| United States Patent Application | 20080206559 |
| Kind Code | A1 |
| LI; YUNJUN ; et al. | August 28, 2008 |
LUBRICANT ENHANCED NANOCOMPOSITES
Strings configured for use in sports racquets and musical instruments are fabricated as a plastic core wrapped with one or more filaments of plastic. The strings are coated with a material composite that includes rigid nanoparticles, and lubricated nylon. The rigid nanoparticles may include clay or carbon nanotubes. The strings are coated with the material composite using various processes that result in a coating thickness of between 0.1 and 200 .mu.m. The material composite may further include impact modifiers. The strings experience extended life due to reduced frictional wear and improved mechanical properties.
| Inventors: | LI; YUNJUN; (Austin, TX) ; Yaniv; Zvi; (Austin, TX) ; Mao; Dongsheng; (Austin, TX) |
| Correspondence Name and Address: | FISH & RICHARDSON P.C. |
| Serial No.: | 036438 |
| Series Code: | 12 |
| Filed: | February 25, 2008 |
| U.S. Current Class: | 428/368; 473/543; 524/445; 524/495; 524/612 |
| U.S. Class at Publication: | 428/368; 524/612; 524/445; 524/495; 473/543 |
| Intern'l Class: | C08K 3/34 20060101 C08K003/34; C08K 3/04 20060101 C08K003/04; A63B 49/00 20060101 A63B049/00 |
1. A material composite comprising rigid nanoparticles, and lubricated nylon.
2. The composite of claim 1, wherein the rigid nanoparticles comprise carbon nanotubes or clay particles.
3. The composite of claim 1, wherein the lubricated nylon may comprise graphite, molybdenum disulfide, Silicone, Teflon.RTM., and titanium dioxide.
4. The composite of claim 1, further comprising impact modifiers selected from a set of impact modifiers including styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), maleic anhydride grafted ethylene and propylene copolymer, a plasticizer, a compatiblizer, and combinations therein.
Source
