Patent By Ronald Kander

United States Patent Application 20190330443

This patent was filed by TJU on the same day as the other two patents by Mark Sunderland.

Dr. Ron Kander is the Associate Provost for Applied Research at Jefferson where he manages the Applied Research activities across the university in order to provide faculty with professional development opportunities and support services to improve overall research productivity.

Family ID:68292198
Appl. No.:16/395397
Filed:April 26, 2019

NANOCOMPOSITE HEMP

Huge wall of text. Skimming over it, it pertains to various methods of creating hemp filler and composites, as well as the properties thereof, particularly in relation to various particle sizes, and ratios of hemp filler to primary material. Includes methods for forming composites into desired forms.

Highlights:

4. The composite of claim 1, wherein the hemp char filler is included at a sufficient density in the composite material wherein the resistance of the composite is less than 100.OMEGA. (ohms)

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, in the formation of a composite, no silanes or other dispersing agents are utilized to disperse the hemp particles into the polymer to form the composite materials.

[0050] In a further embodiment, the method wherein the polymer is selected from a biodegradable polymer, a non-biodegradable polymer, or combinations thereof.

[0052] In a further embodiment, the method wherein the polymer is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, or combinations thereof.

[0074] The conclusions drawn during this disclosure detail improved physical properties, which surprisingly exceed expected properties for composite formation. Furthermore, the stiffness of tested composites increased with the increase of biochar content. In addition to the increase in stiffness, the increase of biochar content decreased the peak degradation temperature, glass transition temperature, crystallization temperature, and melting temperature

[0085] Various properties of the material could change when using nanofiller to reinforce a polymer. Some of the properties include physical, mechanical, electrical and t
termal. In this research, the mechanical and electrical properties were examined.

[0097] Many parameters can be changed in the cryomilling process and determine the final microstructure of the material.

[0198] This hemp-reinforced nanocomposite will ultimately provide added strength and stiffness to a material. Thus, possible applications for this material exist in most current traditional uses of thermoplastics. Use in automotive and aeronautical industries, consumer goods, packaging, and construction applications are all potential markets.

[0199] Biodegradable and sustainable composites are easily formed by the methods and processes described herein and the resultant composite of biodegradable polymer (e.g. PLA, or others), and hemp can be modified to fit any number of applications based on particular needs. Advantageously, this composite, however, can biodegrade naturally, when exposed to atmospheric elements, including water at a controlled weight.

[0200] In other embodiments, the filler of hemp material can be combined with non-biodegradable polymers such as PP, and form materials intended for external applications that will have atmospheric contact. Coatings may be advantageously added to extend the life of the material, as known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0202] The ability of nanocomposites composed of carbonized hemp to conduct electricity and/or act as a capacitor will have significant importance for numerous commercial applications. Conductive polymers are of interest in antistatic applications in uses ranging from petrochemical processing/storage to electronic circuitry protection. There are also many applications where 3D printed carbon-reinforced nanocomposites could be used for electromagnetic interference shielding and smart textiles and wearables. For example, such materials may be utilized for biometric monitoring via smart fabrics or fabric-based induction charging for electronic devices. Simply, carbon is a conductive material, and when used in sufficient percentages,

[0204] Carbonized hemp, while containing some of the same properties as the cellulosic material described above, also includes electrical properties. As a material is carbonized, we take a non-conductive cellulosic material and generate one that possesses electrical properties. This allows for generation of a hemp-based carbon material that can act as a capacitor, or simply to transmit electrical charges through the material. Of course, in some settings, the electrical property is highly problematic and so carbonized material will not be appropriate for all settings.

[0213] However, all composites, regardless of electrical properties showed surprising mechanical properties. The composite molded samples did show deviations in average complex modulus as biochar volume percent increased. Ultimately, the complex modulus is higher than one would expect from model predictions at the same volume fractions. Thus, the composite provides a stiffer material than predicted based on the use of the hemp and polymer nanocomposites than for other materials