Abstract: Treated, mesoporous aggregates comprising a plurality of coated particles that comprise an inorganic oxide core having a surface area of about 50 to about 500 square meters per gram and a shell or coating consisting of an array of fluoroalkyl molecular chains covalently bonded to the core at a density of at least one chain per square nanometer. The aggregates are formed by the chemical attachment of fluoroalkyl-alkylsilanes after exposure to an alkylamine and followed by an extraction to remove any unbound organic material. The dense packing of molecular chains in the fluoroalkyl shell combined with a mesoporous structure imparts a very low surface energy, a very high specific surface area, and surface texture over a wide range of length scales. Such features are highly desirable for the creation of, for example, superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces, separation media, and release films.

Abstract: A reactive, non-hydrolyzable silane. The silane comprises a quaternary silicon atom and first and second terminal groups. Each of the first and second terminal groups is chemically bonded to the quaternary silicon atom and is selected from a group consisting of cyanate ester, epoxide, episulfide, acrylate, alkene, styrenic, maleimide, phthalonitrile, acetylene, aryl ethynylene, benzoxazine, anthracene, aniline, trifluorovinyl ether, and perfluorocyclobutyl.

Abstract: Novel POSS mono- and dianiline compounds, their synthesis procedures, and applications in host materials for the purposes of property enhancement are described. This class of POSS compounds features completely aromatic peripheries and partial amine functionality for facile and controlled reactive incorporation into a variety of polymers, and further utility may be derived from reactions of the available amine groups with anhydrides such as phenylethynyl phthalic anhydride (PEPA) to form reactive imide-type oligomers for incorporation into high performance thermosetting polymers. Modification of polymer hosts with the subject nanoparticles can result in a variety of property improvements including mechanical, thermal, tribological, electrical, as well as improved moisture resistance.

Abstract: Coated particles comprise a core of fumed or precipitated inorganic metal oxide having a surface area of about 50 to about 500 square meters per gram and a shell consisting of an array of fluoroalkyl molecular chains at a density of at least 1 chain per square nanometer, joined to the core by covalent chemical bonds and with a total organic content of at least 9.9 percent by weight. These particles are formed by the chemical attachment of fluoroalkyl-alkylsilanes after exposure to an alkylamine and followed by an extraction to remove any organic material not covalently bound. The dense packing of molecular chains in the fluoroalkyl shell combined with a mesoporous structure imparts a very low surface energy, a very high specific surface area, and surface texture over a wide range of length scales. Such features are highly desirable for the creation of, for example, superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces, separation media, and release films.