Abstract: With respect to the anionic polymer ion-exchange material used in an alkaline fuel cell, an electrodialysis apparatus, water treatment industry, catalyst industry, and the like, there are provided an anionic polymer ion-exchange material having both excellent ionic conductivity and excellent mechanical strength, as compared to the materials conventionally used, and a method for producing the same. An anionic polymer ion-exchange material having a polymer base material mainly made of an amide resin having both an aromatic structure and an aliphatic chain in the principal chain thereof, wherein the polymer base material has an anionic monomer graft-polymerized on the aliphatic chain in the principal chain of the amide resin, wherein the anionic monomer has an aromatic structure and a quaternary ammonium structure.

Abstract: An oral health care material and a teeth cleaning agent composition are disclosed. The oral health care material is made of zinc oxide grains, where each is selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide crystalline nanograins, zinc oxide nanorods, zinc oxide hollow fibers, and a mixture thereof, wherein the diameter of each of the zinc oxide crystalline nanograins is 25 nm-200 nm, the cross-sectional diameter of each of the zinc oxide nanorods is 50 nm-1000 nm, the cross-sectional diameter of each of the zinc oxide hollow fibers is 500 nm-3 ?m and its nanograin size is 20 nm-100 nm.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high surface area fiber and method for making the same. The fiber includes a co-extruded internal fiber and an external sheath that is washed with a solvent to remove the dissolvable external sheath, the resulting fiber having a longitudinal axis and a cross-section, the cross-section having a middle region and projections extending from the middle region.

Abstract: A continuous composite fiberglass sucker rod for connection between a pump and a pump drive has a rectangular cross section. End fittings having a rod receiving cavity are connected to the rod ends using a curable adhesive. The rod fitting is maintained in a vertical position with the cavity facing upwardly. The rod end portion is positioned in the cavity with the end at the bottom of the cavity. Curable adhesive is introduced into the cavity. A centralizer bushing is used to maintain alignment of the rod relative to the cavity. A portable heating device receives the fitting and rod end portion and enhances the curing process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing hollow carbon fibers having an empty space in the cross section thereof. More specifically, the disclosed method includes melt-spinning an acrylonitrile-based polymer by using a supercritical fluid as a plasticizer; drawing spun fibers to prepare hollow precursor fibers; and stabilizing and carbonizing the hollow precursor fibers to prepare the hollow carbon fibers. The hollow carbon fibers obtained by the disclosed method have at least a 10 to 50% lower specific gravity than conventional hollow carbon fibers (solid), but have similar mechanical properties to the conventional fibers. Furthermore, the diameter of carbon fibers can be adjusted, thereby making it possible to widen the application of hollow carbon fibers.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method of producing a hollow construct, which may be in various shapes such as a fiber or a film as well as in various sizes and has chemical resistance, made of a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer, a fluorinated carbon polymer or a polymer carrying a nitrogen-containing group, a silicon-containing group, an oxygen-containing group, a phosphorus-containing group or a sulfur-containing group having been introduced into the above-described polymer; and a hollow construct obtained by this method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane being suitable for, for example, hemodialysis. Said membrane comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer. According to the present invention the outer surface of the hollow fiber has pores in the range of 0.5-3 ?m and the numbers of said pores in the outer surface are in the range of 10,000 to 150,000 pores per mm2, preferably in the range of 18,000 to 100,000 pores per mm2, and most preferably in the range of 20,000 to 100,000 pores per mm2. The present invention further relates to a process for the preparation of said membrane and use of said membrane in hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration, and in dialysis and filtration in general, for example in water purification or dehydration.

Abstract: A sandwich core material for a sandwich laminate is disclosed. The sandwich core material includes a number of flexible core material elements having a longitudinal structure. A flexible core material for a sandwich core material, a sandwich laminate and a wind turbine blade including such a sandwich core material are provided. In addition, the present a method of manufacturing such a sandwich core material is provided.

