Abstract: Various techniques and apparatus permit fabrication of superconductive circuits. A superconducting integrated circuit comprising a superconducting stud via, a kinetic inductor, and a capacitor may be formed. Forming a superconducting stud via in a superconducting integrated circuit may include masking with a hard mask and masking with a soft mask. Forming a superconducting stud via in a superconducting integrated circuit may include depositing a dielectric etch stop layer. Interlayer misalignment in the fabrication of a superconducting integrated circuit may be measured by an electrical vernier. Interlayer misalignment in the fabrication of a superconducting integrated circuit may be measured by a chain of electrical verniers and a Wheatstone bridge. A superconducting integrated circuit with three or more metal layers may include an enclosed, matched, on-chip transmission line. A metal wiring layer in a superconducting integrated circuit may be encapsulated.

Abstract: Provided are multistage polymers that comprise (i) a first stage comprising a first copolymer having a first theoretical Tg, the first copolymer being derived from a soft ethylenically-unsaturated monomer, a phosphorus-containing monomer, and an acetoacetoxy monomer; and (ii) a second stage comprising a second polymer having a second theoretical Tg, the second polymer being derived from one or more hard ethylenically-unsaturated monomers. The multistage polymers can be in the form of multilayer particles that comprise (i) a first layer comprising the first copolymer; and (ii) a second layer surrounding at least a portion of the first layer comprising the second polymer. Also provided are aqueous compositions including one or more of the multistage polymers (or multilayer particles) described herein, as well as methods for making the multistage polymers (or multilayer particles) described herein.

Abstract: Provided are multistage polymers that comprise (i) a first stage comprising a first copolymer having a first theoretical Tg, the first copolymer being derived from a soft ethylenically-unsaturated monomer, a phosphorus-containing monomer, and an acetoacetoxy monomer; and (ii) a second stage comprising a second polymer having a second theoretical Tg, the second polymer being derived from one or more hard ethylenically-unsaturated monomers. The multistage polymers can be in the form of multilayer particles that comprise (i) a first layer comprising the first copolymer; and (ii) a second layer surrounding at least a portion of the first layer comprising the second polymer. Also provided are aqueous compositions including one or more of the multistage polymers (or multilayer particles) described herein, as well as methods for making the multistage polymers (or multilayer particles) described herein.

Abstract: A coating system includes a clear coat layer and a sealant. The clear coat layer is formed from a clear coat composition that comprises a crosslinkable carbamate-functional resin and an aminoplast. Optionally, the coating system further includes a sub-clear coat layer. The sealant is bonded to the clear coat layer opposite the sub-clear coat layer. Optionally, the coating system further includes a tie coat layer and that is disposed between the sealant and the clear coat layer. An adhesion promoter is present in the clear coat composition in an amount of less than or equal to about 3% by weight based on the total weight of resin solids of the clear coat composition. Further, the adhesion promoter is present in at least one of the sub-clear coat composition and the tie coat composition in an amount sufficient to increase adhesion between the clear coat layer and the sealant.

Abstract: An epoxy resin with amine functionality is manufactured continuously through a first reaction zone in which an epoxide-functional resin is made by ring-opening addition, a second reaction zone in which the resin is reacted with amine to make an epoxide-functional product, and a third reaction zone in which the epoxide functional product is reacted with amine to make the epoxy resin with amine functionality. In other embodiments, some amine may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an epoxide functional product, with elimination of the second reaction zone, or all of the amine reactant may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an amine functional product, with elimination of both the second and third reaction zones. Optionally, solvent may be removed in an evaporation zone and recycled into the continuous process and further zones may be included to incorporate crosslinker, additives, and to emulsify the resin.

Abstract: An epoxy resin with amine functionality is manufactured continuously through a first reaction zone in which an epoxide-functional resin is made by ring-opening addition, a second reaction zone in which the resin is reacted with amine to make an epoxide-functional product, and a third reaction zone in which the epoxide functional product is reacted with amine to make the epoxy resin with amine functionality. In other embodiments, some amine may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an epoxide functional product, with elimination of the second reaction zone, or all of the amine reactant may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an amine functional product, with elimination of both the second and third reaction zones. Optionally, solvent may be removed in an evaporation zone and recycled into the continuous process and further zones may be included to incorporate crosslinker, additives, and to emulsify the resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inverse emulsion polymer having a dispersed phase composed of an aqueous solution of an acrylic polymer and a continuous phase composed of an ester of a fatty acid and a water-soluble alcohol. The present invention further includes a method of water treatment which includes adding the inverse emulsion polymer to an industrial water system and hydrolyzing the ester of a fatty acid and a water-soluble alcohol into a fatty acid salt. The inverse emulsion polymer may be used as a flocculant to clarify industrial water systems at elevated temperature and/or elevated pressure and high pH.

