Abstract: Methods, systems and a self-sensing valve assembly are described for monitoring seal life. The method includes providing a valve assembly movable from an open position to a closed position and including a seal seated within the valve and in contact with a surface of the valve assembly, wherein when the seal is in operation it is subject to degradation. At least one sensor is placed for measuring micro strain on a surface of the valve assembly or within the valve assembly. The valve assembly is placed in an operation wherein the seal is subject to degradation and the operation of the valve assembly is initiated.

Abstract: Compositions of at least one matrix polymer that may be a thermoplastic and/or curable polymer having at least one functional group for crosslinking for use in forming articles are disclosed as well as methods for making such articles, wherein the compositions and methods include a carbon nanostructure additive that is three-dimensional, branched and crosslinked. The resulting articles can in one embodiment provide a volume resistivity level of about 0.5 ohm-cm or less which are useful in applications requiring conductivity sufficient to provide electromagnetic interference shielding and/or radio frequency interference shielding. Other articles formed using compositions disclosed herein in other embodiments can demonstrate dissipative and/or quantum tunneling effects and so are useful as self-sensing pressure sensitive articles, such as self-sensing seals.

Abstract: A method is described for forming composite articles comprising thermoset silicon-containing polymers, that includes (a) providing a first composition comprising a first thermoset silicon-containing polymer; (b) providing a thermoplastic composition; (c) printing a first at least partial layer of the first composition comprising the first thermoset silicon-containing polymer using an additive manufacturing device; and (d) printing an at least partial reinforcing layer comprising the thermoplastic composition using an additive manufacturing device.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for extruding curable polymers for forming elastomer articles using additive manufacturing, and curable fluorine-containing polymer compositions suitable for use in such an apparatus are disclosed along with an additive manufacturing method for forming a fluorine-containing elastomer article including providing a filament formed of a curable fluoropolymer composition; providing an additive manufacturing printer having a drive mechanism and a printer nozzle; feeding the filament into an additive manufacturing printer through the drive mechanism and through a longitudinal passage defined by an interior wall of a support tube, wherein the support tube extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the second end of the support tube is positioned near an inlet to a printer nozzle; applying heat to the filament; and printing successive layers of the heated filament exiting an outlet of the nozzle onto a substrate using the additive manufacturing printer to form the fluorine-containing

Abstract: A method is described for forming composite articles comprising thermoset silicon-containing polymers, that includes (a) providing a first composition comprising a first thermoset silicon-containing polymer; (b) providing a thermoplastic composition; (c) printing a first at least partial layer of the first composition comprising the first thermoset silicon-containing polymer using an additive manufacturing device; and (d) printing an at least partial reinforcing layer comprising the thermoplastic composition using an additive manufacturing device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and a self-sensing valve assembly are described for monitoring seal life. The method includes providing a valve assembly movable from an open position to a closed position and including a seal seated within the valve and in contact with a surface of the valve assembly, wherein when the seal is in operation it is subject to degradation. At least one sensor is placed for measuring micro strain on a surface of the valve assembly or within the valve assembly. The valve assembly is placed in an operation wherein the seal is subject to degradation and the operation of the valve assembly is initiated.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a film includes a fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer includes a blend of polyvinyl fluoride and a fluoroadditive. The fluoroadditive includes a fluoropolymer having pendant trifluoromethyl groups. In a second aspect, a fluoropolymer coated film includes a polymeric substrate film and a fluoropolymer coating on the polymeric substrate film. The fluoropolymer coating includes a blend of polyvinyl fluoride and a fluoroadditive. The fluoroadditive includes a fluoropolymer having pendant trifluoromethyl groups. In a third aspect, a highly cleanable article includes a fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer includes a blend of polyvinyl fluoride and a fluoroadditive. The fluoroadditive includes a fluoropolymer having pendant trifluoromethyl groups.

Abstract: In a first aspect, an electrode composition includes an electroactive material and an interpolymer including polymer units derived from about 64 to about 75 mole percent vinyl fluoride and from about 25 to about 36 mole percent of at least two highly fluorinated monomers. A first highly fluorinated monomer provides the interpolymer a side chain of at least one carbon atom. In a second aspect, an energy storage device includes an anode, a cathode, a porous separator between the anode and the cathode and an electrolyte. The anode, the cathode or both the anode and the cathode include a binder material including an interpolymer including polymer units derived from about 64 to about 75 mole percent vinyl fluoride and from about 25 to about 36 mole percent of at least two highly fluorinated monomers. A first highly fluorinated monomer provides the interpolymer a side chain of at least one carbon atom.

