Abstract: A gas filtration media comprises a microporous membrane. The microporous membrane includes an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), an inorganic material, wherein the ratio of inorganic material to polymer is in the range of 4:1 to 1:4, and less than 30% by weight of the membrane being a processing oil.

Abstract: A method for producing a microporous material comprising the steps of: providing an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE); providing a filler; providing a processing plasticizer; adding the filler to the UHMWPE in a mixture being in the range of from about 1:9 to about 15:1 filler to UHMWPE by weight; adding the processing plasticizer to the mixture; extruding the mixture to form a sheet from the mixture; calendering the sheet; extracting the processing plasticizer from the sheet to produce a matrix comprising UHMWPE and the filler distributed throughout the matrix; stretching the microporous material in at least one direction to a stretch ratio of at least about 1.5 to produce a stretched microporous matrix; and subsequently calendering the stretched microporous matrix to produce a microporous material which exhibits improved physical and dimensional stability properties over the stretched microporous matrix.

Abstract: A method for selectively blocking flow of manganese ions from manganese dioxide electrode to a lithium electrode in lithium-manganese dioxide cell comprising the steps of: providing a lithium electrode adapted to providing lithium ions; providing a manganese dioxide electrode adapted to providing manganese ions; and blocking flow of manganese ions from the manganese dioxide electrode to the lithium electrode but allow lithium ions to flow freely between the lithium electrode to the manganese dioxide electrode and back by; providing a battery separator between the manganese dioxide electrode and the lithium electrode where the separator selectively allow transport of lithium ions between the lithium electrode to the manganese dioxide electrode, but blocks flow of manganese ions from the manganese dioxide electrode to the lithium electrode.

Abstract: A polyolefin blend having in a range of 40 to less than 90% by weight of a high modulus, isotactic polypropylene; and in a range of 10 to 60% by weight of a 1-butene/ethylene copolymer; the 1-butene/ethylene copolymer having about 0.5 to about 10 wt % of an ethylene. A polyolefin blend can be in a form of a transparent, oriented film having a biaxially oriented layer with an oxygen transmission rate of at least about 200 cc/100 sq. in./day/atmosphere (3077 cc/sq. m./24h/atmosphere), a tensile modulus of at least about 160,000 psi (1.103 GPa) and a haze value of no greater than about 3% measured at a thickness of about 1 mil (25 ?m).

Abstract: The instant invention provides a printable thin microporous membrane. The printable thin microporous membrane includes a thin microporous membrane, and a printing ink on the thin microporous membrane. The membrane has a thickness in the range of 8? to 50?, a Gurley permeability in the range of 5 to 100 seconds/10 cc, and an average porosity in the range of 30% to 60%.

Abstract: A polyolefin blend having in a range of 40 to less than 90% by weight of a high modulus, isotactic polypropylene; and in a range of 10 to 60% by weight of a 1-butene/ethylene copolymer; the 1-butene/ethylene copolymer having about 0.5 to about 10 wt % of an ethylene. A polyolefin blend can be in a form of a transparent, oriented film having a biaxially oriented layer with an oxygen transmission rate of at least about 200 cc/100 sq. in./day/atmosphere (3077 cc/sq. m./24 h/atmosphere), a tensile modulus of at least about 160,000 psi (1.103 GPa) and a haze value of no greater than about 3% measured at a thickness of about 1 mil (25 &mgr;m).

Abstract: Liquid reactive thermosetting compositions comprising:A) At least one polyepoxide or a mixture of one or more polyepoxides with at least one monoepoxide, of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or mixed nature;B) at least one anhydride of a di- or polycarboxylic acid of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or mixed nature;C) at least one catalyst capable of promoting the rapid polymerization of the mixture A+B under microwave irradiation and having general formula (I):N.tbd.C--CH.sub.2 --CH(Z)--(O).sub.r --Y.sup.+ NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 X.sup.-.

Abstract: An intermolecular and/or intramolecular non-foamed polyimide is prepared by heating an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid or dianhydride thereof and an aromatic diamine thereby preparing a polyamic acid, and then subjecting the polyamic acid in the solid phase in the absence of solvent to focused microwave radiation, thereby preparing the polyimide product.