Infusion is clean, fast, economical and most importantly produces finely controlled homogenous composite materials. The table below shows the advantages of infusion in composite development. Infusion Mixing Homogeneous IPN distribution. Separate organic, inorganic phases within bulk polymer. Bulk properties of starting polymer may be either altered or retained in the infused composite.
Solvents frequently alter polymer physical properties.
IPN's fixed permanently within target polymer with controlled particle sizes. Frequent migration and leaching of precursors from polymer. Predictable composite mechanical properties. More uncertainty in physical attributes in resulting composite. Electronic, optical and catalytic properties may be retained.