Abstract: Functionalized polymer matrix and/or reinforcement materials that are capable of a thermoreversible Diels-Alder reaction are useful for making composite materials. Also disclosed is a composite material which includes one or both of functionalized reinforcement materials and functionalized polymer matrix materials, as well as a method for repairing a composite material including the step of thermally treating the composite material at a temperature sufficient to react a functionality on one of the reinforcement material and the polymer matrix material with another functionality via a Diels-Alder reaction. A method of making a composite material including functionalizing one or both of a reinforcing material and a polymer matrix material with a first reactive group, providing a second reactive group capable of undergoing a Diels-Alder reaction with the first reactive group and reacting the first and second reactive groups to form a composite material, is also described.

Abstract: Anhydrosugar-based monomers prepared from isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide and resin systems containing these anhydrosugar-based monomers that are partially to fully bio-based, which may produce materials having properties that meet or exceed the properties of similar petroleum derived vinyl ester resins.

Abstract: Anhydrosugar-based monomers prepared from isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide and resin systems containing these anhydrosugar-based monomers that are partially to fully bio-based, which may produce materials having properties that meet or exceed the properties of similar petroleum derived vinyl ester resins.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides comprising a triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 30 carbon atoms are reacted with an epoxide resin and an amine curing agent to yield an epoxy thermoset. The grafted triglyceride is prepared by reaction of an epoxidized triglyceride with a fatty acid. By varying the length of the fatty residue, the number of fatty residues per triglyceride, the identity of the epoxy resin and the amine curing agent, it is possible to prepare epoxy thermosets that exhibit superior physical properties compared to the properties of epoxy thermosets prepared without the grafted triglyceride, or as compared to epoxy thermosets wherein the epoxidized triglyceride is used in place of the grafted triglyceride.

Abstract: Anhydrosugar-based monomers prepared from isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide and resin systems containing these anhydrosugar-based monomers that are partially to fully bio-based, which may produce materials having properties that meet or exceed the properties of similar petroleum derived vinyl ester resins.

Abstract: Anhydrosugar-based monomers prepared from isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide and resin systems containing these anhydrosugar-based monomers that are partially to fully bio-based, which may produce materials having properties that meet or exceed the properties of similar petroleum derived vinyl ester resins.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides comprising an acrylated triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 28 carbon atoms. Also described are methods for making a grafted triglyceride and for curing a material selected from vinyl esters and unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof and optionally a reactive diluent. The method includes the steps of mixing a grafted triglyceride of the present invention with a material selected from vinyl esters, unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof to form a mixture, and curing the mixture to form a cured resin system. A cured resin system comprising a cured product obtained by the foregoing method and composites containing the cured product and a filler or reinforcing material are also disclosed. This method also includes use of the grafted triglycerides to make toughened resin and composite systems with reduced hazardous air pollutants without significantly reducing the glass transition temperature and significantly increasing the viscosity.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides prepared from an epoxidized triglyceride and an acid anhydride containing 4 to 40 carbon atoms are reacted with an epoxy resin and an anhydride curing agent to yield an epoxy thermoset. By varying the length of fatty residues on the grafted triglyceride, the number of fatty residues per triglyceride, the identity of the epoxy resin and the anhydride curing agent, it is possible to prepare epoxy thermosets that exhibit superior physical properties compared to the properties of epoxy thermosets prepared without the grafted triglyceride, or as compared to epoxy thermosets wherein the epoxidized triglyceride is used in place of the grafted triglyceride. A significant improvement in fracture toughness with a minimal reduction of glass transition temperature may be thus achieved.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides comprising an acrylated triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 28 carbon atoms. Also described are methods for making a grafted triglyceride and for curing a material selected from vinyl esters and unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof and optionally a reactive diluent. The method includes the steps of mixing a grafted triglyceride of the present invention with a material selected from vinyl esters, unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof to form a mixture, and curing the mixture to form a cured resin system. A cured resin system comprising a cured product obtained by the foregoing method and composites containing the cured product and a filler or reinforcing material are also disclosed. This method also includes use of the grafted triglycerides to make toughened resin and composite systems with reduced hazardous air pollutants without significantly reducing the glass transition temperature and significantly increasing the viscosity.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides comprising an acrylated triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 28 carbon atoms. Also described are methods for making a grafted triglyceride and for curing a material selected from vinyl esters and unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof and optionally a reactive diluent. The method includes the steps of mixing a grafted triglyceride of the present invention with a material selected from vinyl esters, unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof to form a mixture, and curing the mixture to form a cured resin system. A cured resin system comprising a cured product obtained by the foregoing method and composites containing the cured product and a filler or reinforcing material are also disclosed. This method also includes use of the grafted triglycerides to make toughened resin and composite systems with reduced hazardous air pollutants without significantly reducing the glass transition temperature and significantly increasing the viscosity.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides comprising an acrylated triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 28 carbon atoms. Also described are methods for making a grafted triglyceride and for curing a material selected from vinyl esters and unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof and optionally a reactive diluent. The method includes the steps of mixing a grafted triglyceride of the present invention with a material selected from vinyl esters, unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof to form a mixture, and curing the mixture to form a cured resin system. A cured resin system comprising a cured product obtained by the foregoing method and composites containing the cured product and a filler or reinforcing material are also disclosed. This method also includes use of the grafted triglycerides to make toughened resin and composite systems with reduced hazardous air pollutants without significantly reducing the glass transition temperature and significantly increasing the viscosity.

