Abstract: Some variations provide a magnetically anisotropic structure comprising a hexaferrite film disposed on a substrate, wherein the hexaferrite film contains a plurality of discrete and aligned magnetic hexaferrite particles, wherein the hexaferrite film is characterized by an average film thickness from about 1 micron to about 500 microns, and wherein the hexaferrite film contains less than 2 wt % organic matter. The hexaferrite film does not require a binder. Discrete particles are not sintered or annealed together because the maximum processing temperature to fabricate the structure is 500° C. or less, such as 250° C. or less. The magnetic hexaferrite particles may contain barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19) and/or strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19). The hexaferrite film may be characterized by a remanence-to-saturation magnetization ratio of at least 0.7. Methods of making and using the magnetically anisotropic structure are also described.

Abstract: An anti-icing coating having a continuous phase and a discrete phase. The continuous phase includes a fluorine-containing polymer formed from a fluorine-containing precursor having a functionality of greater than 2. The discrete phase includes a plurality of domains having a fluorine-free hygroscopic and/or hydrophilic material. The plurality of domains are dispersed within the continuous phase and are immersible with the continuous phase. At least a portion of the fluorine-free material is bonded to the fluorine-containing polymer with an isocyanate-containing moiety. The fluorine-containing polymer is crosslinked with a crosslinking molecule having at least 4 functional groups. The fluorine-free material is a poly(ethylene glycol).

Abstract: A self-sanitizing surface structure configured to selectively refract light, a method of fabricating a self-sanitizing surface configured to selectively refract light, and a method of decontaminating a surface using selectively refracted light. A waveguide including a support layer below a propagating layer is positioned over a substrate as a self-sanitizing layer. In the absence of a contaminant or residue on the waveguide, UV light injected into the propagating layer is constrained within the propagating layer due to total internal reflection. When a residue is present on the self-sanitizing surface structure, light may be selectively refracted at or near the interface with the residue along the side of the waveguide to destroy the residue. The self-sanitizing surface structure may be configured to refract a suitable amount of UV light in response to a particular type of residue or application.

Abstract: An applique for covering a clear substrate through which light is at least one of transmitted and received includes: a transparent sheet having: a first surface; and a second surface that is opposite the first surface; and a ultraviolet (UV) curable pressure sensitive adhesive that is disposed on the first surface of the transparent sheet, that is curable using UV light, and that is configured to adhere the transparent sheet to a third surface of the clear substrate.

Abstract: A polyurethane foam and a method of forming a polyurethan foam. The polyurethane foam including the reaction product of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene copolymer polyol, a gelation catalyst, a blowing catalyst, lignin, a polymeric isocyanate, and a blowing agent. The method includes mixing polyethylene glycol and polypropylene copolymer polyol, a gelation catalyst, a blowing catalyst, lignin, a polymeric isocyanate, and a blowing agent. Vehicle components are formed from the polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A polyurethane foam and a method of forming a polyurethan foam. The polyurethane foam including the reaction product of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene copolymer polyol, a gelation catalyst, a blowing catalyst, lignin, a polymeric isocyanate, and a blowing agent. The method includes mixing polyethylene glycol and polypropylene copolymer polyol, a gelation catalyst, a blowing catalyst, lignin, a polymeric isocyanate, and a blowing agent. Vehicle components are formed from the polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A self-sanitizing surface structure configured to selectively refract light, a method of fabricating a self-sanitizing surface configured to selectively refract light, and a method of decontaminating a surface using selectively refracted light. A waveguide including a support layer below a propagating layer is positioned over a substrate as a self-sanitizing layer. In the absence of a contaminant or residue on the waveguide, UV light injected into the propagating layer is constrained within the propagating layer due to total internal reflection. When a residue is present on the self-sanitizing surface structure, light may be selectively refracted at or near the interface with the residue along the side of the waveguide to destroy the residue. The self-sanitizing surface structure may be configured is to refract a suitable amount of UV light in response to a particular type of residue or application.

