Abstract: The present invention provides tough, high modulus, low density thermoset polyurethane compositions which are useful in general as, for example, cast structural materials and in a preferred embodiment can be cured directly onto an aircraft engine fan blade, thereby providing a lighter blade, without concomitant loss in structural integrity or blade performance due to, for example, resistance to foreign object impacts and fuel efficiency. In a preferred embodiment, the composition is comprised of bis-amine compounds reacted with isocyanate-functional polyether polymers in the presence of hollow polymeric microspheres. The thermoset polymer compositions are formed by casting into a mold which is formed by a cavity within the metallic or composite fan blade or guide vane in the form of a pocket and a removable caul sheet. After the elastomeric polyurethane foam is injected through at least one injector port into the mold, the foam is cured.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present method includes the steps of introducing a volume of a sample into a vapor delivery line and volatilizing at least a portion of the volume as it is carried through the vapor delivery line. At least a portion of the volatilized volume contacts a sensor element, which produces a signal that is monitored to reveal information about the sample. All components upstream of the sensor element are substantially free of sorbent materials so that the sample volume does not contact a substantially sorbent material before contacting the sensor element.

Abstract: A rapid analysis method for the determination of polymer average molecular weight separates the polymer's high molecular weight fraction and determines its average molecular weight using a molar mass detector and a concentration detector. The method avoids time consuming sample preparation, allows for separation of interfering low molecular weight components, and is suitable for automation.

Abstract: The present invention provides tough, high modulus, low density thermoset polyurethane compositions which are useful in general as, for example, cast structural materials and in a preferred embodiment can be cured directly onto an aircraft engine fan blade, thereby providing a lighter blade, without concomitant loss in structural integrity or blade performance due to, for example, resistance to foreign object impacts and fuel efficiency. In a preferred embodiment, the composition is comprised of bis-amine compounds reacted with isocyanate-functional polyether polymers in the presence of hollow polymeric microspheres. The thermoset polymer compositions are formed by casting into a mold which is formed by a cavity within the metallic or composite fan blade or guide vane in the form of a pocket and a removable caul sheet. After the elastomeric polyurethane foam is injected through at least one injector port into the mold, the foam is cured.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present method includes the steps of introducing a volume of a sample into a vapor delivery line and volatilizing at least a portion of the volume as it is carried through the vapor delivery line. At least a portion of the volatilized volume contacts a sensor element, which produces a signal that is monitored to reveal information about the sample. All components upstream of the sensor element are substantially free of sorbent materials so that the sample volume does not contact a substantially sorbent material before contacting the sensor element.

Abstract: A solvent vapor sensor for determining amounts of solvent vapor flowing during a solvent dry cleaning process is provided. The solvent cleaning process utilizes a solvent based cleaning fluid primarily made up of cyclic siloxane solvent. The solvent vapor sensor, i.e., a chemical specific sensor, may be configured in various forms, such as a spectroscopic sensor, a piezo-based sensor, a strain-gauge based sensor, and a capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A rapid analysis method for the determination of Fries rearrangement products in aromatic polycarbonate resins utilizes in-line determination of polymer concentration and in-line fluorescence detection of Fries rearrangement products. The method avoids time consuming sample preparation required by previous methods, allows for separation of interfering low molecular weight components, and is suitable for automation.

Abstract: This invention provides an online polymer monitoring apparatus for rapid determination of molecular weight and/or size, and/or other properties of importance to the polymer quality. The apparatus uses fast sample extraction, preparation and delivery techniques to convert complex polymer sample solution into the diluted polymer analyte solution. This analyte solution is then passed through the flow-through detectors for measurement of the polymer molecular weight, the polymer concentration and/or the identification and concentrations of the selected species of importance to the polymer quality. The continuous stream of the above measurement data, thus, allows accurate determination the status of the polymer for many polymer containing process streams, such as an ongoing polymerization reaction mixture, polymer resin fluid, melt or solid polymer flow.

Abstract: A CHTS reactor plate has wells that can be individually heated. The reactor plate includes a substrate with an array of reaction wells and a ferromagnetic material included with the substrate. A CHTS method provides a reactor plate having a substrate with an array of reaction wells and a ferromagnetic material responsive to the application of an electric field included with the substrate. The electric field is energized to control temperature in the proximity of at least one of the reaction wells. Another method comprises providing a reactor plate comprising an array of reaction wells and depositing a ferromagnetic object within at least one of the wells. The object is responsive to the application of an electric field. An electric field is then energized to control temperature in the reaction well.

