Abstract: Described herein are compounds for use in coating compositions and methods of using the same. Also described herein is a method of treating metal products (e.g., aluminum alloy products), including applying the coating composition to at least one surface of the metal product. Further described herein is a joined structure, including the coated aluminum alloy product and another metal or alloy. The coating compositions enhance the bond performance of the joined structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a nano- and/or microscale cellulose-based foam. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a suspension (1) comprising nano- and/or microscale cellulose in an aqueous medium, (ii) simultaneously cooling and agitating the suspension (1) in a mechanical step (2a; 2b) to obtain an at least partially frozen suspension. (iii) freezing the at least partially frozen suspension (5) to obtain a substantially frozen suspension, (iv) treating the suspension under solvent-exchange (7; 8) and (v) removing the solvent (10; 13) to obtain a substantially dry foam (40A) comprising nano- and/or microscale cellulose.

Abstract: A dual-comb spectrometer 5 with two lasers 10, 12 serving as a local oscillator and an interrogator. The lasers output light beams with respective frequency combs C1, C2 of defined free spectral range, FSR. A detector 30 can detect heterodyne mixing of the combined beams to detect an RF frequency comb C3. Respective control signals are supplied to the lasers which have functional forms configured to cause the frequencies of the lasers' frequency combs C1, C2 to tune over a defined fraction of their FSR. This enables a reduction of the effective spectral sampling period by a factor equal to the ratio of the FSR to the spectral resolution of the spectrometer, which will typically be several orders of magnitude, so that the spectral sampling period can be reduced from the GHz to the MHz range, which in turn enables a gapless spectrum to be obtained in a short time.

Abstract: A polymeric liquid material formed of molecular building blocks of core-shell type architecture, wherein each building block consists of a hyperbranched polysiloxane core and a functional siloxane shell peripherally attached thereto, the material comprising bridging oxygen moieties (Si—O—Si), hydrolysable alkoxy moieties (Si—O—R) and organofunctional moieties (R?—Si—) and (R1-S1-R2) and less than 0.5 mass percent hydroxy moieties (Si—OH). The core has a degree of polymerization DPcore in the range of 1.3 to 2.7, the shell is formed of R?-substituted siloxane moieties and has a degree of polymerization DPshell in the range of 0.3 to 2.5. At least 75 atomic percent of all Si atoms in the core are bonded exclusively to alkoxy or bridging oxygens, the remainder each being bonded to 3 oxygens and 1 carbon. The total Si to free hydrolysable alkoxy molar ratio in the material is 1:1.25 to 1:2.75, and the material has a viscosity in the range of 10-100,000 cP.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to ensure that a hydraulic drive (10) for accelerating and braking a gas exchange valve (20) of internal combustion engines or other reciprocating engines operates in a simple, reliable and recuperative manner. To this end, a first pressure tank (41) for providing a first pressure p1, a restoring energy accumulator preferably embodied as a spring (25), and at least one hydraulic basic pressure tank (40) having a lower pressure p0 than the first pressure tank (41) are provided. A controllable opening (49) of a first valve (46) is arranged with at least one non-return valve (47) located upstream or downstream of the opening in the flow path, in a connection line (48) between the first hydraulic pressure tank (41) and the working cylinder (22), said non-return valve allowing the pressure medium (30) to flow towards the working cylinder (22) but preventing it from flowing back towards the pressure tank (41).

Abstract: This method is suitable for the strengthening of concrete or timber structures (1, 4) by applying prestressed Carbon FRP or Glass FRP lamella (8). Firstly, at least one groove (22) is cut into the concrete or timber structure (1, 4) along the direction in which the concrete or timber structure (1, 4) is to be strengthened. The grooves (22) are filled with epoxy resin (9) and a layer of epoxy resin (9) is put onto the entire section to be equipped with the CRFP or GFRP lamella (8). The lamella (8) will be prestressed and anchored at both ends. U-shaped brackets (24) are then being put over the two end sections of the CFRP or GFRP lamella (8) by inserting and submerging its both U-legs (27) into holes (26) filled with resin as well. These holding brackets (24) will then tightly press onto the CFRP or GFRP lamella (8) to prevent cracking or fracture of the concrete or timber and bending away of the extremities of the CFRP or GFRP lamella.

Abstract: The present invention exploits reactive organophosphorus compounds containing unsaturated vinyl groups, which can be used in a flexible and highly controlled manner to prepare various macromolecular derivatives either via radical reactions or via Michael addition with suitable nucleophiles. Based on the fact that secondary amine groups on the one hand and vinyl groups on the other hand can work as mutual linking sites, an arsenal of novel and useful addition products can be built up. By selecting the number of secondary amine sites and vinyl sites of the participating reaction partners, very different addition products can be formed. In particular, one can form either linear chain type macromolecules (i.e. linear oligomers or polymers) or highly crosslinked network polymers.

Abstract: A unit cell of an artificial phononic crystal for building of an artificial phononic metamaterial, showing reduced mechanical vibrations in a defined frequency range with at least one band gap in the band structure dispersion relation of the unit cell. The unit cell includes at least one building block and at least one mechanical connection connected to the building block, showing reduced mechanical vibrations in a defined frequency range with tailored dispersion properties with at least one band gap is sought. This is accomplished by forming the building block as a toroid, with a central opening and a front surface from which a first multiplicity of struts, which are tiltable relatively to the principal direction, is extending from the front surface. More than one strut is inclined with respect to the principal direction so that a rotation of the toroid around the principal direction is possible.

