Abstract: A polymeric bead having radius R wherein the polymer comprises 0.3% to 20% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer, of polymerized units of one or more multifunctional vinyl monomer and 80% to 99.7% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer, of polymerized units of one or more monofunctional vinyl monomer, (a) wherein the polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer have radial distribution factor MR of 0.9 to 1.1, and (b) wherein some of the vinyl groups in the polymerized units of multivinyl monomer are unreacted, and the unreacted vinyl groups have a radial distribution factor VR of 2.5 or higher.

Abstract: Provided is a collection of polymeric beads, wherein the beads comprise (i) 75 to 99% by weight, based on the weight of the bead, polymerized units of monofunctional vinyl monomer, and (ii) 1 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the bead, polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer; wherein, within each bead, the average concentration of moles of polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer per cubic micrometer is MVAV; wherein, within each bead, T1000 is a sequence of 1,000 unique connected polymerized monomer units; wherein, within each T1000, MVSEQ is the weight percent polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer, based on the weight of T1000; wherein MVRATIO=MVSEQ/MVAV; and wherein 90% or more of the beads by volume are uniform beads, wherein a uniform bead is a bead in which 90% or more of all T1000 sequences has MVRATIO of 1.5 or less.

Abstract: A polyolefin formulation comprising constituents (A) to (E) in the following amounts: from 15.0 to 55.0 weight percent (wt %) of (A) a polypropylene homopolymer; from 77.9 to 30.0 wt % of (B) a poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer; from 3.0 to 6.5 wt % of (C) an ethylene/propylene diblock copolymer; from 4.0 to 8.0 wt % of (D) a saturated-and-aromatic (C14-C60)hydrocarbon; and from 0.1 to 1.5 wt % of (E) an antioxidant; wherein the wt % of (B) divided by the wt % (A) is a mass ratio of from 5.0:1.0 to 0.50:1.0; and wherein the amounts of constituents (A), (B), and (C) total from 88.0 to 95.9 wt % of the polyolefin formulation; and wherein the amounts of constituents (A) to (E) total from 92.1 to 100.0 wt % of the polyolefin formulation.

Abstract: A composition comprises a ternary-phase polymer composite including components (A) ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymers having ?? of from <5 to >1 mN/m; at least two additional polymers selected from the group consisting of: (B) non-polar polymers having ?? of from >0 to <1 mN/m selected from the group consisting of polyethylene homopolymers, silane-functionalized polyethylene homopolymers, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, and silane-functionalized ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, (C) ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymers having a ?P of >5 mN/m, and (D) EPDM copolymers; and conductive filler dispersed in only one of (A) and the at least two additional polymers, wherein (i) one of the at least two additional polymers is selected from (B) and the other is selected from (C) or (D), or (ii) one of the at least two additional polymers is selected from (C) and the other is selected from (B) or (D).

Abstract: Provided is a collection of polymeric beads, wherein the beads comprise (i) 75 to 99% by weight, based on the weight of the bead, polymerized units of monofunctional vinyl monomer, and (ii) 1 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the bead, polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer; wherein, within each bead, the average concentration of moles of polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer per cubic micrometer is MVAV; wherein, within each bead, T1000 is a sequence of 1,000 unique connected polymerized monomer units; wherein, within each T1000, MVSEQ is the weight percent polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer, based on the weight of T1000; wherein MVRATIO=MVSEQ/MVAV; and wherein 90% or more of the beads by volume are uniform beads, wherein a uniform bead is a bead in which 90% or more of all T1000 sequences has MVRATIO of 1.5 or less.

Abstract: A polymeric bead having radius R wherein the polymer comprises 0.3% to 20% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer, of polymerized units of one or more multifunctional vinyl monomer and 80% to 99.7% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer, of polymerized units of one or more monofunctional vinyl monomer, (a) wherein the polymerized units of multifunctional vinyl monomer have radial distribution factor MR of 0.9 to 1.1, and (b) wherein some of the vinyl groups in the polymerized units of multivinyl monomer are unreacted, and the unreacted vinyl groups have a radial distribution factor VR of 2.5 or higher.

