Chapter 11: Fabrication of Flexible Transparent Nanohybrids with Heat-resistance Properties Using a Fluorinated Crystalline Polymer

A new technology for the production of transparent material, using a “crystalline” polymer, is introduced. In addition, a heat-resistant transparent flexible plastic film with a highly hydrophobic surface and a thermal decomposition temperature near 400 °C was obtained. A partially fluorinated crystalline polymer with switchboard-type lamellae results in high transparency as a consequence of the formation of a high-density amorphous structure based on high-temperature drawing just below the melting-point at 250 °C. Melt compounding with montmorillonite modified with long-chain quaternary phosphonium with high coverage induces the formation of a nanohybrid that retains transparency and also results in an increase in the thermal degradation temperature by over 50 °C. Further, a transparent and flexible crystalline polymer nanohybrid film containing well-dispersed nanodiamond filler with antibacterial properties, high refractive index and high thermal conductivity was fabricated. This partially fluorinated copolymer with a matrix composed of switchboard-type lamellae is transparent owing to “high-density amorphous regions” created by drawing the film just below the melting-temperature of the polymer. Although the formation of nanohybrid materials composed of fluorinated polymer/organo-modified nanocarbon is generally difficult, we confirmed the formation, via melt compounding, using atomic force microscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction .Although the nanodiamond/polymer matrix nanohybrid has remarkable aggregation properties, a well-dispersed state was achieved because of improvements in wettability obtained through organo-modification. Through this technology, which results in heat resistance, transparency and flexibility, the nano-micro-millimeter structures of solid-state polymers are hierarchically controlled, which allows the creation of new materials.