Abstract: PEMFCs based on perfluorinated ionomer membranes (such as NAFION) are limited to temperatures below 100° C. because of the critical dependence of NAFION conductivity on the stability of liquid water. Ion-conductive composite compositions provided by the present invention, ion exchange membranes including such composite compositions and fuel cells incorporating those membranes are capable of maintaining high conductivity and mechanical integrity when temperature is above 100° C.

Abstract: Functional fluoro-monomers are polymerized with an organoborane functional initiator in the presence of oxygen to yield functional fluoropolymers and copolymers to produce functional polymers having functional groups at the beginning of the polymer chain.

Abstract: A one-pot polymerization process of preparing long chain branching polymers is provided. Also described is a “T” reagent that serves as a link between main and side chains of an inventive long chain branching polymer. A “T” reagent has at least two functionalities, serving as both co-monomer and chain transfer reaction agent. Optionally, a copolymerization reaction between an alpha-olefin and “T” reagent takes place initially to incorporate some “T” molecules in the polyolefin main chain, and the incorporated “T” units then behave as chain transfer agents for reacting with the propagating polyolefin chains to form side chains. In a particular embodiment, a polymerization process for preparing long chain branching polyethylene (LCBPE) and long chain branching polypropylene (LCBPP) is detailed.

Abstract: Telechelic polymers having two reactive functional groups at the same polymer chain end are disclosed. These polymers can be prepared by combining a cycloborane initiator, at least one free radical polymerizable monomer and oxygen to form a polymer segment having a borane residue at one end of the polymer segment resulting from the cycloborane initiator; and converting the borane residue to at least two functional groups to form the telechelic polymer.

Abstract: Functional fluoro-monomers are polymerized with an organoborane initiator to yield functional fluoro-polymers and copolymers including functional polymers prepared from monomers having allylic protons, Si—H groups, and olefinic groups.

Abstract: An in situ controlled oxidation reaction of trialkylborane (BR3) in the presence of polyolefin and maleic anhydride produces mono-oxidized trialkylborane adducts, i.e., peroxyldialkylborane (R—O—O—BR2), that can undergo homolytic cleavage to form (R—O* *O—BR2) and activate the polyolefin chain by alkoxyl radical (R—O*) hydrogen-abstraction at ambient temperature. The formed polymeric radical (C*), associated with the oxidized borane moiety (*O—BR2), then reacts with maleic anhydride by addition reaction, without side reactions, to form functional polyolefins that contain incorporated maleic anhydride side groups.

Abstract: A new class of “living” free radical initiators that are based on alkylperoxydiarylborane and its derivatives and that may be represented by the general formula. R—[O—O—B—&phgr;1(—&phgr;2)]n wherein n is from 1 to 4, R is a hydrogen or a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl radical having a molecular weight from 1 to about 500, and &phgr;1 and &phgr;2, independently, are selected from aryl radicals, based on phenyl or substituted phenyl groups, with the proviso that &phgr;1 and &phgr;2 can be the chemically bridged to each other with a linking group or with a direct chemical bond between the two aryl groups to form a cyclic ring structure that includes a boron atom are disclosed.

Abstract: An in situ controlled oxidation reaction of trialkylborane (BR3) in the presence of polyolefin and maleic anhydride produces mono-oxidized trialkylborane adducts, i.e., peroxyldialkylborane (R—O—O—BR2), that can undergo homolytic cleavage to form (R—O* *O—BR2) and activate the polyolefin chain by alkoxyl radical (R—O*) hydrogen-abstraction at ambient temperature. The formed polymeric radical (C*), associated with the oxidized borane moiety (*O—BR2), then reacts with maleic anhydride by addition reaction, without side reactions, to form functional polyolefins that contain incorporated maleic anhydride side groups.

Abstract: A new class of “living” free radical initiators that are based on alkylperoxydiarylborane and its derivatives and that may be represented by the general formula.

Abstract: Functional polyolefin material containing a terminal styrene or styrene derivative unit and having the following molecular structure: in which polyolefin is a homopolymer or copolymer prepared by metallocene-mediated coordination polymerization of linear, branched or cyclic C3-C18 alpha-olefins and/or diolefins, in which the molecular weight of polyolefin segment is above 500 g/mole, preferably in the range between 10,000 to 1,000,000 g/mole, in which the number of methylene spacer units (n) is between 0 and 6, and preferably between 0 and 3, and in which X is a group selected from H, Cl, Br, I, OH, NH2, COOR, O—BR2, O—SiR3, N(SiR3)2, BR2, SiR3 (where R is a C1 to C10 linear, branched, cyclic or aromatic alkyl group), CH═CH2, COOH, COOLi, and succinic anhydride, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the functional polyolefin material.

Abstract: Functional polyolefin material containing a terminal styrene or styrene derivative unit and having the following molecular structure: 1

Abstract: A new class of “living” free radical initiators that are based on alkylperoxydiarylborane and its derivatives and that may be represented by the general formula. R—[O—O—B-&phgr;1(-&phgr;2)]n wherein n is from 1 to 4, R is a hydrogen or a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl radical having a molecular weight from 1 to about 500, and &phgr;1 and &phgr;2, independently, are selected from aryl radicals, based on phenyl or substituted phenyl groups, with the proviso that &phgr;1 and &phgr;2 can be the chemically bridged to each other with a linking group or with a direct chemical bond between the two aryl groups to form a cyclic ring structure that includes a boron atom are disclosed.

