Abstract: A self-cleaning surface which has an artificial, at least partially hydrophobic, surface structure containing elevations and depressions, which comprises an at least partially hydrophobic surface formed from structure-forming particles of hydrophobic fumed silica having elevations and depressions ranging in dimensions of 1 to 1000 nm and the particles themselves having an average size of less than 50 ?m adhered to the surface by way of a viscous, curable carrier material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurethane acrylates, silicone acrylates and singly and/or multiply unsaturated (meth)acrylates applied to the surface, which is sufficient to bond the structure forming particles without substantial wetting of the particles by the carrier material while retaining the fissured structure of elevations and depressions of the structure-forming particles in the nanometer range.

Abstract: A self-cleaning surface which has an artificial, at least partially hydrophobic, surface structure containing elevations and depressions, which comprises a surface having structure-forming particles, which are formed of hydrophobic, fumed silica, adhered thereto by way of fixative particles applied to the surface, whereby the structure-forming particles and the fixative particles have elevations and depressions ranging in dimensions of 1 to 1000 nm and the particles themselves having an average size of less than 50 ?m, the particles providing said surface structure of elevations and depressions, wherein, by incipient melting of the fixative particles, only partial melting of the fixative particles occurs which is sufficient to bond the structure forming particles without substantial wetting of the particles by the fixative particles to said surface while retaining, the fissured structure of the structure-forming particles in the nanometer range.

Abstract: A claim is laid to a permeable composite, a process of production of the composite as well as the use of this composite. The composite essentially contains a perforated and permeable carrier, on and in or on or in which another component that essentially contains metallic compounds with elements from group III to VI of the periodic system is stabilized. Stabilization of the component on or in the carrier is carried out by heating a suspension consisting of the component suspended in a metallic oxide sol that has been applied onto or into or onto and into the carrier. In this way, it is possible to produce a permeable composite that is ideally suited for use in filtration and membrane technologies under very mild conditions either by heating for a short time or warming for a longer time.

Abstract: A self-cleaning surface which has an artificial, at least partially hydrophobic, surface structure made from elevations and depressions, where the elevations and depressions are formed by particles secured to the surface, wherein the particles have a fissured structure with elevations and/or depressions in the nanometer range; a process for making such a surface; and particles having a fissured structure with elevations and/or depressions in the nanometer range.

Abstract: The invention relates to antimicrobial polymers and polymer blends which are prepared by polymerizing a monomer of the formula I: where R1=—H or —CH3 R2=branched or unbranched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R3=H, or branched or unbranched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, R4=H, or branched or unbranched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, R5=H, or branched or unbranched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, and X=O, NH, NR5 and, where appropriate, then mixing with at least one other polymer. The antimicrobial polymers or blends may be used for producing hygiene items or items for medical technology, e.g. as a coating, or else in surface coatings or protective paints. They may also be used in a process for eliminating/reducing biofouling in water systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to mesotubes and nanotubes (hollow fibers) having an inner diameter of 10 nm-50 &mgr;m and to a method for the production thereof. The hollow fibers can be produced by coating degradable materials with non-degradable materials, whereby the degradable materials are destroyed by thermal methods, for instance. The hollow fibers are used in separation technology, catalysis, micro-electronics, medical technology, material technology or in the clothing industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ion-conducting composite which is permeable to matter, to a method for producing an ion-conducing composite which is permeable to matter, and to the use of this composite in various processes. Membranes or ion-conducting materials are used for various chemical and physical process, e.g., electrolysis, electrodialysis. The membranes used are often polymer-based. These polymers are relatively non-resistant to solvents and high temperatures. Therefore, the aim of the invention is to provide an ion-conducting composite. The inventive composite consists of inorganic constituents or at least mainly of inorganic constituents, and is characterised in that is very stable in relation to acids and high temperatures. According to the invention, ion-conducting materials or materials which will be ion-conducting after an additional treatment are added to a composite which is permeable to matter during production. Alternatively, the finished composite is treated with said materials.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display constructed from an illumination unit, two control electrodes and a light-scattering microcompartment film. The electrophoretic display can be used as a display board, a computer display or a flat-panel display screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing epoxy resins from hydrocarbons with olefinic double bonds, especially alkenes, by heterogeneous catalyzed oxidation in the gaseous phase. According to said method, and oxidic solid catalyst is released which contains iron as its active component at a concentration of 0.001-1% and alkali and/or alkaline earth elements as the promoters. N2O is used as the oxidizing agent. The granulated oxidic solid catalyst, especially on the basis of SiO2 as the carrier, has a specific surface of greater that 50 m2/g. The ratio of the concentrations of the active components to the promoter components is preferably between 1:100 and 10:1. The partial oxidation of hydrocarbons with olefinic double bonds, especially propene, results in propene selectivities of 10-70% at reaction temperatures of 300-500° C. and conversions of 2-30%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrophobic permeable composite, to a method for producing a hydrophobic permeable composite and to the use of said composite in various processes. Hydrophobic, permeable materials have been known for some time. Plastic materials especially, for example Gore-Tex®, but also materials consisting of other organic polymers are used whenever a material is required to be gas- and steam-permeable but not liquid-permeable. These materials have the disadvantage that they can only be used within a certain temperature range. The inventive composite is characterised by a higher temperature resistance since it consists mainly of inorganic materials. It is also relatively easy to produce since it can be obtained using the sol-gel technique. The inventive composite can be used as a membrane in the oxidation of aromatics, for example in the direct oxidation of benzene to phenol.

