Abstract: A composite material that includes a layer of reinforcing fibres impregnated with a curable resin matrix and a plurality of electrically conductive composite particles positioned adjacent or in proximity to the reinforcing fibres. Each of the electrically conductive composite particles is composed of a conductive component and a polymeric component, wherein the polymeric component includes one or more polymers that are initially in a solid phase and are substantially insoluble in the curable resin, but is able to undergo at least partial phase transition to a fluid phase during a curing cycle of the composite material.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer particles directly cross-linked together or cross-linked via a separate and independent polymer network to form an inter-penetrating network are disclosed herein, along with methods of manufacturing and use as interleaf tougheners of pre-pregs and composite articles.

Abstract: A method of forming a polymer matrix composite using a soluble derivative of a poly (aryl ether ketone) (PAEK). The method includes mixing a starting PAEK polymer with a solvent and an acid, said solvent being selected from a group consisting of diethylether, tetrahydrofuran (THF), dioxin, and chlorinated solvents; reacting the PAEK mixture with a Lewis acid and a thiol compound in amounts effective to form a poly (aryl ether thioacetal) compound which comprises at least one thioacetal group; and impregnating a plurality of fibers in a solution comprising said poly (aryl ether thioacetal) compound.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for recovering metal present at low concentration from an acidic aqueous solution, including contacting the acidic aqueous solution with an organic phase solution including one or more 5-(C8 to C14 alkyl)-2-hydroxyaryloxime, thereby extracting at least part of the metal from the acidic aqueous phase; increasing or maintaining the concentration of metal in the organic phase solution by recycling a portion of the organic phase solution containing the metal and contacting the organic phase with an acidic aqueous solution containing the metal; contacting the organic phase solution containing metal with an aqueous phase strip solution comprising an inorganic compound that back-extracts the metal, thereby stripping at least part of the metal from the organic phase solution to the aqueous phase strip solution; and separating the metal from the aqueous phase strip solution, thereby recovering the metal.

Abstract: A manufacturing process, which includes: (i) preparing a preform; (ii) laying the preform within a mold; (iii) heating the mold to a predetermined temperature; and (iv) injecting a modified resin system, wherein the modified resin system is formulated to have a viscosity below a threshold viscosity at a specific temperature and a high level of toughness. In one embodiment, the modified resin system contains a combination of epoxies, a curing agent, core-shell rubber particles, a thermoplastic material in an amount of less than 7% by weight, wherein in a cured condition, the thermoplastic material is separated into aggregate domains from the base resin, each aggregate domain having an island-like morphology.

Abstract: A process for the production of a composition comprising one or more conductive nano-filler(s), one or more polyarylethersulphone thermoplastic polymer(s) (A), one or more uncured thermoset resin precursor(s) (P), and optionally one or more curing agent(s) therefor, wherein said process comprises mixing or dispersing a first composition comprising one or more conductive nano-filler(s) and one or more polyarylethersulphone thermoplastic polymer(s) (A) with or into one or more uncured thermoset resin precursor(s) (P), and optionally one or more curing agent(s) therefor.

Abstract: Hydrophobically modified Si-containing polyamines are useful for treating scale in industrial process streams. Preferred hydrophobically modified Si-containing polyamines are particularly useful for treating aluminosilicate scale in difficult-to-treat industrial process streams, such as in the Bayer alumina process streams, nuclear waste streams and kraft paper mill effluent streams.

Abstract: A curable polymer composition containing: (A) a thermoset benzoxazine resin precursor component; (B) optionally, an aryl sulphone-containing benzoxazine component, and (C) a polyarylsulphone thermoplastic toughening agent, wherein in the absence of component (B), component (C) contains one or more benzoxazine pendant- and/or end-groups.

Abstract: A method for making a composite structure with a surfacing film thereon. The surfacing film is co-cured with fiber-reinforced resin composite materials. The surfacing film is formed from a curable resin composition containing an epoxy novolac resin, a tri-functional or tetra-functional epoxy resin, ceramic microspheres, an amine-based curing agent, particulate inorganic fillers; and a toughening component. The surfacing film exhibits high Tg and high cross-linked density after curing, as well as high resistance to paint stripper solutions.