Abstract: In a first aspect, an interpolymer includes polymer units derived from about 64 to about 75 mole percent vinyl fluoride and from about 25 to about 36 mole percent of at least two highly fluorinated monomers. A first highly fluorinated monomer provides the interpolymer a side chain of at least one carbon atom and the interpolymer is soluble in a solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl acetamide, N-methyl pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide and mixtures thereof. In a second aspect, a polymer binder solution includes a solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl acetamide, N-methyl pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide and mixtures thereof and an interpolymer including polymer units derived from about 64 to about 75 mole percent vinyl fluoride and from about 25 to about 36 mole percent of at least two highly fluorinated monomers.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a melt-processible interpolymer consists essentially of units derived from vinyl fluoride and at least two highly fluorinated monomers, at least one of the highly fluorinated monomers introducing into the polymer a side chain of at least one carbon atom. The interpolymer has a melt flow rate in a range of from about 2 to about 250 grams per 10 minutes at a temperature of 280° C. In a second aspect, an emulsion polymerization process for preparing a melt-processible interpolymer includes polymerizing vinyl fluoride and at least two highly fluorinated monomers in water with a water-soluble free-radical initiator at a temperature in the range of from about 60 to about 100° C. and a pressure in the range of from about 1 to about 12 MPa.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for an organic/air fuel cell is provided comprising a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode. The proton exchange membrane is made of a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer. The anode electrode is comprised of an anode electrocatalyst of platinum and ruthenium supported on particulate carbon and a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer binder, and the metal loading in the anode electrode is less than 3 mg/cm2. The cathode electrode is comprised of a cathode electrocatalyst of platinum supported on particulate carbon and a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer binder, and the metal loading in the cathode electrode is less than 3 mg/cm2. Organic/air fuel cells comprised of such membrane electrode assemblies are also provided. A process for operating such membrane electrode assemblies of an organic/air fuel cell is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a hole transport polymer comprising a polymeric backbone having linked thereto a plurality of substituents comprising fused aromatic ring groups, with the proviso that the polymer does not contain groups selected from triarylamines and carbazole groups. It further relates to devices that are made with the polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a hole transport polymer comprising a polymeric backbone having linked thereto a plurality of substituents comprising fused aromatic ring groups, with the proviso that the polymer does not contain groups selected from triarylamines and carbazole groups. It further relates to devices that are made with the polymer.

Abstract: Positive photoresists and associated processes for microlithography in the ultraviolet (UV) and violet are disclosed. The photoresists comprise (a) a branched polymer containing protected acid groups and (b) at least one photoacid generator. The photoresists have high transparency throughout the UV, good development properties, high plasma etch resistance and other desirable properties, and are useful for microlithography in the near, far, and extreme UV, particularly at wavelengths less than or equal to 365 nm.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a hole transport polymer comprising a polymeric backbone having linked thereto a plurality of substituents comprising fused aromatic ring groups, with the proviso that the polymer does not contain groups selected from triarylamines and carbazole groups. It further relates to devices that are made with the polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a polymeric metal complex comprising a polymeric material having a plurality of a first-type functional groups, wherein at least a portion of the functional groups are coordinated to at least one metal containing complex, polymeric-metal complex salts comprising at least one polymeric material having a plurality of first-type functional groups having a charge, and at least one metal complex having an opposite charge. It further relates to devices that are made with the polymeric metal complex or the polymeric-metal complex salt.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a polymeric metal complex comprising a polymeric material having a plurality of a first-type functional groups, wherein at least a portion of the functional groups are coordinated to at least one metal containing complex, polymeric-metal complex salts comprising at least one polymeric material having a plurality of first-type functional groups having a charge, and at least one metal complex having an opposite charge. It further relates to devices that are made with the polymeric metal complex or the polymeric-metal complex salt.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a hole transport polymer comprising a polymeric backbone having linked thereto a plurality of substituents comprising fused aromatic ring groups, with the proviso that the polymer does not contain groups selected from triarylamines and carbazole groups. It further relates to devices that are made with the polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a hole transport polymer comprising a polymeric backbone having linked thereto a plurality of substituents comprising fused aromatic ring groups, with the proviso that the polymer does not contain groups selected from triarylamines and carbazole groups. It further relates to devices that are made with the polymer.

Abstract: Positive photoresists and associated processes for microlithography in the ultraviolet (UV) and violet are disclosed. The photoresists comprise (a) a branched copolymer containing protected acid groups and (b) at least one photoacid generator. The photoresists have high transparency throughout the UV, good development properties, high plasma etch resistance and other desirable properties, and are useful for microlithography in the near, far, and extreme UV, particularly at wavelengths less than or equal to 365 nm.