Abstract: A nano-composite includes a thermoplastic copolymer includes a polycarbonate copolymer including repeating siloxane units and a plurality of quantum dots. A method of making a polymer film includes forming a masterbatch composition by combining (1) a first thermoplastic copolymer including a polycarbonate copolymer including repeating siloxane units and (2) a plurality of quantum dots; combining the masterbatch composition with a second thermoplastic polymer to form a mixture; and forming the polymer film from the mixture. The polycarbonate copolymer has a siloxane content of from 15 wt % to 65 wt %.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced composite (e.g., for portable electronic devices), and methods of molding such fiber-reinforced composite parts. Such a fiber-reinforced composite part comprises one or more fiber layers and a plurality of ceramic particles within a polymer matrix such that ceramic particles and polymer are disposed above and below each of the fiber layer(s), with the ceramic particles comprising from 30% to 90% by volume of the composite part, the polymer matrix comprising from 6% to 50% by volume of the composite part, and the fiber layer(s) comprising from 1% to 40% by volume of the composite part; the ceramic particles having a Dv50 of from 50 nanometers to 100 micrometers; the ceramic particles being substantially free of agglomeration; and the composite part having a relative density greater than 90%.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes from about 40 wt % to about 60 wt % polycarbonate homopolymer or copolymer, from about 15 wt % to about 30 wt % styrene acrylonitrile copolymer, from about 13 wt % to about 15 wt % flat glass fiber, and from about 9 wt % to about 11 wt % round glass fiber. Methods for making a thermoplastic composition include forming a mixture from the recited components and extruding or molding the mixture to form the composition.

Abstract: Provided are extrusion dies having entrance, orientation, merging (205), and exit (211) sections, which dies may be used to produce fibers having, e.g., oriented reinforcement materials (e.g., PTFE) dispersed within. The dies provide fibers having enhanced mechanical and processing properties. The orientation section comprises orientation channels (203) wherein a ratio of a cross-sectional area having of the channel inlet to a cross-sectional area of the channel outlet is between 2 and 45.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes thin, high-stiffness laminates, portable electronic device housings including the same, and methods for making such laminates and portable electronic device housings. Some laminates include an inner section having one or more first laminae and one or more second laminae, and first and second outer sections disposed on opposing sides of the inner section, each having one or more third laminae The laminate has a width and a length that is perpendicular to the width. Each of the first lamina(e) can have fibers aligned in a direction parallel to the length, each of the second lamina(e) can have fibers aligned in a direction parallel to the width, and each of the third lamina(e) can have fibers aligned in a direction angnlarly disposed at an angle of at least 10 degrees to each of the length and the width.

Abstract: Ceramic-polymer composites and methods. The ceramic-polymer composites, in powder and/or pellet forms, comprise a plurality of core-shell particles, where: each of the core-shell particles comprises a core and a shell around the core; the core comprises a ceramic selected from the group of ceramics consisting of: Al2O3, Fe2O3, ZnO, ZrO2, and SiO2; and the shell comprises a polymer selected from the group of polymers consisting of: PC copolymers, polyetherimide (PEI), polyetherimide (PEI) copolymers, polyphenyl sulfone (PPSU), polyarylethersulfone (PAES), and poly ether sulfones (PES). In powder form, the core-shell particles are in a substantially dry powder form having a moisture content of less than 2% by weight. In pellet form, shells of adjacent core-shell particles are joined to resist separation of the adjacent core-shell particles and deformation of a respective pellet.

Abstract: Semi-crystalline polymer-ceramic composites and methods. The ceramic-polymer composites, in powder and/or pellet forms, comprise a plurality of core-shell particles, where: each of the core-shell particles comprises a core and a shell around the core; the core comprises a ceramic that is selected from the group of ceramics consisting of: Al2O3, ZrO2, and combinations of Al2O3 and ZrO2; and the shell comprises a semi-crystalline polymer selected from the group of semi-crystalline polymers consisting of: polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyaryl ether ketone (PAEK), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), semi-crystalline polyimide (SC PI), and semi-crystalline polyamide (SC Polyamide). The core-shell particles can be in a powder form (e.g., a dry powder). In pellet form, shells of adjacent core-shell particles are joined to resist separation of the adjacent core-shell particles and deformation of a respective pellet.

Abstract: Compatibilizing materials for use with fibers and polymeric compositions are described. A compatibilizing material can include a silane (Si) modified polyphenylene ether (PPE) oligomer having a resin reactive functional group. The resin reactive functional group can be between the PPE moiety and a Si moiety. In other instances, the resin reactive functional group can be a substituent of the Si moiety.

Abstract: An extruded thermoplastic composition includes: (a) from about 20 wt % to about 75 wt % of a ceramic fiber component; (b) from about 15 wt % to about 70 wt % of a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) component including a high molecular weight PBT and a low molecular weight PBT; (c) from about 5 wt % to about 23 wt % of a polycarbonate component; and (d) from about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of a compatibilizer component. Methods of making the extruded thermoplastic composition are also described.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to polymer compositions comprising a matrix polymer component comprising a crystalline or semi-crystalline polymer; and a fibrillated fluoropolymer, a fibrillated fluoropolymer encapsulated by an encapsulating polymer, or a combination thereof. Methods of preparing and using these polymer compositions, as well as articles comprising the polymer compositions, as also described.