Abstract: A composition comprises a ternary-phase polymer composite including components (A) ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymers having ?? of from <5 to >1 mN/m; at least two additional polymers selected from the group consisting of: (B)non-polar polymers having ?? of from >0 to <1 mN/m selected from the group consisting of polyethylene homopolymers, silane-functionalized polyethylene homopolymers, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, and silane-functionalized ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, (C) ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymers having a ?P of >5 mN/m, and (D) EPDM copolymers; and conductive filler dispersed in only one of (A) and the at least two additional polymers, wherein (i) one of the at least two additional polymers is selected from (B) and the other is selected from (C) or (D), or (ii) one of the at least two additional polymers is selected from (C) and the other is selected from (B) or (D).

Abstract: A method for grinding a solid composition comprising an alkali or alkaline earth metal borohydride to produce a solid composition having a stable average particle size by grinding the alkali or alkaline earth metal borohydride in the presence of fumed silica, magnesium carbonate, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A mid-IR spectrometer attachment performs reflection spectroscopy measurements using commercially available infinity corrected light microscopes without degrading the microscope's performance. The mid-IR spectrometer attachment, which is mounted to and supported by the visible light microscope, introduces infrared radiation into the optical path of the microscope. Radiation from the mid-IR spectrometer source is directed by a trichroic radiation director to a mid-IR objective lens affixed to the microscope nosepiece. The objective lens focuses the radiation on to a subject sample surface in order to acquire either internally or externally reflected infrared spectra by subsequently directing the sample encoded reflected mid-infrared radiation to the radiation director and then to a mid-infrared radiation detection system.

Abstract: An opto-electronic image magnifying system. The magnifiying system includes: a light source (38, 39) which illuminates an object to be viewed; a miniaturized opto-electronic magnifier module (MOM), made of a lens (31) and a photodetector array (32), which receives the light from the illuminated object; an electronic circuit (34) which receives the signal from the MOM; a video-monitor (35) which receives the magnified signal from the electronic circuit and displays the image. The opto-electronic image magnifying system allows for small objects or features of small objects to be observed in which historically compound microscopes or specialized optical viewing systems were required to observe the small objects.

Abstract: A mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectrometer attachment performs reflection spectroscopy measurements using commercially available infinity corrected light microscopes. The mid-IR spectrometer attachment introduces infrared radiation into the optical path of a visible light microscope. Radiation from the mid-IR spectrometer source is directed by a radiation director to a mid-IR objective lens affixed to the microscope nosepiece. The objective lens focuses the radiation on to a subject sample surface in order to acquire either internally or externally reflected infrared spectra by subsequently directing the sample encoded reflected infrared radiation to an infrared radiation detection system. The mid-IR spectrometer attachment is mechanically and optically compatible with a plurality of commercial infinity-corrected visible light microscopes.

Abstract: A mid-IR spectrometer attachment performs reflection spectroscopy measurements using commercially available infinity corrected light microscopes without degrading the microscope's performance. The mid-IR spectrometer attachment, which is mounted to and supported by the visible light microscope, introduces infrared radiation into the optical path of the microscope. Radiation from the mid-IR spectrometer source is directed by a trichroic radiation director to a mid-IR objective lens affixed to the microscope nosepiece. The objective lens focuses the radiation on to a subject sample surface in order to acquire either internally or externally reflected infrared spectra by subsequently directing the sample encoded reflected mid-infrared radiation to the radiation director and then to a mid-infrared radiation detection system.

Abstract: A mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectrometer attachment performs reflection spectroscopy measurements using commercially available infinity corrected light microscopes. The mid-IR spectrometer attachment introduces infrared radiation into the optical path of a visible light microscope. Radiation from the mid-IR spectrometer source is directed by a radiation director to a mid-IR objective lens affixed to the microscope nosepiece. The objective lens focuses the radiation on to a subject sample surface in order to acquire either internally or externally reflected infrared spectra by subsequently directing the sample encoded reflected infrared radiation to an infrared radiation detection system. The mid-IR spectrometer attachment is mechanically and optically compatible with a plurality of commercial infinity-corrected visible light microscopes.

