Abstract: The present invention provides new polymer induction bonding technology. Induction heating technologies are utilized to weld, forge, bond or set polymer materials. The invention provides controlled-temperature induction heating of polymeric materials by mixing ferromagnetic particles in the polymer to be heated. Temperature control is obtained by selecting ferromagnetic particles with a specific Curie temperature. The ferromagnetic particles will heat up in an induction field, through hysteresis losses, until they reach their Curie temperature. At that point, heat generation through hysteresis loss ceases. This invention is applicable to bonding thermoplastic materials, wherein only the area to be heated has ferromagnetic particles in it; bonding of thermoset composites, which have been processed with a layer of thermoplastic material on one side; curing of thermoset adhesives or composite resins; or consolidating thermoplastic composites.

Abstract: The present invention provides new polymer induction bonding technology. Induction heating technologies are utilized to weld, forge, bond or set polymer materials. The invention provides controlled-temperature induction heating of polymeric materials by mixing ferromagnetic particles in the polymer to be heated. Temperature control is obtained by selecting ferromagnetic particles with a specific Curie temperature. The ferromagnetic particles will heat up in an induction field, through hysteresis losses, until they reach their Curie temperature. At that point, heat generation through hysteresis loss ceases. This invention is applicable to bonding thermoplastic materials, wherein only the area to be heated has ferromagnetic particles in it; bonding of thermoset composites, which have been processed with a layer of thermoplastic material on one side; curing of thermoset adhesives or composite resins; or consolidating thermoplastic composites.

Abstract: The present invention provides new polymer induction bonding technology. Induction heating technologies are utilized to weld, forge, bond or set polymer materials. The invention provides controlled-temperature induction heating of polymeric materials by mixing ferromagnetic particles in the polymer to be heated. Temperature control is obtained by selecting ferromagnetic particles with a specific Curie temperature. The ferromagnetic particles will heat up in an induction field, through hysteresis losses, until they reach their Curie temperature. At that point, heat generation through hysteresis loss ceases. This invention is applicable to bonding thermoplastic materials, wherein only the area to be heated has ferromagnetic particles in it; bonding of thermoset composites, which have been processed with a layer of thermoplastic material on one side; curing of thermoset adhesives or composite resins; or consolidating thermoplastic composites.

Abstract: Disclosed are coatings, films, and articles of manufacture comprising or derived from compositions that are produced by a method for exchanging solvent in a mixture that includes water and an optionally substituted thiophene. Also disclosed are methods for making and using said coatings, films, and articles of manufacture, including electro-optical implementations.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions formed by a method for exchanging solvent in a mixture that includes water and an optionally substituted thiophene. Also disclosed are methods for making and using such compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions formed by a method for exchanging the water in an optionally substituted polythiophene dispersion with a specific mixture of organic solvents. The resulting compositions exhibit improved electrical conductivity, optical transparency, environmental stability, excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates and processing characteristics. Also disclosed are methods for making and using such compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions formed by a method for exchanging solvent in a mixture that includes water and an optionally substituted thiophene. Also disclosed are methods for making and using such compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions formed by a method for exchanging solvent in a mixture that includes water and an optionally substituted thiophene. Also disclosed are methods for making and using such compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions formed by a method for exchanging solvent in a mixture that includes water and an optionally substituted thiophene. Also disclosed are methods for making and using such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides new polymer induction bonding technology. Induction heating technologies are utilized to weld, forge, bond or set polymer materials. The invention provides controlled-temperature induction heating of polymeric materials by mixing ferromagnetic particles in the polymer to be heated. Temperature control is obtained by selecting ferromagnetic particles with a specific Curie temperature. The ferromagnetic particles will heat up in an induction field, through hysteresis losses, until they reach their Curie temperature. At that point, heat generation through hysteresis loss ceases. This invention is applicable to bonding thermoplastic materials, wherein only the area to be heated has ferromagnetic particles in it; bonding of thermoset composites, which have been processed with a layer of thermoplastic material on one side; curing of thermoset adhesives or composite resins; or consolidating thermoplastic composites.

Abstract: The present invention provides new polymer induction bonding technology. Induction heating technologies are utilized to weld, forge, bond or set polymer materials. The invention provides controlled-temperature induction heating of polymeric materials by mixing ferromagnetic particles in the polymer to be heated. Temperature control is obtained by selecting ferromagnetic particles with a specific Curie temperature. The ferromagnetic particles will heat up in an induction field, through hysteresis losses, until they reach their Curie temperature. At that point, heat generation through hysteresis loss ceases. This invention is applicable to bonding thermoplastic materials, wherein only the area to be bonded has ferromagnetic particles in it; bonding of thermoset composites, which have been processed with a layer of thermoplastic material on one side; curing of thermoset adhesives or composite resins; or consolidating thermoplastic composites.

Abstract: The invention provides new high-use temperature, lightweight polymer/inorganic nanocomposite materials with enhanced thermal stability and performance characteristics. The invention provides two techniques that enhance the thermal stability of the nanocomposite systems from their current limits of 100-150.degree. C. to over 250.degree. C. The two unique approaches are based on innovative chemical design of the organic-inorganic interface using (i) more thermally stable surfactants/compatibility agents, and (ii) more thermally stable synthetic organically-modified layered-silicate reinforcements to create unique nanocomposites. These approaches offer processibility through both solution techniques, as well as solvent-free direct melt intercalation technique. The use of synthetic organically-modified layered silicates (having built-in surfactants) eliminates the poisonous alkyl ammonium surfactants that limit the applications of nanocomposites as food packaging materials.

Abstract: Provided are methods for laminating ordered polymers such as PBZT/sol-gel glass microcomposite film layers by first roughing the bonding surfaces of such film layers and then inserting therebetween a PEEK resin adhesive layer and compressing the film and adhesive layers together at sufficient temperature and pressure to laminate such layers. In one embodiment the ordered polymer layers are hot-pressed before surface roughing, stacking and laminating of film and adhesive layers. The invention also includes the novel laminates prepared thereby which exhibit high tensile strength, high compressive strength and good interlaminar strength, suitable for high-performance structures in e.g. aircraft, spacecraft or other structures or vehicles.

Abstract: Provided is a method for laminating PBZT/fusible sol-gel glass microcomposite film layers by applying an adhesive of fusible sol-gel glass to the bonding surfaces of such films and compressing the film layers and the so-formed adhesive layer therebetween, at sufficient temperature and pressure to laminate the film and adhesive layers together. The sol-gel glass infiltrant and adhesive may be of the same or different materials. Desirably, the bonding surfaces of such films are roughened before application of the adhesive layer therebetween. The invention also includes the laminates prepared by the above method which laminates exhibit good coherent bonding between layers, high tensile strength and good interlaminar strength between layers for fabrication into durable high-strength space-age structures.

Abstract: Processes for producing oriented films of semicrystalline thermoplastic polymers, such as polyimides, and films produced thereby are disclosed. One process includes partial crystallization or imidization, orientation and further crystallization or imidization. Another process includes rendering a film of semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer amorphous, orienting the film and introducing crystallinity.