Abstract: Infrared-transparent polymers, useful for LWIR and/or MWIR transparency, are disclosed. The disclosed infrared-transparent polymers are low-cost, damage-resistant, and economically scalable to commercially relevant substrate areas (1 ft2 and greater). In some disclosed infrared-transparent polymers, the carbon-free polymer backbone contains a plurality of polymer repeat units of the form wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyls, hydroxyl, amino, urea, thiol, thioether, amino alkyls, carboxylates, metals, metal-containing groups, and deuterated forms or combinations thereof; wherein R2 is (independently from R1) selected from the group consisting of alkyls, hydroxyl, amino, urea, thiol, thioether, amino alkyls, carboxylates, metals, metal-containing groups, and deuterated forms or combinations thereof; wherein n is selected from 2 to about 10,000; and wherein the carbon-free polymer backbone is linear, cyclic, branched, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An antimicrobial interior component for a vehicle includes an interior component body having a contoured surface. The interior component also includes an antimicrobial jacket assembly having a first piece and a second piece coupled together and disposed over the contoured surface. The antimicrobial jacket assembly defines at least one touch surface disposed over the contoured surface of the interior component body. The first piece and the second piece each includes an antimicrobial metal material configured to prevent or minimize microbes from accumulating on the at least one touch surface.

Abstract: Some variations provide a method of forming a transparent icephobic coating, comprising: obtaining a hardenable precursor comprising a first component and a plurality of inclusions containing a second component, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other is a hygroscopic material; applying mechanical shear and/or sonication to the hardenable precursor; disposing the hardenable precursor onto a substrate; and curing the hardenable precursor to form a transparent icephobic coating. The coating contains a hardened continuous matrix containing regions of the first component separated from regions of the second component on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from 10 nanometers to 10 microns, such as less than 1 micron, or less than 100 nanometers. The transparent icephobic coating may be characterized by a light transmittance of at least 50% at wavelengths from 400 nm to 800 nm, through a 100-micron coating.

Abstract: A self-sanitizing surface structure configured to selectively refract light, a method of fabricating a self-sanitizing surface configured to selectively refract light, and a method of decontaminating a surface using selectively refracted light. A waveguide including a support layer below a propagating layer is positioned over a substrate as a self-sanitizing layer. In the absence of a contaminant or residue on the waveguide, UV light injected into the propagating layer is constrained within the propagating layer due to total internal reflection. When a residue is present on the self-sanitizing surface structure, light may be selectively refracted at or near the interface with the residue along the side of the waveguide to destroy the residue. The self-sanitizing surface structure may be configured is to refract a suitable amount of UV light in response to a particular type of residue or application.

Abstract: Some variations provide an interspersed assembly of nanoparticles, the assembly comprising a first phase containing first nanoparticles and a second phase containing second nanoparticles, wherein the second phase is interspersed with the first phase, and wherein the first nanoparticles are compositionally different than the second nanoparticles. The interspersed assembly may be a semi-ordered assembly comprising discrete first-phase particles surrounded by a continuous second phase. Other variations provide a core-shell assembly of nanoparticles, the assembly comprising a first phase containing first nanoparticles and a second phase containing compositionally distinct second nanoparticles, wherein the second phase forms a shell surrounding a core of the first phase. The disclosed assemblies may have a volume from 1 ?m3 to 1 mm3, a packing fraction from 20% to 100%, and an average relative surface roughness less than 5%, for example.

Abstract: Some variations provide a method of making a nanofunctionalized metal powder, comprising: providing metal particles containing metals selected from iron, nickel, copper, titanium, magnesium, zinc, silicon, lithium, silver, chromium, manganese, vanadium, bismuth, gallium, or lead; providing nanoparticles selected from zirconium, tantalum, niobium, or titanium; disposing the nanoparticles onto surfaces of the metal particles, in the presence of mixing media, thereby generating nanofunctionalized metal particles; and isolating and recovering the nanofunctionalized metal particles as a nanofunctionalized metal powder. Some variations provide a composition comprising a nanofunctionalized metal powder, the composition comprising metal particles and nanoparticles containing one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zirconium, tantalum, niobium, titanium, and oxides, nitrides, hydrides, carbides, or borides thereof, or combinations of the foregoing.

