Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a proton conductor; and crosslinking the proton conductor to form a cross-linked proton-conducting network. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a crosslinked proton conductor disposed on the porous substrate.

Abstract: A method of preparing a capped poly(arylene ether) resin includes reacting a capping agent with a blend of two or more poly(arylene ether) resins having different intrinsic viscosities. Cured compositions prepared from these capped poly(arylene ether) resins exhibit improved balances of stiffness, toughness, and dielectric properties compared to compositions with two or more separately capped and isolated poly(arylene ether) resins.

Abstract: A thermoset composition exhibiting reduced water absorption in the cured state includes an olefinically unsaturated monomer and a capped poly(arylene ether) prepared by the reaction of an uncapped poly(arylene ether) with an anhydride capping agent. The capped poly(arylene ether) is isolated and/or purified by methods that reduce the concentrations of polar impurities that contribute to water absorption by the cured composition.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane; at least one of the organic solution and the aqueous solution further including multi-walled carbon nanotubes having an outside diameter of less than about 30 nm.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide and carbon nanotubes with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane, wherein the organic solution additionally comprises a saturated cyclic C5-C20 hydrocarbon solvent.

Abstract: A polyimide resin is provided. The polyimide resin comprises the reaction product of a polyimide resin and an amine comprising a C1-10 hydrocarbon substituted with CN, F, SO2, SO, S, SO3, SO3?, PO, PO2H, PO3H, PO2?, PO3?2, CO, CO2?, CO2H, CONH, CONH2, NHCOHN, OCONH, OCO2, N, NH, NH2, NO2, CSNH, CSNH2, NHCSNH, OTi(OR4)3, or OSi(OR4)3 or combinations of these, wherein R4 is a C1-10 aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon. The resin may be used to provide a thin film that in turn, may advantageously be used to form, wholly or in part, articles such as capacitors, sensors, batteries, flexible printed circuit boards, keyboard membranes, motor/transformer insulations, cable wrappings, industrial tapes, interior coverage materials, and the like. In particular, a capacitor comprising the thin film and methods of making the same are also provided.

Abstract: A method for making a polysulfone having zwitterionic functionality comprising reacting a piperazine amine functionalized polysulfone with sultone is described as are blends with other polymers. Membranes containing polysulfones having zwitterionic functionality are also provided. Membranes thus formed are used in hemodialysis, hemofiltration, and water purification.

Abstract: Membranes for use in methods and apparatuses for water filtration are composed of at least one polyarylethernitrile membrane having structural units of formula 1 and structural units of formula 2, 3, or a combination thereof wherein Z is independently a direct bond, O, S, CH2, SO, SO2, CO, RPO, CH2, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C6-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C6-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof, and wherein R is equal to C6-C12 aryl radical; Q is a direct bond, O, S, CH2, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C6-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently H, halo, nitro, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C6-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; b, c, and d are independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and p, m and n are independently 0 or 1; and Q and Z are different.

Abstract: Membranes for use in methods and apparatuses for hemodialysis and hemofiltration are composed of at least one membrane comprising a polyarylethernitrile having structural units of formula 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein Z is a direct bond, O, S, CH2, SO, SO2, CO, RPO, CH2, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof; R is a C6-12 aromatic radical or a C1-12 aliphatic radical; R1 and R2 are independently H, halo, nitro, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; b is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; m and n are independently 0 or 1; and Q and Z are different.

Abstract: A membrane including a polyarylether having amide functionality. The polyarylether having amide functionality includes units from at least one of structure I or structure II: R1 and R2 are separate groups or are covalently connected to form a cyclic moiety; R1 and R2 are each, independently, hydrogen, C1-20 alkyl, C3-C30 aryl or a substituted C3-30 aryl; R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each, independently, a nitro group, C1-C12 alkyl, C3-C30 aryl or a combination; Y is hydrogen, C1-20 alkyl or C3-C30 aryl; k is from about 0 to about 10; a, b, c, d, e and f are each, independently, 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and m and n are each, independently, 0 or 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for separating unwanted compounds from an antibody containing biological sample. The device comprises a porous support and a polymeric resin disposed within the pores of the porous support. The device may further comprise a viral clearance membrane upstream or downstream from the polymeric resin. Methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for water filtration comprising contacting a water stream with a membrane comprising a polysulfone having structural units of Formula I wherein X is OH, NR1R2, or OR3; R1 and R2 are independently at each occurrence hydrogen, a C1-C5000 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, a polypeptide, a combination thereof, or R1 and R2 taken together form a 5- or 6-membered aliphatic ring or a 5-membered aromatic ring; R3 is a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; B? and C? are independently at each occurrence a nitro group, C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; and q and r are independently at each occurrence 0 to 4.

