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Surface infusion of gold nanoparticles into processed thermoplastics
Author(s) -
Lentz Daniel M.,
Pyles Robert A.,
Hedden Ronald C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.21506
Subject(s) - materials science , nanoparticle , plasticizer , chemical engineering , copolymer , polymer , extrusion , precipitation , solvent , thermoplastic elastomer , composite material , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , engineering , meteorology
Stable dispersions of gold (Au 0 ) nanoparticles are produced in a few commercially important thermoplastics using a novel surface infusion technique. The thermoplastic article is immersed in a dilute solution of HAuCl 4 in a ternary solvent mixture held well below the melt‐processing temperature of the plastic. Rapid infusion of plasticizing solvents and HAuCl 4 is achieved for several thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers and an acrylic‐pyrrolidinone copolymer. A second infusion of triethylamine, a reducing agent, produces Au 0 nanoparticles in a surface layer of (10–30 μm) depth. Precipitation of Au 0 nanoparticles is arrested by the high viscosity of the plasticized polymer matrix, resulting in a stable dispersion, but formation of aggregates is possible in some plastics. The Au 0 particle size distribution can be manipulated by changing processing conditions that affect the formation of aggregates, such as the concentrations of HAuCl 4 and plasticizers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers