Abstract: The invention relates to multi-component shape memory threads, fibers, tubes, or tapes, which includes at least two shape-memory polymeric (SMP-N) components. Each of the at least two SMP-N components is of at least 1% of the total weight, and N is a positive integer starting from 1, and the SMP-N components have a selectively engineered shape recovery temperature (Tr) between approximately 0° C. to 130° C. Also, when TrN and TrN+1 are higher than room temperature, the threads, fibers, tubes, or tapes are configured to assume a substantially helical configuration upon heating to above TrN and lower than TrN+1 by a stimulus when an elongation of the threads, fibers, tubes, or tapes is approximately 30% to approximately 300%, and having a coil diameter from 0.5 to 10 mm and a number of the turns per cm from 5 to 30.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-porous, breathable and waterproof transparent plastic film on a plastic substrate and methods for fabricating the same. The film includes a thermoplastic polyester resin, an amphiphilic modifier having a hydrophilic segment that acts as a channel for water vapor transmission through the film connected to a hydrophobic segment that anchors the amphiphilic modifier to a portion of the polyurethane base resin and a compatibilizer. The resultant non-porous, breathable and waterproof transparent plastic film has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) or breathability of not less than 250 g/m2/24 hr according to ASTM E96B, and having at least 90% of the transmittance. They are also resistant to liquid penetration and micro-contaminants such as bacteria and virus, making them suitable for broad applications in medical, healthcare and food packaging industries.

Abstract: A launderable bactericidal and virucidal fabric finish formulation. The first component is a bactericidal and virucidal agent represented by formula (I): wherein n is 7; R1, R2, and R3 are jointly or independently selected from H or one of the following groups: wherein R4 is selected from CH3 or H; m is an integer from 2 to 10; p is an integer from 9 to 15; q is an integer from 2 to 10. A second component includes one or more crosslinkers and/or one or more catalysts. A third component includes one or more transition metal salts.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-pilling wool fabric with a coating having pilling resistance and resistance to fiber loss from fabric surface. The coating is formed by a coating formulation including at least two diisocyanates, at least two catalyst, a water dispersing agent, a buffer and water, which provides a polycarbodiimide crosslinker reactive to the relative less reactive groups on polypeptide of the wool fabric and promotes crosslinking between polypeptides of the wool fabric under relatively mild processing conditions so as to enhance mechanical strength of the wool fabric whilst no significant effect of the original finish merino wool fabric and/or garment and fiber loss from fabric surface are observed, compared to conventional treatment methods on wool fabric. A corresponding coating formulation and method of fabricating the anti-pilling wool fabric are also provided.

Abstract: An amorphous composite solid electrolyte is provided that includes one or more three-dimensional branched macromolecules with a core portion and at least three arm portions connected to the core portion. Each arm portion includes a random copolymer or a block polymer comprising a first monomer and a second monomer with a molar ratio of the first monomer to the second monomer in the range from greater than 0 to less than or equal to 1. An ion conductive electrolytic solution including at least one lithium salt solution in an amount of approximately 1 mol/l to 10 mol/l is entrained within the branched macromolecule, with a weight ratio of the branched macromolecule to the ion conducive electrolytic solution equal to or lower than 1:9, such that the branched macromolecule has a swelling degree of at least 5:1 (liquid:polymer in weight) of the ion conductive electrolytic solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with an in situ thermally-curable electrolyte. The thermally-curable electrolyte is cured from the thermally-curable electrolyte precursor solution including a first crosslinking agent, a second crosslinking agent, an initiator, an electrolyte solvent, an electrolyte salt, one or more electrolyte additives, and one or more monomers or a monomer polymerization product. The viscosity of the thermally-curable electrolyte precursor solution is below 200 cps such that the thermally-curable electrolyte precursor solution is infiltrated within the separator and the pores inside the cathode and anode layers then cured to form porous separator and porous electrodes fully permeated with a solid electrolyte.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composite coating and a method for fabricating the composite coating. The composite coating comprises a polymer layer, a metal interlayer and an amorphous metal coating. The polymer layer is formed on a substrate and acts as a diffusion barrier layer, which is thick and dense enough to prevent the corrosive substances from penetrating into the substrate. The metal interlayer is formed between the polymer layer and the amorphous metal coating for improving the adhesion of the amorphous metal coating to the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thoroughly modified, functionalized polymeric hard coating material represented by one of the following formulae for a bendable, transparent and photo/thermal curable coating film: [R1RaSiO3/2]??Formula (1); [R1R2RaSiO3/2]??Formula (2). This invention further relates to the synthetic method and application of the thoroughly modified, functionalized polymeric hard coating material. The thoroughly modified, functionalized polymeric hard coating material-containing composition for a coating exhibits higher surface hardness of at least 6H on flexible substrates, higher surface hardness of at least 9H on rigid substrates, and a certain degree of flexibility, with potential properties such as a light transparency of at least 85% and/or an antimicrobial effectiveness of at least 99%, and/or anti-scratch ability.

