Coatings containing functionalized graphene sheets and articles coated therewith

Abstract

Coatings comprising functionalized graphene sheets and at least one binder. In one embodiment, the coatings are electrically conductive.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 866,089, filed Nov. 19, 2010, now allowed, which was a 371 of PCT / US09 / 30579, filed Jan. 9, 2009, and claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 026,268, filed Feb. 5, 2008.[0002]This invention was made with Government support under Grant No. CMS-0609049, awarded by the National Science Foundation, and under Grant No. NCC1-02037, awarded by NASA. The Government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to coatings comprising functionalized graphene sheets and at least one binder. The coatings can be electrically conductive.BACKGROUND[0004]Surface coatings can used to impart articles with desirable properties that are not possessed by the articles themselves or not possessed in a sufficient degree. For example, there are myriad applications for which it would be desirable to use electrically conductive a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about coatings that contain functionalized graphene sheets and a binder. The technical effect is that these coatings can provide improved properties to substrates they are applied to. The patent also describes a method for coating a substrate with this type of coating.

Problems solved by technology

Because of their intrinsic conductivities and frequently advantageous physical properties, metals are often useful for such applications but can have drawbacks, including increased weight, cost, and that they can be difficult and / or inconvenient to form into a variety of shapes, including intricate parts.

However, most polymer materials are not intrinsically electrically or thermally conductive enough for many applications.

Conductive polymeric resin compositions can be made in some cases by adding fillers to polymers, but high loadings are often required, which can be to the detriment of physical and other properties of the materials, as well as lead to melt processing difficulties when thermoplastic materials are used, among other possible drawbacks.

Housings for many electronic parts can be conveniently made from polymeric materials, but few useful polymers are sufficiently electrically conductive to be EMI shielding, necessitating the use of conductive additives, which can often have deleterious effects on other properties (such as physical properties) of the materials.