Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Material via Solvent Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for hybridizing organic and inorganic materials face challenges in achieving flexibility, transparency, and thermostability due to differences in physical properties, often resulting in reduced transparency and thermostability when modifiers are used.
Innovation Solution
A dispersion solution comprising a first solvent, a second solvent with different boiling points, an inorganic nano sheet material dispersed in the first solvent, and a polymer dissolved in the second solvent, where the solution is applied to a substrate and heated in a stepwise manner to form an organic/inorganic hybrid material with a high inorganic content without the use of modifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If organic ammonium salts are used as modifiers to intercalate and disperse inorganic clay, then the inorganic clay can be hybridized with organic polymer, but the added amount of inorganic clay approaches the upper limit (about 20 wt%), and the composite material loses transparency and has high haze while thermostability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the organic ammonium salt modifier from the system entirely. By extracting this harmful element, the patent eliminates the cause of transparency loss and thermostability degradation, while still achieving successful inorganic-organic hybridization through a different mechanism involving direct dispersion of inorganic clay sheets in the polymer matrix
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dispersion mechanism parameter from chemical intercalation (using ammonium salts) to physical dispersion (using solvent systems with different boiling points). This parameter change allows inorganic clay to be dispersed at higher concentrations without the negative side effects of the modifier, achieving both high inorganic content and good transparency
2Ease of manufacture
If organic polymer and inorganic material are combined at specific ratio after modification, then hybridization can be achieved, but the physical property differences make direct hybridization difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a solvent system as an intermediary medium to bridge the physical property differences between organic polymer and inorganic material. The solvent system with different boiling points acts as a temporary medium that facilitates uniform dispersion and integration of inorganic clay sheets with the polymer matrix, enabling easier hybridization at higher inorganic content without requiring chemical modification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the hybridization approach from direct combination of solid materials to a solution-based process using solvents with different boiling points. This parameter change in the processing method enables better mixing and integration of inorganic and organic phases, overcoming the difficulty caused by large physical property differences
3Stability of the object's composition
If inorganic material is added to improve rigidity and reduce CTE, then thermostability and transparency are maintained, but the added amount of inorganic material is limited by the need to avoid loss of transparency and worsened thermostability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful modifier (organic ammonium salt) that causes thermostability degradation. By removing this element, the patent enables the use of higher inorganic material content without sacrificing thermostability, as the inorganic clay is dispersed through a modifier-free process that preserves the thermal stability of the polymer matrix
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves an organic/inorganic hybrid material with reduced coefficients of thermal expansion and high transparency, maintaining the inherent properties of the polymer while incorporating a high content of inorganic material.
Implementation Method 1
a first solvent; a second solvent miscible with the first solvent, wherein the boiling points of the first solvent and the second solvent are different
Implementation Method 2
heating the dispersion solution on the substrate at a first temperature between the boiling points of the first solvent and the second solvent; and heating the dispersion solution on the substrate at a second temperature higher than the boiling points of the first solvent and the second solvent
Implementation Method 3
an inorganic nano sheet material dispersed in the first solvent
Implementation Method 4
a polymer dissolved in the second solvent
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a dispersion solution, including: a first solvent; a second solvent miscible with the first solvent; an inorganic nano sheet material dispersed in the first solvent; and a polymer dissolved in the second solvent, wherein the boiling point of the first solvent is different from that of the second solvent. The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing the dispersion solution and an organic/inorganic hybrid material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion.