Patent ID: 6287639
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: C01P,C03C,C09C,C09D

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a composite material comprising a substrate that is not a glass or mineral fiber or a vegetable material and a nanocomposite in contact with the substrate, the method comprising the steps of:(1) preparing a nanocomposite sol by surface modifying colloidal inorganic particles with one or more silanes of the general formula R.sub.x --Si--A.sub.4-xwhereeach A is the same or different and is selected from hydroxyl and groups that are hydrolytically removable but are not methoxy,each R is the same or different and is selected from groups that are not hydrolytically removable, andx is 0, 1, 2, or 3,where x.gtoreq.1 in at least 50 mol % of the silanes; under sol-gel process conditions with a sub-stoichiometric quantity of water ranging from 0.1 to 0.45 mol of water per mol of the hydrolyzable groups present;(2) activating the nanocomposite sol with a further quantity of water;(3) contacting the substrate with the activated nanocomposite sol; and(4) curing the contacted substrate, thereby forming the composite material.