Abstract: A piezoelectric composite comprising (a) an olefin copolymer and (b) a plurality of piezoelectric filler particles is disclosed. Each of the plurality of piezoelectric filler particles can be dispersed in the olefin copolymer. Also disclosed are films containing such piezoelectric composites and methods of preparing such films.

Abstract: A particulate material for powder bed fusion has specific particle size characteristics and includes a thermoplastic and a sulfonate salt having the structure (A), wherein Z is a phosphorus atom or a nitrogen atom; each occurrence of X is independently halogen or hydrogen provided that at least one X is halogen; b, d, and e are integers from zero to 12; c is 0 or 1 provided that when c is 1, d and e are not both zero; R11_13 are each independently C1-C12 hydrocarbyl; R14 is C1-C18 hydrocarbyl; and Y is selected from (B)—wherein R15 is hydrogen or C1-C12 hydrocarbyl. Also described is a method of powder bed fusion utilizing the particulate material.

Abstract: A particulate material for powder bed fusion has specific particle size characteristics and includes a thermoplastic and a sulfonate salt having the structure (A), wherein Z is a phosphorus atom or a nitrogen atom; each occurrence of X is independently halogen or hydrogen provided that at least one X is halogen; b, d, and e are integers from zero to 12; c is 0 or 1 provided that when c is 1, d and e are not both zero; R11-13 are each independently C1-C12 hydrocarbyl; R14 is C1-C18 hydrocarbyl; and Y is selected from (B)—wherein R15 is hydrogen or C1-C12 hydrocarbyl. Also described is a method of powder bed fusion utilizing the particulate material.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a composition comprises a polycarbonate; 1 to 5 wt % based on a total weight of the composition of a nanosilica having a D50 particle size by volume of 5 to 50 nanometers; wherein the nanosilica has a hydrophobic coating; and a siloxane domain having repeat units of the formula 10; wherein each R is independently a C1-13 monovalent organic group and the value of E is 2 to 1,000; wherein the composition comprises at least one of a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer, 0.1 to 5 wt % of a polysiloxane homopolymer based on the total weight of the composition, or a plurality of polysiloxane particles having a D50 particle size by volume of 0.1 to 10 micrometers.

Abstract: A method of making an aligned piezoelectric composite comprising contacting a thermoplastic material with a plurality of piezoelectric particles to form a thermoplastic material and piezoelectric particles mixture; applying an alternating current electric field across the thermoplastic material and piezoelectric particles mixture to structurally align the piezoelectric particles within the alternating current electric field; heating the thermoplastic material and piezoelectric particles mixture to form a molten polymer composite, while continuing to apply the alternating current electric field; maintaining the alternating current electric field across the molten polymer composite; cooling the molten polymer composite to form a structurally aligned piezoelectric composite, while continuing to apply the alternating current electric field; discontinuing the alternating current electric field; and applying a direct current electric field across the structurally aligned piezoelectric composite to align electric di

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition comprising a polycarbonate, a perfluoroalkyl sulfonate phosphonium salt, and a non-phosphonium perfluoroalkyl sulfonate salt is disclosed, wherein a molded flat disk prepared from the thermoplastic composition has a surface resistivity of 1.0×1010 to 1.0×1014 ohms measured at a temperature of 23±2° C. and at 50±1% relative humidity. A method of making the thermoplastic composition, and articles prepared therefrom, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of forming polycarbonate graft copolymers are provided. In particular, a polycarbonate polymer or copolymer containing allyl groups provides the backbone for the graft copolymer, and pendant chains are attached to the copolymer through the allyl groups. The graft copolymers exhibit a combination of high transparency, good graft levels, good scratch resistance, and/or good anti-fog properties.

Abstract: Methods of forming polycarbonate graft copolymers are provided. In particular, a polycarbonate polymer or copolymer containing allyl groups provides the backbone for the graft copolymer, and pendant chains are attached to the copolymer through the allyl groups. The graft copolymers exhibit a combination of high transparency, good graft levels, good scratch resistance, and/or good anti-fog properties.

Abstract: Methods of forming nanocomposites comprising a polymer and metal nanoparticles are disclosed. The nanoparticles are disposed within a matrix of the polymer. In particular, the nanoparticles are formed in situ in an extruder. The methods comprise providing a reaction mixture comprising a polymer, a metal precursor, and a solvent and extruding the reaction mixture to form a polymer nanocomposite. The methods overcome nanoparticle dispersion issues arising from melt blending processes.