Abstract: A fluorescent probe is applied to bind to a metal oxide on a substrate and the substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet light to identify the metal oxide. A chemical cleaning or stripping solution is selected by combinatorial high throughput screening (CHTS). In the method, an array of regions is defined on a substrate, a candidate cleaning/stripping solution is deposited onto the regions to effect cleaning/stripping of the regions; a fluorescent probe is applied to bind to a metal oxide on the substrate; the substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet light to identify the metal oxide and a product of the cleaning/stripping is evaluated according to the identified metal oxide. An activated metal substrate composition is provided that comprises a metal substrate with a contaminant metal oxide coating and a fluorescent activator bound to the substrate by reaction with the metal oxide coating.

Abstract: A liquid chemical stripping or cleaning solution is selected by combinatorial high throughput screening. A high throughput screening well array assembly includes (A) a metal substrate and (B) a mask that defines an array of wells on the substrate. A combinatorial high throughput screening system includes (A) a metal substrate and (B) a mask that defines an array of wells on the substrate and a reaction vessel to receive the well array assembly.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of a dihydric phenol in the presence of a monohydric phenol uses spectroscopic detection at at least two wavelengths. Because the method does not require a chemical separation of the dihydric phenol and monohydric phenol, it is very rapid and particularly suitable for the analysis of large numbers of samples, such as those derived from combinatorial libraries.

Abstract: The present invention provides tough, high modulus, low density thermoset polyurethane compositions which are useful in general as, for example, cast structural materials and in a preferred embodiment can be cured directly onto an aircraft engine fan blade, thereby providing a lighter blade, without concomitant loss in structural integrity or blade performance due to, for example, resistance to foreign object impacts and fuel efficiency. In a preferred embodiment, the composition is comprised of bis-amine compounds reacted with isocyanate-functional polyether polymers in the presence of hollow polymeric microspheres. The thermoset polymer compositions are formed by casting into a mold which is formed by a cavity within the metallic or composite fan blade or guide vane in the form of a pocket and a removable caul sheet. After the elastomeric polyurethane foam is injected through at least one injector port into the mold, the foam is cured.

Abstract: A rapid analysis method for the determination of Fries rearrangement products in aromatic polycarbonate resins utilizes in-line determination of polymer concentration and in-line fluorescence detection of Fries rearrangement products. The method avoids time consuming sample preparation required by previous methods, allows for separation of interfering low molecular weight components, and is suitable for automation.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for conducting and evaluating chemical reactions within the confines of a sealed experimental system. The invention allows for quantitative and qualitative analyses of contained reactions combinatorially or in a parallel array, with total conservation of mass throughout the reaction process. The analytical studies thus performed may be qualitative and/or quantitative, and may be obtained in real time during and/or following the reactive process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a continuous flow chemical reaction system, and methods for use thereof, in which a plurality of passive flow controllers are used for receiving a feed gas having predetermined characteristics and for outputting a feed gas at a selected flow rate into a plurality of reactor tubes operatively connected in parallel, each of which is operable for containing a predetermined reactant capable of interacting with the feed gas in a predetermined reaction to produce a resulting effluent; and an analytical device connectable to the reactor tubes for receiving the respective resulting effluents and for generating a relative evaluation of each predetermined reaction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting chemiluminescence from polymer samples at various temperatures are described. The method enables rapid parallel determination of the heat-stability, light-stability, and oxidative stability of polymer samples as a function of their composition. The method is particularly useful for determining the stability of polymer compositions forming combinatorial libraries.

Abstract: The present invention includes an array of flow-through, temperature-controlled reactor tubes containing reagents or catalysts that are prepared using combinatorial techniques. Reactant gases are passed through the reactor tubes at a controlled rate and the effluent reaction products are collected for analysis using a variety of analytical techniques. Analysis may be done in real-time, or at a later time.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of a dihydric phenol in the presence of a monohydric phenol uses spectroscopic detection at at least two wavelengths. Because the method does not require a chemical separation of the dihydric phenol and monohydric phenol, it is very rapid and particularly suitable for the analysis of large numbers of samples, such as those derived from combinatorial libraries.

Abstract: A fluorescent probe is applied to bind to a metal oxide on a substrate and the substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet light to identify the metal oxide. A chemical cleaning or stripping solution is selected by combinatorial high throughput screening (CHTS). In the method, an array of regions is defined on a substrate, a candidate cleaning/stripping solution is deposited onto the regions to effect cleaning/stripping of the regions; a fluorescent probe is applied to bind to a metal oxide on the substrate; the substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet light to identify the metal oxide and a product of the cleaning/stripping is evaluated according to the identified metal oxide. An activated metal substrate composition is provided that comprises a metal substrate with a contaminant metal oxide coating and a fluorescent activator bound to the substrate by reaction with the metal oxide coating.