Nanodiamond-Polymer Composite Fibers and Coatings

Abstract

While nanocrystalline diamond is quickly becoming one of the most widely studied nanomaterials, achieving a large fraction of diamond nanoparticles in a polymer coating has been an unresolved problem. In this work, polymer nano- and microfibers containing high loadings of 5 nm diamond particles (up to 80 wt % in polyacrylonitrile and 40% in polyamide 11) have been demonstrated using electrospun nanofibers as a delivery vehicle. The electrospun nanofibers with a high load of nanodiamond in the polymers were fused into thin transparent films, which had high mechanical properties; an improvement of 4 times for the Young's modulus and 2 times for the hardness was observed already at 20% nanodiamond in polyamide 11. These films can provide UV protection and scratch resistance to a variety of surfaces, especially in applications where a combination of mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties is required.

On the relation between chemical composition and optical properties of detonation nanodiamonds

“…They have the smallest particle size among different kinds of synthetic diamonds, typically in the range of $10 nm, and exhibit outstanding mechanical, optical, electrical, and thermal properties [1]. This makes DNDs promising in a diversity of areas of science and technology, ranging from the 'conventional' applications such as abrasives, cutting and polishing tools [2,3], to the 'cutting-edge' ones -drug delivery, biomedical imaging, non-toxic contrast agents [4][5][6][7], magnetic sensors [8], composites [9,10], and quantum computing [11][12][13].…”

Extraordinary synergy in the mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites reinforced with 2 nanocarbons

“…Thus, an important use of nanomaterials is in reinforcing polymer matrices taking advantage of the ultra-high stiffness and hardness exhibited by them. Recent research has shown that small additions (up to Ϸ1 wt%) of certain nanomaterials such as carbon nanaotubes enhance the mechanical properties markedly, sometimes by as much as 100% (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Although the precise mechanism responsible for this dramatic enhancement is not entirely understood, it is generally believed that molecular level interactions between the nanomaterials and polymer matrices play a major role.…”

“…Extensive research has been carried out on the mechanical properties of composites made of polymer matrices with 1 of the nanocarbons as the reinforcement phase (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). We would expect the nature of interaction of the nanocarbon constituent with the matrix to vary with the dimensionality.…”

Preparation and properties of multilayered polymer/nanodiamond composites via an in situ technique

“…NDs possess a fine combination of properties, such as crystallinity, hardness, chemical stability, low toxicity, non-porosity, a wide band gap, dopability, lesser particle size distribution (typically 4-6 nm) and the probability of varying the nanoparticle characteristics due to surface modification [7][8][9]. Owing to the above mentioned characteristics, NDs have been outstanding candidates in several advanced technological fields ranging from biomedical [10,11], to composites [12][13][14], and electrochemical applications [15], such as delivery vehicles design for drug analysis and purification of proteins, genes and antibodies, luminescent ND particles used in fluorescent labelling, filler or reinforcement for nanocomposites, etc. [7,[16][17][18][19].…”

“…Spherical nanoparticles have been attractive nanoscale filler (nanofiller), owing to their high surface to volume ratios [20]. Generally, the small diameter or nanoscale size (5 nm on average), nearly spherical shape, exceptionally excellent mechanical and physicochemical characteristics, large surface area (300-500 m 2 /g), tailor able and rich surface chemistry render NDs promising materials for polymer matrix reinforcement [12,[21][22][23][24]. In the past few decades, conducting or π-conjugated polymers have received great interest among researchers owing to their superior tunable, physical, electronic, optical and mechanical characteristics, and potential applications in numerous fields such as electrochromic devices, battery applications, photovoltaics, light emitting diodes, anticorrosion coatings and organic transistors [25,26].…”