Abstract: A family of low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline co-polyimides (TLC-CoPI) that are crosslinkable, and based on a unique, liquid-crystallinity (LC)-enabling diamine, namely, 1,3-bis[4-(4?-aminophenoxy)cumyl]benzene (BACB) and two or more mesogenic dianhydrides, at least one of which is a diphthalic dianhydride (DPA) that contains one or more thermally reactive and crosslinkable moieties similar to that of phenylethynyl (PE) is disclosed. Processes of making and using such low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline co-polyimides are also provided.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to shape memory films that are tri-functionally crosslinked and that comprise multiple, non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties. In addition, the present invention relates methods of fabricating such films. Due to the improved properties of such SMPs, the SMP designer can program in to the SMP thermomechanical property enhancements that make the SMP suitable, among other things, for advanced sensors, high temperature actuators, responder matrix materials and heat responsive packaging.

Abstract: A family of low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline polyimides (TLC-PI) that are crosslinkable is disclosed. These all-aromatic TLC-PI are derived from (i) wholly aromatic and flexible diamine monomers, in which the linkage between the two aniline-ends contains a relatively high heat-tolerant but flexible chain constituted by two or more units of 1,4-phenoxy or 1,3-phenoxy or in combinations of both. Processes of making and using such all-aromatic TLC-PI is also provided.

Abstract: A family of low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline co-polyimides (TLC-CoPI) that are crosslinkable, and based on a unique, liquid-crystallinity (LC)-enabling diamine, namely, 1,3-bis[4-(4?-aminophenoxy)cumyl]benzene (BACB) and two or more mesogenic dianhydrides, at least one of which is a diphthalic dianhydride (DPA) that contains one or more thermally reactive and crosslinkable moieties similar to that of phenylethynyl (PE) is disclosed. Processes of making and using such low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline co-polyimides are also provided.

Abstract: A family of low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline polyimides (TLC-PI) that are crosslinkable is disclosed. These all-aromatic TLC-PI are derived from (i) wholly aromatic and flexible diamine monomers, in which the linkage between the two aniline-ends contains a relatively high heat-tolerant but flexible chain constituted by two or more units of 1,4-phenoxy or 1,3-phenoxy or in combinations of both. Processes of making and using such all-aromatic TLC-PI is also provided.

Abstract: Applicants disclose a family of low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline polyimides (TLC-PI) that are thermally crosslinkable and processes of making and using same. Such materials provide flexibility advantage when modifying ink materials to meet varying processing conditions in additive manufacturing of devices and components that require high-temperature polymers.

Abstract: Crosslinkable, low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline co-polyimides derived from the polycondensation of (i) liquid-crystallinity-enabling, wholly aromatic and flexible diamine monomers, in which the linkage between the two aniline-ends contains a relatively high heat-tolerant but flexible chain constituted by multiple phenoxy (MP) moieties, i.e., two or more units of 1,4-phenoxy or 1,3-phenoxy or in combinations of both. Such polyimides allow the modification of ink materials to meet varying processing conditions in additive manufacturing of devices and components that require high-temperature polymers.

Abstract: Applicants disclose a family of rod-like dianhydrides that contain two phthalic anhydride moieties linked by a bridge that is comprised of at least one ethynyl and one paraphenylene group and processes of making and using such rod-like dianhydrides. Such rod-like dianhydrides can endow net-work structures with improved mechanical and thermal properties in the crosslinked-polymer products.

Abstract: The invention relates to nanohybrids that are gold nanorod J-aggregates having a broadened surface plasmonic resonance band, processes of making such gold nanorod J-aggregates and products comprising such gold nanorod J-aggregates. Such gold nanorod J-aggregates exhibit broad localized surface plasmonic reasonable range from 800 nm to 2000 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to cross-linkable thermoplastics, processes of making such cross-linkable thermoplastics and products comprising such cross-linkable thermoplastics. Such cross-linkable thermoplastics provide articles made by the additive manufacturing (AM) process with increased strength, the desired in use temperature stability and the desired thermo-oxidative stability.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to polymer nanocomposite films that possess shape memory properties at elevated temperatures. Such films can absorb microwaves, are thermally conductive, are electrically conductive and have increased mechanical strength. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of fabricating such films into 3D objects. Due to the improved properties of such films more advanced sensors and microwave shields can be constructed.

