Process for making polymers having nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a polymer and a method for making a polymer that has nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer. The method of the invention involves the following steps; mixing a precursor solution for the polymer with a precursor for the nanostructures to form a mixture; forming nanostructures in the mixture from the precursor of the nanostructures; and forming a polymer from the precursor solution of the polymer so that the nanostructures are incorporated into the polymer matrix.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polymer having a matrix that has nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer formed by a method, comprising;
 a. mixing a precursor solution for the polymer with a precursor for the nanostructures to form a mixture, wherein the mixture consists essentially of the precursor solution for the polymer and the precursor for the nanostructures;   b. forming nanostructures in the mixture from the precursor of the nanostructures wherein the nanostructures are surrounded by the polymer precursor when they are formed; and   c. forming a polymer from the precursor solution of the polymer so that the nanostructures are incorporated into the polymer matrix,   wherein the nanostructures incorporated into the polymer matrix are in the range of 1 nm to 1,000 nm in length, and do not agglomerate to the extent the performance of the polymer is compromised.   
     
     
         2 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer includes nanostructures having a concentration in the polymer matrix ranging from 0.1% to 90% based on volume. 
     
     
         3 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer includes nanostructures selected from spherical, polyhedral cubic, triangular, pentagonal, diamond shaped, needle shaped, rod shaped, and disc shaped, 
     
     
         4 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer includes nanostructures having an aspect ratio of 1:1 to 1:1,000. 
     
     
         5 . A polymer having a matrix that has nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer, comprising:
 a polymer matrix; and   nanostructures incorporated into the polymer matrix, wherein the nanostructures incorporated into the polymer matrix are in the range of 1 nm to 1,000 nm in length, and do not agglomerate to the extent the performance of the polymer is compromised.   
     
     
         6 . The polymer of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer comprises a polyvinyl acetal resin. 
     
     
         7 . The polymer of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer comprises poly [bis(diethylene glycol) diallylcarbonate]. 
     
     
         8 . The polymer of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer comprises an aliphatic polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The polymer of  claim 5 , wherein the nanostructures are similarly charged. 
     
     
         10 . The polymer of  claim 5 , wherein the nanostructures in the polymer matrix range from 3% to 85% based on volume. 
     
     
         11 . The polymer of  claim 5 , wherein the nanostructures are selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide (ITO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), titania, alumina, and zirconia. 
     
     
         12 . The polymer of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer has an average molecular weight greater than 70,000 as measured by size exclusion chromatography using low angle laser light scattering. 
     
     
         13 . A polymer having a matrix that has nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer, comprising:
 a polymer matrix comprising at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl acetal resin, poly [bis(diethylene glycol) diallylcarbonate], and an aliphatic polyurethane; and   nanostructures incorporated into the polymer matrix, wherein the nanostructures are similarly charged, wherein the nanostructures in the polymer matrix range from 3% to 85% based on volume, and wherein the nanostructures are selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide (ITO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), titania, alumina, and zirconia.