Abstract: Curatives and their resulting thermosets and other crosslinked polymers can reduce thermal expansion mismatch between an encapsulant and objects that are encapsulated. This can be accomplished by incorporating a negative CTE moiety into the thermoset resin or polymer backbone. The negative CTE moiety can be a thermal contractile unit that shrinks as a result of thermally induced conversion from a twist-boat to chair or cis/trans isomerization upon heating. Beyond CTE matching, other potential uses for these crosslinked polymers and thermosets include passive energy generation, energy absorption at high strain rates, mechanophores, actuators, and piezoelectric applications.

Abstract: A method to synthesize a low thermal expansion thermoset comprises mixing a thermosetting resin and a benzocyclobutene curative having a reactive secondary functionalization; heating the mixture to a first temperature to from a pre-polymer comprising benzocyclobutene end groups and a thermoset linking group; and heating the pre-polymer to a second temperature sufficient for ring-opening of benzocyclobutene to occur, thereby forming a thermoset polymer network crosslinked with dibenzocyclooctene moieties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluid-infused elastomers that outperform their non-infused base elastomer in harsh environmental conditions. These fluid-infused polymers may be used in applications including geothermal technologies where the oil-infused elastomers may be subject to harsh conditions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for attaching nanomaterials containing hexagonal lattices to polymer surfaces. For example, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be attached to polycarbonate, polyethylene, or epoxy surfaces by amination of the polymer surface, functionalization of the surfaces of CNTs with ester groups, and reacting the aminated surface of the polymer with the ester groups of the functionalized surfaces of the CNTs in an organic solvent to chemically bind the CNTs to the polymer surface.

Abstract: Curatives and their resulting thermosets and other crosslinked polymers can reduce thermal expansion mismatch between an encapsulant and objects that are encapsulated. This can be accomplished by incorporating a negative CTE moiety into the thermoset resin or polymer backbone. The negative CTE moiety can be a thermal contractile unit that shrinks as a result of thermally induced conversion from a twist-boat to chair or cis/trans isomerization upon heating. Beyond CTE matching, other potential uses for these crosslinked polymers and thermosets include passive energy generation, energy absorption at high strain rates, mechanophores, actuators, and piezoelectric applications.