Patent ID: 6187426
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: C03C,C04B,C08G,Y02W,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a composite material comprising a substrate selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, mineral fibers, and timber derived products, and a nanocomposite in functional contact with the substrate, the method comprising:(1) surface modifying colloidal inorganic particles with one or more silanes of the general formulaR.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 quantity of water that is sub-stoichiometric based on the quantity of hydrolytically removable groups present on the silanes, thereby preparing a nanocomposite sol;(2) optionally further hydrolyzing and condensing the nanocomposite sol;(3) optionally activating the nanocomposite sol with a further quantity of water;(4) contacting the substrate with the nanocomposite sol; and(5) curing the contacted substrate, thereby forming the composite material.