Abstract: A pressure distribution mapping system includes a flexible M×N textile-based pressure sensor array. with first and second electrode textile layers and a piezoresistive fabric layer with a sheet resistance of at least 60 k-ohm/square positioned between the first and second electrode textile layers. Individual pressure sensors are formed by an intersection between a row electrically-conductive path and a column electrically-conductive path along with the portion of the piezoresistive layer positioned at the intersection. A measurement system measures the resistance of each pressure sensor of the pressure sensor array. The measurement system includes a reading module with first op-amps connected to each row and second op-amps connected to each column.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for extracting polysaccharides, for example, ?-glucan and sodium alginate, from a sample including a botanical product. The extraction can be carried out using a microwave assisted dual-solvent extraction followed by one or more membrane filtration steps.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive material with improved bonding performance to a wet substrate, the adhesive material includes a first component selected from a polysiloxane-based adhesive, or a polyurethane-based adhesive; and a second component of a catechol-containing polymeric additive which includes a reaction product of polyvinylpyrrolidone with 3?,4?-dihydroxy-2-chloroacetophenone, and the weight ratio of polyvinylpyrrolidone to 3?,4?-dihydroxy-2-chloroacetophenone ranging from 10:1 to 1:1. The adhesive material being a mixture of at least the first component and the second component, where the second component is approximately 1 wt. % to 10 wt. % of the first component.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flexible pressure sensor array and method for fabricating the same. The pressure sensor array comprises a pressure-sensing substrate, top electrodes and bottom electrodes. The pressure-sensing substrate comprises a piezoresistive material, a fabric and pressure-sensing columns. The top electrodes and the bottom electrodes are attached to the pressure-sensing columns. The pressure sensor array is ultra-flexible and conforms to 3-dimensional surface for pressure monitoring.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-storey modular building including at least a first and a second lightweight concrete-based prefabricated modules each having at least a beam, a column, and one horizontal structure selected from a ceiling or a floor at least partially attached to two or more of the beams and columns. A connection system includes at least one vertical alignment connector attached to a horizontal load-distributing plate positioned between the first and second lightweight concrete-based prefabricated modules for connecting the first and second lightweight concrete-based prefabricated modules, where a top portion thereof is positioned in a grout accepting cavity in the bottom end of the column of the second lightweight concrete-based prefabricated module and that in the top end of the column of the first lightweight concrete-based prefabricated module. In-situ grout embeds the vertical alignment connector in each grout accepting cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flexible electric generator and methods for fabricating the same. The flexible electric generator comprises a flexible triboelectric layer covering the electrode layer of a flexible piezoelectric generator that enhances output power by combining piezoelectric effect and triboelectric effect. The reliability of the flexible electric generator under bending is also improved due to the presence of the flexible triboelectric layer. The fabrication methods of the disclosed flexible electric generators are simple, thereby enabling large-scale manufacturing.

Abstract: Flame retardant composition including: an optionally crosslinked rubber, an intumescent composition comprising a phosphate and a melamine polymer formed by combining melamine, formaldehyde, dicyandiamide, and aluminum hydroxide thereby forming the intumescent composition, a ceramic forming mixture, at least one glass additive, layered silicate nanoparticles, and optionally an antioxidant; and methods of preparation and use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transparent EMI shielding film that includes a first transparent polymeric substrate layer. A first conductive mesh layer having a first pattern is printed on the first layer, the conductive mesh having a line width from approximately 5 ?m to approximately 500 ?m and having a space between two adjacent conductive lines of 100 ?m to 1000 ?m. The conductive mesh blocks electromagnetic signals. A second transparent polymeric layer is positioned over the first transparent polymeric substrate layer having the first conductive mesh layer printed thereon. A second conductive mesh layer having a second pattern is printed on the second transparent polymeric layer, the second pattern being substantially identical to the first pattern, and being substantially identically positioned above the first pattern in order to maximize transparent spaces between adjacent conductive lines. The transparency is approximately 80% or greater in a visible light spectral region.

Abstract: Provided herein are energy absorbing composites including a thermoplastic resin, a dilatant, a compatibilizer, a reinforcing filler, and optionally an antioxidant and methods of preparation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anisotropic, thermal conductive, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composite including a plurality of aligned polymer nanofibers to form a polymer mat or scaffold having a first and second planes of orientation of the polymer nanofibers. The first plane of orientation of the polymer nanofibers has a thermal conductivity substantially the same as or similar to that of the second plane, and the thermal conductivity of the first or second plane of orientation of the polymer nanofibers is at least 2-fold of that of a third plane of orientation of the polymer nanofibers which is about 90 degrees out of the first and second planes of orientation of the polymer nanofibers, respectively, while the electrical resistance of each of the first and second planes is at least 3 orders lower than that of the third plane. A method for preparing the present composite is also provided.

Abstract: A water filtration membrane is provided, capable of removing heavy metal ions, filtering out particulates, filtering out bacteria, as well as removing herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. The membrane is composed of a mat of randomly oriented nanoparticle-coated nanofibers. The nanofibers are covalently bonded to a plurality of substantially uniformly-distributed ceramic nanoparticles embedded in or adhered on the surface of the polymer nanofibers through reactive functional groups. The ceramic nanoparticles have a pattern of deep grooves formed on the nanoparticle surfaces. The bonding of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is sufficient to retain the nanoparticles on the nanofiber surfaces when water flows through the water filtration membrane. The diameter of the nanofibers is 50-200 nm. The size of the nanoparticles is <40 nm, with a zeta potential of ?40 to ?45 mV in a dispersion medium. The nanoparticle deep grooves have an average size of approximately 1.2 nm or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular integrated construction joint which includes a first building module, a second building module or a structural wall and a joint between the first building module and the second building module or structural wall. The joint includes a flexible seamless stitching system, which provides a long-term firestop, smokestop and waterproof for the joint cavity in-between modules in modular integrated construction (MiC).