced polymeric materials to compete in markets currently using more expensive compounds. Virtually any polymeric material can benefit from this technology.

DESCRIPTION

ADVANTAGES

• Unique combination of properties: Reduced melt viscosity while retaining all desirable properties of other rigid particle reinforced thermoplastics
• Wide applicability: The self-reinforcement method can be used to improve almost all polymeric materials, such as amorphous thermoplastics, semi-crystalline thermoplastics, and glassy thermosets.
• Simple and low cost: Applying the reinforcement technology requires no additional equipment.

APPLICATIONS

• Any application where a polymer would benefit from improved physical and mechanical properties
• Polymer and polymer additive production
• High performance materials for specific purposes

ABOUT THE LEAD INVENTOR

Dr. Alan Lesser is a Professor in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the Editor-in-Chief for the Polymer Engineering & Science and Polymer Composites journals. He is an expert in the research areas of deformation, fracture, strength and durability of polymers and polymer-based composites, micromechanics of polymer blends and composites, nano and molecular composites, and constitutive modeling of polymers in complex stress states. His current research concentrates on developing a new set of theoretical and experimental tools that enable the streamlined design, optimization, selection, and evaluation of polymeric materials for structurally demanding applications.

AVAILABILITY:

Available for Licensing or Sponsored Research

DOCKET:

UMA 07-34

PATENT STATUS:

US Patents 8,455,096 and 8,883,919 Issued

NON-CONFIDENTIAL INVENTION DISCLOSURE

LEAD INVENTOR:

Alan Lesser, Ph.D.

CONTACT:

This technology provides self-reinforced polymeric materials with greatly improved physical and mechanical properties as well as a unique and simple method for generating these materials. The concept involves using a low molecular weight crystalline compound in a polymer blend to form reinforcing crystalline particles. The presence of the crystalline particles simultaneously improves the impact or fracture toughness, enhances processibility through reduced viscosity, increases or does not otherwise detrimentally decrease the modulus, and lowers the coefficient of thermal expansion, among other improvements. These advantageous characteristics will allow self-reinforced polymeric materials to compete in markets currently using more expensive compounds. Virtually any polymeric material can benefit from this technology.