Abstract: The invention describes processes to prepare levulinic acid, formic acid and/or hydroxymethyl furfural from various biomass materials.

Abstract: The invention describes processes to prepare levulinic acid, formic acid and/or hydroxymethyl furfural from various biomass materials.

Abstract: A separation matrix comprises a porous surface layer; and a bulk porous support, wherein both the porous surface layer and the bulk porous support comprising a block copolymer. The block copolymer comprises A-B or A-B-A repeating units, wherein A and B at each occurrence are two different blocks of oligomer, or polymer. A structural unit of block A is derived from one or more atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)-active monomer or oligomer and a structural unit of block B is derived from a thermoplastic ATRP-active macro initiator. A poly dispersity index of the block copolymer is at least about 2.

Abstract: The invention describes processes to prepare levulinic acid, formic acid and/or hydroxymethyl furfural from various biomass materials.

Abstract: Polyethersulfones having Tg greater than about 225° C. and a notched Izod value greater than about 1 ft-lb/in, as measured by ASTM D256, comprise from about 5 mol % to less than about 40 mol % structural units of formula 1; and from greater than about 60 mol % to about 95 mol % structural units of formula 2 wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C12 aromatic radical; n, m, q are independently at each occurrence integers from 0 to 4; and Q is a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C20 aromatic radical.

Abstract: Polyethersulfones having Tg greater than about 225° C. and a notched Izod value greater than about 1 ft-lb/in, as measured by ASTM D256, comprise from about 5 mol % to less than about 40 mol % structural units of formula 1; and from greater than about 60 mol % to about 95 mol % structural units of formula 2 wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a C1-C12aliphatic radical, C3-C12cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C12aromatic radical; n, m, q are independently at each occurrence integers from 0 to 4; and Q is a C3-C20cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C20aromatic radical.

Abstract: High heat polyethersulfone compositions are provided which possess unexpectedly high glass transition temperatures. The polyethersulfone compositions comprise structural units derived from fluorenone bisphenols such as 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, and structural units derived from at least one biphenyl-bissulfone such as 4,4?-bis((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)-1,1?-biphenyl. The novel polyethersulfone compositions may further comprise structural units derived from one or more biphenols such as 4,4?-biphenol, bisphenols such as BPA, or other electrophilic sulfone monomers, such as bis(4-chlorophenyl)sulfone. In one embodiment, the polyethersulfone composition of the present invention comprises structural groups derived exclusively from 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene and 4,4?-bis((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)-1,1?-biphenyl and exhibits a single glass transition of greater than 300° C.

Abstract: A composition comprises, based on the total weight of the composition, from 30 to 50 weight percent of an ionomeric telechelic polyalkylene ester comprising from 0.05 to 5 mole percent of sulfonate end groups; from 50 to 70 weight percent of a polycarbonate; from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of an organoclay; and from 2 to 12 weight percent of an impact modifier.

Abstract: Polyethersulfones having Tg greater than about 225° C. and a notched Izod value greater than about 1 ft-lb/in, as measured by ASTM D256, comprise from about 5 mol % to less than about 40 mol % structural units of formula 1; and from greater than about 60 mol % to about 95 mol % structural units of formula 2 wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C12 aromatic radical; n, m, q are independently at each occurrence integers from 0 to 4; and Q is a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C20 aromatic radical.

Abstract: Polyethersulfones having Tg greater than about 225° C. and a notched Izod value greater than about 1 ft-lb/in, as measured by ASTM D256, comprise from about 5 mol % to less than about 40 mol % structural units of formula 1; and from greater than about 60 mol % to about 95 mol % structural units of formula 2 wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a C1-C12aliphatic radical, C3-C12cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C12aromatic radical; n, m, q are independently at each occurrence integers from 0 to 4; and Q is a C3-C20cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C20aromatic radical.

Abstract: Polyethersulfones having Tg greater than about 225° C. and a notched Izod value greater than about 1 ft-lb/in, as measured by ASTM D256, comprise from about 5 mol % to less than about 40 mol % structural units of formula 1; and from greater than about 60 mol % to about 95 mol % structural units of formula 2 wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C12 aromatic radical; n, m, q are independently at each occurrence integers from 0 to 4; and Q is a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C20 aromatic radical.

Abstract: A separation matrix comprises a porous surface layer; and a bulk porous support, wherein both the porous surface layer and the bulk porous support comprising a block copolymer. The block copolymer comprises A-B or A-B-A repeating units, wherein A and B at each occurrence are two different blocks of oligomer, or polymer. A structural unit of block A is derived from one or more atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)-active monomer or oligomer and a structural unit of block B is derived from a thermoplastic ATRP-active macro initiator. A poly dispersity index of the block copolymer is at least about 2.

