Manufacturing and Novel Applications of Multilayer Polymer Films

Manufacturing and Novel Applications of Multilayer Polymer Films discusses the advancements in multilayer technology, including its capability to produce hundreds of layers in a single film by a melt coextrusion process. These engineered films can have significantly enhanced performance properties, allowing films to be made thinner, stronger, and with better sealing properties.

As recent developments in feedblocks and materials have opened up a range of new possibilities, this book discusses different feedblocks, and viscosity and material considerations. It is the first comprehensive summary of the latest technology in multilayer film processing and related applications, and is written from a practical perspective, translating research into commercial production and real world products.

The book provides fundamental knowledge on microlayer coextrusion processing technology, how to fabricate such structures, structure and properties of such microlayers, and potential applications, thus helping research scientists and engineers develop products which not only fulfill their primary function, but can also be manufactured reliably, safely, and economically.

• Provides a fundamental knowledge of microlayer coextrusion processing, including how to fabricate microlayer structures, the properties of microlayers, and potential applications, including optics, polymer film capacitors, and semiconductors
• Includes an in-depth analysis of all technologies used for producing multilayered films and structures by coextrusion processing
• Thoroughly assesses potential future trends in multilayer coextrusion technology, thus enabling engineers and scientists to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly advancing area

Deepak Langhe is a Director at PolymerPlus LLC where he serves as the Technology Director and primary investigator on micro- and nano-layer based film technologies. Deepak received his Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering under Professors Eric Baer and Anne Hiltner. He has more than 20 publications and 2 issued patents related to innovative applications of multilayer film systems. Some of his current research activities include multilayered films for energy storage applications, fabrication of non-woven fibers for filtration applications, and multilayer film based shape memory materials. He is also involved with translation of these and other related novel multilayer film related technologies to commercial marketplace. His other research interests are coextrusion processing, multilayer film applications in consumer goods, green and biodegradable polymers in coextruded structures, structure-property relationships and confinement effects in nanolayered films as well as thermoplastic materials.

Michael Ponting is a co-founder and President of PolymerPlus LLC where he serves as the lead scientist and primary investigator on several microlayered materials technology development programs. A Ph.D. graduate of the Case Western Reserve University Department of Chemical Engineering under Professors Eric Baer, Michael has more than 20 peer reviewed publications and 3 issued patents related to the production and structure property relationships of multilayered polymer film systems. His current research efforts are focused on the development and commercial translation of high value added micro- and nanolayered polymer technologies including nanolayered gradient refractive index optics, nanolayerd dielectric energy storage films and coextrude non-woven nanofibrous materials for filtration applications. Additional research interests include: development of processing technologies for micro- and nanolayered polymer systems, multilayer coextrusion system and die design, polymer structure-property relationships, nanoscale induced polymer optical properties, layer confinement effects for improved gas barrier, and manufacturing scale-up and metrology of nanolayered polymer films.