Abstract: Processes and precursors may be used to produce a highly porous, extremely large surface area polyimide aerogel with optical translucency and diminished heat transfer. The resulting material maintains or exceeds structural integrity and low thermal conductivity seen in the high opacity polyimide aerogels of similar porosity and density. The formulations used for fabrication of aerogels may include combinations of fluorinated dianhydride and diamine fractions and non-fluorinated dianhydrides and diamines with various aliphatic and aromatic bridgehead components as precursors to the condensation polymerization of polyimide aerogels with polyamide crosslinks.

Abstract: A new synthetic pathway for hyperbranched polyacrylates and polymethacrylates including the steps of preparing an inimer and polymerizing the inimer to form hyperbranched polymers or copolymers.

Abstract: Specific benzocyclobutenes serve as intramolecular or intermolecular or both intramolecular or intermolecular crosslinkers. The benzocyclobutenes can be incorporated into polymers post polymerization or can be provided as monomers that participate in homopolymerization or copolymerization with other monomer to create the polymers having benzocyclobutenes that are exploited to carry out the crosslinking. At least some of the benzocyclobutenes taught herein can be used to carry out crosslinking a ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Coupling agents useful for preparing vulcanized composition with filers such as silica and carbon black are provided. The coupling agents include fluorine substituted styrene compounds and styrene compounds containing a hydrocarbyloxysilane functional group. The coupling agents may be grafted onto polydiene polymers or added into a vulcanizable composition as an oligomer. The use of one or both of fluorine substituted styrene compounds and styrene compounds containing a hydrocarbyloxysilane functional group may improve the strength, rolling resistance, and/or cure rate of a vulcanized polymer compared to a vulcanized polymer without a coupling agent.

Abstract: Methods of functionalizing ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers and coupling ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers are provided. Suitable ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers include ?-halogenated polyesters and ?-halogenated acrylate-based inimers. Methods include coupling ?-halogenated polyesters and functionalizing ?-halogenated polyesters without polymer cleavage. Certain ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers may be functionalized, crosslinked or, intiate polymerization by inducing the ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers to make a dioxolenium ion intermediate. The ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers may also be functionalized using a radical trap.

Abstract: A filled polymer compositions and methods of preparing filled polymer that include a plant biomass filler a plant biomass with a low aromatic carbon content, and (a thermoset polymer. The plant biomass filler may have a low lignin content or no lignin at all. The filler may also be heat treated to a temperature that provides a plant biomass filler with less than 49% aromatic content.

Abstract: A method of preparing a plant oil based polymer comprising heating a plant oil in the presence of a bismaleimide crosslinker in the substantial absence of a solvent at a temperature at or above the melting temperature of the bismaleimide crosslinker, where the bismaleimide crosslinker is defined by the formula where R1 is a divalent organic group.

Abstract: Biodegradable polyesters are made by synthesizing copolymers derived from biodegradable hydroxyacid monomers as well as from hydroxyacid monomers containing a functional group such as an azide group, a halogen group, a thioacetate group, and the like. Preferably, the functionalized biodegradable polyester copolymers are derived from a functionalized hydroxyacid such as a homolog of lactic acid and/or glycolic acid with the copolyester thus containing functional groups on the backbone thereof. These biodegradable polyesters can be utilized wherever biodegradable polyesters are currently used, and also serve as a polymer to which various medical and drug delivery systems can be attached.

Abstract: A micelle comprising a diblock polymer with a cyclic polyethylene glycol block and a hydrophobic block is provided. The micelle may be used in conjunction with one or a combination of therapeutic agents, targeting agents, and imaging agents. The micelle may be incorporated in a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Specific benzocyclobutenes serve as intramolecular or intermolecular or both intramolecular or intermolecular crosslinkers. The benzocyclobutenes can be incorporated into polymers post polymerization or can be provided as monomers that participate in homopolymerization or copolymerization with other monomer to create the polymers having benzocyclobutenes that are exploited to carry out the crosslinking. At least some of the benzocyclobutenes taught herein can be used to carry out crosslinking a ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Methods of functionalizing ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers and coupling ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers are provided. Suitable ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers include ?-halogenated polyesters and ?-halogenated acrylate-based inimers. Methods include coupling ?-halogenated polyesters and functionalizing ?-halogenated polyesters without polymer cleavage. Certain ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers may be functionalized, crosslinked or, intiate polymerization by inducing the ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers to make a dioxolenium ion intermediate. The ?-halogenated hydroxy acid-based polymers may also be functionalized using a radical trap.

