Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocapsule of a blocked isocyanate encapsulated within a polymeric nanosphere. In one aspect, the polymeric nanosphere is functionalized. Free isocyanate functionality is released upon thermal annealing or UV exposure of the nanospheres containing the blocked isocyanate. This present invention also provides a novel method for encapsulating isocyanates in aqueous media. In one aspect, the method comprises miniemulsion polymerization. The thermally or UV deblocked isocyanate can be used as an active functional group for many potential applications.

Abstract: Thermosetting polymeric compositions, such as polyurethane compositions, and related methods are provided. The invention relates to coating and polymer compositions and related methods derived from a biodegradable natural polysaccharide compound such as chitosan, pectin, heparin, and combinations thereof reacted to a cyclic oxide compound, such as an oxetane, oxolane or oxepane compound. The compositions and methods of the present invention exhibit self-repairing properties upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The compositions and methods of the present invention can be used in many coating applications, such as the transportation, packaging, fashion, and biomedical industries.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing terminally functionalized telechelic polymers using a cationic living polymer product or a terminal tert-chloride chain end of a carbocationic quasiliving polymer product, which comprises quenching the polymer product with a functionalized N-substituted pyrrole to thereby introduce the functionalized N-substituted pyrrole at the terminal reactive polymer chain end(s). A method is also disclosed whereby the N-substituent may be derivatized to a basic amine containing functional group. Also disclosed are the terminal functionalized polyisobuyl N-substituted pyrrole compounds where the polyisobutyl group is substituted at the 2 and 3 position of the N-substituted pyrrole.

Abstract: Provided herein are vinyl ether end-functionalized polyolefins and methods for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparation of polyolefins containing exo-olefin chain ends. The method involves quenching a cationic quasi-living polyolefin polymer system with a nitrogen-containing five-membered aromatic ring having at least two hydrocarbyl substituent compounds attached to the ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing terminally functionalized telechelic polymers using a cationic living polymer product or a terminal tert-chloride chain end of a carbocationic quasiliving polymer product, which comprises quenching the polymer product with a functionalized N-substituted pyrrole to thereby introduce the functionalized N-substituted pyrrole at the terminal reactive polymer chain end(s). A method is also disclosed whereby the N-substituent may be derivatized to a basic amine containing functional group. Also disclosed are the terminal functionalized polyisobuyl N-substituted pyrrole compounds where the polyisobutyl group is substituted at the 2 and 3 position of the N-substituted pyrrole.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing polyolefins containing a high percentage of exo-olefin chain ends. The method involves ionizing a polyolefin containing tert-chloride chain ends and reacting the ionized polyolefin with one or more nitrogen-containing five-membered aromatic ring or one or more hindered secondary or tertiary amines, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for preparing a telechelic polymer of formula I wherein: R1 is a polyolefin group; R2 and R3 are, independently in each —(CR2R3)— unit, hydrogen or alkyl from 1 to 6 carbons; m is an integer from 2 to 20; RX is a cationic initiator residue; and p is an integer from 1 to 4.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparation of polyolefins containing exo-olefin chain ends. The method involves quenching a cationic quasi-living polyolefin polymer system with a nitrogen-containing five-membered aromatic ring having at least two hydrocarbyl substituent compounds attached to the ring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer, methods of making the monomer, and latex polymers comprising the fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer. The monomers are derived by reacting unsaturated vegetable oils with ethanolamine or substituted ethanolamine. The vegetable oil derivative is then reacted with either (meth)acryloyl chloride or (meth)acrylic acid to form a fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer or the product of the reaction of hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate reacted with isophorone diisocyanate to form a urethane fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer. The increased hydrophilicity of the fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer facilitates the diffusion through the aqueous phase. The monomer synthesis is designed to be glycerol ester-free to increase long term stability for monomers and polymers.

Abstract: Provided herein are telechelic polymers and methods for producing the same. In some embodiments, provided herein are compounds having the formula and methods for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified multifunctional thiol-ene monomers wherein one or more thiols are reacted with a Michael addition reactive double bond compound. The present invention further discloses photocurable thiol-ene formulations comprising thiol-ene monomers including the modified multifunctional thiols. The present invention further discloses photocurable thiol-ene formulations comprising thiol-ene monomers and Michael addition reactive double bond molecules and a Michael catalyst. The formulations of the present invention can be photocured to make films or coatings. In a further disclosure, the formulations, including those comprised of unmodified multifunctional thiols and multifunctional enes, are photocured to form films applied to non-flexible or flexible polymer or non-polymer substrates suitable for food packaging, electronic products, optical products and other applications and free-standing films.

Abstract: A method for dispersing oil spilled into the aqueous environment comprising the treatment of the spilled oil with an oil dispersant composition comprising a phospholipid and a polysaccharide derivative is disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for preparing a telechelic polymer of formula I wherein R1 is a polyolefin group; R2 and R3 are, independently in each —(CR2R3)— unit, hydrogen or alkyl from 1 to 6 carbons; m is an integer from 2 to 20; RX is a cationic initiator residue; and p is an integer from 1 to 4.

Abstract: Provided herein are telechelic polymers and methods for producing the same. In some embodiments, provided herein are compounds having the formula and methods for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and apparatus for solving the stereo vision matching problem. The invention implements a method for solving image correspondence problems so that each front region between consecutive extremal pixels in one image is matched to a corresponding front region between consecutive extremal pixels in another image.

Abstract: A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thiol-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the steps of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for performing image restoration. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and methods which are capable of quickly restoring various sizes of selected areas of an image. In one embodiment, a user may select or mark a target region in an image which is to be restored. A source window may then be generated and a pixel from within the target region may be selected for restoration. The intensity distribution of pixels surrounding the selected pixel may be compared with other pixels in the image and a pixel to be used for restoration of the selected pixel may be chosen based on the comparison of the intensity distributions. Once a pixel is chosen for restoration, the selected pixel and its surrounding pixels may be restored using the intensity distribution of the chosen pixel and its surrounding pixels. The method may continue in this manner until all pixels within the target region have been restored.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for preparing a polyolefin containing one or more exo-olefinic end groups on the polyolefin chain, comprising quenching an ionized polyolefin with an alkoxysilane or an ether. In some embodiments, the methods are represented by the following scheme: In some embodiments, the alkoxysilane or ether compound has the formula: wherein Y is carbon or silicon; R1 is hydrocarbyl; and R2-R4 are each, independently, hydrogen or hydrocarbyl.

Abstract: Materials prepared from polydienes, such as poly(cyclohexadiene), and hydrophilic polymers, such as poly(alkylene oxide), are described. Methods of making the materials and their use in fuel cell membranes, batteries, breathable chemical-biological protective materials, and templates for sol-gel polymerization are also provided. The materials can be crosslinked and sulfonated, and can include copolymers and polymer blends.