Abstract: A microscope for use in transmissive and reflective infrared spectral analysis of a sample positioned on a sample plane. The microscope uses a collimated beam for infinity correction. A collimated irradiating beam of infrared energy is input to the microscope and focused through a single confocal aperture whereupon the beam is re-collimated and provided to a focusing lens. The focusing lens focuses the beam on a subject sample which generates a resulting image beam. The resulting image beam is re-collimated and provided to an optical element which focuses the resulting image beam back through the single confocal aperture and to an infrared detector. In a preferred embodiment, the size of the single confocal aperture is adjustable and a dichroic element is included for providing simultaneous viewing and infrared measurement of a measured sample. Also in a preferred embodiment, a detector mounting apparatus is included for facilitating orientation of a detector at an infrared output of the microscope.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for spectroscopic or radiometric analysis of solid, liquid, or gas samples includes first and second optically transmitting materials. The first optically transmitting material has selected bulk optical transmission and index of refraction properties which enable infrared radiation transmission therethrough across selected optical transmission ranges. The first optically transmitting material is of a type which normally has chemical or mechanical degradation when in contact with the sample during spectroscopic or radiometric analysis. The second optically transmitting material is preferably a wafer or thin sheet in optical/mechanical contact with the first optically transmitting material. The second material is designed to be located between the first optically transmitting material and the sample all held in a fixture or fixtures to prevent the sample from contacting the first material during spectroscopic or radiometric analysis of the sample.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus and method for infrared spectroscopic or radiometric analysis of microscopic samples of solids or liquids, combining external- or internal-reflection spectroscopy with visible-radiant energy viewing of microscopic samples by integrated video microscopy. This is an accessory to Fourier-transform-infrared spectrometers for the chemical analysis of microscopic samples in specular, diffuse, reflection-absorption (transflection), or internal-reflection spectroscopy. This apparatus combines an all-reflective, infinity-corrected optical system with an integrated, dedicated, video viewing system. The magnification optic is an all-reflecting optic designed to focus a collimated beam of radiant energy onto the sample, collect the reflected radiant energy, and (through the appropriate optics) present that energy to a detector means for spectral analysis.

Abstract: A radiant energy spectroscopy system includes a diamond as a single bounce internal reflection element (IRE). A standard anvil cut diamond can be used as the IRE. Alternatively, a diamond can be specially cut to have a conical, spherical or curved section in the crown and/or in the pavilion and a curved or flat surface portion for the culet and/or table.

Abstract: An internal reflectance element (IRE), used for internal reflectance spectroscopy (IRS) of solid or liquid samples, has a body including a very small contacting surface adapted to insure contact with a small portion of the sample to improve the spectroscopic analysis of that sample. The contacting surface of the IRE for solids preferably is 100 microns or smaller in diameter and preferably is convexly curved. The contacting surface of the IRE for liquids preferably is 500 microns or smaller. The IRE of the present invention is most frequently used in single internal reflection applications for IRS analysis of solids.

Abstract: An optical system, apparatus and method for analyzing samples includes a radiant energy source, a first mask, a first mirror system, a sample plane, a second mirror system, a second mask and a detector. The first and second masks are respectively positioned along the optical path of the system in the same or different Fourier planes and/or conjugate planes thereof. The first mask has at least one inlet aperture with the relative position thereof in the first mask determining the angle of the energy incidence onto the sample. The second mask has at least one outlet aperture therein passing radiant energy therethrough which has been reflected from or transmitted through the sample at a preselected angle determined by the relative position of the second aperture in the second mask.

Abstract: An optical system, apparatus and method for analyzing samples includes a radiant energy source, a first mask, a first mirror system, a sample plane, a second mirror system, a second mask and a detector. The first and second masks are respectively positioned along the optical path of the system in the same or different Fourier planes and/or conjugate planes thereof. The first mask has at least one inlet aperture with the relative position thereof in the first mask determining the angle of the energy incidence onto the sample. The second mask has at least one outlet aperture therein passing radiant energy therethrough which has been reflected from or transmitted through the sample at a preselected angle determined by the relative position of the second aperture in the second mask.