Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors comprise a precursor alumina blend capable of enhancing one or more properties of a shaped porous body based thereupon. The need to employ modifiers to achieve a similar result may thus be substantially reduced, or even avoided, and cost savings are thus provided, as well as savings in time and equipment costs.

Abstract: The present invention is a method comprising depositing a metal oxide layer as part of the production of an optoelectrically active device and exposing the metal oxide layer to a reactive agent to form a relatively hydrophobic surface. The invention also includes device so made, preferably a photovoltaic device, which shows improved stability as compared to devices not subject to the treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors comprise a precursor alumina blend capable of enhancing one or more properties of a shaped porous body based thereupon. The need to employ modifiers to achieve a similar result may thus be substantially reduced, or even avoided, and cost savings are thus provided, as well as savings in time and equipment costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors comprise a precursor alumina blend capable of enhancing one or more properties of a shaped porous body based thereupon. The need to employ modifiers to achieve a similar result may thus be substantially reduced, or even avoided, and cost savings are thus provided, as well as savings in time and equipment costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors, comprise one or more topography-enhancing additives, i.e., additives that are capable of at least marginally enhancing one or more of surface area, aspect ratio, pore volume, median pore diameter, surface morphology, etc. Downstream products need not necessarily comprise the topography-enhancing additives in order to exhibit the benefits of their inclusion in the porous body precursors.

Abstract: A method of preparing a gelled ceramic-based foam comprising forming a slurry comprising at least water, a ceramic, albumin and an aldehyde, such that the ratio of the aldehyde to the albumin is from about 60:1 to about 200:1, and frothing the slurry, such that the albumin polymerizes to form a gelled ceramic-based foam. The foam shows improved capability to resist collapse during any subsequent handling, drying to greenware, or firing steps. This enables simplified and more economical production of highly porous ceramics.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors, comprise one or more topography-enhancing additives, i.e., additives that are capable of at least marginally enhancing one or more of surface area, aspect ratio, pore volume, median pore diameter, surface morphology, etc. Downstream products need not necessarily comprise the topography-enhancing additives in order to exhibit the benefits of their inclusion in the porous body precursors.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous body precursors and shaped porous bodies. Also included are catalysts and other end-use products based upon the shaped porous bodies and thus the porous body precursors. Finally, processes for making these are provided. The porous body precursors are germanium doped and comprise a precursor alumina blend. It has now surprisingly been discovered that inclusion of germanium, alone or in combination with such a blend, in porous body precursors can provide control over, or improvements to, surface morphology, physical properties, and/or surface chemistry of shaped porous bodies based thereupon. Surprisingly and advantageously, heat treating the shaped porous bodies can result in additional morphological changes so that additional fine tuning of the shaped porous bodies is possible in subsequent steps.

Abstract: A method of preparing a gelled ceramic-based foam comprising forming a slurry comprising at least water, a ceramic, albumin and an aldehyde, such that the ratio of the aldehyde to the albumin is from about 60:1 to about 200:1, and frothing the slurry, such that the albumin polymerizes to form a gelled ceramic-based foam. The foam shows improved capability to resist collapse during any subsequent handling, drying to greenware, or firing steps. This enables simplified and more economical production of highly porous ceramics.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymers derived from macrocyclic oligomers containing organo clay fillers comprising a) a polymer derived from a macrocyclic oligomer; b) clay platelets; and c) the residue of one or more onium compounds having at least one ligand with a C5 or greater carbon chain and at least one ligand containing one or more functional groups having one or more active hydrogen atoms wherein the functional group is reactive with the macrocyclic oligomer and/or functional groups formed when the macrocyclic oligomer decyclizes wherein a portion of one or more of the onium compounds is ironically bound to the clay platelet and covalently bonded to the polymers derived from macrocyclic oligomers. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such compositions. Furthermore, the invention relates to articles prepared from organoclay filled polymer compositions.

Abstract: Compositions including a fabric layer with a water-insoluble polymer impregnated into the fabric layer to provide sheets are described. In particular, the sheet composites have a permeability to oxygen in the direction perpendicular to the sheet that is less than one-tenth the transmission rate for the fabric layer alone and less than one-fifth the transmission rate for the polymer alone without the fabric layer.

Abstract: Compositions including a fabric layer with a water-insoluble polymer impregnated into the fabric layer to provide sheets are described. In particular, the sheet composites have a permeability to oxygen in the direction perpendicular to the sheet that is less than one-tenth the transmission rate for the fabric layer alone and less than one-fifth the transmission rate for the polymer alone without the fabric layer.