FUNCTIONALIZING INJECTION MOLDED PARTS USING NANOFIBERS

摘要

The disclosed concept relates to methods for the manufacture of molded parts having composite nanofibers deposited on a surface of the molded parts. The molded parts are manufactured by utilizing injection molding techniques. The nanofibers are capable of imparting to the molded part functionality, such as but not limited to electrical conductivity, magnetic properties, thermal conductivity, hydrophobicity and superhydrophobicity. The methods include depositing the nanofibers at least partially on an interior surface of a mold, injecting a polymer-containing composition into the mold and extracting a molded part from the mold. A surface of the molded part includes a layer or coating of nanofibers deposited thereon and/or therein. The nanofibers are transferred from the interior surface of the mold to the surface of the molded part. The mold and molded part can include three-dimensional shapes as well as two-dimensional shapes.