Abstract: A method of plating a substrate includes etching at least a portion of a surface of the substrate to form voids within the surface. The substrate includes a composite material with a network of electrically conductive nanostructures dispersed therein. Electrodes are attached to the substrate, it is placed in a bath of a first electrically conductive metal, and a voltage is applied to the substrate through the electrodes to deposit a first electrically conductive metal layer onto the surface of the substrate, and a second electrically conductive metal layer is electroplated thereon.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elastic polymer aerogel material includes dissolving tire waste in a first portion of a solvent to form a first mixture; dissolving a polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond in a second portion of the solvent to form a second mixture; combining the first mixture and the second mixture, wherein the tire waste reacts with the polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond to form a reactant gel; and undergoing a solvent exchange on the reactant gel followed by freeze drying the reactant gel to form the elastic polymer aerogel material. The tire waste includes natural rubber, synthetic polymers, steel, and curing systems, and the elastic polymer aerogel material defines a 3D porous structure.

Abstract: A battery system includes a first battery module, a second battery module, and a thermoresistant spacer disposed between the first battery module and the second battery module. The thermoresistant spacer may be a thermoresistant urethane foam or a silicon pad and may include thermoresistant additives, which may include at least one of melamine resin powder, aerogel particles, and milled oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers. A flame retardant material may be disposed over at least a surface of the thermoresistant spacer.

Abstract: A composite material includes a recycled polymer matrix, a continuous network of linked carbon nanostructures dispersed within the recycled polymer matrix, and a compatibilizer. The recycled polymer matrix is in an amount of at least 90 wt. %. The continuous network of linked carbon nanostructures is in an amount between 0.5 wt. % to 1.0 wt. %. The compatibilizer is in an amount of about 3.0 wt. %.

Abstract: A method of producing an aerogel-based material includes placing a sol mixture into a cavity of a tool. The sol mixture includes a precursor and a solvent. The cavity of the tool is sealed and the sol mixture is heated under pressure to at least supercritical conditions, thereby creating a flammable gas within the cavity of the tool. The flammable gas within the cavity of the tool is ignited.

Abstract: An injection moldable composite material includes a polymer matrix, glass microspheres, a conductive network of linked nanostructures, and a plurality of additives. The polymer matrix includes a polypropylene impact copolymer. The plurality of additives includes a polymer adhesive configured to adhere the conductive network of linked nanostructures to the polymer matrix.

Abstract: Battery thermal suppression systems may be provided for battery arrays and/or traction battery packs. Exemplary thermal suppression systems may include one or more aerosol devices that are adapted to release aerosol particles that may be distributed over and/or around battery cells/battery arrays during battery thermal events, thereby mitigating thermal propagation. The aerosol devices may be active or passive devices and can be implanted at the battery array level, the traction battery pack level, or both.

Abstract: A recyclable polyurethane foam is produced by reacting a disulfide reactive chemical-based polyol-containing composition and an isocyanate composition. The polyurethane foam may include a molar ratio of the disulfide reactive chemical of greater than or equal to about 2:1 mol %, 4:1 mol %, or 6:1 mol %, wherein the ratio equates to the molar ratio of hydroxyl groups of the disulfide reactive chemical versus the molar ratio of hydroxyl groups of the polyol.

Abstract: A recyclable polyurethane foam is produced by reacting a carbon dioxide-based polyol-containing composition and an isocyanate composition. The polyurethane foam may include a molar ratio of active hydrogen to isocyanate groups of 1:0.9. The polyurethane foam may include a catalyst at about greater than or equal to about 0.5 to less than or equal to about 1.5 parts by weight percent.

Abstract: A composite material composition includes a polymer matrix and biochar fibers disposed throughout the polymer matrix. The polymer matrix of the composite material composition may be a recycled material and the biochar fibers may made from a natural material.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of lignin includes dissolving black liquor in solvent to form a mixture having a pH greater than or equal to about 12 to less than or equal to about 14. The pH of the mixture is then adjusted to greater than or equal to about 3 to less than or equal to about 7. The mixture is liquefacted, which includes increasing a temperature of the mixture to a target temperature, maintaining the target temperature for a period of time, and cooling the mixture to room temperature. Following liquefaction, the mixture is filtered to separate soluble and insoluble fractions of the mixture. The soluble fraction includes a lignin product having a polydispersity greater than or equal to about 1.78 to less than or equal to about 2.56.

