Nanoparticle enhanced thermoplastic dielectrics, methods of manufacture thereof, and articles comprising the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a nanocomposite composition comprising a polymeric composition; wherein the polymeric composition comprises thermoplastic polymers; and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles have an average largest dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nanometers; and wherein the nanocomposite composition has a higher dielectric constant than the polymeric composition without the nanoparticles. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising blending a thermoplastic polymer with nanoparticles to form a nanocomposite composition; wherein the nanoparticles have an average largest dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nanometers; and molding the nanocomposite composition. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising method comprising blending a thermoplastic polymer with nanoparticles to form a nanocomposite composition; wherein the nanoparticles have an average largest dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nanometers; and casting the nanocomposite composition on a substrate.

1 . A nanocomposite composition comprising: 
 a polymeric composition; wherein the polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer; and    nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles have an average largest dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nanometers; and wherein the nanocomposite composition has a higher dielectric constant than the polymeric composition without the nanoparticles.    
     
     
         2 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1  wherein the nanocomposite composition has a dielectric constant that is about 50% greater than the polymeric composition without nanoparticles.  
     
     
         3 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1  wherein the nanocomposite composition has an energy density that is greater than the polymeric composition without the nanoparticles.  
     
     
         4 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1  wherein the nanocomposite composition has an energy density that is about 1 Joule/cubic centimeter to about 10 Joules/cubic centimeter.  
     
     
         5 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition further comprises a thermosetting polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymeric composition has a glass transition temperature of greater than or equal to about 100° C.  
     
     
         7 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises thermoplastic polymers, and wherein the thermoplastic polymers are polyurethanes, polyacrylics, polycarbonates polystyrenes, polyesters, polyamides, polyamideimides, polyarylates, polyarylsulfones, polyethersulfones, polyphenylene sulfides, polysulfones, polyimides, polyetherimides, polytetrafluoroethylenes, polyetherketones, polyether etherketones, polyether ketone ketones, polybenzoxazoles, polyoxadiazoles, polyacetals, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl thioethers, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl ketones, polyvinyl halides, polyvinyl nitriles, polyvinyl esters, polysulfonates, polysulfides, polythioesters, polysulfones, polysulfonamides, polyureas, polyphosphazenes, polysilazanes, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing thermoplastic polymers.  
     
     
         8 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , wherein nanoparticles having a particle size of greater than or equal to about 10 nanometers are treated with a silane coupling agent.  
     
     
         9 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , having an energy density of about 1 Joule per cubic centimeter to about 10 Joules per cubic centimeters.  
     
     
         10 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a polyetherimide.  
     
     
         11 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise inorganic oxides, and wherein the inorganic oxide comprises aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, cerium oxide, copper oxide, silicon oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, niobium oxide, yttrium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, perovskites and perovskite derivatives, barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, strontium-doped lanthanum manganate, calcium copper titanate, cadmium copper titanate, compounds having the formula Ca 1−x La x MnO 3 , lithium, titanium doped nickel oxide, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing inorganic oxides.  
     
     
         12 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , having a breakdown strength of at least 300 V/micrometer, an energy density of about 1 Joule per cubic centimeter to about 10 Joules per cubic centimeter and a corona resistance of about 1000 volts to 5000 volts applied for about 200 hours to about 2000 hours.  
     
     
         13 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , having an impact strength of greater than or equal to about 10 kilojoules per square meter, a Class A surface finish and a breakdown strength of at least 300 V/micrometer.  
     
     
         14 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 , having an impact strength of greater than or equal to about 10 kilojoules per square meter, a Class A surface finish and a corona resistance of about 1000 volts to 5000 volts applied for about 200 hours to about 2000 hours.  
     
     
         15 . A nanocomposite composition comprising: 
 a polymeric composition; wherein the polymeric composition comprises polyetherimide, fluorenyl polyester (FPE), polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidine fluoride-trifluoroethylene, polyvinylidene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymers, polyvinylidine trifluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene copolymers, polyvinylidine hexafluoropropylene copolymers, epoxy, polypropylene, polyester, polyimide, polyarylate, polyphenylsulfone, polystyrene, polyethersulfone, polyamideimide, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyetheretherketone, silicone; and    nanoparticles of a size and an amount effective to produce an impact strength of greater than or equal to about 5 kilojoules per square meter, a Class A surface finish and a breakdown strength of at least 300 V/micrometer.    
     
     
         16 . The nanocomposite composition of  claim 15 , having an impact strength of greater than or equal to about 10 kilojoules per square meter and a corona resistance of about 1000 volts to 5000 volts applied for about 200 hours to about 2000 hours  
     
     
         17 . A method comprising: 
 blending a thermoplastic polymer with nanoparticles to form a nanocomposite composition; wherein the nanoparticles have an average largest dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nanometers; and    molding the nanocomposite composition.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the blending comprises melt blending, solution blending, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing methods.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the blending is conducted in a twin screw extruder.  
     
     
         20 . An article comprising the nanocomposite composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 20 , wherein the article is a capacitor or a component for a spark plug.  
     
     
         22 . An article manufactured by the method of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 22 , wherein the article is a capacitor or a component for a spark plug.  
     
     
         24 . A method comprising: 
 blending a thermoplastic polymer with nanoparticles to form a nanocomposite composition; wherein the nanoparticles have an average largest dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nanometers; and    casting the nanocomposite composition on a substrate.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the casting comprises spin casting, spray painting, electrostatic spray painting, dip coating, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing methods of casting.  
     
     
         26 . An article manufactured by the method of  claim 24.