Abstract: Polyurethane/urea nanocomposites, precursors thereof, and methods of their manufacture and use are provided, the nanocomposites comprising: a) a polyurethane/urea polymer matrix, and b) surface modified silicon carbide nanoparticles dispersed within and covalently bound to a polyurethane/urea polymer comprising the polyurethane/urea polymer matrix. In some embodiments, the surface modified silicon carbide nanoparticle comprises a silicon carbide core and a linking group covalently bound to the surface of the silicon carbide core and covalently bound to the polyurethane/urea polymer. In some embodiments, the linking group is a moiety according to Formula where the urethane group of the linking group is covalently bound to the polyurethane/urea polymer; and where each open valence of the silicon atom of the linking group is bound to a hydroxyl group (—OH) or is covalently bound to the surface of the silicon carbide core through an oxygen atom.

Abstract: A flexible light guide including a material having a tensile modulus of about 1 MPa to about 70 MPa, a Tg of about ?5° C. to about 45° C., an absorbance in the visible spectrum of less than about 0.0279 cm?1, a refractive index of about 1.35 to about 1.65, and a thickness of about 50 microns to about 700 microns.

Abstract: A hydroformable frame element is formed from the combination of at least two elements. The at least two elements are designed with a partially overlapping region, with an annular space defined within the overlapping region. The annular space is filled with adhesive, which is then cured to bond the at least two elements together. The adhesive bond is designed to withstand the stresses caused by the hydroforming operation and to retain its strength so that the hydroformed article is then usable as a vehicular frame element.

Abstract: A hydroformable frame element is formed from the combination of at least two elements. The at least two elements are designed with a partially overlapping region, with an annular space defined within the overlapping region. The annular space is filled with adhesive, which is then cured to bond the at least two elements together. The adhesive bond is designed to withstand the stresses caused by the hydroforming operation and to retain its strength so that the hydroformed article is then usable as a vehicular frame element.

Abstract: A method of assembling a structure comprises applying an epoxy composition to at least one of a first member and a second member, sandwiching the epoxy composition between the first and second members, and bonding the two members wherein the adhesive bond is a thermally cured mass. The epoxy composition contains an epoxy resin, a phenolic or amine compound as a chain extender, a basic catalyst and a polymeric toughener. The composition can be formulated in two parts wherein part A contains the catalyst and part B has the epoxy resin.

Abstract: A hydroformable frame element is formed from the combination of at least two elements. The at least two elements are designed with a partially overlapping region, with an annular space defined within the overlapping region. The annular space is filled with adhesive, which is then cured to bond the at least two elements together. The adhesive bond is designed to withstand the stresses caused by the hydroforming operation and to retain its strength so that the hydroformed article is then usable as a vehicular frame element.

Abstract: An epoxy composition effective for forming a thermally curable structural adhesive, and in particular, a two part epoxy resin composition that when cured can obtain preferred and improved physical and chemical characteristics useful in structural assembly applications.

Abstract: A hydroformable frame element is formed from the combination of at least two elements. The at least two elements are designed with a partially overlapping region, with an annular space defined within the overlapping region. The annular space is filled with adhesive, which is then cured to bond the at least two elements together. The adhesive bond is designed to withstand the stresses caused by the hydroforming operation and to retain its strength so that the hydroformed article is then usable as a vehicular frame element.

Abstract: A one-part curable epoxy adhesive composition is provided. The adhesive comprises curable epoxy resin, a latent curative system comprising (a) at least one first curative encapsulated in thermoplastic polymeric microcapsules and (b) a second latent curative admixed in the curable epoxy resin, and sufficient particulate thermoplastic polymeric material to at least partially regionally plasticize the cured epoxy resin wherein up to all of the particulate thermoplastic polymeric material may be provided by the walls of the microcapsules. A method of curing the adhesive by heating the composition is also provided. A joint made by adhering members together with the adhesive composition and a method of making the joint are also provided.

Abstract: A two-part composition useful as an adhesive comprises an epoxy resin, a chain extender selected from an amine or a phenolic compound, a base catalyst and a polymeric toughener wherein Part A contains the catalyst and Part B with the epoxy resin.