Abstract: A polyethersulfone composition is disclosed which comprises structural units derived from bisphenol-A and 4,4?-biphenol, the structural units derived from 4,4?-biphenol being present in an amount corresponding to greater than 65 mole percent based on total moles of structural units derived from diphenolic monomers, wherein the polyethersulfone has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 54,000 grams per mole as measured by gel permeation chromatography. The polyethersulfone compositions of the invention display outstanding impact strength as measured using ASTM D256. Surprisingly, the polyethersulfone compositions of the invention show enhanced impact strength relative to known polyethersulfones such as RADEL R, a commercially available polyethersulfone engineering thermoplastic comprised of structural units derived from a dihalodiarylsulfone and 4,4?-biphenol and having a Notched Izod impact strength of about 700 Joules per meter.

Abstract: A composition including a polyarylether copolymer is provided. The copolymer includes a polyarylether backbone; and a sulfonated oligomeric group bonded to the polyarylether suitable for use as a cation conducting membrane. Method of bonding a sulfonated oligomeric group to the polyarylether backbone to form a polyarylether copolymer. The membrane may be formed from the polyarylether copolymer composition. The chain length of the sulfonated oligomeric group may be controlled to affect or control the ion conductivity of the membrane.

Abstract: A method for carrying out a chemical reaction between at least two reactants occupying separate phases within a multiphase reaction mixture has been discovered in which at least one phosphazenium salt is employed as a phase transfer catalyst. The remarkable utility of phosphazenium salts as phase transfer catalysts is illustrated by the preparation of aromatic ethers. The phosphazenium salt phase transfer catalysts are shown to be especially useful in the preparation of aromatic polyethers such as polyether sulfones.

Abstract: Polyether polymers, such as polyetherimides, are prepared by the reaction of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon alkali metal salt, such as bisphenol A disodium salt, with a bis(N-(chlorophthalimido))aromatic compound, such as 1,3- and/or 1,4-bis(N-(4-chlorophthalimido))benzene, in a solvent such as o-dichlorobenzene and in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst such as a hexaalkylguanidinium chloride. Several embodiments may be employed to improve the method. They comprise employing substantially dry reagents, employing a high solids level in solvent, beginning with an excess of bis(N-(chlorophthalimido))-aromatic compound and incrementally adding alkali metal salt, employing alkali metal salt of small particle size, and using reagents of high purity.

Abstract: A method for carrying out a chemical reaction between at least two reactants occupying separate phases within a multiphase reaction mixture has been discovered in which at least one phosphazenium salt is employed as a phase transfer catalyst. The remarkable utility of phosphazenium salts as phase transfer catalysts is illustrated by the preparation of aromatic ethers. The phosphazenium salt phase transfer catalysts are shown to be especially useful in the preparation of aromatic polyethers such as polyether sulfones.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions of a semicrystalline thermoplastic and a dispersed phase of an organically modified clay, as well as a process for making the organically modified clay, which comprises contacting the clay with at least one imidazolium salt having two long alkyl chains, or a benzimidazolium salt having two long alkyl chains in the presence of a solvent, and recovering the organically modified clay having a d-spacing of clay intercalates of at least 28 ? and thermal stability at 300° C.

Abstract: A composition including a polyarylether copolymer is provided. The copolymer includes a polyarylether backbone; and a sulfonated oligomeric group bonded to the polyarylether suitable for use as a cation conducting membrane. Method of bonding a sulfonated oligomeric group to the polyarylether backbone to form a polyarylether copolymer. The membrane may be formed from the polyarylether copolymer composition. The chain length of the sulfonated oligomeric group may be controlled to affect or control the ion conductivity of the membrane.

Abstract: Reactive monomers containing the trifluorovinyloxy group may be copolymerized to form polymers useful as membranes, especially polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells. The monomers have the formula ((CF2CFO(R1)p)nArX2 wherein Ar is a trivalent, tetravalent or pentavalent, substituted or unsubstituted, aromatic or heteroaromatic, monocyclic or polycyclic group having from 5 to 50 carbon atoms; X is OH, SH, NR2aR2b, F or Br; p is 0 or 1; n is 1, 2 or 3; R1 is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl and R2a and R2b are independently H, C1-C8 alkyl or C1-C8 perfluoroalkyl.