Abstract: A coating system includes a clear coat layer and a sealant. The clear coat layer is formed from a clear coat composition that comprises a crosslinkable carbamate-functional resin and an aminoplast. Optionally, the coating system further includes a sub-clear coat layer that is formed from a sub-clear coat composition. The sealant is bonded to the clear coat layer opposite the sub-clear coat layer. Optionally, the coating system further includes a tie coat layer that is formed from a tie coat composition and that is disposed between the sealant and the clear coat layer. An adhesion promoter is present in the clear coat composition in an amount of less than or equal to about 3% by weight based on the total weight of resin solids of the clear coat composition. Further, the adhesion promoter is present in at least one of the sub-clear coat composition and the tie coat composition in an amount sufficient to increase adhesion between the clear coat layer and the sealant.

Abstract: An epoxy resin with amine functionality is manufactured continuously through a first reaction zone in which an epoxide-functional resin is made by ring-opening addition, a second reaction zone in which the resin is reacted with amine to make an epoxide-functional product, and a third reaction zone in which the epoxide functional product is reacted with amine to make the epoxy resin with amine functionality. In other embodiments, some amine may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an epoxide functional product, with elimination of the second reaction zone, or all of the amine reactant may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an amine functional product, with elimination of both the second and third reaction zones. Optionally, solvent may be removed in an evaporation zone and recycled into the continuous process and further zones may be included to incorporate crosslinker, additives, and to emulsify the resin.

Abstract: An epoxy resin with amine functionality is manufactured continuously through a first reaction zone in which an epoxide-functional resin is made by ring-opening addition, a second reaction zone in which the resin is reacted with amine to make an epoxide-functional product, and a third reaction zone in which the epoxide functional product is reacted with amine to make the epoxy resin with amine functionality. In other embodiments, some amine may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an epoxide functional product, with elimination of the second reaction zone, or all of the amine reactant may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an amine functional product, with elimination of both the second and third reaction zones. Optionally, solvent may be removed in an evaporation zone and recycled into the continuous process and further zones may be included to incorporate crosslinker, additives, and to emulsify the resin.

Abstract: An epoxy resin with amine functionality is manufactured continuously through a first reaction zone in which an epoxide-functional resin is made by ring-opening addition, a second reaction zone in which the resin is reacted with amine to make an epoxide-functional product, and a third reaction zone in which the epoxide functional product is reacted with amine to make the epoxy resin with amine functionality. In other embodiments, some amine may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an epoxide functional product, with elimination of the second reaction zone, or all of the amine reactant may be added in the first reaction zone to produce an amine functional product, with elimination of both the second and third reaction zones. Optionally, solvent may be removed in an evaporation zone and recycled into the continuous process and further zones may be included to incorporate crosslinker, additives, and to emulsify the resin.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of optimizing the flow of entities. The method includes the steps of: i) tracking the position of a plurality of the entities; ii) repeatedly: comparing each of the positions with a target profile; and calculating or adjusting a reward potential for each entity on the basis of the comparison; and iii) rewarding a selected number of entities on the basis of the reward potential associated with each of the entities at a predetermined time.

Abstract: Copolymers (A) containing lateral, primary and/or secondary carbamate groups (a12) and groups (a31) which can be activated with actinic radiation, preparable by I. in a first process step copolymerizing (a1) a monomer containing (a11) a group of the general formula I: CH2?C(R)C(O)—O—, ??(I) in which the variable R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitrile group or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and (a12) a primary and/or secondary carbamate group, and (a2) a monomer containing (a21) a free-radically or ironically polymerizable, olefinically unsaturated double bond and (a22) a reactive functional group which is not reactive with the carbamate groups (a12) and is not polymerizable with the double bond (a21), to give the copolymer (a1/a2), and II.