Abstract: A reinforced poly(phthalamide) composition comprising 20-80 weight percent of a poly(phthalamide) component comprising 15-55 weight percent of a crystalline poly(phthalamide), and 5-45 weight percent of an amorphous poly(phthalamide); 0.5-60 weight percent of a reinforcing filler; and 0.1-50 weight percent of an additive composition; wherein weight percent is based on the total weight of the reinforced poly(phthalamide) composition and totals 100; and wherein the reinforced poly(phthalamide) composition has a capillary melt viscosity, measured according to ASTM D3835 (2015) at 320° C., at 5000 s?1, that is at least 10% lower than that of the same reinforced poly(phthalamide) composition without the amorphous poly(phthalamide), and a warpage that is at least 15% lower than that of the same reinforced poly(phthalamide) composition without the amorphous poly(phthalamide).

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition comprising: a polymer material; and a passivated inorganic chromophore comprising an inorganic chromophore and a passivation layer, wherein the inorganic chromophore has the formula: AM1-xM?xM?yO3+y, wherein A, M, M?, M?, x, and y are as provided herein, and wherein the passivation layer is derived from a passivation material comprising a polysiloxane having at least one functional group that is hydride, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, epoxy, carboxy, amino, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions include: (a) from about 30 wt % to about 95 wt % poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA); and (b) from about 5 wt % to about 70 wt % of a poly(carbonate-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %. Methods for making a molded article, include: (a) combining from about 30 wt % to about 95 wt % PMMA and from about 5 wt % to about 70 wt % of a poly(carbonate-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt % to form a blend; (b) melt processing and pelletizing the blend; and (c) injection molding the article from the melt processed and pelletized blend.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a composition comprises a poly(ester-carbonate-siloxane) copolymer; a nanosilica; a plurality of polysiloxane particles; and a fluoropolymer. The nanosilica can be present in an amount of 1 to 5 wt % based on a total weight of the composition. The nanosilica can have a D50 particle size by volume of 5 to 50 nanometers. The nanosilica can have a hydrophobic coating. The plurality of polysiloxane particles can be present in an amount of 1 to 10 wt % based on a total weight of the composition. The plurality of polysiloxane particles can have a D50 particle size by volume of 0.1 to 10 micrometers. The fluoropolymer can be present in an amount of 0.005 to 5 wt % based on a total weight of the composition.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions include: (a) a thermoplastic polymer including a polycarbonate component; (b) a poly(carbonate-siloxane) copolymer; and (c) from 4 wt % to 25 wt % carbon black. The composition has a total siloxane content of from 2 wt % to 14 wt %. The thermoplastic compositions exhibit improved physical properties as compared to compositions that do not include the poly(carbonate-siloxane) copolymer, including volume resistivity, melt viscosity, impact strength, puncture impact energy and surface resistivity.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns thermally conductive polymer compositions comprising: (a) from about 20 wt % to about 80 wt % of at least one polymer component; (b) from greater than about 0 wt % to about 70 wt % of a thermally conductive filler; and (c) from about 0.1 wt % to about 40 wt % of a laser activatable additive having a core-shell structure; wherein the core comprises an inorganic filler and the shell comprises a laser activatable component; wherein the combined weight percent value of all components does not exceed about 100 wt %; wherein all weight percent values are based on the total weight of the composition; and wherein a molded sample of the blended thermoplastic composition has a through plane thermal conductivity of at least about 0.40 W/m·K when determined in accordance with ASTM E1461.

Abstract: Compositions formed from a blend of polyetherimide, siloxane/bisphenol-A polyester/polycarbonate copolymer, polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate/siloxane copolymer, and styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene are disclosed that provide superior performance in terms of notched Izod impact, glass transition temperature (Tg), strength after aging, ability to withstand secondary processing conditions, and in other respects. Such compositions exceed critical-to-quality requirements for use in manufacturing components for electronic communication devices.

Abstract: A method for material lifetime evaluation includes: causing a stress to be applied to a material surface of a component based at least on a cycle of load properties over time; causing an image of the material surface to be captured as a captured image of a complete in-situ field; determining an area of a hysteresis of a stable surface strain region in a stress-strain curve of the material surface to determine a loss energy (first damage parameter) for low cycle fatigue modeling; determining a deformation energy (second damage parameter) for high cycle fatigue monitoring; determining a failure parameter based on at least one of the first damage parameter and the second damage parameter; comparing the failure parameter to a record in a database; and determining a remaining life of the component based on comparison of the failure parameter to the record in the database.

Abstract: A spinal cage for implantation between two adjacent vertebrae includes a polymer composition that includes a polyetherimide.