Light weight structural materials

1. A functionalized microsphere for reducing a density of a structural matrix material, the functionalized microsphere comprising:

at least one anchoring group covalently bonded to a surface of a microsphere;

at least one functional group configured to covalently bond with the structural matrix material;

a linking component covalently bonding the at least one anchoring group with the at least one functional group; and

a fill material within the microsphere, wherein the microsphere with the fill material has a lower density when compared to the structural matrix material into which the microsphere will be incorporated.

2. The functionalized microsphere of claim 1 , wherein the microsphere is selected from the group consisting of ceramic microspheres, glass microspheres, metal microspheres, microspheres made from carbon compositions, microspheres made from metalloids, microspheres made from organic polymers, plastic microspheres, and combinations thereof.

3. The functionalized microsphere of claim 1 , wherein the at least one functional group is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, ethacrylates, 2-phenyl acrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides, cyanoacrylates, epoxies, oxetanes, vinyls, vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, vinyl amides, vinyl ketones, styrenes, styryls, isocyanates, uranyls, carboxyls, olefins, allyls, allyl ethers, allyl esters, allyl amines, allyl amides, ethynyls, propargyls, acryloyls, methacryloyls, maleic anhydride, maleic esters, maleimides, itaconates, silanes, siloxanes, silanols, titanates, thiols, phosphazines, titanium oxides, silicones, zirconium oxides, and combinations thereof.

4. The functionalized microsphere of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anchoring group is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, amines, thiols, thiosulphates, carboxylic acids, acid chlorides, esters, acetals, hemiacetals, aminals, hemiaminals, ketones, aldehydes, α-hydroxy ketones, α-halo ketones, epoxides, lactones, thiolactones, azalactones, isocyanate, thiocyanate, imines, succinimides, glutimides, imido esters, aziridines, imidates, oxazine, oxazoline, oxazinium, oxazolinium, chlorotriazines, chloropyrimidines, chloroquinoxalines, chlorobenzotriazoles, sulphonyl halides, siloxanes, silanols, silanes, pyridyldithio derivatives, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, activated vinyls, nonactivated vinyls, acrylonitriles, acrylic esters, methacrylic esters, crotonic acids, crotonic esters, cinnamic acids, cinnamic esters, styrenes, butadienes, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones, maleic esters, maleimides, vinyl sulphones, hydrazines, phenyl glyoxal, and combinations thereof.

5. The functionalized microsphere of claim 1 , wherein the linking component is selected from the group consisting of linear, branched, cyclic, substituted, unsubstituted, saturated, and unsaturated C 1 -C 50 carbon-based chains, and combinations thereof.

6. The functionalized microsphere of claim 1 , wherein the at least one functional group is configured to covalently bond with the structural matrix material selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic resin, a thermoset resin, an inorganic matrix, a cementitious matrix, and combinations thereof.

7. The functionalized microsphere of claim 1 , wherein the microsphere has a diameter of about 0.3 microns to about 95 microns.

8. A composite material comprising:

a plurality of functionalized microspheres disposed within a structural matrix material and covalently bonded with the structural matrix material, wherein the functionalized microsphere comprises:

at least one anchoring group covalently bonded to a surface of a microsphere;

at least one functional group covalently bonded with the structural matrix material;

a linking component covalently bonding the at least one anchoring group with the at least one functional group; and

a fill material within the microsphere, wherein the microsphere with the fill material has a lower density when compared to the structural matrix material.

9. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the microsphere is selected from the group consisting of ceramic microspheres, glass microspheres, metal microspheres, microspheres made from carbon compositions, microspheres made from metalloids, microspheres made from organic polymers, plastic microspheres, and combinations thereof.

10. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the at least one functional group is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, ethacrylates, 2-phenyl acrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides, cyanoacrylates, epoxies, oxetanes, vinyls, vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, vinyl amides, vinyl ketones, styrenes, styryls, isocyanates, uranyls, carboxyls, olefins, allyls, allyl ethers, allyl esters, allyl amines, allyl amides, ethynyls, propargyls, acryloyls, methacryloyls, maleic anhydride, maleic esters, maleimides, itaconates, silanes, siloxanes, silanols, titanates, thiols, phosphazines, titanium oxides, silicones, zirconium oxides, and combinations thereof.

11. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the at least one anchoring group is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, amines, thiols, thiosulphates, carboxylic acids, acid chlorides, esters, acetals, hemiacetals, aminals, hemiaminals, ketones, aldehydes, α-hydroxy ketones, α-halo ketones, epoxides, lactones, thiolactones, azalactones, isocyanate, thiocyanate, imines, succinimides, glutimides, imido esters, aziridines, imidates, oxazine, oxazoline, oxazinium, oxazolinium, chlorotriazines, chloropyrimidines, chloroquinoxalines, chlorobenzotriazoles, sulphonyl halides, siloxanes, silanols, silanes, pyridyldithio derivatives, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, activated vinyls, nonactivated vinyls, acrylonitriles, acrylic esters, methacrylic esters, crotonic acids, crotonic esters, cinnamic acids, cinnamic esters, styrenes, butadienes, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones, maleic esters, maleimides, vinyl sulphones, hydrazines, phenyl glyoxal, and combinations thereof.

12. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the linking component is selected from the group consisting of linear, branched, cyclic, substituted, unsubstituted, saturated, and unsaturated C 1 -C 50 carbon-based chains, and combinations thereof.

13. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the structural matrix material is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic resin, a thermoset resin, an inorganic matrix, a cementitious matrix, and combinations thereof.

14. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the microsphere has a diameter of about 0.3 microns to about 95 microns.

15. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the microspheres comprise about 5% to about 80% by weight of the composite material.

16. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the structural matrix material is a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic, acetal, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, urethane, urea, carbonate, sulfone, cyclics, polybutylene terephthalate, other rigid engineering polymers, and combinations thereof.

17. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the structural matrix material is a thermoset resin selected from the group consisting of polyester, vinylester, epoxy, acrylic, phenolic, sulfone, phenyl-formaldehyde, melamine, melamine-formaldehyde, other rigid thermoset engineering polymers, and combinations thereof.

18. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the structural matrix material is an inorganic matrix selected from the group consisting of ceramic, glass, glass-ceramic, sol-gel compositions, and combinations thereof.

19. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the structural matrix material is a cementitious matrix selected from the group consisting of portland cement, gypsum, polymer modified cement, latex modified cement, epoxy cements, other cementitious materials commonly used in the manufacture or repair of concrete structure, and combinations thereof.

20. The composite material of claim 8 , wherein the fill material within the microsphere is air.