Abstract: Anhydrosugar-based monomers prepared from isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide and resin systems containing these anhydrosugar-based monomers that are partially to fully bio-based, which may produce materials having properties that meet or exceed the properties of similar petroleum derived vinyl ester resins.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides comprising an acrylated triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 28 carbon atoms. Also described are methods for making a grafted triglyceride and for curing a material selected from vinyl esters and unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof and optionally a reactive diluent. The method includes the steps of mixing a grafted triglyceride of the present invention with a material selected from vinyl esters, unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof to form a mixture, and curing the mixture to form a cured resin system. A cured resin system comprising a cured product obtained by the foregoing method and composites containing the cured product and a filler or reinforcing material are also disclosed. This method also includes use of the grafted triglycerides to make toughened resin and composite systems with reduced hazardous air pollutants without significantly reducing the glass transition temperature and significantly increasing the viscosity.

Abstract: A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane.

Abstract: A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides comprising an acrylated triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 28 carbon atoms. Also described are methods for making a grafted triglyceride and for curing a material selected from vinyl esters and unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof and optionally a reactive diluent. The method includes the steps of mixing a grafted triglyceride of the present invention with a material selected from vinyl esters, unsaturated polyesters and mixtures thereof to form a mixture, and curing the mixture to form a cured resin system. A cured resin system comprising a cured product obtained by the foregoing method and composites containing the cured product and a filler or reinforcing material are also disclosed. This method also includes use of the grafted triglycerides to make toughened resin and composite systems with reduced hazardous air pollutants without significantly reducing the glass transition temperature and significantly increasing the viscosity.

Abstract: Functionalized polymer matrix and/or reinforcement materials that are capable of a thermoreversible Diels-Alder reaction are useful for making composite materials. Also disclosed is a composite material which includes one or both of functionalized reinforcement materials and functionalized polymer matrix materials, as well as a method for repairing a composite material including the step of thermally treating the composite material at a temperature sufficient to react a functionality on one of the reinforcement material and the polymer matrix material with another functionality via a Diels-Alder reaction. A method of making a composite material including functionalizing one or both of a reinforcing material and a polymer matrix material with a first reactive group, providing a second reactive group capable of undergoing a Diels-Alder reaction with the first reactive group and reacting the first and second reactive groups to form a composite material, is also described.

Abstract: Formulations containing a mixture of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid which may initiate curing of the epoxy resin, the mixture having nano-materials dispersed or dissolved therein. These formulations can be used for the preparation of nanocomposites. Methods of preparing nanocomposites by curing a dispersion of nano-materials in a mixture of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid which may initiate curing of the epoxy resin. Nanocomposites comprising a cured product formed by curing an epoxy resin with an ionic liquid or an adduct of an epoxy resin and an ionic liquid having nano-materials dispersed or dissolved therein. Embodiments of the invention permit manufacture of nanocomposites having relatively high fracture toughness, relatively high loadings of nano-materials and the ability to tailor the properties of the nano-composites.

Abstract: A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane.

Abstract: The present invention includes tailored fiber-reinforced hydrogel composites for implantation into a subject. The present invention also includes systems and methods for controlling the relative percent volume of the hydrogel and fibers, cross-linking, fiber orientation, weave and density, such that the material properties of the composite can be controlled and/or customized to match particular tissue types. The composites of the present invention are suitable for repairing or replacing musculoskeletal tissues and/or fibrocartilage, such as the meniscus, ligaments and tendons.