Abstract: A device having a substrate, a pair of ferromagnetic leads on a surface of the substrate, laterally separated by a gap, and one or more ferromagnetic microparticles comprising a conductive coating at least partially within the gap. The conductive coating forms at least part of an electrical connection between the leads. A molecular junction may connect the leads to the microparticle.

Abstract: This invention is directed to super-absorbent material, which comprises a super absorbent polymer core that is coated with an organic, polar coating agent, and whereby the particulate super-absorbent material has a contact angle and a corresponding cos CAm (as defined herein), whereby the cos CAm is more than 0.3, and whereby, when said coating agent is in the form of particles, said coating agent particles have a (weight) mean particle size of from 0.001 to 1 micron. The material is useful for absorbent structures and absorbent articles (comprising such structures). The coated super-absorbent material is typically present in said absorbent structure at least at a concentration of 50% by weight of the structure, preferably even 80% or even 90%. The invention also provides a process for making the absorbent material.

Abstract: Nanocrystal comprising an inorganic core consisting of least one metal and/or at least one semi-conductor compound comprising at least one metal, the external surface of said nanocrystal being provided with an organic coating layer, consisting of at least one ligand compound of formula (I): X—Y-Z??(I) in which X represents a 1,1-dithiolate or 1,1-diselenoate group that is linked by the two atoms of sulphur or selenium to an atom of metal of the external surface of said nanocrystal; Y represents a spacer group, such as a group capable of allowing a transfer of charge or an insulating group; Z is a group chosen from among groups capable of communicating specific properties to the nanocrystal. Their methods of manufacture.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention provides for a diamond like coating on small particles. This comprises small particles 10 in the size range of approximately 1-1000 nm and a diamond like coating on the small particles. The diamond like coating is distributed over approximately 50-100% of the surface of the small particles and the diamond like coating is one micron or less in thickness. These small particles then may be applied to materials such as resins 12 and insulating tapes.

Abstract: A surface treated particle comprising a plurality of inorganic, metallic, semi-metallic, and/or metallic oxide particles and a star-graft copolymer with looped and/or linear polymeric structure on a star-graft copolymer, obtainable by a heterogeneous polymerization reaction in the particle surface proximity, encapsulating at least a portion of said particles and a method for making the same. The surface treatment comprises: Si (w, x, y, z), where: w, x, y, and z are mole percent tetrafunctional, trifunctional, difunctional, and monofunctional monomeric units, respectively. Product(s) per se, defined as surface treated ZnO and/or TiO2, and the use of the product(s) per se in personal care formulations are excluded.

Abstract: Diffractive pigment flakes are selectively aligned to form an image. In one embodiment, flakes having a magnetic layer are shaped to facilitate alignment in a magnetic field. In another embodiment, the flakes include a magnetically discontinuous layer. In a particular embodiment, deposition of nickel on a diffraction grating pattern produces magnetic needles along the grating pattern that allow magnetic alignment of the resulting diffractive pigment flakes. Color scans of test samples of magnetically aligned flakes show high differentiation between illumination parallel and perpendicular to the direction of alignment of the magnetic diffractive pigment flakes.

Abstract: Magnetic particles each including particulate magnetic material and a readily decomposable or easily soluble polymer coating layer containing a reactive component, the coating layer being disposed on the surface of the magnetic material; and a method for producing a reaction product by use of the magnetic particles. Employment of the magnetic particles of the present invention allows solid phase reaction to proceed efficiently and attains an easy recovery of reaction product.

Abstract: A shaped particle suitable for use as a catalyst support or, alternatively, a dehydrogenation catalyst system in the form of a shaped particle, wherein said shaped particle has a geometry including a length and a cross sectional geometry at at least one point along said length, wherein said cross sectional geometry is defined by an asymmetrical shape having an imaginary dividing line providing for an upper end, having an upper end cross sectional area, and a lower end, having a lower end cross sectional area, wherein said upper end cross sectional area is greater than said lower end cross sectional area. The cross sectional geometry may further be characterized as having a perimeter and as defining a plurality of notches with each said notch of said plurality of notches having a groove depth and a groove opening rotational distance.

Abstract: An objective of the invention is to provide a coated conductive particle having superior connection reliability, a method for manufacturing such coated conductive particle, an anisotropic conductive material and a conductive-connection structure. A coated conductive particle comprising a particle having a surface made of conductive metal and an insulating particles to coat the surface of the particle having the surface made of conductive metal there with, wherein the insulating particles are chemically bonded to the particle having the surface made of conductive metal via a functional group (A) having a bonding property to the conductive metal so that a single coating layer is formed.

Abstract: A method for making an ion exchange coating (e.g., a chromatographic medium) on a substrate comprising (a) reacting at least a first amine compound comprising amino groups, with at least a first polyfunctional compound, in the presence of a substrate to form a first condensation polymer reaction product, with a first unreacted excess of either at least said first amino group or polyfunctional compound functional moieties, irreversibly attached to the substrate, and (b) reacting at least a second amine compound or at least a second polyfunctional compound with unreacted excess in the first condensation polymer reaction product to form a second condensation polymer reaction product, and repeating the steps to produce the desired coating. A coated ion exchange substrate so made.

