Abstract: This invention provides durable, low-ice-adhesion coatings with excellent ice-adhesion reduction. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion composition comprising a composite material containing at least a first-material phase and a second-material phase that are nanophase-separated on a length scale from 10 nanometers to less than 100 nanometers, wherein the first-material phase and the second-material phase further are microphase-separated on a length scale from 0.1 microns to 100 microns. The larger length scale of separation is driven by an emulsion process, which provides microphase separation that is in addition to classic molecular-level phase separation. The composite material has a glass-transition temperature above ?80° C. The coatings may be characterized by an AMIL Centrifuge Ice Adhesion Reduction Factor up to 100 or more. These coatings are useful for aerospace surfaces and many other applications.

Abstract: A low viscosity polysulfide sealant composition. The composition comprises a curable polysulfide polymer; a crosslinking agent; and a plurality of core-shell particles. The core-shell particles comprise: a core comprising a ferromagnetic material; and a shell comprising silica treated with an organic sulfur containing compound. The shell is capable of bonding with the polysulfide polymer.

Abstract: Some variations provide a low-adhesion coating comprising a continuous matrix containing a first component, a plurality of inclusions containing a second component, and a solid-state lubricant distributed within the coating, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other of the first component or the second component is a hygroscopic material. The solid-state lubricant may be selected from graphite, graphene, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, hexagonal boron nitride, or poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or other fluoropolymers. The solid-state lubricant particles may be coated with a metal selected from cadmium, lead, tin, zinc, copper, nickel, or alloys containing one or more of these metals. The solid-state lubricant is typically characterized by an average particle size from about 0.1 ?m to about 500 ?m. The solid-state lubricant is preferably distributed throughout the coating.

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: Some variations provide a polysulfide-based copolymer containing first repeat units comprising S8-derived sulfur atoms bonded via sulfur-sulfur bonds; and second repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic thiol molecule. Other variations provide a polysulfide-based copolymer containing first repeat units comprising S8-derived sulfur atoms bonded via sulfur-sulfur bonds; and second repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic unsaturated molecule, wherein the polysulfide-based copolymer has a total sulfur concentration of about 10 wt % or greater. Other variations provide a polysulfide-based copolymer containing first repeat units comprising S8-derived sulfur atoms bonded via sulfur-sulfur bonds; second repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic thiol molecule; and third repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic unsaturated molecule.

Abstract: This disclosure provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and thermally treating to produce a ceramic material. The disclosure provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic composite with potentially complex 3D shapes. A wide variety of chemical compositions is disclosed, and several experimental examples are included to demonstrate reduction to practice. For example, preceramic resin formulations may contain a carbosilane in which there is at least one functional group selected from vinyl, allyl, ethynyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, ester group, amine, hydroxyl, vinyl ether, vinyl ester, glycidyl, glycidyl ether, vinyl glycidyl ether, vinyl amide, vinyl triazine, vinyl isocyanurate, acrylate, methacrylate, alkacrylate, alkyl alkacrylate, phenyl, halide, thiol, cyano, cyanate, or thiocyanate.

Abstract: Some variations provide a multiphase polymer composition comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are chemically distinct, wherein the first polymer material and the second polymer material are microphase-separated on a microphase-separation length scale from about 0.1 microns to about 500 microns, wherein the multiphase polymer composition comprises first solid functional particles selectively dispersed within the first polymer material, and wherein the first solid functional particles are chemically distinct from the first polymer material and the second polymer material. Some embodiments provide an anti-corrosion composition comprising first corrosion-inhibitor particles or precursors selectively dispersed within the first polymer material, wherein the multiphase polymer composition optionally further comprises second corrosion-inhibitor particles or precursors selectively dispersed within the second polymer material.

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: 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: Examples of the present disclosure provide fluoropolymers and methods for forming and using such fluoropolymers. Fluoropolymers include polyfluorobenzoxazines and polyfluoroimides. Methods for forming polyphthalonitriles are also provided. The present disclosure is further directed to compositions containing one or more fluoropolymers and one or more metal oxides.

Abstract: Some variations provide a multiphase polymer composition comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are chemically distinct, wherein the first polymer material and the second polymer material are microphase-separated on a microphase-separation length scale from about 0.1 microns to about 500 microns, wherein the multiphase polymer composition comprises first solid functional particles selectively dispersed within the first polymer material, and wherein the first solid functional particles are chemically distinct from the first polymer material and the second polymer material. Some embodiments provide an anti-corrosion composition comprising first corrosion-inhibitor particles or precursors selectively dispersed within the first polymer material, wherein the multiphase polymer composition optionally further comprises second corrosion-inhibitor particles or precursors selectively dispersed within the second polymer material.

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: 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: 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: Aspects of the present disclosure provide coatings and methods for depositing coatings onto surfaces. In one aspect, a method for forming a coating includes applying a composition to a surface of a component, the composition including a first polymer, a second polymer that is a fluoropolymer, an isocyanate, and a curative. The method includes curing the mixture at a first temperature of about 50° C. or greater and increasing the first temperature to a second temperature of about 80° C. or greater. The method includes obtaining a coating disposed on the surface of the component, the coating having a thickness of from about 10 mils to about 50 mils and a void density of less than 5 voids of size 0.5 mm or greater per cm2.

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.