Abstract: A gas filter, a process for producing a gas filter and the use of the gas filter. The filtration of gases, in particular of gases which are contaminated by solids, e.g. automobile exhaust gases, is difficult since the solids which have been filtered out block the filter over the course of time. The gas filter of the invention can be used over relatively long periods of time since it is regenerable. The improvement achieved by the invention compared to conventional gas filters is that the filter comprises a composite material which can be heated in a simple manner by application of a voltage to the electrically conductive support material of the composite material and thermally decomposable substances which can block the filter can be decomposed. The filter of the invention can be used wherever gases which are contaminated by thermally decomposable solids have to be cleaned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a permeable composite material, a method for producing said composite material, and the use of the composite material. The inventive composite material contains essentially a porous, permeable support, another constituent having been solidified on and in or on or in said support. Said other constituent essentially contains metallic compounds with elements of the 3rd to the 6th main group. The constituent is solidified to, on or in the support by heating a suspension of the constituent suspended in a metal oxide sol applied on and in or on or in the support. The invention hereby provides a means of producing a permeable composite material in very mild conditions, either by heating strongly for a short period or by heating more moderately for a longer period. The resulting permeable composite material is excellently suited to applications in filtration and membrane technology.

Abstract: Mixtures of gases, liquids or solutions are separated by contacting the mixtures with a substance-permeable material and applying a voltage to the substance-permeable material, thereby increasing the efficiency of separation techniques such as microfiltration or ultrafiltration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytically active, permeable composite material, a method for producing said composite material, and the use of the composite material. The inventive composite material can be used for separating mixtures of materials. The fact that various catalytically active substances can be incorporated into the material in various ways makes it highly flexible in terms of possible applications with properties which can be adapted to the particular purpose of an application. The inventive composite material can be used as a catalytically active membrane electrode, for example. According to the invention, the material is obtained by solidifying a suspension on and in a porous, permeable support. The production of the material requires either a very short period of heat treatment at temperatures of around 400° C. or treatment for a longer period at very mild temperatures of below 100° C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polymers containing double bonds by ruthenium carbene catalysis is carried out, where a ring-opening polymerization of monomers of the Formula (I) occurs 1

Abstract: A process for the electrochemical oxidation of organic compounds, wherein the anode material used is a mixed oxide of formula (I) MoaBibX1cX2dX3eX4fX5gOh  (I) where X1 is V, Nb, Cr, W, Ta, Ga, Ce, and/or La; X2 is Li, La, K, Rb, Cs, Cu, Ag, Au, Pd and/or Pt; X3 is Fe, Co, Ni and/or Zn; X4 is Sn, Rb, Sb and/or Te; X5 is Ti, Zr, Si and/or Al; and where a is 0-3; b is 0-3; c is 0-12.5; d is 0-5; e is 0-1.5; f is 0-1; and g is 0-25 with the proviso that a+d≧0.15.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing hydroxyl-containing aromatic compounds by catalytic oxidation.