Abstract: A composition comprising at least one fluoropolymer and at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises a branched, partially fluorinated ether and wherein the partially fluorinated ether corresponds to the formula: CpF2p+1—O—CqH2q+1 wherein q is an integer from 1 to and 5 and p is an integer from 5 to 11; and wherein the fluoropolymer is a copolymer comprising at least 90% by weight (based on the total weight of the polymer, which is 100% by weight) of units derived from tetrafluoroethene (TFE) and one or more perfluorinated alkyl ethers selected from ethers corresponding to the general formula Rf—O—(CF2)n—CF?CF2 wherein n is 1 in which case the ether is an allyl ether, or 0 in which case the ether is a vinyl ether and Rf represents a perfluoroalkyl residue which may be interrupted once or more than once by an oxygen atom. Also provided are methods of preparing the compositions and methods for coating substrate with the compositions.

Abstract: Nanoscale multiple emulsions, nanoparticles resulting therefrom and methods of making and using thereof are described. The nanoscale multiple emulsions are typically double nanoemulsions, such as oil-in-water-in-oil (O1/W/O2) nanoemulsions, in which nanodroplets of the first oil (O1) phase are suspended in the aqueous (W) phase and together are dispersed in the second oil (O2) phase. The double nanoemulsions are stable with high encapsulation efficiency allowing templating to form multiphase nanoparticles. The multiphase nanoparticles include nanodroplets of O1 phase dispersed in a continuous matrix that can be a liquid, a gel, or a solid at room temperature and pressure. Methods of making the double nanoemulsions include high-energy forces and serial nanoemulsifications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the extraction of lithium from liquid resources such as natural and synthetic brines, leachate solutions from minerals, and recycled products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymerisable LC medium with flat optical dispersion, a polymer film with flat optical dispersion obtainable from such a medium, and the use of the polymerisable LC medium and polymer film in optical, electro optical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices.

Abstract: An article is provided. The article includes an acrylate layer; a substrate overlaying the acrylate layer; and an adhesive layer between the acrylate layer and the substrate, wherein the adhesive layer includes germanium; wherein a release value between the acrylate layer and the adhesive layer is more than 200 g/inch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying the unit causing a raw water leak in a condenser of a thermal power plant consisting of n units.

Abstract: Compounds derived from biomass, e.g., cellulose and lignins, methods of forming such compounds and polymers and products formed using such compounds.

Abstract: A polymerization initiator composition includes isomers of the polymerization initiator, thereby preventing instability and inertness of the polymerization initiator and physical property degradation of the SSBR, minimizing by-products and unreacted materials, and remarkably improving a conversion ratio. In addition, when the polymerization initiator composition according to the present invention is used, there is no need to add a polar additive separately upon polymer polymerization, since the polar additive is already added at the time of preparing the polymerization initiator. Further, the polymer initiator composition has high polarity so that the hydrophobic SSBR and the hydrophilic silica can be effectively dispersed.

Abstract: The anion exchange membranes exhibit enhanced chemical stability and ion conductivity when compared with traditional styrene-based alkaline anion exchange membranes. A copolymer backbone is polymerized from a reaction medium that includes a diphenylalkylene and an alkadiene. The copolymer includes a plurality of pendant phenyl groups. The diphenyl groups on the polymer backbone are functionalized with one or more haloalkylated precursor substrates. The terminal halide from the precursor substrate can then be substituted with a desired ionic group. The diphenylethylene-based alkaline anion exchange membranes lack the ?-hydrogens sharing tertiary carbons with phenyl groups from polystyrene or styrene-based precursor polymers, resulting in higher chemical stability. The ionic groups are also apart from each other by about 3 to 6 carbons in the polymer backbone, enhancing ion conductivity. These membrane are advantageous for use in fuel cells, electrolyzers employing hydrogen, ion separations, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel synthesis process in order to produce meltable PAN copolymers with increased thermal stability. The PAN copolymers produced using the method according to the invention surprisingly exhibit improved thermal and mechanical properties compared to PAN copolymers produced using methods known from the prior art. The invention additionally relates to corresponding PAN copolymers and to molded bodies produced therefrom or to a method for producing such molded bodies, in particular melt-spun mono- or mufti-filaments.

Abstract: An anti-fouling coating comprising a polymeric compound, wherein a backbone of the polymeric compound is covalently bonded to a quorum sensing inhibitor, and wherein the anti-fouling coating has substantially no bactericidal activity, the quorum sensing inhibitor is substantially non-leaching from the anti-fouling coating, or both.

