SBIR Phase I: High Performance Polycarbonate Nanocomposites

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop high performance polycarbonate nanocomposites. Polycarbonate possess poor abrasion and chemical resistance and shows crazing and cracking upon stress. Incorporation of clay particles in a polymer matrix can overcome above-mentioned problems. However, the major obstacle to successful fabrication of polycarbonate-clay nanocomposites is related to the thermal stability of organoclay. Degradation of organoclay leads to decreased mechanical properties and lowered transparency accompanying with bad color. Nanoparticles are also good additives for improving mechanical properties and abrasion of polymers. The proposed polycarbonate nanocomposites will be used in a wide range of applications, such as automobiles, cell phone, computers and other business equipment, sporting goods, consumer electronics, household appliances, CDs, DVDs, food storage containers and bottles, which require polycarbonate to be hard, stiff, tough and color stable.