Abstract: There is provided a hollow fiber and method of making. The hollow fiber has an inner-volume portion having a first-core portion and one or more hollow second-core portions. The first-core portion has nanostructures and one or more first polymers. The nanostructures act as an orientation template for orientation of the first polymers in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fiber. The first-core portion is in contact with and encompasses the hollow second-core portions. The hollow fiber further has an outer-volume portion having one or more second polymers. The outer-volume portion is in contact with and completely encompasses the inner-volume portion. The inner-volume portion has at least one of a tensile modulus and a strength that are higher than at least one of a tensile modulus and a strength of the outer-volume portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aggregate of nanofibers having less spread of single fiber fineness values that can be used in wide applications without limitation to the shape and the kind of the polymer, and a method for manufacturing the same. The present invention is an aggregate of nanofibers made of a thermoplastic polymer having single fiber fineness by number average in a range from 1×10?7 to 2×10?4 dtex and single fibers of 60% or more in fineness ratio have single fiber fineness in a range from 1×10?7 to 2×10?4 dtex.

Abstract: A nanofiber 10 made of a water soluble polymer, having a cavity 13, and containing an oily component 14 in the cavity 13. The nanofiber 10 preferably has a small-diametered portion 12 and a large-diametered portion 11. The cavity 13 is preferably in the large-diametered portion 11. The cavity 13 is also preferably in both the large-diametered portion 11 and the small-diametered portion 12, with the cavity 13 in the large-diametered portion 11 and the cavity 13 in the small-diametered portion 12 being interconnected.

Abstract: Porous hollow fibers comprising first pores having an average length in the range from 0.045 ?m to 120 ?m and an average width in the range from 0.030 ?m to 20 ?m, measured in a fiber direction, wherein the ratio of the average length of the first pores to the average width of the first pores is at least 1.5:1, second pores having an average length in the range from 0.1 nm to 99 nm and an average width in the range from 1 nm to 20000 nm, measured in the direction of the fiber in each case, wherein the ratio of the average length of the second pores to the average width of the second pores is not more than 1:1.5. Preferred application areas include use in fillings, in selectively permeable membranes, for the immobilization of enzymes and/or cells, for hemodialysis, and for storage of hydrogen.

Abstract: An energetic composite having a plurality of reactive particles each having a reactive multilayer construction formed by successively depositing reactive layers on a rod-shaped substrate having a longitudinal axis, dividing the reactive-layer-deposited rod-shaped substrate into a plurality of substantially uniform longitudinal segments, and removing the rod-shaped substrate from the longitudinal segments, so that the reactive particles have a controlled, substantially uniform, cylindrically curved or otherwise rod-contoured geometry which facilitates handling and improves its packing fraction, while the reactant multilayer construction controls the stability, reactivity and energy density of the energetic composite.

Abstract: A new class of high modulus polypropylene multifilament fiber and/or yarn is provided. Such a multifilament fiber and/or yarn exhibits an exceptional combination of high strength and toughness with low weight and density. The inventive fibers thus permit replacement of expensive polymeric fibers within certain applications with lower cost alternatives, or replacement of high density components with such low density fibers, without sacrificing strength or durability. Such multifilament fibers are produced through melt-spinning processes and exhibit highly unique microstructures therein, including significant void volumes, interspersed and crossed voids, and nanofilament bridges within such voids. Such microstructural characteristics appear to impart the exceptional properties noted above.

Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic membrane in the form of a hollow fibre, which process comprises: forming a suspension by mixing inorganic oxide precursor particles with a solution of a polymer binder dissolved in a solvent for the binder; feeding the suspension through a spinneret to form hollow fibres; passing the fibres through an air gap and into a coagulant to solidify the fibres; heating the fibres to remove the polymer binder; and sintering the fibres to render them gas tight, wherein the polymer binder is selected so that it may be removed from the fibres by heating without leaving any residual species within the ceramic that will impair the oxygen permeability of the fibres.

