Abstract: Compositions and articles including host polymers and chromophores and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an article includes a host polymer with a host polymer refractive index. The article also includes a chromophore with a chromophore refractive index that is greater than the host polymer refractive index. The chromophore refractive index changes with changes in an electric field, and the chromophore is dissolved within the host polymer. The article has an article refractive index that is between the host polymer refractive index and the chromophore refractive index.

Abstract: A device containing a radio-frequency (RF) liquid crystal (RFLC) mixture with improved performance is disclosed. In one embodiment, the improved performance includes high RF tuning, broad thermal operating ranges and low viscosity. In one embodiment, the device comprises an antenna comprising: an antenna element array having a plurality of antenna elements and each antenna element having a liquid crystal (LC) structure, wherein the LC structure comprises a mixture of one or more of the following: laterally functionalized with one or more of at least a proton, a hydrogen (H), or a heteroatom.

Abstract: A device containing a radio-frequency (RF) liquid crystal (RFLC) mixture with improved performance is disclosed. In one embodiment, the improved performance includes high RF tuning, broad thermal operating ranges and low viscosity. In one embodiment, the device comprises an antenna comprising: an antenna element array having a plurality of antenna elements and each antenna element having a liquid crystal (LC) structure, wherein the LC structure comprises a mixture of one or more of the following: laterally functionalized with one or more of at least a proton, a hydrogen (H), or a heteroatom.

Abstract: Ice phobic coatings and substrates and methods of making and using them are described. Some embodiments provide for an ice-phobic coating including a hydrophobic entity bonded to a hydrophilic moiety, wherein the hydrophilic moiety is capable of lowering a freezing point of water. Some embodiments provide for an ice-phobic article including a substrate having the ice-phobic coating applied on the substrate. In some embodiments, a method of making an ice-phobic coating may include bonding the hydrophobic entity with the hydrophilic moiety. In some embodiments, a method of making an ice-phobic article includes applying the ice-phobic coating to a substrate. Some embodiments also provide for a kit for making an ice-phobic article. Such ice-phobic coatings may be used to coat or impregnate winter equipment, cloth, shoes, sporting equipment, road signs, traffic lights, sidewalks, aircrafts, vehicles, or the like.

Abstract: Methods and compositions pertaining to flame retardants using micronized rice husks are disclosed.

Abstract: Functionalized microspheres for being dispersed in matrix materials to reduce the density and weight of the materials may be configured to include a covalently bound surface component which is configured to covalently bond with the matrix material so that when combined with the matrix material a strong, light-weight matrix material may be produced.

Abstract: Hydrophilic coating compositions and methods to make and use the compositions are disclosed. The compositions include a polymer comprising one or more cyanate groups and a blocking agent contacting at least one of one or more cyanate groups. When exposed to atmospheric water, the blocked cyanate moieties at the surface may hydrolyze to expose hydrophilic groups. Thus, the hydrophobic polymeric surface may change to a hydrophilic surface upon reacting with atmospheric water and moisture.

Abstract: A method of preserving cellulosic material is provided. The method includes contacting the cellulosic material with a paraben-containing monomer and polymerizing the paraben-containing monomer to provide a polymer impregnated within the cellulosic material; or alternatively, first polymerizing the paraben-containing monomer to give a polymer comprising repeat units formed of the monomer and contacting the cellulosic material with the polymer under pressure to provide the polymer impregnated with the cellulosic material. Articles including the cellulosic material and at least one polymer which includes paraben moieties are also provided, such as a wooden plank, a utility pole, a railroad tie, a ship's hull, a wooden utensil, a toy, a model, a piece of furniture, a vehicle, or a serving dish.

