Abstract: A melt-processed polyolefin composition or composite includes a polyolefin compounded with a hindered amine light stabilizer, an organodisulfide antioxidant, and silver sulfate as an antimicrobial agent. A process of preparing such a composite includes compounding all of the compounds in various orders as long as the silver sulfate is added after the hindered amine light stabilizer is added to the polymer.

Abstract: A polymer composite comprising a thermoplastic polyamide polymer compounded with an organo-disulfide additive and a silver-based antimicrobial agent is disclosed. The organo-disulfide additive inhibits undesirable discoloration of the thermoplastic polyamide polymer including one or more silver-based antimicrobial agent. Processes for preparing the composite are also disclosed, including compounding the organo-disulfide additive in a polymeric carrier with the silver-based antimicrobial agent, then with the thermoplastic polyamide polymer, or compounding the organo-disulfide additive with the thermoplastic polyamide polymer before adding the silver-based antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: An aqueous precipitation process for the preparation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, comprising reacting an aqueous soluble silver salt and an aqueous soluble source of inorganic sulfate ion in an agitated precipitation reactor vessel and precipitating particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, wherein the reaction and precipitation are performed in the presence of an aqueous soluble carboxylic acid additive or salt thereof, the amount of additive being a minor molar percentage, relative to the molar amount of silver sulfate precipitated, and effective to result in precipitation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate having a mean grain-size of less than 70 micrometers.

Abstract: A polymeric nanocomposite comprises a non-polar hyperbranched polystyrene resin. An exfoliated or intercalated onium functionalized clay is dispersed within the resin. Such nanocomposites are more compatible with non-polar polymer matrices used in various articles of manufacture.

Abstract: A polymeric nanocomposite comprises a non-polar hyperbranched polystyrene resin. An exfoliated or intercalated onium functionalized clay is dispersed within the resin. Such nanocomposites are more compatible with non-polar polymer matrices used in various articles of manufacture.

Abstract: An aqueous precipitation process for the preparation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, comprising reacting an aqueous soluble silver salt and an aqueous soluble source of inorganic sulfate ion in an agitated precipitation reactor vessel and precipitating particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, wherein the reaction and precipitation are performed in the presence of an aqueous soluble inorganic additive compound containing a cation capable of forming a sulfate salt that is less soluble than silver sulfate or a halide anion or an oxyanion capable of forming a silver salt that is less soluble than silver sulfate, the amount of additive being a minor molar percentage, relative to the molar amount of silver sulfate precipitated, and effective to result in precipitation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate having a mean grain-size of less than 70 micrometers.

Abstract: A melt-processed polyolefin composition or composite includes a polyolefin compounded with a hindered amine light stabilizer, an organodisulfide antioxidant, and silver sulfate as an antimicrobial agent. A process of preparing such a composite includes compounding all of the compounds in various orders as long as the silver sulfate is added after the hindered amine light stabilizer is added to the polymer.

Abstract: A polymer composite comprising a thermoplastic polyamide polymer compounded with an organo-disulfide additive and a silver-based antimicrobial agent is disclosed. The organo-disulfide additive inhibits undesirable discoloration of the thermoplastic polyamide polymer including one or more silver-based antimicrobial agent. Processes for preparing the composite are also disclosed, including compounding the organo-disulfide additive in a polymeric carrier with the silver-based antimicrobial agent, then with the thermoplastic polyamide polymer, or compounding the organo-disulfide additive with the thermoplastic polyamide polymer before adding the silver-based antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: A polymeric nanocomposite comprises a non-polar hyperbranched polystyrene resin. An exfoliated or intercalated onium functionalized clay is dispersed within the resin. Such nanocomposites are more compatible with non-polar polymer matrices used in various articles of manufacture.

Abstract: An aqueous precipitation process for the preparation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, comprising reacting an aqueous soluble silver salt and an aqueous soluble source of inorganic sulfate ion in an agitated precipitation reactor vessel and precipitating particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, wherein the reaction and precipitation are performed in the presence of an aqueous soluble fluorinated additive, the amount of additive being a minor molar percentage, relative to the molar amount of silver sulfate precipitated, and effective to result in precipitation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate having a mean grain-size of less than 50 micrometers.

