Abstract: Some variations provide an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal vapor cell with a solid ionic conductor and intercalable-compound electrodes. The intercalable-compound electrodes are used as efficient sources and/or as sinks for alkali metal or alkaline earth metal atoms, thus enabling electrical control over metal atom content in the vapor cell. Some variations provide a vapor-cell system comprising: a vapor-cell region configured to allow a vapor-cell optical path into a vapor-cell vapor phase; a first electrode; a second electrode electrically isolated from the first electrode, wherein the second electrode contains an intercalable compound intercalated by an element selected from Rb, Cs, Na, K, or Sr; and an ion-conducting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The ion-conducting layer is ionically conductive for at least one ionic species selected from Rb+, Cs+, Na+, K+, or Sr2+. The intercalable compound is preferably a carbonaceous material, such as graphite.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are surface-functionalized powders which alter the solidification of the melted powders. Some variations provide a powdered material comprising a plurality of particles fabricated from a first material, wherein each of the particles has a particle surface area that is continuously or intermittently surface-functionalized with nanoparticles and/or microparticles selected to control solidification of the powdered material from a liquid state to a solid state. Other variations provide a method of controlling solidification of a powdered material, comprising melting at least a portion of the powdered material to a liquid state, and semi-passively controlling solidification of the powdered material from the liquid state to a solid state. Several techniques for semi-passive control are described in detail.

Abstract: A composition comprising a Lewis base containing depolymerization liquid and methods of using the Lewis base depolymerization liquid to depolymerize the polymer component of fiber reinforced polymers to form free fibers.

Abstract: Some variations provide a segmented copolymer composition comprising: fluoropolymer first soft segments that are (?,?)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (?,?)-amine-terminated; polyester or polyether second soft segments that are (?,?)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (?,?)-amine-terminated; isocyanate species possessing an isocyanate functionality of 2 or greater; and polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers, wherein the molar ratio of the second soft segments to the first soft segments is less than 2.0. Exemplary segmented copolymers are disclosed. The segmented copolymer composition may be present in a low-friction, low-adhesion coating. Such a coating may be characterized by a coefficient of friction, measured at 90% relative humidity, less than 0.7. Such a coating may be characterized by an average kinetic delay of surface ice formation of at least 10 minutes at ?10° C. These coatings are useful as bugphobic and icephobic coatings.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for depolymerizing the polymer component of fiber reinforced polymers to facilitate the recovery of free fibers.

Abstract: Low-friction fluorinated coatings are disclosed herein. A preferred low-friction material contains a low-surface-energy fluoropolymer having a surface energy between about 5 mJ/m2 to about 50 mJ/m2, and a hygroscopic material that is covalently connected to the fluoropolymer in a triblock copolymer, such as PEG-PFPE-PEG. The material forms a lubricating surface layer in the presence of humidity. An exemplary copolymer comprises fluoropolymers with average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol, wherein the fluoropolymers are (?,?)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (?,?)-amine-terminated, and wherein the fluoropolymers are present in the triblock structure T-(CH2—CH2—O)—CH2—CF2—O—(CF2—CF2—O)m(CF2—O)n—CF2—CH2—(O—CH2—CH2)p-T where T is a hydroxyl or amine terminal group, p=1 to 50, m=1 to 100, and n=1 to 100. The copolymer also contains isocyanate species and polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers possessing a functionality of preferably 3 or greater.

Abstract: Low-friction fluorinated coatings are disclosed herein. A preferred low-friction material contains a low-surface-energy fluoropolymer having a surface energy between about 5 mJ/m2 to about 50 mJ/m2, and a hygroscopic material that is covalently connected to the fluoropolymer in a triblock copolymer, such as PEG-PFPE-PEG. The material forms a lubricating surface layer in the presence of humidity. An exemplary copolymer comprises fluoropolymers with average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol, wherein the fluoropolymers are (?,?)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (?,?)-amine-terminated, and wherein the fluoropolymers are present in the triblock structure T-(CH2—CH2—O)—CH2—CF2—O—(CF2—CF2—O)m(CF2—O)n—CF2—CH2—(O—CH2—CH2)p-T where T is a hydroxyl or amine terminal group, p=1 to 50, m=1 to 100, and n=1 to 100. The copolymer also contains isocyanate species and polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers possessing a functionality of preferably 3 or greater.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are surface-functionalized powders which alter the solidification of the melted powders. Some variations provide a powdered material comprising a plurality of particles fabricated from a first material, wherein each of the particles has a particle surface area that is continuously or intermittently surface-functionalized with nanoparticles and/or microparticles selected to control solidification of the powdered material from a liquid state to a solid state. Other variations provide a method of controlling solidification of a powdered material, comprising melting at least a portion of the powdered material to a liquid state, and semi-passively controlling solidification of the powdered material from the liquid state to a solid state. Several techniques for semi-passive control are described in detail.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for reversible ionic crosslinking in polymers, providing tunability of polymer mechanical properties. Some variations provide a polymer composition comprising: a polymer containing a plurality of ionic species disposed along the chain backbone of the polymer, wherein the plurality of ionic species has an ionic charge polarity that is negative or positive; a redox reagent; and a reversible crosslinking agent capable of changing from a first oxidation state to a second oxidation state when in the presence of the redox reagent. The different oxidation states are associated with different coordination numbers between the reversible crosslinking agent and the ionic species contained in the polymer. This difference provides reversible ionic crosslinking. The polymer may be selected from polyurethanes (including segmented and non-segmented polyurethanes), polyacrylates, or polyamides, for example.

