One-way and two-way shape memory study of chemically cross-linked star poly(ε-caprolactone)

Poster (2012, December 03)

Crosslinking of star-shape PCLs through Diels-Alder reactions for the preparation of shape memory polymers

Poster (2012, May 10)

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), a semi-crystalline polymer, is one of the most widely studied polymers for the development of shape memory materials when chemically cross-linked. PCL presents several ... [more ▼]

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), a semi-crystalline polymer, is one of the most widely studied polymers for the development of shape memory materials when chemically cross-linked. PCL presents several advantages such as a melting transition temperature close to human body temperature, a high biocompatibility and is (bio)degradable. So, this polymer is highly relevant for both biomedical devices such as stents or resorbable suture wires and also for degradable packaging. However, after cross-linking, the material can not be reprocessed, preventing any reuse/recycling of the material. One of the purposes of this work is to find a solution to this major drawback, which would then allow, for example, to reshape packaging films after use or to recycle trimmings remaining after fabrication. Amongst current trends in the design of new polymer and composite materials, the use of organic reactions that are able to create and reversibly disrupt chemical bonds upon an external stimulus (temperature, irradiation,…) is currently gaining more and more attention as it can lead to applications in various areas such as remendable materials, drug delivery systems, stimulus-degrading materials or recyclable materials. This contribution aims at reporting a new concept for the preparation of well defined and recyclable PCL based reversibly cross-linked shape memory polymer by the formation of reversible carbon-carbon bonds. Amongst all the reversible links described in the literature, thermally (4+2) reversible cycloadditions present interesting features such as the creation of robust bonds and well defined reversibility conditions. As an example, the application of furan/maleimide adducts as covalent link, which cycloreversion is largely favored in the range of temperature (90-120°C), is widely reported. For this purpose, commercially-available star-shaped PCL precursors have been selected and selectively modified at their chain ends either by a diene (furan, anthracene) or a dienophile (maleimide). Typically, PCL-based shape memory materials have been prepared by mixing a stoichiometric amount of diene-bearing and maleimide-bearing PCLs in a twin-screw mini-extruder at a temperature which favors cycloreversion. The polymer blend is then cured at 65°C (just above PCL melting temperature), with the purpose to increase chains mobility and improve the formation of the adducts. Cross-linked PCLs were obtained, as evidenced by swelling experiments. The shape memory properties of the materials have been studied by cyclic tensile thermomechanical analysis. The influence of the nature of the Diels-Alder moieties on the cross-linking rate and on the shape memory properties has been studied. Reversibility of the network formation in the case of furan, used as diene, has been assessed by rheology and by recycling experiment. [less ▲]

Hybrid material for electromagnetic absorption

Patent (2012)

The present invention relates to a hybrid material (10) for absorbing electromagnetic radiation (60) and a method for making such a material. The hybrid material (10) comprises at least one grid panel (20 ... [more ▼]

The present invention relates to a hybrid material (10) for absorbing electromagnetic radiation (60) and a method for making such a material. The hybrid material (10) comprises at least one grid panel (20) of thickness t 1 having holes (25) traversing said thickness t 1 , at least one polymer composite material (30) of thickness t 2 filling at least partially the holes (25) of the at least one grid panel (20), said at least one polymer composite material (30) including a polymer matrix (40) and conductive particles (50) dispersed into said polymer matrix (40), characterized in that the internal surface of the holes (25) of the at least one grid panel (20) is metallic. [less ▲]

Process for preparing electromagnetic interference shileding materials

Patent (2012)

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an electromagnetic interference shielding material, or a precursor thereof, comprising a first polymer matrix and carbon conductive loads, said ... [more ▼]

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an electromagnetic interference shielding material, or a precursor thereof, comprising a first polymer matrix and carbon conductive loads, said process comprises the steps of: (a) Forming a reaction mixture comprising carbon conductive loads and a polymerizable medium said polymerizable medium comprising one or more monomers dissolved in a solvent, (b) Exposing the reaction mixture to polymerization conditions to polymerize said polymerizable medium and thus form a polymer, and (c) Forming a precipitate or an agglomerate of an electromagnetic interference shielding material made of less than 50 wt.% carbon conductive loads dispersed in the first polymer matrix formed in step (b), characterized in that, said polymer is insoluble in said solvent and in that a fraction of the polymer chains thus formed are grafted on part of the surface of the carbon conductive loads. [less ▲]

