Abstract: A polymer having a backbone and a side unit of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene 10-oxide bonded thereto, where the backbone of the polymer includes at least one heterocyclic moiety. There is also provided a process for producing the polymer as defined herein as well as a flame retardant polyolefin formulation including the polymer as defined herein and a moulded article including the flame retardant polyolefin formulation as defined herein.

Abstract: There is provided a kit comprising a first component comprising a first polyolefin and a polymerisable epoxide resin, wherein the first polyolefin is a major phase of the first component, and a second component comprising a second polyolefin and a catalytic agent. There is also provided a method of providing a polyolefin composite, the polyolefin composite comprising a first polyolefin, a polymerisable epoxide linker and a second polyolefin, the method comprising mixing a first component comprising a first polyolefin and a polymerisable epoxide resin, wherein the first polyolefin is a major phase of the first component; and a second component comprising a second polyolefin and a catalytic agent, to form a mixture, and processing the mixture to obtain the polyolefin composite.

Abstract: A method of making an article having a desired color, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a color array, said array comprising a plurality of distinct color points, each color point being independently composed of a resin mixture comprising one or more masterbatch resins; (b) comparing the desired color with the color points on the color array and selecting a color point that substantially corresponds to the desired color of the article; (c) identifying the resin mixture corresponding to said selected color point; and (d) making the article using said identified resin mixture.

Abstract: A mechanically-enhanced polyolefin composite is provided. The mechanically-enhanced polyolefin composite comprises a matrix comprising a polyolefin, a polymer having a moiety grafted thereon, and a polymerisable linker, wherein the moiety grafted on the polymer is covalently bonded to the polymerisable linker via a chemical bond, and a filler disposed within the matrix. There is also provided a method of providing a polyolefin composite, comprising a matrix comprising a polyolefin, a polymer having a moiety grafted thereon, and a polymerisable linker, wherein the moiety grafted on the polymer is covalently bonded to the polymerisable linker via a chemical bond, and a filler disposed within the matrix, the method comprising (i) mixing a polyolefin, a polymer having a moiety grafted thereon, a polymerisable linker and a filler; (ii) melting the mixture of step (i); and (iii) kneading the mixture of step (ii).

Abstract: Photocurable compositions comprising 20-90% by weight of a polymerizable core resin; 20-90% by weight of a diluent resin miscible with said core resin; and at least about 1% by weight of at least one rheology modifier which is distinct from said diluent resin. Rheology modifiers of the present disclosure include compounds which may form covalent bonds with the core resin or diluent resin and compounds which have a particle size of 1-200 nm. Rheology modifiers which may form covalent bonds have at least one terminal functional group selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxides, oxetanes, nitriles, alkenes and alkynes.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a mouldable artificial bone composite material and a preparation method thereof. The mouldable artificial bone composite material is characterized in a composition composed of a degradable polymer material and inorganic particles distributed in the polymer material. The average molecular weight of the polymer material is 1,000 Da to 20,000 Da. The inorganic particles are composed of calcium-phosphorus compounds. The artificial bone composite material has a shape of a mouldable plasticine. The disclosure provides an artificial bone composite material that can be freely shaped and injected, and the disclosure further provides a preparation method of the artificial bone composite material.

Abstract: A conductive carbon fiber reinforced composite comprising: a metal-coated carbon fiber fabric laminated with a nanocomposite resin, the nanocomposite resin comprising a mixture of: a polymerizable thermosetting polymer, a conductive filler, and a carbonaceous fiber-like filler. A method of forming a conductive carbon fiber reinforced composite, the composite comprising a metal-coated carbon fiber fabric laminated with a nanocomposite resin, the nanocomposite resin comprising a mixture of: a polymerizable thermosetting polymer, a conductive filler, and a carbonaceous fiber-like filler, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming the nanocomposite resin; b) forming the metal-coated carbon fiber fabric; and c) laminating the metal-coated carbon fiber fabric with the nanocomposite resin using one of: a wet lay-up process followed by hot-press curing under vacuum, a vacuum infusion process, a prepreg fabrication process, and a resin transfer molding process.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a method of forming an exfoliated or intercalated filler material is provided, wherein the said method comprises the steps of mixing particles of filler material such as montmorillonite (MMT), mica, layered double hydroxide (LDH), and attapulgite (AT) dispersed in an aqueous medium with cationic acrylate monomers to form modified particles comprising positively charged ions, dispersing the modified particles in organic medium to form a dispersion, contacting said dispersion with an organo-silicate such as tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and a functionalizing agent comprising an organo-silane such as aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS), in the presence of a basic catalyst to form a layer of silica on the modified particles. The present disclosure also relates to an exfoliated or intercalated filler material obtained by the said method as well as a method of forming a resin/clay nanocomposite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a layered silicate/polymer composite, the composite comprising individual exfoliated silicate layers separated in a continuous polymer matrix, wherein the polymer is a hydrophobic polymer, the method comprising: exfoliating sheet silicate in water to form a silicate suspension; replacing the water in the silicate suspension by an organic solvent to form a silicate/organic solvent suspension; contacting the silicate/organic solvent suspension with a solution of a hydrophobic polymer precursor in an organic solvent to form a silicate/polymer precursor suspension; coating the silicate/polymer precursor suspension on a substrate; removing the organic solvents; curing the hydrophobic polymer precursor of the coating of the silicate/polymer precursor; and annealing the cured coating to form the layered silicate/polymer composite on the substrate.

Abstract: A reinforced polyolefin composite is provided. The reinforced polyolefin composite comprises a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, a rigid fibre micro filler such as glass fiber, carbon or cellulosic fibers, and at least one nano filler such as clay. The reinforced polyolefin composite may also comprise a modified polyolefin, which has a polar functional group such as maleate monoester, an acid anhydride or an acrylate grafted thereon. The clay nano filler may also be modified with an organosilane. The reinforced polyolefin composite may also comprise a stabilizer or other additives. A method of producing the reinforced polyolefin composite is also provided, comprising mixing a polyolefin, a rigid micro filler and at least one nano filler to form a mixture, melting the mixture and kneading the melted mixture. The obtained reinforced polyolefin composite is used in transportation, infrastructure, consumer goods and construction.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a method of forming an exfoliated or intercalated filler material is provided, wherein the said method comprises the steps of mixing particles of filler material such as montmorillonite (MMT), mica, layered double hydroxide (LDH), and attapulgite (AT) dispersed in an aqueous medium with cationic acrylate monomers to form modified particles comprising positively charged ions, dispersing the modified particles in organic medium to form a dispersion, contacting said dispersion with an organo-silicate such as tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and a functionalizing agent comprising an organo-silane such as aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS), in the presence of a basic catalyst to form a layer of silica on the modified particles. The present disclosure also relates to an exfoliated or intercalated filler material obtained by the said method as well as a method of forming a resin/clay nanocomposite.

Abstract: There is provided a resin formulation comprising a resin precursor, a crosslinking additive, a photoinitiator, and at least one luminescent dye, wherein the crosslinking additive comprises a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxyl, carboxylic acid, amine, amide, alkylacrylate, acrylate, epoxy, alkyl and heterocycloalkyl. The crosslinking additive of the resin formulation may help to homogeneously disperse the luminescent dye in the resin formulation and decrease the viscosity by improving the miscibility and polarity between the resin precursor and the luminescent dye, leading to an increase of solidification rate of the resin formulation during 3D printing such as stereolithography and digital light processing (DLP). There is also provided a method of preparing the resin formulation and uses of the resin formulation thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite material comprising a core comprising an organosilica such as a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and a functionalized elastomeric polymer such as poly(n-butyl acrylate) bonded onto said core. The elastomer is preferably functionalised with an amine moiety. The present invention also relates to a polymer comprising a resin such as Bisphenol A diglycidylether (DGEBA) and the aforementioned composite material, and a method for making the composite material. The composite material can improve both the material strength and material toughness of the polymer into which it is mixed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a layered silicate/polymer composite, the composite comprising individual exfoliated silicate layers separated in a continuous polymer matrix, wherein the polymer is a hydrophobic polymer, the method comprising: exfoliating sheet silicate in water to form a silicate suspension; replacing the water in the silicate suspension by an organic solvent to form a silicate/organic solvent suspension; contacting the silicate/organic solvent suspension with a solution of a hydrophobic polymer precursor in an organic solvent to form a silicate/polymer precursor suspension; coating the silicate/polymer precursor suspension on a substrate; removing the organic solvents; curing the hydrophobic polymer precursor of the coating of the silicate/polymer precursor; and annealing the cured coating to form the layered silicate/polymer composite on the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a resin formulation comprising a base acrylate monomer or oligomer, a solubilizing acrylate monomer or oligomer, a photoinitiator compound, a photoabsorber compound, and a photochromic dye, wherein the solubilizing acrylate monomer or oligomer comprises a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxyl, carboxylic acid, amine, alkylamine, amide, alkylamide, alkylacrylate, acrylate, alkyl and heterocycloalkyl. There is also provided a method of preparing the resin formulation and uses of the resin formulation thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photoinitiator compound comprising: a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) moiety and a photoinitiator moiety, wherein the photoinitiator compound having the structure according to formula (I): [R—SiO1.5]n (I), wherein n is 6, 8, 10 or 12 and R is independently selected from the group consisting of H, linear or branched (hetero)alkyl, linear or branched (hetero)alkenyl, (hetero)aryl, (hetero)alkyl aryl, (hetero)aryl alkyl and a photoinitiator moiety, wherein at least one R is a photoinitiator moiety and the photoinitiator compound is a nanoparticle. The present invention also relates to a method for the production of the photoinitiator compound of the invention, a photopolymerizable composition comprising the photoinitiator compound of the invention, the use of the photoinitiator compound of the invention for photopolymerization. The present invention is further related to a coated substrate comprising the photopolymerizable composition of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a layered silicate/polymer composite, the composite comprising individual exfoliated silicate layers separated in a continuous polymer matrix, wherein the polymer is a hydrophobic polymer, the method comprising: exfoliating sheet silicate in water to form a silicate suspension; replacing the water in the silicate suspension by an organic solvent to form a silicate/organic solvent suspension; contacting the silicate/organic solvent suspension with a solution of a hydrophobic polymer precursor in an organic solvent to form a silicate/polymer precursor suspension; coating the silicate/polymer precursor suspension on a substrate; removing the organic solvents; curing the hydrophobic polymer precursor of the coating of the silicate/polymer precursor; and annealing the cured coating to form the layered silicate/polymer composite on the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a resin formulation comprising a resin precursor, a crosslinking additive, a photoinitiator, and at least one luminescent dye, wherein the crosslinking additive comprises a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxyl, carboxylic acid, amine, amide, alkylacrylate, acrylate, epoxy, alkyl and heterocycloalkyl. The crosslinking additive of the resin formulation may help to homogeneously disperse the luminescent dye in the resin formulation and decrease the viscosity by improving the miscibility and polarity between the resin precursor and the luminescent dye, leading to an increase of solidification rate of the resin formulation during 3D printing such as stereolithography and digital light processing (DLP). There is also provided a method of preparing the resin formulation and uses of the resin formulation thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a resin formulation comprising a base acrylate monomer or oligomer, a solubilizing acrylate monomer or oligomer, a photoinitiator compound, a photoabsorber compound, and a photochromic dye, wherein the solubilizing acrylate monomer or oligomer comprises a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxyl, carboxylic acid, amine, alkylamine, amide, alkylamide, alkylacrylate, acrylate, alkyl and heterocycloalkyl. There is also provided a method of preparing the resin formulation and uses of the resin formulation thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photoinitiator compound comprising: a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) moiety and a photoinitiator moiety, wherein the photoinitiator compound having the structure according to formula (I): [R—SiO1.5]n (I), wherein n is 6, 8, 10 or 12 and R is independently selected from the group consisting of H, linear or branched (hetero)alkyl, linear or branched (hetero)alkenyl, (hetero)aryl, (hetero)alkyl aryl, (hetero)aryl alkyl and a photoinitiator moiety, wherein at least one R is a photoinitiator moiety and the photoinitiator compound is a nanoparticle. The present invention also relates to a method for the production of the photoinitiator compound of the invention, a photopolymerizable composition comprising the photoinitiator compound of the invention, the use of the photoinitiator compound of the invention for photopolymerization. The present invention is further related to a coated substrate comprising the photopolymerizable composition of the invention.