Abstract: Biopolymers and biopolymer blends, including block copolymers, prepared via enzyme-mediated catalysis preferably in a microorganism host in which the reaction conditions are selected to produce biopolymers and biopolymer blends having particular chemical compositions and microstructures.

Abstract: The invention refers to a new process for preparing coated particles and hollow shells by coating colloidal particles with alternating layers of oppositely charged nanoparticles and polyelectrolytes and optionally removing the colloidal cores.

Abstract: Polyurethaneurea powders, prepared from spandex under specific process conditions, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming thin films, wherein thin films with a uniform thickness can be formed on substrates as objects such as spheroids, even when the films are formed by conventional film-formation methods using an incident particle beam coming from a specific direction (e.g., evaporation and sputtering). In the method, thin films are formed on substrates such as spheroids with an incident particle beam coming from a particle source located in a specific direction by performing a spin motion together with a swing motion. The spin motion is a rotation of the substrate at a constant angular velocity about the spheroidal axis. The swing motion is a rotational oscillation of the same substrate for rotationally oscillating the axis at a constant cycle in one surface, where the center of the rotational oscillation is in the vicinity of the midpoint between two focal points on the axis of the spheroid.

Abstract: Multilayered porous materials are formed by coating a porous substrate with a metal and adsorbing an organic layer comprising a recognition moiety onto the metal film. The recognition moiety interacts with an analyte of interest allowing for its detection, purification, etc. Suitable recognition moieties can be selected from a range of species including, small molecules, polymers and biomolecules and the like. The novel porous materials of the invention can be utilized in an array of methods including, ion-exchange, ion-selective ion-exchange, assays, affinity dialysis, size exclusion dialysis and the like.

Abstract: A method for forming a cathodoluminescent screen by forming cathodoluminescent films on the inner surface of screen panel for a field emission display by a screen printing, a spray, or an electrodeposition process. The field emission display cathodoluminescent particles for improving a luminescent emission efficiency, wherein the improved cathodoluminescent particles are formed by coating a uniform phosphor material on the surfaces of cathodoluminescent particles by an atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a powder consisting of composite barium titanate particles having surface deposition of a water-insoluble rare earth compound such as yttrium oxide. The powder is used advantageously as a base material for the preparation of a sintered body such as ceramic capacitors of small thickness or compact size as compared with conventional powder blends of barium titanate particles and yttrium oxide particles in respect of greatly improved uniformity in the distribution of the yttrium element. The composite barium titanate particles with surface deposition of yttrium oxide can be prepared by conducting hydrolysis of urea in an aqueous medium containing a water-soluble yttrium salt dissolved therein in the presence of barium titanate particles to deposit basic yttrium carbonate on the particle surface followed by calcination of the particles to convert the basic yttrium carbonate into yttrium oxide.

Abstract: Adsorbent particles comprising superparamagnetic and/or low Curie Temperature transition metal-containing cores surrounded by a hydrous siliceous oxide coating can be formed by an aqueous process wherein the core is precipitated from an aqueous solution and a siliceous oxide coating is deposited thereon while complete drying of the core is avoided until after the siliceous oxide is deposited. The resulting siliceous adsorbents exhibit strong superparamagnetic and/or low Curie temperature magnetic properties with low transition metal leachability.

Abstract: An encapsulated flame retardant is made by a process including applying an organic silicon composition to a powder flame retardant. The organic silicon composition is an organofunctional-silane or a mixture of organofunctional silanes, an oligomeric organosiloxane or a mixture of oligomeric organosiloxanes, or a solvent-containing preparation based on monomeric organosilanes and/or on oligomeric organosiloxanes, or a preparation based on water-soluble organopolysiloxanes, or mixtures of any or all of these. These surface-modified flame retardants are used in particular in polymers and polymer compounds, for rendering naturally occurring materials flame retardant, and also for the intumescent coating of combustible materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel organosilicon particle having the formula SiaObCcHd. The particle may be coated with an organic film, preferably a rigid connector compound. The present invention also provides a method of using the organosilicon particle and/or rigid connector compound in the formation of a low-k dielectric film.

