Abstract: A product, and a method for forming a product, that includes a composite material having a polymeric carrier resin and a shape memory polymer material capable of transformation between a temporary shape and a permanent shape in the presence of an external stimuli, wherein said transformation from said temporary shape to said permanent shape changes at least one property of said composite material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a three-dimensional geometrically complex device is provided, based on a shape memory polymer. The method includes selecting a substrate composed of a shape memory polymer. A filling material is deposited in or on a planar surface of the substrate, thereby forming the device. The planar surface of the substrate may be in either a temporary or original shape of the substrate. Prior to the deposition of the filling material, the substrate is transformed into a first shape having a planar surface if the original shape of the substrate does not have a planar surface. The device is configured to be thermo-mechanically tunable to display a plurality of geometrically complex shapes, under a series of temperature changes and stress.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment discloses a polymer system including a shape memory polymer material and a graphene material.

Abstract: A photonic device is provided having a two or three-dimensionally periodic structure of interconnected members with alterable spacing between the members. The structure is composed of a shape memory polymer configured to be thermo-mechanically tunable to display a plurality of optical properties under a series of temperature changes and stress. A method of producing a photonic device based on a shape memory polymer is provided. A mold, having a two or three-dimensionally periodic structure of interconnected components with a characteristic spacing between the components, is infiltrated with a shape memory polymer precursor to form a composite structure. The composite structure is solidified. The mold is removed from the composite structure to form a photonic device as an inverse replica of the mold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for creating a dynamic profile for a plurality of structurally similar extensible markup language (XML) documents based at least in part on a document structure or data pattern of the XML documents. A specialized XML parser is generated based at least in part on the dynamic profile and then is specialized in parsing XML documents that substantially match the dynamic profile.

Abstract: A method of forming an adhesive bond between a first substrate and a second substrate includes applying a semi-crystalline polymeric adhesive composition to a bonding area of the first substrate, and, after applying, disposing the second substrate adjacent to and in contact with the composition to form a workpiece. After disposing, the method includes heating the workpiece to cure the composition and thereby form a thermoset polymeric adhesive material that is crosslinked. After heating, the method includes cooling the workpiece such that the material has a crystalline molecular structure. Concurrent to cooling, the method includes imposing a stress on the material to thereby orient the crystalline molecular structure in a desired direction, and, after imposing, dissipating the stress along the crystalline molecular structure in the desired direction to thereby form the adhesive bond between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: A shape memory polymer microfiber material coupled to a base portion and coated with a dry adhesive in which the tips of the microfibers may be modified to achieve superhydrophobicity. The resultant surface of the material may be altered between to an adhesive state from a superhydrophobic state as the shape memory polymer transforms from its permanent shape to a temporary shape. The shape memory polymer microfiber material may be reversibly coupled to one or more substrates when in the adhesive state and uncoupled when in the superhydrophobic state.

Abstract: Methods of creating reversible and irreversible wrinkle structures are provided. A shape memory polymer is heated to a transition temperature and cooled while applying a first force. A rigid film layer is secured to the shape memory polymer to form a bilayer. The original shape of the shape memory polymer is recovered to create a first set of wrinkles in the rigid film layer. The bilayer is heated to the transition temperature and a second tensile force is applied to create a second set of wrinkles in the rigid film layer.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes an application of multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives in climbing devices.

Abstract: Adhesive structures are disclosed which enable easy release of a strongly adherent dry adhesive pad or film. The adhesive pads or films are fabricated into structures or composites which exhibit a directional flexural modulus due to the incorporation of a plurality of spaced-apart, aligned, elongated reinforcements. The adhesive structure or composite will adhere strongly when loaded along the direction of the highest flexural modulus but release more readily when loaded along the direction of lowest flexural modulus.

Abstract: One embodiment provides an attachment pad including a multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive including a shape memory polymer layer and a dry adhesive layer underlying the shape memory polymer layer, the multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive having a curved surface when the shape memory polymer layer is below its glass transition temperature and unaffected by a load; and a means for evenly applying a load and/or detaching force on the perimeter of the multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive including a spring.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an application of multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives in robotic handling of objects.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating lysosomal storage disease, for instance Pompe disease, through inhibition of autophagy. Optionally, treatment is administered as an adjunct to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment of the invention includes grafting a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive material to a shape memory polymer surface.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment discloses a polymer system including a shape memory polymer material and a graphene material.

Abstract: Various thermodynamic power-generating cycles are disclosed. A turbopump arranged in the cycles is started and ramped-up using a starter pump arranged in parallel with the main pump of the turbopump. Once the turbopump is able to self-sustain, a series of valves may be manipulated to deactivate the starter pump and direct additional working fluid to a power turbine for generating electrical power.

Abstract: Waste heat energy conversion cycles, systems and devices use multiple waste heat exchangers arranged in series in a waste heat stream, and multiple thermodynamic cycles run in parallel with the waste heat exchangers in order to maximize thermal energy extraction from the waste heat stream by a working fluid. The parallel cycles operate in different temperature ranges with a lower temperature work output used to drive a working fluid pump. A working fluid mass management system is integrated into or connected to the cycles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically conductive element for an electrochemical cell element having enhanced protection for an underlying metal substrate with a surface susceptible to forming metal oxides. One or more regions of the surface are coated with a metal coating overlaid with an adhesion promoting coating comprising a silicon containing material derived from organosilanes. The adhesion promoting coating is overlaid with a conductive, protective polymeric coating. The present invention further provides methods of making such an electrochemical cell element to have improved adhesion of conductive, protective polymer coatings.

Abstract: A microfibrous article includes a substrate and a plurality of magnetic fibers disposed on the substrate. Each of the plurality of magnetic fibers is individually sheathed with a polymer and includes a plurality of magnetic particles. Further, each of the plurality of magnetic fibers is aligned along a magnetic field and not connected by the polymer to any adjacent magnetic fiber. A method of forming the microfibrous article is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming a hydrophilic porous membrane includes applying a crosslinked coating to a hydrophobic porous membrane via an in-situ polymerization process. Polar functional groups are introduced into the coating, thereby forming the hydrophilic porous membrane.