Abstract: Battery thermal suppression systems may be provided for battery arrays and/or traction battery packs. Exemplary thermal suppression systems may include one or more aerosol devices that are adapted to release aerosol particles that may be distributed over and/or around battery cells/battery arrays during battery thermal events, thereby mitigating thermal propagation. The aerosol devices may be active or passive devices and can be implanted at the battery array level, the traction battery pack level, or both.

Abstract: A net-shape ballistic panel is formed by a process of arranging a fiber bundle on a substrate to form a layer, the layer following a shape of the ballistic panel, securing the fiber bundle to the substrate with a plurality of stitches to form a preform layer, arranging additional layers of fiber bundles on the preform layer, each layer of the additional layers following the shape of the ballistic panel, and each fiber bundle being secured with a plurality of stitches to each layer of the additional layers to form a plurality of preform layers. A resin is then impregnated into the preform layers and subsequently cured using a process such as compression molding. The resulting ballistic panel is relatively thin while exhibiting an excellent ballistic rating (e.g., V50).

Abstract: A battery system includes a thermoresistant spacer disposed between a first battery module and a second battery module. The thermoresistant spacer includes a substrate of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, an inorganic paper, and graphene, and the substrate laminated with a heat insulating material and has a flame retardant disposed over the laminated substrate.

Abstract: A battery system includes a first battery module, a second battery module, and a thermoresistant spacer disposed between the first battery module and the second battery module. The thermoresistant spacer may be a thermoresistant urethane foam or a silicon pad and may include thermoresistant additives, which may include at least one of melamine resin powder, aerogel particles, and milled oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers. A flame retardant material may be disposed over at least a surface of the thermoresistant spacer.

Abstract: A composite aerogel material includes a carbonized aerogel defining a 3D porous structure and a silicon-based material dispersed within the 3D porous structure, wherein the silicon-based material includes at least 70% by mass fraction. A method of manufacturing a composite aerogel material includes mixing water, an acrylonitrile monomer, silicon particles, a surfactant, a thermal polymerization initiator, and a solvent and heating as a solution. The solution is quenched, wherein a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) silicon nanoparticle micro bead gel precipitates from the solution. A solvent exchange then occurs to form a silicon-based aerogel material, which is then freeze dried. The silicon-based aerogel material is carbonized to form a composite aerogel material comprising a carbonized aerogel defining a 3D porous structure and a silicon-based material dispersed within pores of the carbonized aerogel.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elastic polymer aerogel material includes dissolving tire waste, the tire waste including natural rubber, synthetic polymers, steel, fillers, and curing systems, in a solvent to form a first mixture and dissolving a polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond in the solvent to form a second mixture. The first mixture and the second mixture are combined, wherein the tire waste reacts with the polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond to form a reactant gel. The reactant gel undergoes a solvent exchange followed by freeze drying to form the elastic polymer aerogel material, wherein the elastic polymer aerogel material defines a 3D porous structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite material includes disposing dried plant material, nanoparticles, and a supercritical fluid in a vessel. A cellular structure of the dried plant material expands when disposed in the supercritical fluid and the nanoparticles migrate into and are embedded within the expanded cellular structure of the disposed dried plant material. The disposed dried plant fibers with embedded nanoparticles are removed from the vessel and mixed with a polymer to form a polymer-nanoparticle mixture. A chemical additive can be added to the supercritical fluid and the chemical additive can remove at least one of hemicellulose, lignin and pectins from the dried plant material.

Abstract: A method for producing a rubber composite includes mixing graphene with a liquid plasticizer to create a graphene/plasticizer solution, mixing the graphene/plasticizer solution with solid rubber and curing to form a preform, and shaping and vulcanizing the preform. The graphene/plasticizer solution may be a nonaqueous solution. The present disclosure also relates to a rubber composite part produced by the above-referenced method.

Abstract: A polyurethane foam is produced by reacting a polyol-containing composition and an isocyanate composition. The polyol-containing composition includes a petrol-based polyol at greater than or equal to about 50 parts by weight percent and cellulose reinforcements. Additionally, a soy-based polyol is also included in various polyol-containing compositions.