Abstract: An article having at least one fluorinated porous layer having a basis weight of about 10 to about 300 grams per square meter and a thickness of about 0.20 to about 20 millimeters. The porous layer also exhibits a Q200 of greater than about 1.1.

Abstract: An apparatus for fluorinating a substrate. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber and a means for generating a fluorine-containing plasma throughout the entire chamber. The apparatus includes a capacitively-coupled system within the chamber that has at least one electrode powered by an RF source and at least one grounded electrode substantially parallel to the powered electrode. The electrodes are separated by about 25 mm or less.

Abstract: The application discloses articles and methods of plasma fluorination treatment that employ a capacitively-coupled system to fluorinate porous articles. The methods include placing the article to be treated within an ion sheath adjacent to an electrode and placing the article to be treated between powered and grounded electrodes separated by about 25 mm or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides technology for controlling, or tuning, the catalytic activity of gold provided upon nanoporous supports such as those derived from nanoparticulate titania. It has been discovered that the nature of the surfaces of the nanoparticles used to support a nano-metal catalyst, such as catalytically active gold, has a profound effect upon the catalytic properties of the supported catalyst. The support surface may be altered as desired to control the activity of the gold. The present invention teaches how thermal treatment of nanoparticulate media incorporated into a nanoporous support prior to deposition of catalytically active gold dramatically suppresses the ability of a resultant catalyst system to oxidize hydrogen. Yet, the system still readily oxidizes CO.

Abstract: Highly active, low pressure drop catalyst systems. Catalytically active material is provided on at least a portion of the channel sidewalls of a body comprising one or more flow-through channels. The channel sidewalls preferably bear a charge, e.g., an electrostatic or electret charge, to help adhere the catalytically active material to the sidewall. The catalytically active material preferably includes gold provided on a particulate support, and PVD techniques are used to deposit catalytically active gold onto the support. Optionally, the gold-bearing particulates may be charged as well in a manner to facilitate attraction between the particulates and the sidewalls.

Abstract: Use of physical vapor deposition methodologies to deposit nanoscale gold on activating support media makes the use of catalytically active gold dramatically easier and opens the door to significant improvements associated with developing, making, and using gold-based, catalytic systems. The present invention, therefore, relates to novel features, ingredients, and formulations of gold-based, heterogeneous catalyst systems generally comprising nanoscale gold deposited onto a nanoporous support.

Abstract: Use of physical vapor deposition methodologies to deposit nanoscale gold on activating support media makes the use of catalytically active gold dramatically easier and opens the door to significant improvements associated with developing, making, and using gold-based, catalytic systems. The present invention, therefore, relates to novel features, ingredients, and formulations of gold-based, heterogeneous catalyst systems generally comprising nanoscale gold deposited onto a nanoporous support.

Abstract: The present invention provides technology for controlling, or tuning, the catalytic activity of gold provided upon nanoporous supports such as those derived from nanoparticulate, crystalline titania. In some aspects of practice, the surface of nanoparticulate media incorporated into a catalyst system of the present invention is provided with chemical modifications of the surface that dramatically suppress the ability of the resultant catalyst system to oxidize hydrogen. Yet, the system still readily oxidizes CO. In other words, by selecting and/or altering the nanoparticulate surface via the principles of the present invention, PROX catalysts are readily made from materials including catalytically active gold and nanoparticulate media. Additionally, the nanoparticulate support also may be optionally thermally treated to further enhance selectivity for CO oxidation with respect to hydrogen.

Abstract: A exposed-lens retroreflective article exhibiting retroreflection under dry and wet conditions is provided. The inventive article comprises a first set of optical elements having a first reflective layer disposed on the embedded portion of the elements. The first set contributes mainly to dry retroreflection. The article further comprises a second set of optical elements having a second reflective layer behind a spacing layer. The second set contributes mainly to wet retroreflection. In one embodiment, the first and second sets of optical elements have substantially the same average diameters, refractive index, and density.

Abstract: A pavement marking article that has an adhesive composition for adhering the article to a pavement substrate, where the adhesive composition includes a reaction product of an acrylic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol whose homopolymer has a Tg less than 0° C., a non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and 0-10 parts by weight of a polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer. Preferably the amount of the acrylic acid ester is about 60-90 parts by weight, and the amount of the non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer is about 10-40 parts by weight. Also, a raised pavement marker that comprises: (a) a pavement marker body having upper and lower surfaces and an apparent flexural modulus of at least about 50,000 psi and (b) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed upon the lower surface of the marker, wherein the adhesive has: (i) a transition region that begins at a frequency of about 10,000 radians/s or more and extends to a frequency of about 100 radians/s or less at about 25° C.

Abstract: A pavement marking article that has an adhesive composition for adhering the article to a pavement substrate, where the adhesive composition includes a reaction product of an acrylic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol whose homopolymer has a Tg less than 0° C., a non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and 0-10 parts by weight of a polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer. Preferably the amount of the acrylic acid ester is about 60-90 parts by weight, and the amount of the non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer is about 10-40 parts by weight.

Abstract: A method of making an electret that includes contacting a porous substrate that includes polymer with a composition that includes solvent capable of swelling the polymer, removing the solvent from the substrate, and contacting the substrate with water in a manner sufficient to impart an electret charge to the substrate.

Abstract: A pavement marking article that has an adhesive composition for adhering the article to a pavement substrate, where the adhesive composition includes a reaction product of an acrylic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol whose homopolymer has a Tg less than 0° C., a non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and 0-10 parts by weight of a polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer. Preferably the amount of the acrylic acid ester is about 60-90 parts by weight, and the amount of the non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer is about 10-40 parts by weight.

Abstract: This invention relates to the addition of antimicrobial agents to pavement marking systems to inhibit the growth of microorganisms on and under the pavement marking when it is affixed to a pavement.