Abstract: A polymer composite comprising a melt-processed polymer compounded with a color stabilizer comprising a bromate or iodate ion, and a silver-based antimicrobial agent. The specified color stabilizers are particularly superior in inhibiting undesirable darkening or discoloration of melt-processed polymers compounded with silver-based antimicrobial agents containing a grain-size controlling additive.

Abstract: An aqueous precipitation process for the preparation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, comprising reacting an aqueous soluble silver salt and an aqueous soluble source of inorganic sulfate ion in an agitated precipitation reactor vessel and precipitating particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, wherein the reaction and precipitation are performed in the presence of an aqueous soluble fluorinated additive, the amount of additive being a minor molar percentage, relative to the molar amount of silver sulfate precipitated, and effective to result in precipitation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate having a mean grain-size of less than 50 micrometers.

Abstract: An aqueous precipitation process for the preparation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, comprising reacting an aqueous soluble silver salt and an aqueous soluble source of inorganic sulfate ion in an agitated precipitation reactor vessel and precipitating particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, wherein the reaction and precipitation are performed in the presence of an aqueous soluble carboxylic acid additive or salt thereof, the amount of additive being a minor molar percentage, relative to the molar amount of silver sulfate precipitated, and effective to result in precipitation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate having a mean grain-size of less than 70 micrometers.

Abstract: A polymer composite comprising a thermoplastic polymer compounded with a phenolic antioxidant, an organo-disulfide antioxidant, and a silver-based antimicrobial agent. The specified combination of antioxidant stabilizers is superior in inhibiting undesirable discoloration of thermoplastic polymers in the presence of compounded silver-based antimicrobial agents. A process of preparing such a composite, comprising compounding the phenolic antioxidant and organo-disulfide antioxidant with the thermoplastic polymer prior to compounding the silver-based antimicrobial agent with the thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: A process for characterizing the phase of an organic material in a thin film comprises employing a reference spectrum library for potential phases, subjecting the film to a vibrational spectroscopy measurement to obtain a resulting spectrum; and comparing the resulting spectrum to those in the reference library to characterize the phase of the organic material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing oriented anisotropic particles comprising the steps of providing at least one anisotropic particle, dispersing the one anisotropic particle(s) in a medium, and freeze drying the dispersion of anisotropic particle(s) and the medium. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an oriented anisotropic material comprising at least one anisotropic particle dispersed in a medium and thereafter freeze dried. Another embodiment relates to an article comprising an oriented anisotropic material and at least one matrix, wherein the oriented anisotropic material comprises a freeze dried anisotropic material.

Abstract: An aqueous precipitation process for the preparation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, comprising reacting an aqueous soluble silver salt and an aqueous soluble source of inorganic sulfate ion in an agitated precipitation reactor vessel and precipitating particles comprising primarily silver sulfate, wherein the reaction and precipitation are performed in the presence of an aqueous soluble inorganic additive compound containing a cation capable of forming a sulfate salt that is less soluble than silver sulfate or a halide anion or an oxyanion capable of forming a silver salt that is less soluble than silver sulfate, the amount of additive being a minor molar percentage, relative to the molar amount of silver sulfate precipitated, and effective to result in precipitation of particles comprising primarily silver sulfate having a mean grain-size of less than 70 micrometers.

Abstract: A polymer composite comprising a melt-processed polymer compounded with a color stabilizer comprising a bromate or iodate ion, and a silver-based antimicrobial agent. The specified color stabilizers are particularly superior in inhibiting undesirable darkening or discoloration of melt-processed polymers compounded with silver-based antimicrobial agents containing a grain-size controlling additive.

Abstract: A polymer composite comprising a thermoplastic polymer compounded with a phenolic antioxidant, an organo-disulfide antioxidant, and a silver-based antimicrobial agent. The specified combination of antioxidant stabilizers is superior in inhibiting undesirable discoloration of thermoplastic polymers in the presence of compounded silver-based antimicrobial agents. A process of preparing such a composite, comprising compounding the phenolic antioxidant and organo-disulfide antioxidant with the thermoplastic polymer prior to compounding the silver-based antimicrobial agent with the thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to An X-ray exposure indicator device comprising a solid X-ray sensitive material that upon X-ray exposure undergoes a chromatic change, wherein the exposure indicator device does not significantly change color when subjected to UV or visible radiation.