Abstract: An inorganic/organic composite material which is advantageous in physical characteristics (mechanical strength), chemical characteristics (thermal stability) and electric characteristics (electric conductivity), as compared with a sole system, as being compounded in nano order. An improved energy storage device using the inorganic/organic composite nano-beads, and especially an improved electrochemical capacitor for covering the range of a power energy density which cannot be achieved with devices of the prior art. A method of producing the inorganic/-organic composite nano-beads. The inorganic/organic composite nano-beads have a three-dimensional structure in which nuclei are made of an inorganic material having a particle diameter of nano order and a high electronic conductivity, and are covered with thin films of an organic conductive material.

Abstract: Microstructured taggant particles, their applications and methods of making the same are described. Precisely formed taggant particles can be formed, in the range of 500? and smaller, from either inert polymers or biodegradable materials bearing information indicia, such as through specific shape, size, color, reflectivity, refractive index, surface geometry, imprinting, optical effect or properties, and electromagnetic properties, to uniquely tag, identify or authenticate articles.

Abstract: Texture-coated silica can be prepared by spraying a fumed silica with water and a coating agent, for example a thermoplastic elastomer, while mixing in a suitable mixing vessel, then milling and subsequently drying the mixture. The texture-coated silica can be used as a delustering agent in lacquers and for improving the soft feel.

Abstract: Multilayered magnetic pigment flakes and foils are provided. The pigment flakes can have a stacked layer structure on opposing sides of a magnetic core, or can be formed as an encapsulant structure with encapsulating layers around the magnetic core. The magnetic core in the stacked layer structure includes a magnetic layer that is sandwiched between opposing insulator layers, which in turn are sandwiched between opposing reflector layers. Similarly, the magnetic core in the encapsulant structure includes a magnetic layer that is surrounded by an insulator layer, which in turn is surrounded by a reflector layer. The insulator layers in the pigment flakes substantially prevent corrosion of the flakes when exposed to harsh environments. Some embodiments of the pigment flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift at differing angles of incident light or viewing.

Abstract: Fine composite metal particle comprising a metal core and a coating layer of carbon, and being obtained by reducing metal oxide powder with carbon powder.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises particles each having a substrate being an oxide or other suitable compound of a metal other than titanium or of certain non-metal elements, and a coating on said substrate being a layer of titanium dioxide. A method of forming particles of titania-coated substrate, includes contacting a bed of hydrated particles of an oxide or other suitable compound of a metal other than titanium or of certain non-metal elements with a fluid medium containing flowing titanium tetrachloride, under conditions in which a layer comprising one or more involatile oxychloride or oxide compounds is formed at and below the surface of each of a multiplicity of the particles of the oxide or other suitable compound which thereby provides a substrate for the layer. The oxychloride or oxide compound or compounds are treated to convert the layer to a Titania coating on the particles.

Abstract: Methods for producing plasma-treated, functionalized carbon-containing surfaces are provided. The methods include the steps of subjecting a carbon-containing substrate to a plasma to create surface active sites on the surface of the substrate and reacting the surface active sites with stable spacer molecules in the absence of plasma. Biomolecules may be immobilized on the resulting functionalized surfaces. The methods may be used to treat a variety of carbon-containing substrates, including polymeric surfaces, diamond-like carbon films and carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method for making hollow spheres of alumina or aluminate comprises: coating polymeric beads with an aqueous solution of an alumoxane, drying the beads so as to form an alumoxane coating on the beads; heating the beads to a first temperature that is sufficient to convert the alumoxane coating to an amorphous alumina or aluminate coating and is not sufficient to decompose the polymeric beads; dissolving the polymeric bead in a solvent; removing the dissolved polymer from the amorphous alumina or aluminate coating; and heating the amorphous alumina or aluminate coating to a second temperature that is sufficient to form a hollow ceramic sphere of desired porosity and strength. The hollow spheres can be used as proppants or can be incorporated in porous membranes.

Abstract: A water-soluble polymer is used to change surfaces of the magnetic metal oxide nanoparticles to hydrophilic surfaces. The hydrophilic magnetic metal s oxide nanoparticles can be stably dispersed in a water matrix. Then, the hydrophilic magnetic metal oxide nanoparticles are mixed with hydrophilic resin, and a nanometer-scale uniform size of nanoparticles is maintained.

Abstract: A polymer nanoparticle is provided. The nanoparticle includes an inner layer having alkenylbenzene monomer units. The nanoparticle further includes an outer layer having monomer units selected from conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzenes, and mixtures thereof. The nanoparticle has at least one functional group associated with the outer layer. The nanoparticle further has at least one metal complexed with said functional group. The nanoparticles can be used as a templates for preparation of nano-sized metal crystals and polymer-metal nanocomposite.