Abstract: Disclosed are functionalized Group IVA particles, methods of preparing the Group IVA particles, and methods of using the Group IVA particles. The Group IVA particles may be passivated with at least one layer of material covering at least a portion of the particle. The layer of material may be a covalently bonded non-dielectric layer of material. The Group IVA particles may be used in various technologies, including lithium ion batteries and photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: Methods of making polymer compositions containing volatile functional agents are provided, along with compositions and articles made from such methods. The methods include mixing one or more volatile functional agents into one or more polymers in a first extruder to form a masterbatch, further mixing the masterbatch in a second extruder having a volume that is larger than a volume of the first extruder, maintaining the mixing temperatures of both the first and second extruders below the volatilization temperature of the one or more volatile functional agents during the first and second mixing steps, and forming the mixture of the one or more volatile functional agents and the one or more polymers into pellets having a substantially uniform distribution of the one or more volatile functional agents in the one or more polymers.

Abstract: This invention reveals a method of manufacturing a puncture sealing pneumatic rubber tire which comprises: (1) building an unvulcanized tire including a circumferential rubber tread, a supporting carcass therefor, two spaced beads, two rubber sidewalls connecting said beads, an inner liner and a solid sealant formulation layer disposed inwardly from said supporting carcass and outwardly from said inner liner, wherein said solid sealant formulation layer is comprised of (a) polyisobutylene, (b) a peroxide, and (c) a reinforcing filler, wherein the polyisobutylene is present in the sealant layer at a level of at least 50 weight percent; and (2) shaping and vulcanizing said tire in a tire mold under conditions of heat and pressure and simultaneously forming in situ a puncture sealant layer in said tire by both crosslinking and partially depolymerizing said polyisobutylene rubber in said sealant layer formulation.

Abstract: An unidirectional nanopore dehydration-based functional polymer membrane or hydrogel membrane, preparation method thereof and device thereof. Adding an aqueous polymer solution or a polymer mixture solution into a mold through a sampling hole on the top of a container with a nanoporous filter film as the bottom, after closing said sampling hole, the water molecules in the solution are dehydrated in one direction downward through the nanopores of the filter film, and obtain said polymer membrane or hydrogel membrane on the upper surface of the nanoporous filter film; it can also undergo in situ polymerization with pyrrole in an aqueous solution to obtain a conductive PM or PHM modified by polypyrrole. The invention adopts a UND-based mold, and green processing obtains a novel polymer material with an ordered molecular arrangement, which has the characteristics of flexibility, transparency, and robust mechanical properties. The polymeric material has broad applications.

Abstract: Provided is a curable silicone composition for a release agent which can form a release film having a silicone adhesive with a low release force even when thin and which does not reduce the adhesive strength of the silicone adhesive to other substrates upon releasing the release film. Also provided is a release film, laminate, and method of manufacture.

Abstract: An antidegradant composition, an antidegradant master batch comprising the antidegradant composition and a rubber composition comprising the antidegradant composition or the antidegradant master batch. The antidegradant composition comprises antidegradant TMPPD and one or two selected from antidegradant N3100-B and an antidegradant N3100-C. The antidegradant composition and antidegradant master batch render a rubber compound and a rubber article excellent discoloration resistance, fatigue resistance, ozone resistance, and mechanical properties before and after thermal oxidative aging and enables the rubber compound to be used in the manufacture of all or part of the rubber matrix, especially as a tire sidewall rubber composition and a tire tread rubber composition.

Abstract: A method of preparing a modification-free, recyclable and photothermally-driven self-repairing epoxy anticorrosion coating. A bisphenol A epoxy resin is employed as a film-forming material, and a polybasic acid is used as a curing agent. A carbon material is introduced as a photothermal filler to construct a catalyst-free epoxy-anhydride curing system, which is cured at 110-130° C. for 4-12 h to obtain the recyclable and photothermally-driven self-repairing epoxy anticorrosion coating.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a fiber-reinforced material and an article made of the same. The fiber-reinforced material includes a fiber assembly and a matrix material coating the fiber assembly, the matrix material is a thermoplastic resin composition obtained by blending a polyolefin resin, a polyamide resin, and a modified elastomer that reacts with the polyamide resin. When a puncture test is performed at a striker speed of 1-4 msec and when a maximum impact force is applied is defined as PM and a deflection at break is defined as PB, PB/PM?4. When the amount of energy absorbed before a maximum impact force is applied is E1, the amount of energy absorbed after a maximum impact force is applied and before break is E2, and a total amount of absorbed energy of E1 and E2 is ET, the ratio of E2:ET is 70% or more.

