Abstract: A water-repellent transparent coating-substrate assembly includes a substrate and a water-repellent transparent coating disposed on a surface of the substrate, the transparent coating including an inorganic oxide fine particle layer containing inorganic oxide fine particles, and an overcoating layer disposed on the inorganic oxide fine particle layer, the surface of the water-repellent transparent coating having irregularities including depressions and protrusions in which the protrusions have an average height (TF) in the range of 30 to 500 nm and an average protrusion interval (pitch width) (WF) in the range of 50 to 1000 nm, the water-repellent transparent coating having a water contact angle in the range of 130 to 180°.

Abstract: Compositions including cement and an additive and methods for making compositions and/or concrete mixtures including a cement and an additive are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mold release film including a resin layer provided on one surface of a polyester film, wherein the resin layer includes 100 parts by mass of a polypropylene-based modified polyolefin resin with the proportion of a modifying component of 1 to 10% by mass and 1 to 50 parts by mass of a cross-linking agent; the peel strength between the resin layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive measured by bonding a rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive to the resin layer exceeds 3.0 N/cm; and the residual adhesion rate of a pressure-sensitive adhesive after bonding an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive to the resin layer is 80% or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for coating a zirconium alloy cladding of a fuel element for a nuclear water reactor. The composition includes a master alloy including one or more alloying elements selected from chromium, silicon and aluminum, a chemical activator and an inert filler. The alloying element(s) is deposited or are co-deposited on the cladding using a pack cementation process. When the coated zirconium alloy cladding is exposed to and contacted with water in a nuclear reactor, a protective oxide layer can form on the coated surface of the cladding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel block copolymers comprising at least one mono vinyl aromatic monomer (also referred to as mono vinylarene) and at least one conjugated diene monomer, in particular to styrene butadiene block copolymers (SBC), with a defined block structure. The invention further relates to polymer blends which comprise at least one block copolymer and at least one mono vinylarene acrylate copolymer, in particular a styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer. Related methods for preparation and articles prepared from the polymer blends are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a block copolymer; where the block copolymer comprises a first polymer and a second polymer; where the first polymer and the second polymer of the block copolymer are different from each other and the block copolymer forms a phase separated structure; an additive polymer; where the additive polymer comprises a bottlebrush polymer; and where the bottlebrush polymer comprises a polymer that is chemically and structurally the same as one of the polymers in the block copolymer or where the bottlebrush polymer comprises a polymer that has a preferential interaction with one of the blocks of the block copolymers; and a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for forming an article from a diene rubber, comprising: providing a raw diene rubber substance comprising 1,2-polybutadiene rubber component; adding to the raw diene rubber substance a peroxide as a vulcanizing agent; softening the raw diene rubber at a first temperature of not more than 200° C.; vulcanizing the diene rubber at a second temperature of not more than 200° C., with contacting the diene rubber to an ambient atmosphere; and forming from the vulcanized diene rubber an article.

Abstract: An emulsion composition includes (1) a carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene elastomer containing an acrylonitrile residue in an amount of 23 to 30 wt % and an unsaturated carboxylic acid residue in an amount of 3 to 8 wt %, and (2) a polyacrylonitrile butadiene elastomer containing an acrylonitrile residue in an amount of 20 to 50 wt % and having a weight average molecular weight (in terms of styrene) of 7,000 to 50,000. The weight ratio of the component (1)/the component (2) is from 70/30 to 90/10.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a composition comprising tetrahydrofurfuryl and alkoxylated alkyl esters and their use as plasticizers in biodegradable resins, more in particular, in a biodegradable aliphatic polyester resin comprising polylactic acid. In a preferred embodiment the composition comprises a tetrahydrofurfuryl butyldiglycolate ester. The invention also refers to a biodegradable resin composition, more in particular, comprising homo- or co-polymers of polylactic acid and comprising such compositions.

Abstract: Provided are compounds of the following: wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon optionally substituted with an alkyl and/or an OXO-ester, and R2 is a C4 to C14 hydrocarbyl, preferably the residue of a C4 to C14 OXO-alcohol. Also provided are processes for making the compounds and plasticized polymer compositions containing said compounds.

Abstract: A solid material can be prepared from a liquid precursor in solvent free conditions.

