Abstract: Provided herein are isobutylene-based polymer compositions comprising functionalized isobutylene-based polymer with olefinic side chain substituents, and a sulfur donor and/or accelerator cure system. The functionalized polymer is produced via nucleophilic substitution reaction in solution. The present functionalized isobutylene-based polymer compositions together with various accelerators and sulfur donors can form thermosets useful for pharmaceutical and tire applications without the use of zinc or a zinc oxide activator.

Abstract: Comb-block copolymers of isobutylene copolymer backbone with functional comb arms, methods for making a comb-block copolymer comprising polymerizing one or more monomer components comprising units derived from at least one of acrylates, vinyl terminated C6 to C20 aromatics, acrylamides, and acrylonitrile using a halogenated copolymer initiator having a benzylic-halide moiety via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in the presence of a transition metal complex catalyst at a temperature ranging from 30° C. to 150° C., the use of these comb-block copolymers as a tire tread additive, as a nanofiller dispersant in elastomeric nanocomposite compositions comprising halobutyl rubber, as a surfactant, as a sealant, and as an additive in a latex formulation is disclosed.

Abstract: Polyolefin elastomers are widely employed commodity polymers. There remains a desire to expand the structural diversity of polyolefin elastomers to facilitate their use in additional applications. Polyolefin elastomers may be graft copolymers that comprise: a first polymer chain comprising at least a first olefinic monomer comprising isobutylene and a second olefinic monomer bearing a benzylic carbon atom or an allylic carbon atom, and a second polymer chain bonded to the benzylic carbon atom or the allylic carbon atom of the first polymer chain. The second polymer chain comprises at least one monomer that is not present in the first polymer chain. The second polymer chain may be bonded to the first polymer chain by generating a carbanion upon the benzylic carbon atom or the allylic carbon atom and growing the second polymer chain by anionic polymerization.

Abstract: Although polyolefin elastomers are widely employed commodity polymers, there are shortcomings of this class of polymers for certain applications. For example, the rheological properties of some polyolefin elastomers may be insufficient to provide the green strength or low shear viscosity necessary to form stable foams, or to provide sufficient viscosity modification effects when present in a solvent. Cationomeric modification of polyolefin elastomers may alleviate these difficulties. Such polyolefin elastomers may feature a random cationomeric polyolefin copolymer comprising at least a first monomer and a second monomer, in which the first monomer is a neutral monomer and the second monomer has a side chain bearing a cationic moiety. The polyolefin elastomers may be present in foamed polyolefin compositions comprising a gas component and/or in liquid compositions comprising a solvent in which the polyolefin elastomer is dissolved.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for the extraction of lithium from one or more lithium-containing ores such as spodumene, the inventive method comprising the steps of: milling said ore/s to a predetermined average particle size; optionally calcining the milled ore; further optionally performing a secondary milling step; providing an aqueous suspension of the one or more lithium-containing ores at a predetermined solids concentration; subjecting the one or more lithium-containing ores to an aqueous extraction medium defined by a predetermined partial pressure of CO2, a predetermined extraction temperature, over a predetermined time; and obtaining technical grade lithium carbonate/lithium bicarbonate therefrom. Optional concentration and/or precipitation/purification steps may follow.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polar-functionalized resin composition comprising the steps of (A) contacting a polymer backbone with a reactive moiety to produce a polar-functionalized resin composition wherein the polymer backbone is derived from a feed comprising less than or equal to about 35 wt % components derived from piperylene; less than or equal to about 10 wt % components derived from amylene; less than or equal to about 10 wt % components derived from isoprene; less than or equal to about 55 wt % unreactive paraffins; and C9 homopolymer or copolymer resins, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts or Lewis acid catalyst; and (B) recovering a polar-functionalized resin composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a silane-functionalized resin composition having a polymer backbone, wherein the polymer backbone is selected from at least one of C5 homopolymers and copolymer resins, terpene homopolymer or copolymer resins, pinene homopolymer or copolymer resins, C9 homopolymers and copolymer resins, C5/C9 copolymer resins, alpha-methylstyrene homopolymer or copolymer resins, and combinations thereof, and wherein the polymer backbone is substantially free of styrene copolymer; and a silane, where the ratio of the mole percent of the silane to the mole percent of the polymer backbone in the composition is in the amount of 0.04 to 3.0 as determined by H-NMR.

