Enhanced Polymer Nanocomposite Performance

NANOADD and enhanced Polymer performance
Usually the addition of a filler material to a plastic product, causes the melt viscosity to increase thereby giving rise to processing problems. The impact strength and toughness of the resulting plastic can decrease and the optical clarity deteriorates.

Replacing these micron-size filler materials with nanosize filler additives bypasses these problems and also produces polymers with enhanced performance.

The NANOADD project developed new nanocomposite compounds and products with better performance properties for industrial applications. The main performance enhancements were in relation to strength-to-weight ratio, flame resistance, thermo-mechanical enhancement and barrier resistance. Application areas will widen as new materials with improved tensile strength, thermal stability, gas barrier properties, solvent resistance, and lower moisture absorption come on market.

From research to production……
For the past two years each of the companies with the help of the RTD partners identified the nanoclays that are most compatible with their polymer resin. Nanoclay reinforced plastics were produced and tested and production trials were undertaken in each SME plant. Throughout the project, the RTD partners operated a technology watch so that all SME partners were kept up to date of their position relating to worldwide research and patents pending.

Achievements of each partner:

Gem Plastics Ltd.
A high performance HDPE nanocomposite has been developed exhibiting increased mechanical, thermo-mechanical, barrier and flame resistance, without any loss in impact. This has been used to produce high performance HDPE containers with high toughness, better stack resistance and chemical resistance.

Permali Gloucester Ltd.
A phenolic glass mat laminate with 30% reduction in the amount of heat energy released during fire testing.

DOMO Polymer (Ghent)
A high performance PP has been achieved and is available for technical components.

Repol S.L.
A high performance recyclable polyamide compound for injection moulding has been achieved and is available to replace unfilled polymers where better thermo-mechanical strength is essential, without an increase in weight. This compound can be recycled 5 times over without any loss in performance properties.

Further Information
For more information on adding nanocomposite technology to your product please contact Una Moran in Materials Ireland Polymer Research Centre Trinity College Dublin umoran@tcd.ie or Daniela Tomova in TITK, Rudolstadt tomova@titk.de.