Abstract: Coupling agents useful for preparing vulcanized composition with filers such as silica and carbon black are provided. The coupling agents include fluorine substituted styrene compounds and styrene compounds containing a hydrocarbyloxysilane functional group. The coupling agents may be grafted onto polydiene polymers or added into a vulcanizable composition as an oligomer. The use of one or both of fluorine substituted styrene compounds and styrene compounds containing a hydrocarbyloxysilane functional group may improve the strength, rolling resistance, and/or cure rate of a vulcanized polymer compared to a vulcanized polymer without a coupling agent.

Abstract: A method for the production of hyperbranched polyacrylates includes the step of reacting acrylic inimers through controlled living polymerization in aqueous conditions. The inimers may have the formula: Wherein X is a halogen, a thiocarbonylthio or nitroxide group, and R is hydrogen, methyl, dodecyl, and groups containing mesogenin substituents, fluorocarbon substituents, siloxane substituents and oxyethylene substituents. In particular, the aqueous condition is emulsion or miniemulsion. The polymerization may be reverse ATRP, SN&RI and AGET polymerization or RAFT polymerization (with thiocarbonylthio X groups) or nitroxide mediated polyeization (with nitroxide X groups).

Abstract: A filled polymer compositions and methods of preparing filled polymer that include a plant biomass filler a plant biomass with a low aromatic carbon content, and (a thermoset polymer. The plant biomass filler may have a low lignin content or no lignin at all. The filler may also be heat treated to a temperature that provides a plant biomass filler with less than 49% aromatic content.

Abstract: Biodegradable polyesters are made by synthesizing copolymers derived from biodegradable hydroxyacid monomers as well as from hydroxyacid monomers containing a functional group such as an azide group, a halogen group, a thioacetate group, and the like. Preferably, the functionalized biodegradable polyester copolymers are derived from a functionalized hydroxyacid such as a homolog of lactic acid and/or glycolic acid with the copolyester thus containing functional groups on the backbone thereof. These biodegradable polyesters can be utilized wherever biodegradable polyesters are currently used, and also serve as a polymer to which various medical and drug delivery systems can be attached.

Abstract: A method of preparing a plant oil based polymer comprising heating a plant oil in the presence of a bismaleimide crosslinker in the substantial absence of a solvent at a temperature at or above the melting temperature of the bismaleimide crosslinker, where the bismaleimide crosslinker is defined by the formula where R1 is a divalent organic group.

Abstract: Specific benzocyclobutenes serve as intramolecular or intermolecular or both intramolecular or intermolecular crosslinkers. The benzocyclobutenes can be incorporated into polymers post polymerization or can be provided as monomers that participate in homopolymerization or copolymerization with other monomer to create the polymers having benzocyclobutenes that are exploited to carry out the crosslinking. At least some of the benzocyclobutenes taught herein can be used to carry out crosslinking a ambient temperatures.

Abstract: A micelle comprising a diblock polymer with a cyclic polyethylene glycol block and a hydrophobic block is provided. The micelle may be used in conjunction with one or a combination of therapeutic agents, targeting agents, and imaging agents. The micelle may be incorporated in a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Biodegradable polyesters are made by synthesizing copolymers derived from biodegradable hydroxyacid monomers as well as from hydroxyacid monomers containing a functional group such as an azide group, a halogen group, a thioacetate group, and the like. Preferably, the functionalized biodegradable polyester copolymers are derived from a functionalized hydroxyacid such as a homolog of lactic acid and/or glycolic acid with the copolyester thus containing functional groups on the backbone thereof. These biodegradable polyesters can be utilized wherever biodegradable polyesters are currently used, and also serve as a polymer to which various medical and drug delivery systems can be attached.