Abstract: Comb-block copolymers of isobutylene copolymer backbone with functional comb arms, methods for making a comb-block copolymer comprising polymerizing one or more monomer components comprising units derived from at least one of acrylates, vinyl terminated C6 to C20 aromatics, acrylamides, and acrylonitrile using a halogenated copolymer initiator having a benzylic-halide moiety via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in the presence of a transition metal complex catalyst at a temperature ranging from 30° C. to 150° C., the use of these comb-block copolymers as a tire tread additive, as a nanofiller dispersant in elastomeric nanocomposite compositions comprising halobutyl rubber, as a surfactant, as a sealant, and as an additive in a latex formulation is disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making graphene quantum dots from a carbon source by exposing the carbon source to a solution that contains an oxidant. The exposing results in the formation of the graphene quantum dots from the carbon source. The carbon sources can include coal, coke, biochar, asphalt, and combinations thereof. The oxidants can include an acid, such as nitric acid. In some embodiments, the oxidant consists essentially of a single acid, such as nitric acid. Various embodiments of the present disclosure also include steps of separating the formed graphene quantum dots from the oxidant by various methods, such as evaporation. In various embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include steps of enhancing a quantum yield of the graphene quantum dots, reducing the formed graphene quantum dots, and controlling the diameter of the formed graphene quantum dots.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may further provide a method for adjusting the granularity of a network analysis sample while maintaining validity. The method includes calculating states for each device in the network for a first number of predetermined equal intervals within a first sample window, selecting a second sample window that is smaller than the first sample window, selecting a second predetermined number of equal intervals for the second sample window, and determining an interval from the first number of predetermined intervals that immediately precedes an initial interval of the second predetermined number of equal intervals. The method further includes using the calculated state from the preceding interval to calculate a starting state for the initial interval, and calculating state for each device in the network for each of the second predetermined number of equal intervals.

Abstract: A cross-port analysis method is provided to analyze multichannel traces in a network. More particularly, cross-port analysis is a method allowing for aggregate network analysis capabilities from a multi-channel analyzer. This can be performed as traces of network traffic generated by each port on two or more analyzers. Precise timestamps are recorded for each trace and the topology of devices on the network is determined. An expert analysis is then performed on the captured data traces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for determining errors and metrics in a computer network. The method includes positioning an analyzer in communication with the network, capturing a data trace of the network with the analyzer, determining a network device topology from a first processing of the data trace, building user layer protocols using a second processing of the data trace and the determined device topology, determining errors in the network device topology using protocol experts applied to the user layer protocols in conjunction with the determined device topology, and displaying at least one of the device topology and the determined errors to a user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a graphical user interface for a network analysis method. The method includes processing a data trace captured from the network to determine a network topology, processing the data trace to determine errors in network conversation, processing the data trace to determine at least one metric for the network conversation, and displaying an interface screen to the user, the interface screen comprising a graphical topology representation, a determined error representation, and a representation of at least one determined metric.

Abstract: A telecommunications network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected via communications paths is configured by the determination of a routing plan for the traffic carried by the network. A set of possible paths, e.g. the eight shortest paths between each pair of network nodes is determined, and each path is allocated a digital code characteristic of that path identity. Groups of paths are selected, each group comprising one path from each set, and for each said group being characterised by a bit string comprising the digital codes of the paths comprising that group. These bit strings are then used as starting values or chromosomes in a genetic algorithm search procedure to generate and evaluate new path groups so as to determine an optimum combination or routing plan of paths between the network nodes.