Abstract: Some variations provide an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition comprising a plurality of polarizable, thermotropic main-chain liquid-crystal polymer molecules with crystalline domains. The liquid-crystal polymer molecules are in a nematic phase or a smectic phase, and at least 80% of the crystalline domains are aligned along a crystal axis. A method of making an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition comprises: synthesizing or obtaining a polymer containing polarizable domains; heating the polymer to form a polymer melt; cooling the polymer melt to form a thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer; exposing the thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer to an electrical field, thereby aligning the polarizable domains along a crystal axis; and recovering the thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer as an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides improved thermoset vitrimers. It has been discovered that by incorporating adaptable dynamic groups along the polymer backbone, along with permanent, non-dynamic crosslinking points, an improved thermoset vitrimer is generated. In some variations, a thermoset vitrimer comprises: a linear polymer backbone containing associative dynamic covalently bonded species; a crosslinked network containing non-dynamic branch points; and non-dynamic species between non-dynamic branch points and terminal ends of the linear polymer backbone.

Abstract: Some variations provide an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition comprising a plurality of polarizable, thermotropic main-chain liquid-crystal polymer molecules with crystalline domains. The liquid-crystal polymer molecules are in a nematic phase or a smectic phase, and at least 80% of the crystalline domains are aligned along a crystal axis. A method of making an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition comprises: synthesizing or obtaining a polymer containing polarizable domains; heating the polymer to form a polymer melt; cooling the polymer melt to form a thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer; exposing the thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer to an electrical field, thereby aligning the polarizable domains along a crystal axis; and recovering the thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer as an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition.

Abstract: Some variations provide an oligomer composition comprising: polarizable first thermotropic liquid-crystal oligomer molecules (preferably urethanes or ureas) containing first triggerable reactive end groups, wherein the first triggerable reactive end groups are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, isocyanate, blocked isocyanate, acrylate, epoxide, amine, vinyl, ester, thiol, conjugated diene, substituted alkene, furan, maleimide, anthracene, and combinations thereof, and wherein the polarizable first thermotropic liquid-crystal oligomer molecules are characterized by a weight-average molecular weight from about 200 g/mol to about 10,000 g/mol; optionally, a plurality of polarizable second thermotropic liquid-crystal oligomer molecules containing second triggerable reactive end groups, wherein the second triggerable reactive end groups are capable of reacting with the first triggerable reactive end groups; and optionally, a reactive coupling agent capable of reacting with the first triggerable reacti

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.

Abstract: Antimicrobial coatings that are transparent and not easily stained are disclosed. Some variations provide a transparent antimicrobial structure comprising: a discrete solid structural phase comprising a solid structural polymer with a glass-transition temperature from 25° C. to 300° C.; a continuous transport phase interspersed within the discrete solid structural phase, wherein the continuous transport phase comprises a solid transport material; and an antimicrobial agent contained within the continuous transport phase, wherein the antimicrobial agent is dissolved in a fluid and/or in a solid solution with the continuous transport phase. The discrete solid structural phase and the continuous transport phase are separated by an average phase-separation length selected from 100 nanometers to 500 microns. This invention resolves the trade-off between antifouling and fluorinated material content. This invention also resolves the trade-off between transport of absorbed molecules and transparency.

Abstract: A conductive composite includes a first layer of elastomeric polymer, a layer of conductive fluorofluid on the first layer of elastomeric polymer, and a second layer of elastomeric polymer on the layer of conductive fluorofluid.

Abstract: Some variations provide an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition comprising a plurality of polarizable, thermotropic main-chain liquid-crystal polymer molecules with crystalline domains. The liquid-crystal polymer molecules are in a nematic phase or a smectic phase, and at least 80% of the crystalline domains are aligned along a crystal axis. A method of making an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition comprises: synthesizing or obtaining a polymer containing polarizable domains; heating the polymer to form a polymer melt; cooling the polymer melt to form a thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer; exposing the thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer to an electrical field, thereby aligning the polarizable domains along a crystal axis; and recovering the thermotropic liquid-crystal polymer as an anisotropic thermally conductive polymer composition.

Abstract: An antimicrobial coating is disclosed that provides fast transport rates of biocides for better effectiveness to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses or bacteria on common surfaces. Some variations provide an antimicrobial structure comprising: a solid structural phase comprising a solid structural material; a continuous transport phase that is interspersed within the solid structural phase, wherein the continuous transport phase comprises a solid transport material; and an antimicrobial agent contained within the continuous transport phase, wherein the solid structural phase and the continuous transport phase are separated by an average phase-separation length from about 100 nanometers to about 500 microns. The antimicrobial structure is capable of destroying at least 99.99% of bacteria and/or viruses in 10 minutes of contact. Many options are disclosed for suitable materials to form the solid structural phase, the continuous transport phase, and the antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: An antimicrobial coating is disclosed that provides fast transport rates of biocides for better effectiveness to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses or bacteria on common surfaces. Some variations provide an antimicrobial structure comprising: a solid structural phase comprising a solid structural material; a continuous transport phase that is interspersed within the solid structural phase, wherein the continuous transport phase comprises a solid transport material; and an antimicrobial agent contained within the continuous transport phase, wherein the solid structural phase and the continuous transport phase are separated by an average phase-separation length from about 100 nanometers to about 500 microns. The antimicrobial structure is capable of destroying at least 99.99 wt % of bacteria and/or viruses in 10 minutes of contact. Many options are disclosed for suitable materials to form the solid structural phase, the continuous transport phase, and the antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: An antimicrobial coating is disclosed that provides fast transport rates of biocides for better effectiveness to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses or bacteria on common surfaces. Some variations provide an antimicrobial structure comprising: a solid structural phase comprising a solid structural material; a continuous transport phase that is interspersed within the solid structural phase, wherein the continuous transport phase comprises a solid transport material; and an antimicrobial agent contained within the continuous transport phase, wherein the solid structural phase and the continuous transport phase are separated by an average phase-separation length from about 100 nanometers to about 500 microns. The antimicrobial structure is capable of destroying at least 99.99 wt % of bacteria and/or viruses in 10 minutes of contact. Many options are disclosed for suitable materials to form the solid structural phase, the continuous transport phase, and the antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: A conductive composite includes a first layer of elastomeric polymer, a layer of conductive fluorofluid on the first layer of elastomeric polymer, and a second layer of elastomeric polymer on the layer of conductive fluorofluid.

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.

Abstract: Examples include a method of forming an electromagnetic shielding material, the method including: applying a magnetic field to a precursor material that includes first ferromagnetic particles embedded within a first portion of a matrix material and second ferromagnetic particles embedded within a second portion of the matrix material, thereby causing the first ferromagnetic particles and the second ferromagnetic particles to move such that longitudinal axes of the first ferromagnetic particles and the second ferromagnetic particles become more aligned with the magnetic field; thereafter forcing the first portion of the matrix material through a filter, thereby moving the first ferromagnetic particles from the first portion of the matrix material into the second portion of the matrix material; and curing the second portion of the matrix material to form the electromagnetic shielding material.