Abstract: The flexible, weatherable decorative sheet material provided by the present invention comprises a thermoformable decorative paint film having an inner surface and a weatherable, low gloss outer surface suitable for forming an exterior finish for a part, such as an automobile body part. The sheet material further includes an extensible mask layer releasably adhered to the outer surface of the paint film to form a protective film overlying the paint film. The mask layer comprises a film-forming polymer component and a particulate filler, such as silica, dispersed in the polymer component. A method of constructing the decorative sheet material, a method of controlling the gloss appearance of a paint film, and a composite shaped part including the decorative sheet material are also provided.

Abstract: Sedimentary mica flakes are produced having a bulk density of between about five and one-half pounds per cubic feet and eight pounds per cubic feet (5.5-11 lbs/ft3), a high aspect ratio, and a G.E. brightness between about seventy-five and ninety (75-90). Operations include applying shear forces to delaminate the mica into flakes. Shear forces are applied by rotating a plurality of arcuate blades within a confined chamber containing the mica, such that the mica is forced between an outer portion of each blade and said chamber. The resulting delaminated mica flakes may be dried and classified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collection of composite plateletlike particles comprising a core and at least one coating layer consisting essentially of a compound having from 60 to 95% by weight of carbon and from 5 to 25% by weight of nitrogen, the balance to 100% being selected from elements of the group consisting of hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur. The invention also relates to processes for the manufacture thereof, to polymer compositions containing it, and to the use thereof as effect pigments.

Abstract: A method for producing tablet including active component, diluting agent, and lubricant by means of a tabletting machine provided with punches and dies, comprising steps of; preparing molding material including active component, diluting anent, and a part of lubricant; applying most of the remaining amount of the lubricant on surfaces of the punches and a surface of the die; and tabletting the molding material by means of the punches on which surfaces the lubricant is applied and the die on which surface the lubricant is applied

Abstract: The present invention relates to metal oxide particles capable of being highly dispersed in organic materials to form transparent colloids and ceramers. The metal oxide particles of the present invention have surfaces attached to a dispersing aid and a degree of crystallinity of greater than 55 percent. The crystallite diameter of the metal oxide particles is greater than about 4 nanometers and less than about 20 nanometers. The present invention also relates to the colloids and ceramers prepared using these metal oxide particles and the methods associated with the preparation of the particles, colloids, and ceramers.

Abstract: A pigment in thin flakes where spherical silica particles having an average particle size of 20-400 nm are adhered on the surface of a flaky substrate having an average particle size of 0.5-10 &mgr;m and then the said spherical silica particle-adhered surface of the flaky substrate adhered with spherical silica is further coated with ultrafine particles of titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing particle size by the use of a supercritical fluid, generally carbon dioxide. The material is swollen by the supercritical carbon dioxide at a high pressure. After the material has been allowed to swell under a high pressure, the pressure is rapidly dropped. When the external pressure is rapidly dropped, the material explodes as the supercritical gas absorbed into the material rapidly expands outward.

Abstract: This invention relates to single-wall carbon nanotube/polymer composites, a process for the production of such, and their use as fibers, films and articles.

Abstract: A low-transmission transparent layered structure made of a transparent substrate and a low-transmission transparent layer formed on the transparent substrate, wherein the low-transmission transparent layer is constituted of black pigment fine particles having a mean particle size of from 10 to 150 nm and a binder matrix as the main constituents, the black pigment fine particles are composite oxide fine particles of iron, manganese, and copper, or are carbon fine particles and black titanium compound fine particles, the visible light transmittance of the low-transmission transparent layer is from 40 to 90%, and the standard deviation of the transmittance of the low-transmission transparent layer in each wavelength every 5 nm of a visible light wavelength region (380 to 780 nm) is 5% or lower. The low-transmission transparent layer structure has a flat transmission profile, can impart a low reflectance and antistatic and electric field shielding functions, and is used for a display device.

Abstract: A composite paramagnetic particle and method of making are provided. In one aspect of the invention, a particle comprising a multitude of submicron polymer bead aggregates covalently cross-linked to each other to form larger diameter particles is presented. Distributed throughout the composite paramagnetic particle are vacuous cavities. Each submicron polymer bead has distributed throughout its interior and surface submicron magnetite crystals. In another aspect of the invention, composite particles are made using high energy ultrasound during polymerization of one or more vinyl monomers. In one embodiment, high energy ultrasound is used during an emulsification step and during the early stages of the polymerization process to produce micron sized composite paramagnetic particles. The particles according to the invention exhibit a high percent magnetite incorporation and water and organic solvent stability.