Polymer materials are utilized in an increasing number of categories of products, such as components for cars, boats, airplanes, within the electronics industry and other advanced industry as well as in paints and other coatings, for special packaging etc. The uses of polymer materials in new categories of products are only limited by the product properties.  

Nanoparticles based on organic inorganic hybrid polymers

Organic inorganic hybrid polymers are developed at SINTEF based on a new technology and applied as additives for polymer products like thermoset plastics and in lacquers and other types of coatings for surface protection.

Such hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticle based dispersions are prepared made by sol-gel method and the particles surface can be modified to suit a variety of polymer materials. Various selected qualities of organic inorganic hybrid polymers already exist which are appropriately modified by a suitable choice of starting compounds to function in commercial epoxy resins and polyethylene. According to their modification they are acting as a multifunctional crosslinker in the epoxy binder to support the curing process and as UV absorbing additive to prolong lifetime of a thermoplastic by increasing its stability against degradation due to UV radiation.

Synthesis of the organic inorganic hybrid polymer: controlled sol-gel reaction of γ-APS resulting in nanoparticles with amine groups (HAPS, above) and subsequent functionalisation leading to nanoparticles with modified amine groups (MHAPS, below)

The industrial coating and composite market underlay substantial changes due to health aspects and environmental regulations. A cost-effective modification of commercial products by nanosized organic inorganic hybrid polymers with designed functionalisation to improve desired materials properties of those thermosets and thermoplastics is highly appreciated and represents competitive products.

Contact person: Monika Pilz , Christian R Simon