Polycarbonate-polyolefin block copolymer resin for tough,
This technology creates a new class of hybrid plastic materials that chemically bond two normally incompatible polymer families — polycarbonates (known for clarity and toughness) and polyolefins (known for chemical resistance and low cost) — into a single chain-like molecule called a block copolymer. The process works by first attaching a hydroxyl-bearing aromatic end-cap to a polyolefin chain, then using that modified piece as a building block in a standard polycarbonate polymerization reaction. The result is a material that can blend the best properties of both polymer families in a way that physical mixing alone cannot achieve. This addresses a long-standing challenge in polymer science: polycarbonates and polyolefins normally repel each other at the molecular level and produce weak, phase-separated blends.
What you could build
A specialty polymer resin sold to compounders or materials formulators for use in automotive parts, durable packaging, or electronics housings that need combined impact resistance and chemical/solvent resistance; buyers would be specialty chemical companies and Tier 1 automotive materials suppliers.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based specialty chemical distributors, polymer compounding operations, or defense-adjacent materials suppliers (e.g., serving naval or ordnance applications requiring durable plastics) would be plausible partners or licensees.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Yong Yang, Donna S. Davis, Peijun Jiang, Timothy E. Long, Sachin Bobade
- Granted
- May 14, 2019
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10287402
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.