Abstract: A polymer blend material comprising: (i) a first polymer containing hydrogen bond donating groups having at least one hydrogen atom bound to a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, or an anionic version of said first polymer wherein at least a portion of hydrogen atoms bound to a heteroatom is absent and replaced with at least one electron pair; (ii) a second polymer containing hydrogen bond accepting groups selected from nitrile, halogen, and ether functional groups; and (iii) at least one modifying agent selected from carbon particles, ether-containing polymers, and Lewis acid compounds; wherein, if said second polymer contains ether functional groups, then said at least one modifying agent is selected from carbon particles and Lewis acid compounds. Methods for producing the polymer blend, molded forms thereof, and articles thereof, are also described.

Abstract: Road markers, highway delineators and other products are manufactured from a compounded mixture of polymers and pulverized or micronized rubber powder, using a multi-layer plastic extrusion process on industry standard plastic extrusion equipment. The compound retains shape and includes a mixture of natural and synthetic rubbers, carbon black, fillers and oils; a propylene-based elastomer; a mixture of light color aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, and linear low density polyethylene.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing level of titanium in an aqueous solution of polyester in a safe and effective way, while avoiding hydrolysis of the polyester.

Abstract: A method and chip for fusing droplets in a chip comprising (i) providing a first set of droplets which are partially or not stabilized by surfactant, (ii) providing a second set of droplets which are stabilized by surfactant, (iii) contacting each droplet of the first set with single or multiple droplets of the second set in a pairing module and (iv) fusing droplets of the first set with droplets of the second set through a droplet fusion module in which the droplets experience at least one acceleration and/or deceleration and/or reorientation and/or rearrangement in space and time.

Abstract: Polymer-inorganic particle blends are incorporated into structures generally involving interfaces with additional materials that can be used advantageously for forming desirable devices. In some embodiments, the structures are optical structures, and the interfaces are optical interfaces. The different materials at the interface can have differences in index-of-refraction to yield desired optical properties at the interface. In some embodiments, structures are formed with periodic variations in index-of-refraction. In particular, photonic crystals can be formed. Suitable methods can be used to form the desired structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides an unsaturated polyester resin composition including an unsaturated polyester, a crosslinking agent, an inorganic filling material, a hollow filler, and a fibrous reinforcing material, in which the hollow filler has a content ratio of a hollow filler having a particle diameter of 30 ?m or less of 80 vol % or more with respect to the total volume of the hollow filler, and in which the content of the hollow filler in the unsaturated polyester resin composition is from 15 to 24 mass %. The unsaturated polyester resin composition can provide a molded article having both reduced specific gravity and improved self-tapping strength while maintaining the conventional characteristics (surface smoothness, heat resistance, mechanical strength, dimensional accuracy, and moldability).

Abstract: Novel benzoxazine-thiol adducts are described, which may be may be cured to produce compositions useful in coating, sealants, adhesive and many other applications.

Abstract: Provided is a transfer member for electrophotography, comprising a substrate and a surface layer on the substrate, wherein the surface layer comprises: an acrylic resin having a hydroxyl group; and a fluorine compound, the fluorine compound having an alkyl group including 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and a fluorine atom substituting at least one hydrogen atom in the alkyl group, and comprising a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing resin particles uses a microreactor to mix first and second stock solutions, and to aggregate resin fine-particles to obtain resin particles. The microreactor includes stationary and rotating discs that are two discoid discs and that are disposed so that a gap is formed between circular surfaces of the two discs when the resin particles are manufactured, a first stock solution feed part that feeds the first stock solution from an end of the gap into the gap, and one or more second stock solution feed parts that are formed at the opposite side of the first stock solution feed part based on the center of the circular surface of the stationary disc by spatially connecting top and bottom surfaces of the stationary disc, and that feed the second stock solution containing an aggregating agent from the top surface side of the stationary disc to the gap.