Abstract: The invention relates to bis(aniline) compounds containing multiple arylethynyl, alkylethynyl, ethynyl groups or their combinations, processes of making such compounds and materials comprising such compounds. Such, bis(aniline) compounds preferably comprise multiple phenylethynyl (PE) groups, i.e. 2-4 PE moieties. Such compounds are useful monomers for the preparation of polyimides, polyamides and poly(amide-imides) whose post-fabrication crosslinking chemistry (i.e. reaction temperature) can be controlled by the number of PE per repeat unit as well as finding utility in thermosetting matrix resins, 3D printable resins, and as high-carbon-content precursors to carbon-carbon composites.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to shape memory films that are tri-functionally crosslinked and that comprise multiple, non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties. In addition, the present invention relates methods of fabricating such films. Due to the improved properties of such SMPs, the SMP designer can program in to the SMP thermomechanical property enhancements that make the SMP suitable, among other things, for advanced sensors, high temperature actuators, responder matrix materials and heat responsive packaging.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to shape memory films that are tri-functionally crosslinked and that comprise multiple, non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties. In addition, the present invention relates methods of fabricating such films. Due to the improved properties of such SMPs, the SMP designer can program in to the SMP thermomechanical property enhancements that make the SMP suitable, among other things, for advanced sensors, high temperature actuators, responder matrix materials and heat responsive packaging.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to shape memory films that are tri-functionally crosslinked and that comprise multiple, non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties. In addition, the present invention relates methods of fabricating such films. Due to the improved properties of such SMPS, the SMP designer can program in to the SMP mechanical property enhancements that make the SMP suitable, among other things, for advanced sensors, high temperature actuators, responder matrix materials and heat responsive packaging.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to shape memory films that are tri-functionally crosslinked and that comprise multiple, non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties. In addition, the present invention relates methods of fabricating such films. Due to the improved properties of such SMPS, the SMP designer can program in to the SMP mechanical property enhancements that make the SMP suitable, among other things, for advanced sensors, high temperature actuators, responder matrix materials and heat responsive packaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to nanohybrids that are gold nanorod J-aggregates having a broadened surface plasmonic resonance band, processes of making such gold nanorod J-aggregates and products comprising such gold nanorod J-aggregates. Such gold nanorod J-aggregates exhibit broad localized surface plasmonic reasonable range from 800 nm to 2000 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to bis(aniline) compounds containing multiple arylethynyl, alkylethynyl, ethynyl groups or their combinations, processes of making such compounds and materials comprising such compounds. Such, bis(aniline) compounds preferably comprise multiple phenylethynyl (PE) groups, i.e. 2-4 PE moieties. Such compounds are useful monomers for the preparation of polyimides, polyamides and poly(amide-imides) whose post-fabrication crosslinking chemistry (i.e. reaction temperature) can be controlled by the number of PE per repeat unit as well as finding utility in thermosetting matrix resins, 3D printable resins, and as high-carbon-content precursors to carbon-carbon composites.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a shape memory polymer into a three-dimensional object is provided. The method includes forming a film of crosslinked poly(amic acid) on a substrate to provide a laminated substrate; forming the laminated substrate into a first configuration that is in a three-dimensional form; curing the cross-linked poly(amic acid) to provide the shape memory polymer having a permanent shape corresponding to the first configuration; and removing the substrate from the laminated substrate to provide the three-dimensional object comprising the shape memory polymer. The formation of the laminated substrate into the three-dimensional object may be based on origami techniques.

Abstract: A sulfonyl-substituted polyphenylene-ether polymer having improved dielectric properties and methods for making the same. The sulfonyl-substituted PPE include sulfone-containing polyphenylene oxides (“PPO”) polymers having repeating units of the formulas: wherein each of R1 and R2 is H or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R3 is an alkylene group containing from 1 or 2 carbon atoms, R4 is selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, and CF3, and X is a halogen atom. The subscript n is 0 or 1; the subscript m is 1 or 2, provided that when m is 2, R2 is H. A degree of polymerization ranges from about 5 to about 1,000, and a ratio of units having formula (1) to units having formula (2) of the sulfone-containing PPO polymer ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.