Abstract: Sugar-acrylic monomers are synthesized to have a carbohydrate moiety linked to an acrylate group. The sugar-acrylic monomers may be polymerized to form polymers, adhesives, hydrogels, and the like. The sugar-acrylic monomers and polymers may be used in tissue engineering, adhesives and sealers, wound healing, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are polymers having one or more two-photon absorbing chromophores in a backbone of the polymers. The polymers degrade upon two-photon excitation, which allows for easy decomposition of polymeric products made therefrom. The decomposition can occur when the polymer is exposed to light of intensities sufficient to induce the two-photon excitation, which in turn cleaves the polymer at one or more sites where the chromophores are attached.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards, or PCBs, may include cross-linked oligomers that have been modified to prevent corrosion and have reduced flammability. The oligomers may be functionalized to include cross-linkable moieties and a flame retardant. The modified materials are more environmentally benign and less toxic than current fiberglass technologies used to manufacture PCBs.

Abstract: A dioxaborinane compound, or salt thereof, where boron has two oxy substituents, each independently substituted with H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, —C(O)R3, —C(O)OR3, —C(O)NHR3, or the two oxy substituents, together with the oxygen atoms to which they are bonded, join to form a 5- or 6-membered ring; and R3 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl, where the alkyl and alkenyl are optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen or sulfur atoms; and where boron also has the substituent -L-X1-PG1; where L may be absent, or alkylenyl, alkenylenyl, or arylene, where the alkylenyl and alkenylenyl are optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen or sulfur atoms; X1 is absent, or is amino, oxo, thio, or phosphino; and PG1 is a polymerizable group. The dioxaborinane compound can be used as a wood preservative.

Abstract: A light-weight material and a method for producing a light-weight material use removable forms to produce an array of interconnected voids within the material. The forms include a plurality of spaced apart and adjoining blocks onto which the material is deposited, and the blocks are constructed of a material that may be desolidified, such as by vaporization, to remove the blocks from the material, leaving behind a network of interconnected voids.

Abstract: A co-polymer includes a polymerization product of: a first monomer: and a second monomer represented by (R1O)(R2O)B-L-X1—PG2 where: L is absent, or is alkylenyl, alkenylenyl, or arylene, wherein the alkylenyl and alkenylenyl are optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen or sulfur atoms; X1 is absent, or is amino, oxo, thio, or phosphino; PG2 is a polymerizable group; R1 and R2 are independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, C(O)R3, C(O)OR3, C(O)NHR3, or R1 and R2 together with the oxygen atoms to which they are bonded join to form a 5- or 6-membered ring; and R3 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl, wherein the alkyl and alkenyl are optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen or sulfur atoms.

Abstract: Hydrophilic coating compositions and methods to make and use the compositions are disclosed. The compositions include a polymer comprising one or more cyanate groups and a blocking agent contacting at least one of one or more cyanate groups. When exposed to atmospheric water, the blocked cyanate moieties at the surface may hydrolyze to expose hydrophilic groups. Thus, the hydrophobic polymeric surface may change to a hydrophilic surface upon reacting with atmospheric water and moisture.

Abstract: Methods and compositions pertaining to flame retardants using micronized rice husks are disclosed.

Abstract: A cleaning system can include a noble gas, and one or more vessels configured to convert the noble gas into a supercritical fluid, and/or receive and clean an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state. A cleaning process can include converting a noble gas into a supercritical fluid state; and cleaning an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state so as to remove one or more contaminants from the article of manufacture. A cleaning composition can include a noble gas in a supercritical fluid state, and a textile article of manufacture having one or more contaminants located in the supercritical noble gas.

Abstract: A method for at least temporarily retaining moisture in a soil-based substrate includes applying an acrylamide pyranose polymer to the soil-based substrate.

Abstract: Functionalized microspheres for being dispersed in matrix materials to reduce the density and weight of the materials may be configured to include a covalently bound surface component which is configured to covalently bond with the matrix material so that when combined with the matrix material a strong, light-weight matrix material may be produced.

Abstract: Disclosed are derivatives of (tetrahydropyranyl)methyl acrylamide and polymers derived therefrom, as well as methods of making such compounds and polymers. Adhesives, coatings, and plastics which include such polymers are also described.