Abstract: This invention provides durable, low-ice-adhesion coatings with excellent performance in terms of ice-adhesion reduction. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion coating comprising a microstructure with a first-material phase and a second-material phase that are microphase-separated on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from 1 micron to 100 microns. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion material comprising a continuous matrix containing a first component; and a plurality of discrete inclusions containing a second component, wherein the inclusions are dispersed within the matrix to form a phase-separated microstructure that is inhomogeneous on an average length scale from 1 micron to 100 microns, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other is a hygroscopic material. The coatings are characterized by an AMIL Centrifuge Ice Adhesion Reduction Factor up to 100 or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery electrode comprising an active battery material enclosed in the pores of a conductive nanoporous scaffold. The pores in the scaffold constrain the dimensions for the active battery material and inhibit sintering, which results in better cycling stability, longer battery lifetime, and greater power through less agglomeration. Additionally, the scaffold forms electrically conducting pathways to the active battery nanoparticles that are dispersed. In some variations, a battery electrode of the invention includes an electrically conductive scaffold material with pores having at least one length dimension selected from about 0.5 nm to about 100 nm, and an oxide material contained within the pores, wherein the oxide material is electrochemically active.

Abstract: A composition comprising a Lewis base containing depolymerization liquid and methods of using the Lewis base depolymerization liquid to depolymerize the polymer component of fiber reinforced polymers to form free fibers.

Abstract: An aqueous or water-borne precursor for forming an 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 continuous phase in the anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating. The precursor also includes a fluorine-free precursor that forms a fluorine-free component present as a plurality of domains each having an average size of ?about 100 nm to ?about 5,000 nm defining a discrete phase within the continuous phase in the anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating. A crosslinking agent and water are also present. An emulsifier may also be included. Methods of making anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coatings with such precursors are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosed process is capable of depositing thin layers of a wide variety of metals onto powders of magnesium, aluminum, and their alloys. A material is provided that comprises particles containing a reactive metal coated with a noble metal that has a less-negative standard reduction potential than the reactive metal. The coating has a thickness from 1 nanometer to 100 microns, for example. A method of forming an immersion deposit on a reactive metal comprises: combining a reactive metal, an ionic liquid, and a noble metal salt; depositing the noble metal on the reactive metal by a surface-displacement reaction, thereby generating the immersion deposit on the reactive metal; and removing the ionic liquid from the immersion deposit. The material may be present in an article or object (e.g., a sintered part) containing from 0.25 wt % to 100 wt % of a coated reactive metal as disclosed herein.

Abstract: A composition comprising a cyclic olefin copolymer; a particulate filler dispersed in the cyclic olefin copolymer; and a solvent is disclosed. The composition can be used to make a transmissive composite. The transmissive composite and a method of making a transmissive composite panel are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides durable, low-ice-adhesion coatings with excellent performance in terms of ice-adhesion reduction. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion coating comprising a microstructure with a first-material phase and a second-material phase that are microphase-separated on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from 1 micron to 100 microns. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion material comprising a continuous matrix containing a first component; and a plurality of discrete inclusions containing a second component, wherein the inclusions are dispersed within the matrix to form a phase-separated microstructure that is inhomogeneous on an average length scale from 1 micron to 100 microns, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other is a hygroscopic material. The coatings are characterized by an AMIL Centrifuge Ice Adhesion Reduction Factor up to 100 or more.

Abstract: An anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating is provided that includes a continuous phase and a discrete phase defining a plurality of domains distributed therein. Each domain has an average size of ? about 100 nm to ? about 5,000 nm. The continuous phase includes a fluorine-containing polymer component formed from a fluorine-containing polyol precursor having a functionality of greater than 2. The discrete phase includes a fluorine-free component. At least a portion of the fluorine-free component in the discrete phase is bonded together with a moiety selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing moiety, an oxygen-containing moiety, an isocyanate-containing moiety, and a combination thereof. Methods of treating an article to form such anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating are provided, as are liquid precursors to form the coating.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for depolymerizing the polymer component of fiber reinforced polymers to facilitate the recovery of free fibers.

Abstract: A coating includes at least one coating layer containing first particles, second particles, and third particles distributed throughout a cross-linked, continuous polymer matrix. An outer surface of the coating layer includes surfaces of at least first particles extending outward from a top periphery of the polymer matrix. The outer surface exhibits a property of delaying ice formation compared to the coating layer without the first particles. A method includes applying a coating composition in one application step. The one-step coating composition contains first particles, second particles, and third particles in a base containing a polymer. A coating composition includes first particles, second particles, and third particles distributed in a matrix precursor.

Abstract: A method for fabricating polymeric sheets containing microwires includes encapsulating at least a portion of individual lengths of a plurality of microwires in a non-conductive polymeric sheet while the microwires are attached to the substrate. The microwires are then detached from the substrate without removing the microwires from the polymeric sheet. The detaching step forms a separated polymeric sheet containing the detached microwires. Individual detached microwires of the plurality are approximately perpendicular to the separated polymeric sheet. A microwire array device includes a non-conductive polymeric sheet and a plurality of microwires. Individual microwires of the plurality have an independent length at least partially encapsulated by the polymeric sheet, are approximately perpendicular to the polymeric sheet, and contain magnetic ferrite.