Abstract: A waveguide spectrometer includes at least one substrate layer with at least one waveguide. Each waveguide extends from an inlet face proceeding partly through the substrate layer to a reflecting element. A multiplicity of photo detectors is arranged on a front side of the substrate layer, while the photo detectors are electrically connected to an electronic read out system. The spectrometer can be made lightweight and easier to produce by forming the waveguides as surface waveguides, each showing a longitudinal opening with a width to the front side of the substrate layer between the inlet face and the reflecting element. The photo detectors are in print distributed at the front side on top of the substrate layer at least partly overlapping the longitudinal opening along an overall length of sampled region and the electrical connection of the photo detectors with the electronic read out system is achieved by a multiplicity of printed electrical conductors.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for deposition layers of an electronic device by slot-die deposition. Preferably, the method comprises slot-die deposition of formulation for providing compact inorganic layers, mesoporous inorganic layers, a carbon layer and a layer comprising organic-inorganic perovskite. In a preferred embodiment, the layers of a monolithic perovskite solar cell are entirely deposited by slot-die deposition. The method renders the manufacturing process of such electronic devices more efficient.

Abstract: The invention relates to flame retardants comprising atriazine compound according to Formula 1: (1) with R=phosphite substituted with alkyl, functionalized alkyl, aryl, functionalized aryl, except halogen-substituted alkyl or aryl; R?=alkylene, arylene, alkoxy or aryloxy, all unsubstituted or functionalized, except halogen-substituted; X1 and X2=hetero atoms and X1=X2 or X1 not=X2 and to specific triazine compounds as such.

Abstract: Use of a sensor read out system with at least one fiber optical sensor, which is connected via at least one signal line to a processing unit as part of an additive manufacturing setup, for in situ and real time quality control of a running additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: In order to ensure a simple, reliable and recuperative operation in a hydraulic drive (10) for accelerating and braking a gas exchange valve (20) of internal combustion engines or other reciprocating engines, it is proposed that a first pressure reservoir (41) for providing a first pressure p1 comprises a restoring energy accumulator, preferably configured as a spring (25), and at least one hydraulic base pressure reservoir (40), which has a lower pressure p0 than the first pressure reservoir (41). In a connecting line (48) between the first hydraulic pressure reservoir (41) and the working cylinder (22), a controllable opening (49) of a first valve (46) comprising at least one check valve (47) is arranged upstream or downstream in the flow path, which allows the pressure medium (30) to flow in the direction of working cylinder (22), but prevents a backflow towards the pressure reservoir (41).

Abstract: Use of a sensor read out system with at least one fiber optical sensor, which is connected via at least one signal line to a processing unit as part of an additive manufacturing setup, for in situ and real time quality control of a running additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing hydrophilic biopolymers, particularly hydrophilic cellulosic material, particularly cellulose nanofibers like micro- or nanofibrillated cellulose, as described in claim 1; to novel materials comprising hydrophilic biopolymers and to the use of such hydrophilic biopolymers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining densified material comprising the steps of a. providing lignocellulosic material, b. delignification of the lignocellulosic material providing a delignified material, wherein the delignification step is performed in such a way that the lignin of the lignocellulosic material is almost completely removed and wherein the structural integrity of the lignocellulosic material is maintained in the delignified material, c. densification of the delignified material providing a densified material. Furthermore, a densified material is provided. The fibers and fibrils are maintained in the structural directionality of the raw material and that the cellulosic material is whitish.

Abstract: A method (200) for fabricating thin-film optoelectronic devices (100), the method comprising: providing a substrate (110), forming a back-contact layer (120); forming at least one absorber layer (130) made of an ABC chalcogenide material, adding at least one alkali metal (235), and forming at least one cavity (236, 610, 612, 613) at the surface of the absorber layer wherein forming of said at least one cavity is by dissolving away from said surface of the absorber layer at least one crystal aggregate comprising at least one alkali crystal comprising at least one alkali metal. The method (200) is advantageous for more environmentally-friendly production of photovoltaic devices (100) on flexible substrates with high photovoltaic conversion efficiency and faster production rate.

Abstract: A flying apparatus is provided that comprises a airfoil (1) with a streamlined profile for generating an aerodynamic lift force vector (L) acting on the flying apparatus when being exposed to an apparent air flow. The flying apparatus also comprises at least three drive units (4, 42; 5, 51; 6, 61) being adapted to generate a resulting thrust force vector acting on the flying apparatus, the thrust force vector being alignable essentially in parallel with the aerodynamic lift force vector (L). For controlling the aerodynamic pitch of the flying apparatus, the flying apparatus comprises at least one control surface (31, 11). Furthermore, the flying apparatus has an aerodynamic neutral point (NP) that lies, along the longitudinal centre axis (10) and in the direction from the leading edge (17) to the trailing edge (18) of the airfoil (1), behind the centre of gravity (CG) of the flying apparatus.

Abstract: A polycrystalline ceramic solely formed based on alumina, on chromium oxide and on magnesium oxide, where the polycrystalline ceramic contains between 0.8% and 1.2% of chromium oxide by total weight of the polycrystalline ceramic and between 0.03% and 0.09% of magnesium oxide by total weight of the polycrystalline ceramic, making it possible to obtain a red ceramic with a toughness (Kc) at least equal to 2.8 MPa·m1/2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved concrete elements, particularly to self-prestressed, high-performance concrete elements (SP-HPC elements); to cementitious compositions suitable, for producing such concrete elements; to methods of manufacturing such concrete elements and such cementitious compositions; to the use of specific components in concrete elements and cementitious mixtures. The compositions and elements described herein comprise an effective amount of expansive agents in combination with superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and shrinkage reducing admixtures (SRA), and optional further components as defined in the claims. The present invention further provides for improved tendons, suitable for SP-HPC elements.