Abstract: Inventive techniques for forming unique compositions of matter are disclosed, as well as various advantageous physical characteristics, and associated properties of the resultant materials. In particular, particles comprising polymer matrices are characterized by having carbon disposed within the polymer matrix structure thereof. The carbon is primarily, or entirely, present at interstitial sites of the polymer matrix, and may be present in amounts ranging from about 15 wt % to about 90 wt %. The carbon, moreover, forms covalent bonds with both atoms of the polymer matrix and other carbon atoms present in, but not part of, the matrix. This facilitates substantially homogeneous dispersal of the carbon throughout the resultant material, conveying unique and advantageous properties such as strength-to-weight ratio, density, mechanical toughness, sheer strength, flex strength, hardness, anti-corrosiveness, electrical and/or thermal conductivity, etc. as described herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying a wet polymer composition obtained from a polymerization process, comprising: a) introducing the wet polymer composition and a drying gas into a fluidized bed dryer to form a fluidized bed of the wet polymer composition and b) heating the fluidized bed to obtain a dry polymer composition, wherein the fluidized bed further comprises an anti-fouling agent comprising inert nanoparticles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a cellulose particle and a binder, where the cellulose particle has a cellulose core and a surface group, and the binder interacts with the surface group to form a composite.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a composition comprises a polycarbonate; 1 to 5 wt % based on a total weight of the composition of a nanosilica having a D50 particle size by volume of 5 to 50 nanometers; wherein the nanosilica has a hydrophobic coating; and a siloxane domain having repeat units of the formula 10; wherein each R is independently a C1-13 monovalent organic group and the value of E is 2 to 1,000; wherein the composition comprises at least one of a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer, 0.1 to 5 wt % of a polysiloxane homopolymer based on the total weight of the composition, or a plurality of polysiloxane particles having a D50 particle size by volume of 0.1 to 10 micrometers.

Abstract: A filament material and a method for producing the same is disclosed. For example, the filament material includes a polymer resin that is compatible with an extrusion based printing process and a marking additive that allows selective portions of the filament material to change color when exposed to a light, wherein the marking additive is added to approximately 0.01 to 25.00 weight percent (wt %).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a macroscopic, two or three-dimensional support medium that facilitates artistic expression and the creation and display of macroscopic art, design that is applied art and architecture. The invention also relates to various methods of making such novel support mediums and the works of art, design and architecture they are made as or into. Examples are works of art, design and architecture made with new and extraordinary aesthetic and/or functional properties from the use of nanomaterials.

Abstract: An intumescent polymer is provided for molding fire-retardant structures. Expandable graphite is mixed in a polymer matrix to form the intumescent polymer. The expandable graphite is treated with silane to improve the strength of the polymer. Other ingredients may also be included within the polymer, including an acid source, blowing agent, char forming agent, an inorganic filler and a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A processing system for producing starch based expanded products useful as packing material for shipping, packaging and insulating applications. Generally, two processing steps for forming materials are involved. In a first step, dense pellets or granules are formed from starch and a plasticizing agent, such as a plasticizing polymer, for example, polyvinyl alcohol. The starch in the pellets is generally formed, for example with an extruder, into a thermoplastic or thermosetting form for further processing. The pellets generally have an individual density of at least about 70 lbs./cubic foot and a small size for convenient delivery for the second processing step. The second process step is based on the expanding of the material from an extruder with water as the expansion agent in which the dwell time in the extruder is short. The process is designed such that a less expensive single screw extruder is suitable for extruding the expanded material.

Abstract: Nanocomposite compositions and methods for preparing nanocomposite compositions films are provided. The nanocomposite compositions include dendritic fibrous nanoparticles that have a diameter ranging from 50 to 500 nm, and a polymer matrix comprising poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), where dendritic fibrous nanoparticles are dispersed within the polymer matrix, and where the PMMA is bound to the surface of the dendritic fibrous nanoparticles. Methods of preparing nanocomposite compositions and nanocomposite films including the nanocomposite compositions may include introducing dendritic fibrous nanoparticles into a mixture with a poly(methyl methacrylate) in a solution to form a composite solution.

Abstract: Composite material can include a matrix material, a fiber dispersed in the matrix material, and an ultraviolet (UV)-light sensitive mechanophore grafted to a surface of the fiber. A method for making a fiber-reinforced polymer composite can include contacting a fiber in a first solution, rinsing and then drying intermediate fiber, contacting dried fiber in a third solution, rinsing, and then drying the rinsed fiber thereby generating functionalized fiber that is sensitive to ultraviolet light. The functionalized fiber can be combined with a polymer matrix material, cured, and irradiated, thereby generating a fiber-reinforced polymer composite.

Abstract: Provided are a binder in the producing of a casting sand mold according to an ink jet type lamination shaping method in which a binder is printed with respect to sand, a method for producing the binder, and a method for producing a casting sand mold using the binder. Specifically, provided are a binder useful for a casting sand mold of an ink jet type, containing: a resol-type phenolic resin that is obtained by reacting aldehydes (A1), phenols (P1), and a compound (N) having two or more phenolic hydroxyl groups in one molecule or by reacting the aldehydes (A1) and a novolac-type phenolic resin (N1), in the presence of an alkali catalyst, and has a dispersion degree (Mw/Mn) of 1.0 to 3.5 and a phenolic monomer residue of 5% or less, a method for producing the binder, and a method for producing a casting sand mold.

Abstract: A non-woven carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composite object is formed by the variable frequency microwave (VFM) irradiation of a mixed fiber sheet of thermoplastic fibers, carbon fibers and wavy carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The mixed fiber sheets are prepared from a slurry of the thermoplastic fibers, carbon fibers, and wavy CNTs such that the wavy CNTs contact the carbon fibers and thermoplastic fibers. Upon irradiation with VFM radiation, the wavy CNTs generate heat and transfer the heat to the thermoplastic fibers, causing melting of the thermoplastic to form the matrix of the CFRTP composite object. The mixed fiber sheets can be combined alone or with other sheets to form laminar composites that are molded into objects and heated by VFM irradiation.