Abstract: A composition is provided. The composition may include a reaction product of a first composition having two or more anhydride moieties, a second composition having two or more hydroxyl moieties, and a third composition having at least one aziridine moiety. A method for forming a membrane from the composition is provided. A membrane formed from the composition is provided. Devices that include the membrane are provided, also.

Abstract: Improved methods for reducing boron concentration in seawater or brackish water, while simultaneously maintaining or improving the salt rejection of membrane and flow performance of polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes include contacting the water with a composite membrane comprising moieties derived from an aromatic sulfonyl halide, a heteroaromatic sulfonyl halide, a sulfinyl halide; a sulfenyl halide; a sulfuryl halide; a phosphoryl halide; a phosphonyl halide; a phosphinyl halide; a thiophosphoryl halide; a thiophosphonyl halide, an isocyanate, a urea, a cyanate, an aromatic carbonyl halide, an epoxide or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A method for making a polyarylether block copolymer having amide functionality including reacting a dihydroxyaromatic compound having amide functionality and a dihaloaromatic sulfone or dinitroaromatic sulfone in the presence of a base to form a polyarylether having amide functionality and reacting the polyarylether having amide functionality with a polymer. The block copolymer and blends are also provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a curable composition useful in the preparation of a gas separation membrane. The curable composition comprises a polyvinyl alcohol; an aliphatic polyamine; a polyglycidyl ether; and a salt of a C2 to C4 heterocyclic amino acid. In another aspect the present invention provides a composition comprising a crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol comprising structural units derived from a polyglycidyl ether, a polyamine and the salt of a C2 to C4 heterocyclic amino acid. The compositions are useful in the preparation of gas separation membranes in which the C2 to C4 heterocyclic amino acid in the form of its salt functions as a mobile carrier of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a curable composition useful in the preparation of a gas separation membrane. The curable composition comprises a polyvinyl alcohol; an aliphatic polyamine; a polyglycidyl ether; and a salt of a C3-C5 amino cycloaliphatic acid. In another aspect the present invention provides a composition comprising a crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol comprising structural units derived from a polyglycidyl ether, a polyamine and the salt of a C3 to C5 amino cycloaliphatic acid. The compositions are useful in the preparation of gas separation membranes in which the C3 to C5 amino cycloaliphatic acid in the form of its salt functions as a mobile carrier of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for the formation of a membrane is described. A collection of substantially spherical particles formed from a selected material is contacted with at least one reactive material. The reactive material is cured or otherwise polymerized by various techniques, so that it forms a matrix that substantially surrounds and contains the particles. A portion of the particle material is then removed, so that the matrix contains a pattern of pores that are permeable to selected substances in solution. In some instances, the matrix is formed by an interfacial reaction between at least two reactive materials. Related filtration membranes are also described.

Abstract: Membranes as well as a methods of treating membranes are disclosed. The method of treating a membrane includes contacting the membrane with a first solvent, contacting the membrane with an inert solvent, and contacting the membrane with an amine reactive compound. The first solvent includes a solvent having a Hansen solubility parameter in a range from about 10.0 to about 18. The membrane includes a polymer having an amine group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for water filtration comprising contacting a water stream with a membrane comprising a polysulfone having structural units of Formula I wherein X is OH, NR1R2, or OR3; R1 and R2 are independently at each occurrence hydrogen, a C1-C5000 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, a polypeptide, a combination thereof, or R1 and R2 taken together form a 5- or 6-membered aliphatic ring or a 5-membered aromatic ring; R3 is a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; B? and C? are independently at each occurrence a nitro group, C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; and q and r are independently at each occurrence 0 to 4.