Abstract: The invention provides networked polymeric nanofibers having a structure in which amorphous polymeric fibers are branched at multiple sites and having a diameter of from 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers. A solution of a polymer such as polystyrene in a good solvent thereof is rapidly frozen to form a nanoscale phase-separation structure of the polymer and the frozen solvent. The networked polymeric nanofibers can then be obtained upon removing the frozen solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new, improved or modified polymer materials, membranes, substrates, and the like and to new, improved or modified methods for permanently modifying the physical and/or chemical nature of surfaces of the polymer materials, membranes, or substrates for a variety of end uses or applications. For example, one improved method uses a carbene and/or nitrene modifier to chemically modify a functionalized polymer to form a chemical species which can chemically react with the surface of a polymer substrate and alter its chemical reactivity. Furthermore, this invention can be used to produce chemically modified membranes, fibers, hollow fibers, textiles, and the like.

Abstract: An iron oxyhydroxide includes a plurality of iron oxyhydroxide octahedra components, a plurality of chloride components and at least one of germanium hydroxide components or germanium oxide components. The iron oxyhydroxide octahedra components form a tunnel-type structure. The chloride components are disposed in a tunnel of the tunnel-type structure and bonded to at least one of the iron hydroxide octahedra components. The germanium hydroxide components or the germanium oxide components substitute for at least one of the chloride components.

Abstract: Nanomaterials of the JT phase of the titanium oxide TiO2-x, where 0?x?1 having as a building block a crystalline structure with an orthorhombic symmetry and described by at least one of the space groups 59 Pmmn, 63 Amma, 71 Immm or 63 Bmmb. The nanomaterials are in the form of nanofibers, nanowires, nanorods, nanoscrolls and/or nanotubes and are obtained from a hydrogen titanate and/or a mixed sodium and hydrogen titanate precursor compound that is isostructural to the JT crystalline structure. The titanates are the hydrogenated, the protonated, the hydrated and/or the alkalinized phases of the JT crystalline phase that are obtained from titanium compounds such as titanium oxide with an anatase crystalline structure, amorphous titanium oxide, and titanium oxide with a rutile crystalline structure, and/or directly from the rutile mineral and/or from ilmenite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polygonal rod in which a columnar body is provided between angled portions of a rod body, the polygonal rod having improved usability by swinging the rod body along a longitudinal direction of the columnar body. The polygonal rod includes four V-shaped longitudinal members (A, B) and a pair of flat-plate-like longitudinal members (C) to form a rod body (F) having a hexagonal shape, and further includes at least a pair of hollow portions (24, 25), in which a columnar body (21) is formed between angled portions (22, 22) of the rod body (F), and a longitudinal direction of the columnar body (21) is along a swinging direction (X) of the rod body (F), to thereby obtain the lightweight and rigid rod body (F).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a hollow filament (F) based on one or several molten or dissolved hyperbranched polymers (P) and potentially one or several further polymers (FP), characterized in that the molten or dissolved hyperbranched polymer (P) or the mixture of the hyperbranched polymer (P) with the further polymer (FP) is passed through one or several spinnerets (S), wherein the ratio between the spinneret die-length (L) and the die-channel (Delta-D) is between 0.1 and 9.5. The process can be applied for the preparation of hyperbranched polyethersulfone (HPES) hollow filaments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fiber treatment system includes a rotatable nubbed roller including an axis of rotation, a surface, and a number of spaced apart nubs projecting away from the surface, the number of spaced apart nubs imparting a number of spaced apart openings in a fiber tow. In another embodiment, the fiber treatment system further includes an optionally rotatable spreader roller for flattening the fiber tow. In yet another embodiment, the loosened, but still continuous fiber tow is chopped by a downstream chopper to form short fibers with reduced tow sizes.

