High shear thin film machine for dispersion and simultaneous orientation-distribution of nanoparticles within polymer matrix
An improved a device and method for dispersion and simultaneous orientation of nanoparticles within a matrix is provided. A mixer having a shaft and a stator is provided. The shaft may have a rupture region and erosion region. Further, an orienter having an angled stationary plate and a moving plate are provided. The nanoparticles and the matrix are fed into the mixer. A rotational force is applied to the shaft to produce shearing forces. The shearing forces disperse and exfoliate the nanoparticles within the matrix. The dispersed mixture is outputted onto the moving plate. The moving plate is forced across the angled stationary plate to produce fully developed laminar shear flow. The fully developed laminar shear flow or the two-dimensional extensional drag flow orients the dispersed nanoparticles-matrix mixture.
1 . A device to orient particles within a matrix, the device comprising:
a moving plate adapted to receive a mixture of the particles and the matrix, the moving plate having an upper surface and an opposite bottom surface;
a stationary plate comprising:
an orientation section having a leading edge and a trailing edge; and
a short angled section extending from the leading edge of the orientation section;
a gap between the upper surface of the moving plate and the leading edge of the orientation section;
wherein the upper surface of the moving plate moves at an angle from the leading edge of the orientation section to the trailing edge of the orientation section, wherein the angle is greater than zero degrees relative to horizontal; and
wherein the mixture disposed on the upper surface of the moving plate is forced through the gap to orient the particles within the matrix.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the angle is about three degrees relative to horizontal.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the moving plate moves horizontally.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the orientation section is angled relative to the moving plate.
5 . A high shear thin film machine comprising:
the device of claim 1 ; and
a mixer comprising:
a housing having a center axis, an outer surface, and an inner surface; and
an inlet in fluid connection with the housing configured to receive the mixture of the particles and the matrix and an outlet in communication with the moving plate.
6 . The high shear thin film machine of claim 5 , wherein the mixer further comprises:
one or more cooling channels disposed within the housing between the outer surface and the inner surface.
7 . A device to orient particles within a matrix, the device comprising:
a moving plate adapted to receive a mixture of the particles and the matrix, the moving plate having an upper surface and an opposite bottom surface;
a stationary plate comprising:
an orientation section having a leading edge and a trailing edge; and
a short angled section extending from the leading edge of the orientation section;
a gap between the upper surface of the moving plate and the leading edge of the orientation section;
wherein the distance between the moving plate and the orientation section decreases as the moving plate moves past the orientation section.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the upper surface of the moving plate moves at an angle from the leading edge of the orientation section to the trailing edge of the orientation section.
9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the mixture disposed on the upper surface of the moving plate is forced through the gap to orient the particles within the matrix.
10 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the orientation section is angled relative to the moving plate.
11 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the particles comprise nanoparticles.
12 . A high shear thin film machine comprising:
the device of claim 7 ; and
a mixer comprising a housing and one or more cooling channels within the housing between an outer surface and an inner surface.
13 . The high shear thin film machine of claim 12 , wherein the mixer further comprises:
threading on a surface of the one or more cooling channels to increase surface area of the surface of the one or more cooling channels for dissipating heat.