Abstract: A self-sanitizing surface structure configured to selectively refract light, a method of fabricating a self-sanitizing surface configured to selectively refract light, and a method of decontaminating a surface using selectively refracted light. A waveguide including a support layer below a propagating layer is positioned over a substrate as a self-sanitizing layer. In the absence of a contaminant or residue on the waveguide, UV light injected into the propagating layer is constrained within the propagating layer due to total internal reflection. When a residue is present on the self-sanitizing surface structure, light may be selectively refracted at or near the interface with the residue along the side of the waveguide to destroy the residue. The self-sanitizing surface structure may be configured to refract a suitable amount of UV light in response to a particular type of residue or application.

Abstract: A wavelength selective filter includes a filter material. The filter material includes a host matrix doped with metal ions. The filter material has a transmission region within a deep ultraviolet (UV) range such that UV light at wavelengths within the transmission region is transmitted through the filter material.

Abstract: Some variations provide an atomic vapor-cell system comprising: a vapor-cell region configured with vapor-cell walls for containing an atomic vapor; and a coating disposed on at least some interior surfaces of the walls, wherein the coating comprises magnesium oxide, a rare earth metal oxide, or a combination thereof. The atomic vapor-cell system may be configured to allow at least one optical path through the vapor-cell region. In some embodiments, the coating comprises or consists essentially of magnesium oxide and/or a rare earth metal oxide. When the coating contains a rare earth metal oxide, it may be a lanthanoid oxide, such as lanthanum oxide. The atomic vapor-cell system preferably further comprises a device to adjust vapor pressure of the atomic vapor within the vapor-cell region. Preferably, the device is a solid-state electrochemical device configured to convey the atomic vapor into or out of the vapor-cell region.

Abstract: Some variations provide a method of making a nanofunctionalized metal powder, comprising: providing metal particles containing metals selected from iron, nickel, copper, titanium, magnesium, zinc, silicon, lithium, silver, chromium, manganese, vanadium, bismuth, gallium, or lead; providing nanoparticles selected from zirconium, tantalum, niobium, or titanium; disposing the nanoparticles onto surfaces of the metal particles, in the presence of mixing media, thereby generating nanofunctionalized metal particles; and isolating and recovering the nanofunctionalized metal particles as a nanofunctionalized metal powder. Some variations provide a composition comprising a nanofunctionalized metal powder, the composition comprising metal particles and nanoparticles containing one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zirconium, tantalum, niobium, titanium, and oxides, nitrides, hydrides, carbides, or borides thereof, or combinations of the foregoing.

Abstract: An aqueous or water-borne precursor liquid for forming an odor-absorbing and anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating is provided. The precursor includes a fluorine-containing polyol precursor having a functionality >about 2 that forms a branched fluorine-containing polymer component defining a first phase in the anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating. The precursor also includes a first precursor that forms a first component including a cyclodextrin present as second phase. The first phase can be a continuous phase and the second phase can be a first discrete phase, or the second phase can be the continuous phase and the first phase can be the first discrete phase. A crosslinking agent, water, and optional acid or base are also present. An emulsifier may also be included. Methods of making an odor-absorbing and anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coatings with such precursors are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are conductive composites comprising a polymer, a conductor selected from metals and metal alloys, and a thickening agent.

Abstract: A conductive composite includes a first layer of elastomeric polymer, a layer of electrically conductive paste on the first layer of elastomeric polymer, and a second layer of elastomeric polymer on the layer of electrically conductive paste. A reinforcement mesh is in contact with the layer of electrically conductive paste.