Abstract: A new class of “living” free radical initiators that are based on alkylperoxydiarylborane and its derivatives and that may be represented by the general formula.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyolefin copolymers (I) and to graft copolymers (II) which are prepared from the copolymers (I), wherein the copolymers (I) are linear copolymers containing divinylbenzene comonomer units selected from the group consisting of 1,4-divinylbenzene units, mixtures of 1,4- and 1,3-divinylbenzene units and mixtures of 1,4-, 1,3- and 1,2-divinylbenzene units, wherein R, in formulas I and II, is a C1 to C10 linear or branched alkyl group or a C6 to C10 substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group; and wherein G and G′, independently, are selected from —H, —OH, epoxy, —NH2, —COOH, anhydride, —Cl, —Br, —M, —COOM (M=metal) or a polymer chain having the molecular weight of at least about 500, which can be derived from both step and chain polymerization reactions. In the graft copolymer (II), the combined alpha-olefin mole % (x+y) is from about 50 and 99.

Abstract: A new class of ferroelectric terpolymers having an exceptionally large electrostrictive response (>3%) induced by external electric field at ambient temperature comprise 50-80 mole % of vinylidene fluoride (VDF), 15-40 mole % of trifluoroethylene (TrFE) and 2-20 mole % of at least one bulky monomer, such as chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) or hexafluoropropene (HFP). These semicrystalline terpolymers behave like a ferroelectric relaxor having a rapid electric field-induced mechanical response, due to a low Curie temperature (phase transition between polar and nonpolar crystalline domains at or near ambient temperature) and high dielectric constant. A combination of bulk polymerization and free radical polymerization using oxidation adducts of an organoborane as the free radical initiator may be used to prepare the terpolymers, such that the terpolymers are characterized by good processibility, high purity and uniform molecular structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyolefin copolymers (I) 1

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing polyolefin graft copolymers (II) from linear and well defined polyolefin copolymers (I) containing divinylbenzene comonomer units, wherein R, in formulas I and II, is a C1 to C10 linear or branched alkyl group or a C6 to C10 substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group; and wherein G and G′, independantly, are selected from —H, —OH, epoxy, —NH2, —COOH, anhydride, —Cl, —Br, —M, —COOM (M=metal, e.g., Li, Na, K and Ca) or a polymer chain having the molecular weight of at least about 500, which can be derived from both step and chain polymerization reactions. G and G′ can be selected singly or in a combination of two or more thereof. In the graft copolymer composition, the combined alpha-olefin mole .% (x+y) is from about 50 to 99.9 mole %. Preferably, x+y is from 85 to 99.9 mole %, and most preferably x+y is from 95 to 99.9 mole %.

Abstract: Polyolefin diblock copolymers are prepared via a chain transfer reaction with a borane dimer compound during a transition metal-catalyzed olefin polymerization in a process that resembles a transformation from transition metal coordination polymerization to free radical polymerization via a borane end group. The polyolefin diblock copolymers may be represented by the following formula: (Transition Metal Prepared Polyolefin)-b-(Free Radical Prepared Polymer), wherein the polyolefin segment is a homo-, co- and ter-polymer prepared by transition metal (especially metallocene catalyst) coordination polymerization of at least one olefin, and the free radical prepared polymer segment is prepared by free radical polymerization of at least one vinyl monomer, such as styrene, maleic anhydride, acrylates, methacrylates and their mixtures. The resulting diblock copolymers are useful as the interfacial materials to improve the interaction between polyolefins and other materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to linear copolymers containing alpha-olefin and divinylbenzene comonomer units and to a process for preparing the copolymers, the copolymers having a mole ratio of unsaturation/divinylbenzene (TUS/DOU) between 0.8 and 1.1, a molecular weight distribution of less than 4, and a homogeneous composition distribution, and having the structural formula ##STR1## in which R is a linear or branched C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 alkyl group or a phenyl or alkyl-substituted phenyl group, x+y is the mole % of alpha-olefin units in the copolymer, z is the mole % of divinylbenzene units in the copolymer, the sum of x+y is from 50 to 99.9, and the sum of x+y+z is 100. The copolymers are prepared in the presence of a bridged metallocene catalyst having a spacial opening at the metal active site of between 135 and 105.degree. for reacting with only one of the two vinyl groups in the divinylbenzene comonomer, which assures the formation of linear copolymers without detectable branching structure.

Abstract: Functionalized terpolymers of two different .alpha.-olefin and para-alkylstyrene are disclosed, wherein the functionalized terpolymers have a substantially homogeneous compositional distribution represented by the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R' and R" independently, are hydrogen or a primary or secondary alkyl group; X is a functional group, such as --COOH, --OH, --SH, --NH.sub.2, --Cl, --Br, --M, --COOM (M =metals, e.g. Li, Na, K and Ca) and anhydrides; P is a polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500; Y is chemical linkage between polymer P and para-alkystyrene side chain; and the combination of a+b+c+d+e represents the empirical formula of a substantially random functional polymer; where both a and b are greater than 0; where the sum of a+b ranges from about 50 to 100,000; where each of c, d and e range from 0 to 10,000; where both d and e can not be 0; and where the sum of c+d+e is at least 1.