Abstract: This invention provides a curable composition, which comprises a RTV silicone and an uncrosslinked or partially crosslinked rubber and/or elastomer providing initial strength to the composition, wherein the ratio of the silicone to the rubber and/or elastomer ranges from 1:2 to 15:1 by weight. The curable composition has improved handling and application properties in addition to good thermal conductive performance, UV and thermal aging performance, electrical insulation performance, and adhesive performance.

Abstract: A roofing membrane comprising an olefinic rubber; and from about 20 to about 250 parts by weight of a silica filler per 100 parts by weight rubber; wherein the silica filler is chemically coupled to the olefinic rubber; and wherein the roofing membrane is non-black.

Abstract: A graft copolymer capable of providing impact resistance, flame retardance, and color rendering properties to a thermoplastic resin is described. The graft copolymer contains a polyorganosiloxane, and is obtained by graft-polymerizing vinyl monomers including a (meth)acrylate ester (b1) having an alkyl group or an aromatic group and an aromatic vinyl monomer (b2) on a polyorganosiloxane-based rubber. The graft copolymer has a volume average particle diameter of 200-2000 nm, and contains 0.1-69 mass % of polyorganosiloxane. A thermoplastic resin composition is also described, containing a thermoplastic resin (A), the graft copolymer, a fluorine resin (C) and a flame retardant (D). A molded article is also described, which is obtained by molding the thermoplastic resin composition.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion containing at least one copolymer, the copolymer being preparable by initially charging an aqueous dispersion of at least one polyurethane, and then polymerizing a mixture of olefinically unsaturated monomers in the presence of the polyurethane, where a water-soluble initiator is used, the metered addition of the olefinically unsaturated monomers is effected in such a way that a concentration of 6.0% by weight, based on the total amount of olefinically unsaturated monomers, in the reaction solution is not exceeded over the entire duration of the reaction, and the mixture of the olefinically unsaturated monomers contains at least one polyolefinically unsaturated monomer.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an interaction between graphene nanoparticles and a poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), including modifying graphene with nitric acid to form graphene nanoparticles surface modified with one or more oxygen functionalities, melt blending the poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate) and the modified graphene nanoparticles to obtain a nanocomposite, and exposing the nanocomposite to microwave irradiation to form defects in the graphene nanoparticles. A blend composition, including graphene nanoparticles and a poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), where the graphene nanoparticles are dispersed in the poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), and the graphene nanoparticles are surface modified with oxygen functionalities.

Abstract: A process for producing particles, the process including pulverizing particles of a compound represented by formula (I) with a median diameter (50% D) of over 100 ?m by using a pulverizer in the presence of at least one member selected from the group consisting of silica, talc and clay, to obtain particles of the compound represented by formula (I) with a median diameter (50% D) of 100 ?m or less, in formula (I), R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or alternatively, R1 and R2 are inked to each other to form a ring together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, m represents an integer of 2 to 9, Mn+ represents H+ or an n-valent metal ion, and n represents an integer of 1 or 2.

Abstract: A rubber composition that achieves a balanced improvement in wet grip performance, abrasion resistance, and roll processability, and a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The rubber composition includes, per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component, 1-60 parts by mass of an inorganic reinforcing agent having an average particle size of 0.69 ?m or less and a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of 10-50 m2/g, the inorganic reinforcing agent being represented by the following formula: kM1.xSiOy.zH2O wherein M1 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ti, Ca, and Zr, or an oxide or hydroxide of the metal; k represents an integer of 1 to 5; x represents an integer of 0 to 10; y represents an integer of 2 to 5; and z represents an integer of 0 to 10.

Abstract: A composition includes specific amounts of an aromatic polycarbonate, a block polycarbonate-polysiloxane, a poly(alkylene terephthalate), a block polyestercarbonate, and an organophosphate ester. Relative to a corresponding composition lacking the block polyestercarbonate, the composition exhibits improved solvent resistance while substantially maintaining impact strength, melt flow, and flame retardancy. The composition is useful for fabricating articles that may come into contact with liquid chemicals or chemical vapors.

Abstract: A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be a super absorbent polymer (insoluble in water, but absorbing water), or another polymer such as the acrylamides, co-polymers thereof, polyacrylamides, or the like (soluble in water). The coating absorbs water, but particles are too small to form significant voids. Water is absorbed into the concrete mix in far greater proportions (e.g. w/c ratio over 0.5) improving workability, doubling workability time, and improving ultimate compressive stress (strength).