FIG. 11 shows a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) image of a crystalline organic polymer with dispersed nano silver particles created at the Japan Science and Technology Agency which greatly improves the anti-bacterial qualities of plastic products as well as providing other advantageous qualities. (magnification.times.500000)
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) (Saitama, JP) Akikazu Matsumoto and Toru Odani have created a novel polymer with dispersed fine metal particles in which nano-sized metal particles are dispersed in an organic polymer. The nano-metal/polymers have various advantageous properties compared with the conventional organic/inorganic composite materials containing amorphous or partial crystalline organic polymers, according to U.S. Patent 7,645,811.
The JST polymers with dispersed nano metal particles have been shown to have high antibacterial activity and high catalytic activity, because it contains nano metal particles. The nanomaterial can be suitably used as an antibacterial agent, antifungal agent, oxidation catalyst, or as a reaction catalyst.
In addition, the polymer with dispersed fine metal particles is suitable for an optical material or electronic material because the polymer with dispersed fine metal particles show characteristic absorption properties in visible areas depending on the size of the fine metal particles in which they are produced.
Furthermore, Japan Science and Technology Agency’s nano-metal polymer is an improved organic/inorganic composite material which is more advantageous in thermostability, flame retardance, elastic constant, tensile strength, flexural strength, impact resistance, mar resistance, linear expansion coefficient and dimensional stability.
Furthermore, Japan Science and Technology Agency’s nano-metal polymer is an improved organic/inorganic composite material which is more advantageous in thermostability, flame retardance, elastic constant, tensile strength, flexural strength, impact resistance, mar resistance, linear expansion coefficient and dimensional stability.
It also exhibits improved shaping processability, electric properties, dielectric breakdown strength, dielectric constant, properties under high temperature, weatherability, resistance against hydrolysis and the like, compared with the conventional organic/inorganic composite materials containing amorphous or partial crystalline organic polymers. The many uses may be a new market for silver miners.
The novel metal ion-containing polymer is suitable as an intermediate product used in the production of the polymers with dispersed nano-sized metal particles which are applicable to a variety of applications. The metal ion-containing polymer itself is also applicable as an antibacterial agent, antifungal agent, oxidation catalyst, reaction catalyst, optical material, and electronic material.
The novel metal ion-containing polymer is suitable as an intermediate product used in the production of the polymers with dispersed nano-sized metal particles which are applicable to a variety of applications. The metal ion-containing polymer itself is also applicable as an antibacterial agent, antifungal agent, oxidation catalyst, reaction catalyst, optical material, and electronic material.
The metal ion-containing polymer composite provides improved properties in thermostability, flame retardance, elastic constant, tensile strength, flexural strength, impact resistance, mar resistance, linear expansion coefficient, dimensional stability, shaping processability, electric properties, dielectric breakdown strength, dielectric constant, properties under high temperature, weatherability, resistance against hydrolysis and the like, compared with conventional organic/inorganic composite materials with amorphous or partial crystalline organic polymers.
According to inventors Akikazu Matsumoto and Toru Odani, the lamellar crystalline organic polymer contains acidic groups and/or ammonium salt, such as ammonium salt of polymuconic acid, is mixed with a substance containing a metal ion such as alkali metal ion, to prepare a metal ion-containing polymer having a structure in which the metal ion is intercalated between the layers of the lamellar crystalline organic polymer having acidic groups.
Subsequently, metal ion exchange reaction is conducted if necessary. Thereafter, the metal ion is reduced to produce fine metal particles. Thus, a crystalline organic polymer in which fine metal particles are dispersed in a crystalline organic polymer is obtained.
FIG. 9 shows a Japan Science and Technology Agency SEM image of a crystalline organic polymer with dispersed fine silver particles. (magnification.times.600)
FIG. 10 shows a TEM image of the crystalline organic polymer with dispersed fine silver particles. (magnification.times.20000)