Abstract: The invention provides heat-curable thixotropic mixtures containing carbamate and/or allophanate groups, including at least one oligomer and/or polymer containing at least one of carbamate and allophanate groups, and at least one thixotropic agent that is a urea derivative preparable by reacting at least one amine and/or water with at least one isocyanate in the presence of at least one amino resin. The invention further provides processes for preparing the mixtures and coating materials, adhesives and sealing compounds prepared from the mixtures.

Abstract: A coating composition comprises at least one material dispersed in a vinyl or acrylic polymer, wherein the vinyl or acrylic polymer comprises (a) one or more anchor group monomer units (a) having an ionizable or active hydrogen functionality or a functionality that forms a covalent bond with the dispersed material, wherein the ionizable functionality is other than a carboxylic acid group in which the carbonyl carbon is separated from the closest ethylenically unsaturated carbon by at least four atoms and the anchor group monomer units (a) are other than those having polyoxyalkylene groups; (b) about 5% to about 45% by weight of one or more stabilizer monomer units (b) having a carboxylic acid group in which the carbonyl carbon is separated from the closest ethylenically unsaturated carbon by at least four atoms, having polyoxyalkylene groups, having gamma-hydroxy carbamate or beta-hydroxy carbamate groups, and combinations thereof; and (c) up to about 50 percent by weight of aromatic monomer units.

Abstract: A coating composition comprises a thermosetting binder, comprising a crosslinker, a first, hard material having functionality reactive with the crosslinker, and a second, soft material having functionality reactive with the crosslinker. The first, hard material is a polymer, oligomer or compound, the first material having a glass transition temperature of at least 40° C., a number average molecular weight of 2000 or less, and an equivalent weight of 150 to 600 grams per equivalent of functionality reactive with the crosslinker. The second, soft material is a compound that is an amorphous mixture of four or more isomers, near isomers, and/or homologous structures and has from two to four functional groups that form thermally irreversible linkages with the crosslinker under cure conditions, wherein each functional group is separated from each other functional group by at least four atoms.

Abstract: An aqueous composition contains an olefinic polymer having an olefin portion that is substantially saturated and anionic functionality imparting water dispersibility. The olefinic polymer can be prepared by reacting a saturated or substantially saturated olefin polymer with a reactant that provides the water-dispersing functionality. The composition can be an adhesion promoter that provides excellent adhesion of subsequent coating layers to olefinic substrates like TPO or an additive in a different coating composition, which may be a curable coating composition, especially a primer composition, to provide excellent adhesion to olefinic substrates like TPO.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making nongelled addition polymers, especially carbamate functional additional polymers from linear unsaturated anhydrides. The method comprises reacting an unsaturated linear anhydride with an active hydrogen compound to provide two monomers comprising polymerizable C?C bonds, at least one of said monomers comprising an acid functional group; polymerizing the polymerizable C?C bonds of the two monomers to provide an acid functional polymerization product; and reacting the acid functional polymerization product with an epoxy functional compound to provide a nongelled addition polymer, wherein the disclosed method does not include a step comprising the physical removal of any acid functional monomers or polymerization products. Also disclosed is a curable coating composition containing the resulting carbamate functional polymer, as well as a coated substrate comprising a cured film resulting from the application and curing of the disclosed curable coating composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a crosslinker for organic coatings having an amino resin core with substituents including more than one olefin functional group, a silicon-containing group, and at least one alkoxyalkyl or alkylol group. Coating compositions containing the crosslinker can be cured with radiation, especially ultraviolet radiation. The crosslinker can be included in a coating composition with one or more curable resins, applied onto a substrate and cured to form the cured coating of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making nongelled functional addition polymers from linear unsaturated anhydrides. The method subjects a linear unsaturated anhydride compound, an active hydrogen compound, and an epoxide compound to reaction conditions such that each of the following three reactions occur: (i) polymerization of polymerizable C?C bonds, (ii) ring opening of an anhydride functional group of the linear unsaturated anhydride compound by the active hydrogen compound to create an acid functional group, and (iii) reaction of the acid functional group resulting from the anhydride ring opening with the epoxide compound. At the time of reaction (iii), the acid functional group resulting from the anhydride ring opening may be selected from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, a polymer, or both. In one embodiment, the method does not include the physical removal of any acid functional monomers or polymerization products. Also disclosed are a curable coating composition and a coated substrate.