Abstract: Embodiments of a scratch-resistant and optically transparent material comprising silicon, aluminum, nitrogen, and optionally oxygen are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the material exhibits an extinction coefficient (k) at a wavelength of 400 nm of less than about 1×10?3, and an average transmittance of about 80% or greater, over an optical wavelength regime in the range from about 380 nm to about 780 nm, as measured through the material having a thickness of about 0.4 micrometer. In one or more embodiments, the material comprises an intrinsic maximum hardness of about 12 GPa or greater as measured on a major surface of the material having a thickness of about 400 by a Berkovich Indenter Hardness Test along an indentation depth of about 100 nm or greater, low compressive stress and low roughness (Ra). Articles and devices incorporating the material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A neutral layer composition, which is capable of forming a neutral layer that can effectively control orientation characteristics of various block copolymers is provided.

Abstract: Polymer-based electrolyte materials that may be used as proton exchange membranes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells are described. The disclosed polymer electrolyte materials can be generally defined by a general 1,3-dicarbonyl repeat unit that may include various side chain and main chain constituents changing the acidity of the C—H proton(s) located between the carbonyl groups. Accordingly, by varying such side-chain and main-chain constituents, the proton-conduction properties the disclosed proton exchange membranes can be manipulated, and methods of producing the same. Methods of producing such polymer electrolyte materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of multistage polymer particles comprising a first and a second phase, wherein the first phase comprises structural units of a carboxylic acid monomer or a salt thereof, and a nonionic ethylenically unsaturated monomer; and wherein the second phase comprises a first and second polymer, wherein the first phase or the second phase first polymer or both comprise structural units of a high Tg hydrophobic monomer; and wherein the second phase second polymer comprises at least 80 percent structural units of styrene. The high Tg hydrophobic monomer is defined as being one or more of the following monomers: cyclohexyl methacrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, 4-t-butyl methacrylate, t-butylstyrene, or n-butyl methacrylate. The multistage polymer particles are useful as opaque polymers, which are used in pigmented coating formulations to reduce the load of TiO2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a methacrylic resin composition for non-contact hot plate welding comprising a methacrylic resin comprising 80 to 99.9% by mass of a methacrylic acid ester monomer unit and 0.1 to 20% by mass of a unit of at least one additional vinyl monomer copolymerizable with the methacrylic acid ester monomer, wherein the methacrylic resin composition has a melt flow rate (MFR) of 2.5 g/10 min or lower at 230° C. at a load of 3.8 kg.

Abstract: A novel process for making PBI films starting from gel PBI membranes polymerized and casted in the PPA process wherein acid-imbibed gel PBIs are neutralized in a series of water baths and undergo controlled drying in association with a substrate material, yielding a PBI film without the use of organic solvents.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for enhanced boron removal from water. The process includes the steps of reacting potassium carbonate or ammonium carbonate with calcium borate in a stream of feed water to form a stream having calcium carbonate and potassium borate salt or ammonium borate salt. The stream having calcium carbonate and potassium borate or ammonium borate is introduced to an ion exchange vessel containing resin having methylglucamine in salt form with potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate to form borate and potassium sulfate or sodium sulfate. The resin in the ion exchange vessel is periodically regenerated.

Abstract: Provided are an anion exchange resin being capable of producing an electrolyte membrane, a binder for forming an electrode catalyst layer and a battery electrode catalyst layer, which have improved electrical properties and chemical properties. For example, used is an anion exchange resin which has a hydrophobic unit being composed of bisphenol AF residues repeated via carbon-carbon bond and a hydrophilic unit being composed of hydrophilic groups repeated via carbon-carbon bond, in which the hydrophilic group is formed by connecting an anion exchange group to a fluorene backbone via a divalent saturated hydrocarbon group, and in which the hydrophobic unit and the hydrophilic unit are connected via carbon-carbon bond.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin and a method of preparing the same, wherein the preparation process is simplified, material supply problems can be solved, and the hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin can be prepared using a catalyst, which is inexpensive, has a low odor and is easy to handle, thereby realizing a yield and a preparation process that enable real-world application thereof. The hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin prepared by the method of the invention has excellent compatibility and a low specific viscosity, and can thus be efficiently used as a tackifier or an adhesive in a variety of fields.