US Patent 7758961 - Functionalized nanoparticles in particle/bulk material systems

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7758961.html

This patent from Milliken & Company teaches the fabrication of nanocomposite materials having enhance properties such as adhesion by using multiple functional groups. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanocomposite comprising multi-functionalized nanoparticles comprising:

a clay nanoparticle;

a first type of chemically functional group chemically bonded to at least a portion of the surface of the nanoparticle; and,

a second type of chemically functional group chemically bonded to at least a portion of the surface of the nanoparticle,

wherein the first and second chemically functional groups are substantially segregated on the surface of the nanoparticle,

wherein the multi-functionalized nanoparticles are dispersed in an extrudable thermoplastic bulk material.