Abstract: Provided is a composite material useful as a material for a thermal contact surface in a microprocessor which can express extremely high thermal diffusion property and extremely high conductivity, can express a sufficient adhesive strength in its surface, and is excellent in reworking property at the time of a bonding operation. The carbon nanotube aggregate of the present invention is a carbon nanotube aggregate where a plurality of carbon nanotubes each having a plurality of walls penetrate a resin layer in a thickness direction of the resin layer, in which both terminals of the carbon nanotube aggregate each have a shear adhesive strength for glass at 25° C. of 15 N/cm2 or more.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microstructured fiber, includes: providing a preform having a plurality of elongate holes; mating at least one, but not all, of the holes with a connector to connect the hole(s) to an external pressure-controller; drawing the preform into the fiber while controlling gas pressure in the hole(s) connected to the pressure-controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow fiber bundle for accommodation in a mass transfer device, the hollow fiber bundle including a multitude of hollow fiber strands for heat transfer and/or mass transfer which are aligned essentially at least locally along a preferential direction and are arranged with respect to one another in relation to their local preferential directions such that at least one first group of hollow fiber strands points essentially in a first preferential direction, at least one second group of hollow fiber strands essentially in a second preferential direction and at least one third group of hollow fiber strands in essentially a third preferential direction, the three preferential directions being independent of one another.

Abstract: A titania nanotube suitable as an optical sensor or gas sensor is provided. The titania nanotube has a length of 1 ?m or more; preferably a diameter of 0.1 ?m or less and an aspect ratio of 100 or more.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hollow fiber that includes a hollow positioned at the center of the hollow fiber, macropores positioned at adjacent to the hollow, and mesopores and picopores positioned at adjacent to macropores, and the picopores are three dimensionally connected to each other to form a three dimensional network structure. The hollow fiber includes a polymer derived from polyamic acid, and the polyamic acid includes a repeating unit obtained from aromatic diamine including at least one ortho-positioned functional group with respect to an amine group and dianhydride.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel nanoporous glass fibers, and methods of preparing and using such fibers. In some embodiments, articles are made from particular glass starting materials, such as soda-lime phosphosilicate glass fabricated by melt-quench methods. The articles include nanoporous fibers that can be used alone, or sewn, woven, bundled, and otherwise incorporated to form nanoporous articles, including bioactive articles.

Abstract: Provided is a carbon fiber bundle for obtaining a fiber-reinforced plastic having high mechanical characteristics. An acrylonitrile swollen fiber for a carbon fiber having openings of 10 nm or more in width in the circumference direction of the swollen fiber at a ratio in the range of 0.3 openings/?m2 or more and 2 openings/?m2 or less on the surface of the swollen fiber, and the swollen fiber is not treated with a finishing oil agent. A precursor fiber obtained by treating the swollen fiber with a silicone-based finishing oil agent has a silicon content of 1700 ppm or more and 5000 ppm or less, and the silicon content is 50 ppm or more and 300 ppm or less after the finishing oil agent is washed away with methyl ethyl ketone by using a Soxhlet extraction apparatus for 8 hours. The fiber is preferably an acrylonitrile copolymer containing acrylonitrile in an amount of 96.0 mass % or more and 99.7 mass % or less and an unsaturated hydrocarbon having at least one carboxyl group or ester group in an amount of 0.

Abstract: Methods of producing silicon carbide fibers. The method comprises reacting a continuous carbon fiber material and a silicon-containing gas in a reaction chamber at a temperature ranging from approximately 1500° C. to approximately 2000° C. A partial pressure of oxygen in the reaction chamber is maintained at less than approximately 1.01×102 Pascal to produce continuous alpha silicon carbide fibers. Continuous alpha silicon carbide fibers and articles formed from the continuous alpha silicon carbide fibers are also disclosed.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is carbon nanofibers mainly characterized by their high specific volume of mesopores, their high gas adsorption capacity and presenting a graphitic hollow structure. A second object of this invention is a procedure for obtaining such carbon nanofibers, which makes use of a metallic nickel catalyst and specific process furnace parameters that combined with the chemical composition of the furnace atmosphere and the fluidodynamic conditions of the gas stream inside the furnace, result in a faster growth of the carbon nanofibers and also in a higher quality of the carbon nanofibers obtained.

