Abstract: The invention relates to polyamide sheet silicate compositions, containing an untreated clay mineral and a water-soluble polyamide, the concentration of the clay material being greater than 30% by weight. Furthermore the invention relates to nanocomposites which contain clay minerals distributed homogeneously in a water-insoluble thermoplastic matrix. These nanocomposites are produced by mixing the polyamide sheet silicate composition and a water-insoluble thermoplastic in the melt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coatings comprising a matrix and an active polymer embedded therein, characterised in that either (i) the matrix is cross-linked, or (ii) the active polymer is cross-linked or (iii) the active polymer is covalently bonded to the matrix; and in case of a cross-linked active polymer a matrix may be omitted; and the active polymer contains structural units according to the description, and a cross-linking agent and/or coupling reagent are optionally contained therein. Said coatings exhibit outstanding anti-ice properties. The invention further relates to shaped articles and devices comprising such coatings, and to a method for the manufacturing and the use of such coatings, shaped articles and devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to substrates comprising an outer functional layer characterized in that said layer possesses functional groups of formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification; freezing point reducing surfaces, particularly surfaces which by application of a specific layer provide a freezing point reducing effect; further compounds suitable to establish such surfaces; devices comprising such surfaces; methods for manufacturing such compounds; surfaces and devices as well as the use of said compounds and surfaces in various applications.

Abstract: Metal surfaces, metal-oxide surfaces, metal-salt surfaces, silicon-comprising surfaces and/or high-molecular-weight aquoxide-comprising organic surfaces are coated. The coating is carried out with a reagent having a reactive group chosen from Si—H, Sn—H, and Ge—H. The reagent is applied in liquid, pasty, or solid form to the surface that is to be coated. Furthermore, the coating reaction requires the presence of an activator. A platinum metal in form of a compound or in metallic form is used as activator.