Abstract: A polymer comprising polymerized units of norbornene fluoroalkyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. According to aspects of the present invention, the polymer may be norbornene fluoroalkyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. Still other aspects of the present invention may include a polymerized unit of an alkene chain derived from a cyclic alkene.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a porous material having a surface that is concurrently both superhydrophilic (having a first apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of less than or equal to about 5° for water) and oleophobic (having a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 90°) or superoleophobic (a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 150° for oil). Such materials can be used in a separator device to separate a liquid-liquid mixture of immiscible components (e.g., oil and water) or miscible components (e.g., alcohols). Separation apparatus incorporating such materials and methods of making and using these materials are also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. The method for manufacture includes opening a single edge of a closed-cage F-POSS and bridging the opened, single edge with a sulfate group. The sulfate group is converted to a disilanol, which is then reacted with a functional dichlorosilane having an organic functional group comprising at least three carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing peripherally asymmetric aryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (ArPOSS) compounds. The method comprises: wherein Ph is phenyl and wherein R is 1-napthyl, 2-naphthyl, 9-anthracenyl, 9-phenanthrenyl, 1-pryenyl, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A thermosetting resin. The resin includes a silane and a co-reactant monomer. The silane includes a quaternary silicon atom with first and second non-hydrolyzable moieties chemically bonded thereto. Each of the first and second non-hydrolyzable moieties includes respective first and second reactive groups. The reactive groups include at least one aromatic or unsaturated group having a triple bond.

Abstract: A functional fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (“F-POSS”). The F-POSS, has a chemical structure: where Rf represents a nonreactive organic group and at least one of R1 and R2 represents a chain comprising at least three carbon atoms.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to self-release compositions and methods useful for the removal or prevention of mineral scaling and, more particularly, to surface coatings and surface treatments that resist, prevent, or aid in removal of mineral scaling. In some aspects, the self-release coating includes a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and a thermoplastic or an additive.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a porous material having a surface that is concurrently both superhydrophilic (having a first apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of less than or equal to about 5° for water) and oleophobic (having a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 90°) or superoleophobic (a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 150° for oil). Such materials can be used in a separator device to separate a liquid-liquid mixture of immiscible components (e.g., oil and water) or miscible components (e.g., alcohols). Separation apparatus incorporating such materials and methods of making and using these materials are also provided.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing peripherally asymmetric aryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (ArPOSS) compounds. The method comprises: wherein Ph is phenyl and wherein R is 1-napthyl, 2-naphthyl, 9-anthracenyl, 9-phenanthrenyl, 1-pryeyl, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A thermosetting resin. The resin includes a silane and a co-reactant monomer. The silane includes a quaternary silicon atom with first and second non-hydrolyzable moieties chemically bonded thereto. Each of the first and second non-hydrolyzable moieties includes respective first and second reactive groups. The reactive groups include at least one aromatic or unsaturated group having a triple bond.

Abstract: Methods of synthesis and application thereof for peripherally aromatic silsesquioxanes featuring reactive functionality. A method, according to one embodiment of the invention, includes reacting a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane with an anhydride. The polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane has an inorganic core, a phenyl moiety or an anlyine moiety covalently coupled to the at least one T-type silicon atom; and a metal-aniline group or a para-aniline group covalently coupled to the at least one D-type or M-type silicon atom.

Abstract: Asymmetric aryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (ArPoss) compounds synthesized by the “corner-capping” of phenyl7Si7O9(OH)3 with aryl trichlorosilanes are described. The ArPoss compounds have the chemical structure: wherein Ph is phenyl and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A polymer comprising polymerized units of norbornene fluoroalkyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. According to aspects of the present invention, the polymer may be norbornene fluoroalkyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. Still other aspects of the present invention may include a polymerized unit of an alkene chain derived from a cyclic alkene.

Abstract: Coated particles comprise a core of fumed or precipitated inorganic metal oxide having a surface area of about 50 to about 500 square meters per gram and a shell consisting of an array of fluoroalkyl molecular chains at a density of at least 1 chain per square nanometer, joined to the core by covalent chemical bonds and with a total organic content of at least 9.9 percent by weight. These particles are formed by the chemical attachment of fluoroalkyl-alkylsilanes after exposure to an alkylamine and followed by an extraction to remove any organic material not covalently bound. The dense packing of molecular chains in the fluoroalkyl shell combined with a mesoporous structure imparts a very low surface energy, a very high specific surface area, and surface texture over a wide range of length scales. Such features are highly desirable for the creation of, for example, superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces, separation media, and release films.

Abstract: Fluoroalkylsilane-treated metal oxide particles and a fluoroelastomeric binder are dispersed in a fluorinated solvent with a low boiling point and applied to a substrate via spray deposition. The spray deposition process rapidly produces a conformal coating that features low surface energy and surface topography with a large range of characteristic length scales and re-entrant curvature, thereby imparting superoleophobicity. The degree of superoleophobicity is readily adjusted by means of altering the ratio of particles to binder. The choice of particle and binder result in coatings with thermal stability for thousands of hours at temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius as well as desirable mechanical characteristics.

Abstract: A functional fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (“F-POSS”). The F-POSS, has a chemical structure: where Rf represents a nonreactive organic group and at least one of R1 and R2 represents a chain comprising at least three carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a porous material having a surface that is concurrently both superhydrophilic (having a first apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of less than or equal to about 5° for water) and oleophobic (having a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 90°) or superoleophobic (a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 150° for oil). Such materials can be used in a separator device to separate a liquid-liquid mixture of immiscible components (e.g., oil and water) or miscible components (e.g., alcohols). Separation apparatus incorporating such materials and methods of making and using these materials are also provided.

Abstract: A. new compound, a high temperature POSS-dianiline is provided. It is a composition of nanoparticles, which can be incorporated into polymers such as polyimides, polyamides, cyanate esters, and epoxies, for improved properties and performance of such polymers.

Abstract: A method of using fluorinated-nanostructured POSS chemicals as alloying agents for the reinforcement of polymer microstructures, including polymer coils, domains, chains, and segments, at the molecular level. Because of their tailorable compatibility with nonfluorinated polymers, nanostructured chemicals can be readily and selectively incorporated into polymers by direct blending processes. The incorporation of a nanostructured chemical into a polymer favorably impacts a multitude of polymer physical properties. Properties most favorably improved are surface properties, such as lubricity, contact angle, water repellency, deicing, surface tension, and abrasion resistance. Improved surface properties may be useful for applications such as anti-icing surfaces, non-wetting surfaces, low friction surfaces, self cleaning. Other properties improved include time dependent mechanical and thermal properties such as heat distortion, creep, compression set, shrinkage, modulus, hardness and biological compatibility.

Abstract: Method for enhancing the crystallization rates of engineering thermoplastics through the use and incorporation of particulate additives with dimensions on the order of 10-1000 nm is described. The presence of nanoparticles at concentrations of, e.g., less than 10 weight percent of the composition, reduces the viscosity of the thermoplastics as compared to the respective homopolymer, thereby increasing polymer chain transport and diffusion to the crystallizing growth front. The prescription of this technology has been shown to reduce crystallization half times of some engineering thermoplastics by as much as 40 percent at optimal crystallization temperatures, an effect that is magnified as the temperature is reduced towards the glassy state of the amorphous phase. Nano-modified engineering thermoplastics with rapid crystallization kinetics and relatively low viscosities can be utilized in component fabrication processes that require rapid processing times, e.g., for the sake of cost efficiency.