Vehicles that transport industrial chemicals, such as trains and trucks, are susceptible to accidental leakage due to breaches in containment, and can be potential targets for terrorist attack.  Breaches to these vehicles, whether accidental or intentional, can lead to explosions, release of toxic material, environmental contamination, or loss of human life.  Presently, impact-resistant vehicle coatings and chemical-resistant coatings exist separately, however some integration of the two properties is necessary to protect transport vehicles.  This project investigates the fundamental properties governing self-sealing protective coatings.  The optimum coating would provide suitable impact protection from projectiles, chemical resistance to the transported material, and self-sealing ability in the event of a breach.  One possible coating includes nanoclay-polymer composites because of their strength and elastic capabilities.  Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) networks with various concentrations of nanoclay were synthesized and characterized by mechanical tests, impact resistance, and chemical resistance. These results should provide insight into the possible application of nanoclay-polymer composites for enhancing the protective properties of transport vehicles.

Polymer-nanoclay composites as self-sealing protective coatings

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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