A convenient route for the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in polymers: Application to the preparation of electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorbers

in Polymer (2012), 53(1), 169-174

A new dispersion technique has been implemented which consists in the polymerization of a monomer in the presence of CNTs in a bad solvent of the polymer. During its formation, the polymer precipitates ... [more ▼]

A new dispersion technique has been implemented which consists in the polymerization of a monomer in the presence of CNTs in a bad solvent of the polymer. During its formation, the polymer precipitates and entraps all the CNTs. Thanks to the establishment of a suitable CNTs dispersion, this method promotes much higher electrical conductivity in the resulting nanocomposite than more conventional techniques, i.e. melt-mixing and co-precipitation. Moreover, the quantity of solvent required is much lower than in the co-precipitation method that makes this process industrially viable. One potential application of these nanocomposites has been demonstrated by the preparation of foams using the supercritical CO2 technology that present very high electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorbing properties since more than 90% of the incoming power being absorbed in the foam. [less ▲]

Caractérisation microstructurale de mousses polymères nanocomposites par microtomographie à rayons X

Poster (2011, November 29)

Les circuits électriques, fonctionnant à des fréquences de plus en plus élevées, sont responsables de l’augmentation de la pollution électromagnétique, et justifient le développement de blindages ... [more ▼]

Les circuits électriques, fonctionnant à des fréquences de plus en plus élevées, sont responsables de l’augmentation de la pollution électromagnétique, et justifient le développement de blindages efficaces. De nombreuses applications sont concernées, que ce soit dans les systèmes électroniques commerciaux, industriels, ou militaires, ou les systèmes antennaires. Récemment, des blindages sous forme de composites polymère/charges carbonées ont été largement développés pour leur nombreux avantages : plus légers, moins chers, plus absorbants, et plus facilement moulables. Une charge carbonée prometteuse est le nanotube de carbone car de par son facteur de forme, une concentration moindre est nécessaire pour une conductivité équivalente [1]. Afin d’améliorer l’absorption de l’énergie électromagnétique de ces composites (par rapport à leur réflectivité), ils sont moussés pour réduire leur constante diélectrique. Cette étape de moussage doit être rigoureusement contrôlée pour atteindre le niveau d’absorption ciblé. Deux techniques de moussage sont envisagées dans cette étude, à savoir le moussage en CO2 supercritique (par imprégnation de CO2 en condition supercritique, avant une dépressurisation rapide) et le freeze-drying (dissolution dans un solvant, suivi d’une lyophilisation de celui-ci). Ces deux méthodes génèrent des structures de porosité bien distinctes, avec une anisotropie apparente marquée dans le second cas. L’objectif est de caractériser ces structures par tailles moyennes de pores et mesures d’anisotropie, et leur lien avec l’efficacité de blindage. Dans cette optique, la caractérisation est effectuée par microtomographie à rayons X, une technique d’imagerie 3D non-destructive. Des acquisitions sont faites sur chaque échantillon, et la microstructure est analysée par traitement d’images. Vu la très faible atténuation des rayons X dans ce type de matériaux, et la limite de résolution de cette technique par rapport à la taille des pores et à l’épaisseur des parois, la séparation précise des pores par rapport à la matrice polymère s’avère difficile. Une segmentation classique n’étant pas applicable en préalable à des mesures quantitatives, la fonction d’autocorrélation est utilisée. Cette technique, habituellement utilisée en traitement du signal, est une méthode performante de mesure globale de l’anisotropie d’un matériau [2]. Elle permet également d’extraire une longueur caractéristique qui peut être liée à la taille des cellules. Les résultats mettent en évidence l’impact de la technique et des conditions de moussage sur la microstructure des mousses composites. [less ▲]

PMMA/ carbon nanotube nanocomposite foams for EMI shielding application

Conference (2011, August 30)

Foaming in CO2 sc medium as an efficient way to produce electromagnetic interference shielding materials

Conference (2011, June 30)

Precision design of novel copolymers and nanohybrids by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization

Conference (2011, June 28)

Thermo-reversible reactions for the preparation of smart materials: recyclable covalently-crosslinked shape memory polymers

Poster (2011, June 16)