Preparation of highly reflective films by supercritical infusion of a silver additive into poly(ether ether ketone)

Type of Document Master's Thesis
Author Nazem, Negin
Author's Email Address nnazem@vt.edu
URN etd-93097-173344
Title Preparation of highly reflective films by supercritical infusion of a silver additive into poly(ether ether ketone)
Degree Master of Science
Department Chemical Engineering
Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title
Dr. Larry T. Taylor Committee Chair
Dr. Eva Marand Committee Member
Dr. Richey M. Davis Committee Member
Keywords

* Supercritical fluid
* Supercritical Fluid Infusion
* Silver
* Reflectivity
* Poly(ether ether ketone)

Date of Defense 1997-10-03
Availability unrestricted
Abstract

PREPARATION OF HIGHLY REFLECTIVE FILMS BY

SUPERCRITICAL INFUSION OF A SILVER ADDITIVE INTO

POLY(ETHER ETHER KETONE)

Negin Nazem

(ABSTRACT)

There has been a great interest in preparing polymeric reflective surfaces in the last few

years. The application of supercritical fluid technology in this area is beginning to receive a great

deal of attention. Poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) is well known for its excellent thermal,

chemical, mechanical and electrical properties. These properties make it ideal for use in aerospace,

electrical, fluid handling and coating industries. Supercritical infusion of a silver�containing

additive (1,5-cyclooctadiene- 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato)silver(I) into a PEEK film

was achieved with moderately high density CO2 at various temperatures, pressures, and times.

During the infusion process: 1) polymer sample was exposed to both supercritical CO2 and the

additive under pressure for a brief time, 2) depressurization of the system caused the CO2 to

rapidly diffuse out of the polymer; while the remaining additive in the polymer desorbed at a much

slower rate governed by its diffusivity in the CO2-free polymer. Following this process the

infused film was heated for a short time period to thermally reduce the infused metal and to form

a reflective surface. In this research the effect of different additive concentrations, infusion

conditions (e.g. temperature, pressure, time), and curing conditions (e.g. air flow rate,

temperature, time) on the nature of the PEEK surface will be presented.

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