Abstract: An optical grade article comprises a thermoplastic composition comprising a poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate copolymer comprising 10 to 25 wt % of a soft block ester unit derived from a C20-44 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof, 34 to 77 wt % of a carbonate unit derived from 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, 0 to 76 wt % of a carbonate unit derived from a dihydroxyaromatic compound not identical to the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, wherein the weight percentages of soft block ester units, 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine units, and dihydroxyaromatic compound units is 100 weight percent of the monomeric units of the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate, the refractive index of the thermoplastic composition is greater than 1.590, and the glass transition temperature of the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate is from 120 to 155° C. A camera lens also comprises the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of preparing a polycarbonate composition comprising melt blending a first polycarbonate prepared by interfacial polymerization and having hydroxy end groups that are capped with endcapping groups, with a second polycarbonate prepared by melt polymerization and having hydroxy end groups that are capped with endcapping groups, wherein the second polycarbonate has a lower mole percent of endcapping groups than that of the first polycarbonate; wherein an article having a thickness of 3.2 mm and molded from the polycarbonate composition has a haze of less than 3 according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein a flat article molded from the polycarbonate composition has a surface charge of ?2 to +2 kV. A polycarbonate composition and complex article prepared according to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical grade article comprises a thermoplastic composition comprising a poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate copolymer comprising 10 to 25 wt % of a soft block ester unit derived from a C20-44 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof, 34 to 77 wt % of a carbonate unit derived from 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, 0 to 76 wt % of a carbonate unit derived from a dihydroxyaromatic compound not identical to the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, wherein the weight percentages of soft block ester units, 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine units, and dihydroxyaromatic compound units is 100 weight percent of the monomeric units of the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate, the refractive index of the thermoplastic composition is greater than 1.590, and the glass transition temperature of the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate is from 120 to 155° C. A camera lens also comprises the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate.

Abstract: A quaternary onium aromatic sulfonate represented by the formula: wherein each R1 independently comprises substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic, hydrocarbyl, carbocyclic or heterocyclic radicals, each X is selected from the group consisting of phosphorus and nitrogen; wherein “a” has a value of 0, 1 or 2, and “b” has a value of 0 or 1 with the proviso that (a+b) is equal to 1 or 2; G1 is an aromatic group; E comprises a bis(carbonyloxyalkyl)polydiorganosiloxane, a bis(carbonyloxyaryl)polydiorganosiloxane, and an ether linkage; each Y1 independently comprises hydrogen, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, alkenyl, allyl, halogen, bromine, chlorine; nitro; and OR, wherein R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera lens comprising a thermoplastic composition comprising a poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate copolymer comprising soft block ester units derived from an alpha, omega C6-20 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof, a dihydroxyaromatic compound, and a carbonate source, wherein the thermoplastic composition has a melt volume rate of 13 to 25 cc/10 min at 250° C. and under a load of 1.2 Kg and a dwell time of 6 minutes, according to ASTM D1238-04, and wherein the camera lens has an effective lens area of 0.5 to 100 mm2. A method of making the camera lens, and a camera lens comprising a thermoplastic composition comprising a redistribution product of a poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A light diffusing film for a back light display is described. The light diffusing film includes a unitary film consisting essentially of polycarbonate and a uniformly dispersed anti-static material in an amount sufficient to impart anti-static properties to the film. The anti-static material may comprise a fluorinated phosphonium sulfonate. The film may additionally include at least one textured surface for the low scattering of light. Alternatively, the film may additionally include a uniformly dispersed acrylic bulk scattering additive of particles having a mean particle size of from about 3 to about 10 microns and present in an amount from about 2 to about 7 percent by weight percent for the high scattering of light.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera lens comprising a thermoplastic composition comprising a poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate copolymer comprising soft block ester units derived from an alpha, omega C6-20 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof, a dihydroxyaromatic compound, and a carbonate source, wherein the thermoplastic composition has a melt volume rate of 13 to 25 cc/10 min at 250° C. and under a load of 1.2 Kg and a dwell time of 6 minutes, according to ASTM D1238-04, and wherein the camera lens has an effective lens area of 0.5 to 100 mm2. A method of making the camera lens, and a camera lens comprising a thermoplastic composition comprising a redistribution product of a poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for making a fog resistant thermoplastic article includes conditioning a thermoplastic article by exposing it to an aqueous environment sufficient to result in fog resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of preparing a polycarbonate composition comprising melt blending a first polycarbonate prepared by interfacial polymerization and having hydroxy end groups that are capped with endcapping groups, with a second polycarbonate prepared by melt polymerization and having hydroxy end groups that are capped with endcapping groups, wherein the second polycarbonate has a lower mole percent of endcapping groups than that of the first polycarbonate; wherein an article having a thickness of 3.2 mm and molded from the polycarbonate composition has a haze of less than 3 according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein a flat article molded from the polycarbonate composition has a surface charge of ?2 to +2 kV. A polycarbonate composition and complex article prepared according to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition comprising a polycarbonate, a perfluoroalkyl sulfonate phosphonium salt, and a non-phosphonium perfluoroalkyl sulfonate salt is disclosed, wherein a molded flat disk prepared from the thermoplastic composition has a surface resistivity of 1.0×1010 to 1.0×1014 ohms measured at a temperature of 23±2° C. and at 50±1% relative humidity. A method of making the thermoplastic composition, and articles prepared therefrom, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A luminescent solar collector is provided comprising a sheet and a light energy converter, such as a photocell. The sheet comprises two polymer layers. One polymer layer comprises a polymer and a fluorescent dye or quantum dot. The other polymer layer comprises a polymer and a non-fluorescent dye, and may further comprise an organic diffuser. The luminescent solar collector can be customized to any desired viewing color and provides a high level of edge emission.