Abstract: The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.

Abstract: A resin coated piston manufacturing apparatus for a shock absorber is provided with a means for pressing a piston raw material to a resin sheet until the resin sheet is locked to a resin sheet locking annular groove of the piston raw material in such a manner as to be capable of reciprocating on a center axis of a set mold. The apparatus having an aligning guide mateable with an inner diameter of the piston raw material set to a piston set hole of the set mold. The aligning guide presses the piston raw material to the resin sheet so as to lock the resin sheet to the resin sheet locking annular groove of the piston raw material, and can press the piston raw material to which the resin sheet is locked, to a heating and cooling cylinder apparatus.

Abstract: A poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having a high molecular weight and a reduced content of low molecular weight species can be prepared by a method that includes specific conditions for the oxidative polymerization, chelation, and isolation steps. The poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) is particularly useful for the fabrication of fluid separation membranes.

Abstract: Briefly described, embodiments of the present disclosure include trilobal bulked continuous filaments (BCFs) with a generally round central void, spinneret plates with a capillary design for producing the BCFs of the present disclosure, articles and carpets produced from the BCFs of the present disclosure, methods of producing the trilobal BCFs of the present disclosure, and the like.

Abstract: Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include hexalobal bulked continuous filaments with three axial voids, spinneret plates with a capillary design for producing the hexalobal, tri-void bulked continuous filaments (BCFs) of the present disclosure, articles made from the hexalobal filaments of the present disclosure, methods of making the hexalobal, tri-void filaments of the present disclosure, and the like.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preparing nucleic acid nanotubes using DNA origami techniques are described, which provide for nanotubes of predictable and uniform length. The nucleic acid nanotubes thus formed are suitable as liquid crystal preparations enabling liquid-crystal NMR spectroscopy of proteins solubilized in detergent.

Abstract: A GaN nanorod and formation method. Formation includes providing a substrate having a GaN film, depositing SiNx on the GaN film, etching a growth opening through the SiNx and into the GaN film, growing a GaN nanorod through the growth opening, the nanorod having a nanopore running substantially through its centerline. Focused ion beam etching can be used. The growing can be done using organometallic vapor phase epitaxy. The nanopore diameter can be controlled using the growth opening diameter or the growing step duration. The GaN nanorods can be removed from the substrate. The SiNx layer can be removed after the growing step. A SiOx template can be formed on the GaN film and the GaN can be grown to cover the SiOx template before depositing SiNx on the GaN film. The SiOx template can be removed after growing the nanorods.

Abstract: A fibrous columnar structure aggregate having excellent mechanical properties, heat resistance, a high specific surface area, excellent pressure-sensitive adhesive property under temperature conditions ranging from room temperature to a high temperature, and/or such pressure-sensitive adhesive property that the adhesive strength for adherents different from each other in surface free energy does not change. A pressure-sensitive adhesive member the fibrous columnar structure aggregates. A fibrous columnar structure aggregate (1) includes fibrous columnar structures having a plurality of diameters, in which: the fibrous columnar structures having a plurality of diameters include fibrous columnar structures each having a length of 500 ?m or more; and the mode of the diameter distribution of the fibrous columnar structures having a plurality of diameters is present at 15 nm or less, and the relative frequency of the mode of the diameter distribution is 30% or more.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a glass fiber having a glass core and a cladding which contains voids spaced apart from the core. The voids act as trapping sites for ingressing molecules from the surrounding environment, thereby reducing the effect of such molecules on the fiber's light-transmission properties.

Abstract: Provided is a frit having a body comprising a matrix material, and a plurality of microcapillaries formed within the matrix material, the microcapillaries substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body. The frit may comprise a microstructured fibre, such as a photonic crystal fibre. The fit may be coupled to a fluidic conduit such as a chromatography column and/or a nanoelectrospray emitter. The frit may be used in applications such as solid phase extraction, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, microreactor systems, and filtering particles in any fluid system where there is a need to retain particles.