Abstract: There is provided a reinforcing material equipped with a cohesive/adhesive layer, having a proper initial adhesion force to an adherend, such as an electrolyte membrane, a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, and which can be temporarily fixed readily. A reinforcing material produced by forming a cohesive/adhesive layer on a substrate. The cohesive/adhesive layer includes an aliphatic polyamide, an epoxy resin and a polythiol. When the reinforcing material is used, it becomes possible to correct the position of an adherend after the adhesion of the reinforcing material to the adherend. In addition, it can prevent the formation of wrinkles on the adherend or the like upon the adhesion of the reinforcing material. Therefore, a catalyst layer laminated membrane or the like which has a reinforcing material attached thereto can be produced readily without requiring the employment of any highly skilled technique.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery is disclosed. The negative electrode includes a current collector and a negative active material layer positioned on the current collector and including a negative active material and a binder, wherein the negative active material includes a silicon-based material, a tin-based material, or a combination thereof, and the binder includes an organic acid including a carboxyl group-containing polymer and an organic base having a cyclic structure. A method of preparing the same, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sulfur based active material has a core-shell structure including a hollow core and a porous carbon shell surrounding the hollow core. Sulfur is present in a portion of the hollow core. A polymer shell coating is formed on the porous carbon shell. The polymer shell coating includes nitrogen atoms that bond to carbon atoms of the porous carbon shell so that the porous carbon shell is a nitrogen-confused porous carbon shell.

Abstract: There is provided a lithium-air secondary cell having an air electrode, a negative electrode containing metal lithium or a lithium-containing material and a gel-form solid electrolyte, wherein the gel-form solid electrolyte contains a solid electrolyte salt, a solvent, and a specific lipid peptide-type gelator composed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical cell having an negative electrode compartment and a positive electrode compartment. A solid alkali ion conductive electrolyte membrane is positioned between the negative electrode compartment and the positive electrode compartment. A catholyte solution in the positive electrode compartment includes a halide ion or pseudohalide ion concentration greater than 3M, which provides degradation protection to the alkali ion conductive electrolyte membrane. The halide ion or pseudohalide ion is selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, azide, thiocyanate, and cyanide. In some embodiments, the electrochemical cell is a molten sodium rechargeable cell which functions at an operating temperature between about 100° C. and about 150° C.

Abstract: A method for preparing hollow platinum or platinum-alloy catalysts includes a step of forming a plurality of low-melting-point metal nanoparticles. A platinum or platinum-alloy coating is then deposited onto the low-melting-point metal nanoparticles to form platinum or platinum-alloy coated particles. The low-melting-point metal nanoparticles are then removed to form a plurality of hollow platinum or platinum-alloy particles.

Abstract: An electrolyte for rechargeable lithium battery includes a lithium salt, a non-aqueous organic solvent, a first additive represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and a second additive represented by the following Chemical Formula 2. A rechargeable lithium battery includes the electrolyte.

Abstract: Contemplated compositions and methods for sealing cementitious material includes the step of contacting a portion of the cementitious material with a concrete sealing composition, wherein the composition comprises swellable polymers that can form a moisture adaptive barrier in the material, a silicate component that can react with free lime in the material to form CSH in the presence of a catalyst, and a water miscible silane that can react with silica in the material to form polysiloxanes.

Abstract: The disclosure described herein includes antifouling compositions, methods of antifouling by adhesion suppression and methods of selecting an antifouling composition which suppresses marine animal adhesion or reduces the strength of marine animal adhesion by reducing or quenching the oxidative adhesion chemistry of the marine animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing 12 wt % or more of zirconium salt in terms of zirconium oxide and 2 wt % or more of phosphorus compound in terms of phosphorus. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber, and the method includes treating a regenerated collagen fiber with a zirconium salt to incorporate the zirconium salt into the regenerated collagen fiber, and then treating the regenerated collagen fiber with a phosphorus compound to incorporate the phosphorus compound into the regenerated collagen fiber, thereby obtaining a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing 12 wt % or more of zirconium salt in terms of zirconium oxide and 2 wt % or more of phosphorus compound in terms of phosphorus. The present invention also relates to a fiber bundle for hair including 30 to 100 wt % of the water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber and 0 to 70 wt % of polyester-based fiber.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluororubber composition able to produce a crosslinked fluororubber article that exhibits not only heat resistance, but also excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures, and a method for producing same. The fluororubber composition contains: a fluororubber (A); and carbon black (B), wherein when the aforementioned fluororubber composition is immersed for 160 hours in an extraction solvent of acetone and hexane at an acetone:hexane mass ratio of 42.29:57.71 at 40° C. and an extraction residue that is not extracted and remains as a solid is separated from the aforementioned extraction solvent and dried and then the dry weight of the extraction residue is measured, the quantity of a solvent-insoluble polymer is not lower than 5%.