Abstract: Described herein are water desalination membranes and methods of desalinating water. Sulfonated poly(arylene ether) polymers are also disclosed, including those comprising one or more sulfonate groups at various points along the polymer chain. The polymers may be used as at least a portion of a water desalination membrane. The polymers described herein are useful for preventing transport of aqueous ionic species (e.g., Na+ and Cl?) across a membrane made from the polymers while allowing water to pass. Chlorine-stable polymers are described, as well as polymers exhibiting good performance for rejecting monovalent cations in the presence of polyvalent cations.

Abstract: Described herein are water desalination membranes and methods of desalinating water. Sulfonated poly(arylene ether) polymers are also disclosed, including those comprising one or more sulfonate groups at various points along the polymer chain. The polymers may be used as at least a portion of a water desalination membrane. The polymers described herein are useful for preventing transport of aqueous ionic species (e.g., Na+ and Cl?) across a membrane made from the polymers while allowing water to pass. Chlorine-stable polymers are described, as well as polymers exhibiting good performance for rejecting monovalent cations in the presence of polyvalent cations.

Abstract: Disclosed are polybenzimidazoles containing sulfonyl groups. The polymers can be synthesized in Eaton's reagent from 3,3?,4,4?-tetraaminodiphenylsulfone, which itself can be synthesized from 4,4?-dichlorodiphenylsulfone. Methods of synthesizing the polymers are disclosed. The disclosed polymers can be used for high temperature H2/CO2 separation membranes and other uses.

Abstract: Disclosed are polybenzimidazoles containing sulfonyl groups. The polymers can be synthesized in Eaton's reagent from 3,3?,4,4?-tetraaminodiphenylsulfone, which itself can be synthesized from 4,4?-dichlorodiphenylsulfone. Methods of synthesizing the polymers are disclosed. The disclosed polymers can be used for high temperature H2/CO2 separation membranes and other uses.

Abstract: A magnetic fluid is provided comprising a block copolymer stabilizer, magnetic particles and a fluid polysiloxane medium. The stabilizer comprises an anchor block which chelates magnetic metal particles, and at least one end block which is compatible with the polysiloxane medium.

Abstract: A magnetic fluid is provided comprising a block copolymer stabilizer, magnetic particles and a fluid polysiloxane medium. The stabilizer comprises an anchor block which chelates magnetic metal particles, and at least one end block which is compatible with the polysiloxane medium.

Abstract: A magnetic fluid is provided comprising a block copolymer stabilizer, magnetic particles and a fluid polysiloxane medium. The stabilizer comprises an anchor block which chelates magnetic metal particles, and at least one end block which is compatible with the polysiloxane medium.

Abstract: A magnetic fluid is provided comprising a block copolymer stabilizer, magnetic particles and a fluid polysiloxane medium. The stabilizer comprises an anchor block which chelates magnetic metal particles, and at least one end block which is compatible with the polysiloxane medium.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced thermosetting matrix materials are advantageously created using fibers that are coated with a coating containing a nucleophilic initiator or have a surface treatment which creates a nucleophilic initiator on the surface. The fibers are combined with the thermosetting matrix materials just before curing of the matrix material is desired. These fibers and this methodology avoid premature curing, allow higher levels of initiator to be used to ensure rapid cure, and allow the thermosetting matrix materials to be heated to reduce viscosity.

Abstract: Composite material having carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix comprising a thermoset resin, where the carbon fibers are precoated with a sizing agent comprising a saturated polyurethane or polyhydroxyether before being embedded in the resin. The invention also contemplates processes for making this composite material and intermediate products thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition that softens at a predetermined temperature, preferably between about 20.degree. C. and 90.degree. C., and more preferably between about 20.degree. C. and about 62.degree. C., comprising at least one block copolymer having at least two thermal transition temperatures. The composition is characterized by at least two thermal transition temperatures, one of which is a predetermined lower transition temperature, preferably between about 20.degree. C. to 90.degree. C., and more preferably between about 20.degree. C. to about 62.degree. C., and one of which is an upper transition temperature. The present invention also provides a method of making the composition, a method of making biomedical materials and articles, and toys and toy components, with shape-memory properties from the composition, and biomedical materials and articles, and toys and toy components, with shape-memory properties made from the composition.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear for periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: A hemocompatible surface-modifying additive is provided for modifying polyurethane or polyurethane urea substrates. The additive has a polyurethane or polyurethane urea hard block or an alternative block which is miscible with the poly(urethane) or poly(urethane-urea) base polymer, a polysiloxane hydrophobic soft block, an optional hydrophilic spacer and a peptide selected from the group consisting of Arg-Gly-Asp, X-Arg-Gly-Asp, Arg-Gly-Asp-X and X-Arg-Gly-Asp-X', wherein X and X' are amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition that softens at a predetermined temperature, preferably between about 20.degree. C. and 90.degree. C., and more preferably between about 20.degree. C. and about 62.degree. C., comprising at least one block copolymer having at least two thermal transition temperatures. The composition is characterized by at least two thermal transition temperatures, one of which is a predetermined lower transition temperature, preferably between about 20.degree. C. to 90.degree. C., and more preferably between about 20.degree. C. to about 62.degree. C., and one of which is an upper transition temperature. The present invention also provides a method of making the composition, a method of making biomedical materials and articles, and toys and toy components, with shape-memory properties from the composition, and biomedical materials and articles, and toys and toy components, with shape-memory properties made from the composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to epoxy-terminated polymers and copolymers derived from hydrosilyl-terminated hydrogenated polydienes and polyvinyl aromatics, and a process for preparing these polymers and copolymers. The epoxy-terminated polymers and copolymers are reactive with a variety of polymer functionalities such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amino groups to produce copolymers useful as molded articles and as compatibilizers for compositions containing polyesters and polyolefins.

Abstract: Novel linear polysiloxane-polyacetone block copolymers are useful as surface modifying additives due in part to their miscibility with a wide variety of base polymers. A particularly preferred polysiloxane-polycaprolactone linear blocked copolymer is miscible with nylon and is useful for forming surface modified nylon products.

Abstract: Block copolymers of polyoxazoline and polylactone moieties can be used as polymeric compatibilizers for polyamides and polyolefins.

Abstract: Graft and block copolymers of polyalkylvinyl ether and polyoxazoline moieties can be used as polymeric compatibilizers.

Abstract: A blend of a polyolefin and a poly(alkyl vinyl ether) can be blended at elevated temperature to form a copolymer of the polyolefin and poly(alkyl vinyl ether). The resulting composition is useful as a compatibilizer, as a more water permeable substrate than the polyolefin, and as a photo-degradable material.

Abstract: Graft and block copolymers of polyalkylvinyl ether and polyoxazoline moieties can be used as polymeric compatibilizers.