US 7,538,157 B2
Structured baroplastic materials
Anne M. Mayes, Mustang, Okla. (US); Sang-Woog Ryu, Taegu (Korea, Republic of); Metin H. Acar, Istanbul (Turkey); and Juan A. Gonzalez, Cambridge, Mass. (US)
Assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/172,371.
Application 11/172371 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2004/000334, filed on Jan. 07, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/438445, filed on Jan. 07, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0073000 A1, Mar. 29, 2007
Int. Cl. C08L 33/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 525—84  [525/85; 525/86; 525/87; 525/212; 525/218; 525/221; 525/227; 525/241; 525/244; 525/301; 523/201; 428/373] 19 Claims
 
1. A method, comprising:
providing a plurality of particles, at least some of the particles comprising a first material that is solid at a service temperature and a second, entrapped material that is fluid at the service temperature, wherein the first material and the second, entrapped material are in nanoscale proximity such that each atom of the first material is positioned within less than about 1 micrometer of at least one atom of the second material;
applying pressure to the particles sufficient to cause at least a portion of the first material to exhibit fluidity at a temperature at which, in the absence of the pressure, the portion of the first material remains solid, and that causes mixing of at least some of the first and second material together;
releasing the pressure to form an article that is a composite of the particles and that has a defined structure at the service temperature.