Polycarbonate composition comprising nanomaterials

Abstract

A method of preparing a polycarbonate nanocomposite comprising forming a reactant mixture comprising a nanomaterial, a solvent, a dihydroxy compound and an activated carbonate; and polymerizing the dihydroxy compound and the activated carbonate in the presence of the solvent to form the polycarbonate nanocomposite is disclosed. Also disclosed are polycarbonate nanocomposites prepared in accordance with this method, and thermoplastic compositions comprising the polycarbonate nanocomposites. Also disclosed are polycarbonate compositions comprising the nanomaterial.

1 . A polycarbonate composition comprising:
 an aromatic polycarbonate,   0.1 to 10 percent by weight of the total composition of a nanomaterial,   wherein greater than 90% by volume of the particles of the nanomaterial in the composition have a particle diameter less than 50 nm as measured by SAXS.   
     
     
         2 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 1 , wherein greater than 95% by volume of the particles have a particle diameter less than 50 nm as measured by SAXS. 
     
     
         3 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanomaterial comprises nanosilica, nanoclay, nanotalc, nanoalumina, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing nanomaterials. 
     
     
         4 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 3 , wherein the nanomaterial comprises nanosilica or nanoclay. 
     
     
         5 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polycarbonate is prepared by a melt process. 
     
     
         6 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is prepared by in-situ polymerization. 
     
     
         7 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of the total composition of nanomaterial. 
     
     
         8 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 0.7 to 3 percent by weight of the total composition of nanomaterial. 
     
     
         9 . An article comprising the composition of  claim 1 , wherein the article is prepared by injection molding or extrusion. 
     
     
         10 . A polycarbonate composition comprising:
 an aromatic polycarbonate,   0.1 to 10 percent by weight of the total composition of a nanomaterial comprising nanosilica, nanoclay, nanotalc or nanoalumina, or a combination of two or more of nanomaterials,   wherein greater than 90% by volume of the particles of the nanomaterial in the composition have a particle diameter less than 50 nm as measured by SAXS, wherein the composition is prepared by in-situ polymerization or a melt process.   
     
     
         11 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 10 , wherein the polycarbonate is prepared by a melt process. 
     
     
         12 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 10 , wherein the polycarbonate is prepared by in-situ polymerization. 
     
     
         13 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 10 , wherein the nanomaterial comprises nanosilica or nanoclay. 
     
     
         14 . An article comprising the composition of  claim 10 , wherein the article is prepared by injection molding or extrusion. 
     
     
         15 . A polycarbonate composition comprising:
 an aromatic polycarbonate, 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of the total composition of a nanomaterial comprising nanosilica, nanoclay, nanotalc or nanoalumina, or a combination of two or more of nanomaterials,   wherein greater than 95% by volume of the particles of the nanomaterial in the composition have a particle diameter less than 50 nm as measured by SAXS, wherein the composition is prepared by in-situ polymerization or a melt process.   
     
     
         16 . An article comprising the composition of  claim 15 , wherein the article is prepared by injection molding or extrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 15 , wherein the nanomaterial comprises nanosilica or nanoclay. 
     
     
         18 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 15 , wherein the polycarbonate is prepared by a melt process. 
     
     
         19 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 15 , wherein the polycarbonate is prepared by in-situ polymerization. 
     
     
         20 . The polycarbonate composition of  claim 15 , wherein the composition comprises 0.7 to 3 percent by weight of the total composition of nanomaterial.