Abstract: A surfacing film is formed from a curable resin composition containing an epoxy novolac resin, a tri-functional or tetra-functional epoxy resin, ceramic microspheres, an amine-based curing agent, particulate inorganic fillers; and a toughening component. The surfacing film exhibits high Tg and high cross-linked density after curing, as well as high resistance to paint stripper solutions. The surfacing film is suitable for co-curing with fiber-reinforced resin composite materials. The surfacing film may optionally contain electrically conductive additives to provide sufficient conductivity for lightning strike protection (LSP) or electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding.

Abstract: A method for making engineered crosslinked thermoplastic particles, which are useful for interlaminar toughening of prepregs and composite materials.

Abstract: A process for the production of a composition comprising one or more conductive nano-filler(s), one or more polyarylethersulphone thermoplastic polymer(s) (A), one or more uncured thermoset resin precursor(s) (P), and optionally one or more curing agent(s) therefor, wherein said process comprises mixing or dispersing a first composition comprising one or more conductive nano-filler(s) and one or more polyarylethersulphone thermoplastic polymer(s) (A) with or into one or more uncured thermoset resin precursor(s) (P), and optionally one or more curing agent(s) therefor.

Abstract: A resin-rich peel ply that does not leave behind residual fibers after peeling and can work well with different resin-based composite substrates. The resin-rich peel ply is composed of a woven fabric impregnated with a resin matrix different from the resin matrix of the composite substrate. The peel ply is designed such that, upon manual removal of the peel ply from the composite substrate's surface, a thin film of the peel ply resin remains on the composite substrate's surface to create a bondable surface capable of bonding with another composite substrate, but no fibrous material from the woven fabric remains on the same surface.

Abstract: Engineered crosslinked thermoplastic particles are useful for interlaminar toughening of pre-pregs and composite materials.

Abstract: A resin-soluble thermoplastic polymer veil toughening element for a curable composition wherein the polymer element is a non-woven veil in solid phase adapted to undergo at least partial phase transition to fluid phase on contact with a component of the curable resin matrix composition in which it is soluble at a temperature which is less than the temperature for substantial onset of gelling and/or curing of the curable composition and which temperature is less than the polymer elements melt temperature; a method for the preparation thereof, a preform support structure for a curable composition comprising the at least one thermoplastic veil element together with structural reinforcement fibers, methods for preparation thereof, a curable composition comprising the at least one thermoplastic veil element or the support structure and a curable resin matrix composition, a method for preparation and curing thereof, and a cured composite or resin body obtained thereby, and known and novel uses thereof.

Abstract: A plurality of thermoplastic composite structures are laminated to each other in a lay-up arrangement to form a laminate. Each thermoplastic composite structure is composed of a core composite layer and a surface layer polymer applied to opposing surfaces of the core composite layer. The core composite layer is composed of a fibrous substrate and one or more high performance polymers, which crystallize at a faster rate than the surface layer polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are monofunctional benzoxazine compounds having at least one electron-withdrawing group. The monofunctional benzoxazine compounds may be combined with one or more multifunctional benzoxazine compounds to form a unique benzoxazine blend. This benzoxazine blend may be combined with additional components such as catalysts and toughening agents to form a curable resin composition suitable for forming resinous films or composite materials. The presence of monofunctional benzoxazine improves the processability of the benzoxazine-based resin composition by reducing the viscosity of the resin composition, and results in improved tack and drape in the films and composite materials formed from the composition without the loss of modulus in the cured resin.

Abstract: An electrostatic modification reagent and a process for beneficiating a mineral substrate by electrostatic separation as described herein. The electrostatic modification reagent may be used in an electric separation process for separating components from a mineral ore or sand.

Abstract: Processes for recovering an organic solvent extractant phase from a solid-stabilized emulsion formed in a hydrometallurgical solvent extraction circuit are disclosed. One such process includes mixing a de-emulsifier comprising an effective amount of a polymeric aggregating agent with the solid-stabilized emulsion, thereby separating the emulsion into its aqueous, organic, and solid phase components; and removing the organic solvent extractant phase from the other components, thereby recovering the organic solvent extractant phase from the solid-stabilized emulsion.

Abstract: A resin-rich peel ply that does not leave behind residual fibers after peeling and can work well with different resin-based composite substrates. The resin-rich peel ply is composed of a woven fabric impregnated with a resin matrix different from the resin matrix of the composite substrate. The peel ply is designed such that, upon manual removal of the peel ply from the composite substrate's surface, a thin film of the peel ply resin remains on the composite substrate's surface to create a bondable surface capable of bonding with another composite substrate, but no fibrous material from the woven fabric remains on the same surface.