Abstract: A one-part curable epoxy adhesive composition is provided. The adhesive comprises curable epoxy resin, a latent curative system comprising (a) at least one first curative encapsulated in thermoplastic polymeric microcapsules and (b) a second latent curative admixed in the curable epoxy resin, and sufficient particulate thermoplastic polymeric material to at least partially regionally plasticize the cured epoxy resin wherein up to all of the particulate thermoplastic polymeric material may be provided by the walls of the microcapsules. A method of curing the adhesive by heating the composition is also provided. A joint made by adhering members together with the adhesive composition and a method of making the joint are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a curable, structural epoxy adhesive composition comprising: (a) an epoxy resin; (b) a curing agent for the epoxy resin; and (c) a compound of the formula I: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, are selected from an alkyl group, a hydroxyalkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or a heterocyclic group in which the one to three non-carbon atoms in the ring are independently selected from S, N, and O.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions having at least one cationically polymerizable monomer; an optional free radically polymerizable monomer; an energy-polymerizable catalyst system wherein the catalyst system comprises an organometallic complex salt; a thermally decomposable ester reaction product of a tertiary alkyl alcohol and an acid that forms a chelation complex with the metal ion of the organometallic complex salt; optionally, a peroxide. The polymerized compositions are useful as cured adhesive films, pressure sensitive adhesives, protective coatings, liquid adhesives, structural and semi-structural adhesives, and free standing films.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions having at least one cationically polymerizable monomer; an optional free radically polymerizable monomer; an energy-polymerizable catalyst system wherein the catalyst system comprises an organometallic complex salt; a thermally decomposable ester reaction product of a tertiary alkyl alcohol and an acid that forms a chelation complex with the metal ion of the organometallic complex salt; optionally, a peroxide. The polymerized compositions are useful as cured adhesive films, pressure sensitive adhesives, protective coatings, liquid adhesives, structural and semi-structural adhesives, and free standing films.

Abstract: A two-part, thermally curable epoxy composition comprising an epoxy resin; a curing agent prepared from a substituted pentafluoroantimonic acid and a substituted benzene having an amino substituent and an electron-withdrawing substituent on the benzene ring; a polyol; and a toughening agent. The compositions exhibit desirable green strength and pot life.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions having at least one cationically polymerizable monomer; an optional free radically polymerizable monomer; an energy-polymerizable catalyst system wherein the catalyst system comprises an organometallic complex salt; a thermally decomposable ester reaction product of a tertiary alkyl alcohol and an acid that forms a chelation complex with the metal ion of the organometallic complex salt; optionally, a peroxide. The polymerized compositions are useful as cured adhesive films, pressure sensitive adhesives, protective coatings, liquid adhesives, structural and semi-structural adhesives, and free standing films.

Abstract: Storage-stable, thermally-curable, one-part epoxy resin compositions comprising a curable epoxide resin; a curative amount of an aliphatic or non-aromatic cyclic polyol having about 2 to 18 carbon atoms, at least two hydroxy groups of said polyol being primary or secondary, and said polyol being free of strong acid groups, and free of electron-withdrawing substituents and large groups which cause steric hindrance in the .alpha.-position in relation to the carbon atoms attached to the methylol groups of the polyol; and a catalytic amount of an imidazole compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermally-curable, one-part epoxy adhesive composition comprising: (1) a glycidyl ether epoxide having a048477475 n epoxy functionality grater than one and a molecular weight between about 150 and 10,000; (2) a catalyst comprising (i) an acid of the formula H.sup.+ SbF.sub.5 X.sup.- wherein X is halogen, hydroxy, or --OR where --OR is the residue of an aliphatic or aromatic alcohol having a molecular weight less than about 10,000 and (ii) N,N-diethyl-o-toluidine; (3) an aliphatic or non-aromatic cyclic polyol having about 2 to 18 carbon atoms, at least two hydroxy groups of which are primary or secondary, and being free of electron-withdrawing substituents, amine substituents, or large substituents that cause steric hindrance in the .alpha.-position in relation to the carbon attached to the methylol group of the polyol; and (4) a toughening agent that does not react with the epoxide during curing and has an epoxide compatible component and an epoxide incompatible component.

Abstract: Storage-stable, thermally-curable, one-part epoxy resin compositions comprising a curable epoxide resin; a curative amount of an aliphatic or non-aromatic cyclic polyol having about 2 to 18 carbon atoms, at least two hydroxy groups of said polyol being primary or secondary, and said polyol being free of strong acid groups, and free of electron-withdrawing substituents and large groups which cause steric hindrance in the .alpha.-position in relation to the carbon atoms attached to the methylol groups of the polyol; and a catalytic amount of an imidazole compound.

Abstract: A taping head for applying a film of pressure sensitive adhesive to a receptor surface has a drive means for driving the adhesive to the applicating roller by driving a liner supporting the adhesive, and a dancing roll positioned between the apparatus for stripping the liner from the adhesive and the applicating roller adjusts the speed of movement of the film of adhesive to match the same with the application of the adhesive. The applicator is pressed against the receptor surface under the control of a compression device and a cutting device for adhesive severs the adhesive below the applicating roller and an air nozzle maintains the cut end of the adhesive in a position for subsequent application.