Abstract: A fiber for artificial hair that has an improved appearance with a suppressed gloss is obtained by combining regenerated collagen fibers having different shapes in cross section. An artificial hair product using the same is provided. The fiber for artificial hair according to the present invention is obtained by combining fibers having different shapes in cross section. The fiber for artificial hair includes regenerated collagen fibers, and the regenerated collagens fibers include at least two types of regenerated collagen fibers whose cross-sectional shapes are selected from the group consisting of shapes including an elliptical shape, a circular shape, and a multifoil shape. The artificial hair product of the present invention includes the above-described fiber for artificial hair.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microstructured fibre, includes: providing a preform having a plurality of elongate holes; mating at least one, but not all, of the holes with a connector to connect the hole(s) to an external pressure-controller; drawing the preform into the fibre whilst controlling gas pressure in the hole(s) connected to the pressure-controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polyacetal resin which has excellent spinnability and excellent moldability with little optical unevenness when it is molded into a film or a sheet. The present invention provides a polyacetal resin in which the number of fisheyes having a maximum length of 30 ?m or longer is 100 or less per 25 cm2 when it is measured using a film having a thickness of 30 ?m.

Abstract: An electrical power source including at least one hollow fibre incorporated in a material structure, wherein the at least one hollow fibre forms part of an electric circuit capable of storing or generating electrical power. In this way power sources may be provided as an integral part of a fibre composite structure or fabric.

Abstract: The invention relates to the reinforcement of materials by the dispersal of structures in the material to be reinforced. In particular the invention relates to the reinforcement of materials and involves the random dispersal of independent three-dimensional structures in the material, these structures may be a mixture of left and right handed structures and/or comprise a series of lumen to anchor them into the material and/or be selected from a subset of possible three dimensional structures based on the number of apices and connections between these.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preparing nucleic acid nanotubes using DNA origami techniques are described, which provide for nanotubes of predictable and uniform length. The nucleic acid nanotubes thus formed are suitable as liquid crystal preparations enabling liquid-crystal NMR spectroscopy of proteins solubilized in detergent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing ceramic hollow fibers from nanoscale particles and to hollow fibers produced in such a manner. The inventive method is characterized in that the ceramic material has a solids content of >25% by volume, preferably >30% by volume and is processed by means of extrusion and spinning. The hollow fiber is sintered according to conventional sintering methods. A hollow fiber produced in this manner is used for metal, polymer and ceramic matrix reinforcements, for artificial organs, for microsystems technology components, for fiber optical waveguides, for ceramic membranes, for solid electrolyte in fuel cells (SOFC), for tissue engineering and for producing extremely light ceramic parts, such as heat shields or brake systems, that are subjected to temperature stresses. The inventive ceramic batch can also be processed by means of silk screening whereby resulting in the production of filigree structures over the ceramic silk screening.

Abstract: With a view to realizing a titanium oxide structure that has a large surface area and enables efficient transfer of ions and electrons by virtue of titanium oxide particles connected to one another, an object of the invention is to develop a material useful as an active material for dye-sensitized solar cells, and a process for producing the material; a porous titanium oxide composition and a process for producing the composition; and a photoelectric conversion element comprising the titanium oxide structure or porous titanium oxide composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the effective dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polymer matrices. The nanocomposites are prepared using polymer matrices and exhibit a unique combination of properties, most notably, high retention of optical transparency in the visible range (i.e., 400-800 nm), electrical conductivity, and high thermal stability. By appropriate selection of the matrix resin, additional properties such as vacuum ultraviolet radiation resistance, atomic oxygen resistance, high glass transition (Tg) temperatures, and excellent toughness can be attained. The resulting nanocomposites can be used to fabricate or formulate a variety of articles such as coatings on a variety of substrates, films, foams, fibers, threads, adhesives and fiber coated prepreg. The properties of the nanocomposites can be adjusted by selection of the polymer matrix and CNT to fabricate articles that possess high optical transparency and antistatic behavior.