Abstract: A composition may include the resin and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles included in the resin to form a resin mixture. The resin may have a resin coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), a resin cure shrinkage, and/or a resin heat of reaction. The polymer nanoparticles may have a nanoparticle cure shrinkage less than the resin cure shrinkage, a nanoparticle CTE different than the resin CTE, and/or a nanoparticle heat of reaction less than the resin heat of reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to solid formulations for the oral delivery of live microbial cells which comprise dried viable cells and small amounts of a bile acid binding agent, for example, an anion exchange resin such as cholestyramine. The presence of bile acid binding agents in the formulation significantly increases the survival of the cells in the intestinal tract and facilitates delivery of the viable cells to the intestine.

Abstract: The present is a hydrophilic polymer microparticle, which has a DW/DA ratio of 2.0 or less, the DW representing a particle diameter of the hydrophilic polymer microparticle dispersed in water, the DA representing a particle diameter of the hydrophilic polymer microparticle dispersed in acetone, each of the particle diameters measured by a particle size distribution analyzer after the hydrophilic polymer microparticle is dispersed in water or acetone, subjected to irradiation with ultrasonic waves for 15 minutes, and allowed to stand at a temperature of 25° C. for 240 hours for equilibration; and has a contact angle with water of 70° or less, the contact angle measured using a contact angle measurement apparatus at a temperature of 25° C. by forming a droplet of pure water on a single layer of the hydrophilic polymer microparticles arranged with no space therebetween.

Abstract: The cross-linked polyzwitterion/anion for the removal of strontium from aqueous solutions is a polyzwitterion having the following structure: and the corresponding anion formed by treating the polyzwitterion with a base, e.g., sodium hydroxide. The cross-linked polyzwitterion/anion (CPZA) was prepared using Butler's cyclopolymerization protocol. The CPZA resin was found to have a very good adsorption capacity for Sr2+ ions at low concentrations. The relatively strong rapid initial adsorption of 83% Sr2+ ions was followed by slower adsorption of the remaining 17%, which was described by an intraparticle diffusion model. The adsorption followed the Lagergren second-order kinetic model, and Temkin as well as Freundlich isotherm models. The negative ?Gs and ?H ensured the spontaneity and the exothermic nature of the adsorption process. The excellent adsorption and desorption efficiencies implied the efficacy of the resin in removing (as well as recovering) the metal ions from aqueous solution.

Abstract: A proton conducting polymer electrolyte comprising a proton conducting ionomer cross-linked with an amount of a copolymer additive comprising cross-linking functional groups and other functional groups (e.g. proton carriers, chelating agents, radical scavengers) shows improved durability over the ionomer alone and provides for more stable inclusion of these other functional groups. The copolymer additive comprises at least two types of metal oxide monomers, one having cross-linking functional groups and the other having the other functional groups.

Abstract: A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane.

Abstract: A new class of membranes for use in protective clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polymer-polymer membrane with an ionic polymer located within the nanopores of a porous polymer host membrane. A method for making the polymer-polymer membranes involves filling porous polymers with ionic polymers. The porous polymers may be fabricated by a template synthesis which involves sorption. The ionic polymers may be filled in the nanopores of the porous polymer by plasma-induced graft copolymerization of the ionic polymer with the porous polymeric host membrane.

Abstract: A water insoluble additive for improving the performance of an ion-exchange membrane, such as in the context of the high temperature operation of electrochemical fuel cells. The insoluble additive comprises a metal oxide cross-linked matrix having proton conducting groups covalently attached to the matrix through linkers. In one embodiment, the metal is silicon and the cross-linked matrix is a siloxane cross-linked matrix containing silicon atoms cross-linked by multiple disiloxy bonds and having proton conducting groups covalently attached to the silicon atoms through alkanediyl linkers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the extrusion of thermoplastic polymers having alkaline ionic groups. The process consists in preparing a mixture composed of a thermoplastic polymer having alkaline ionic groups and a plasticizer, in extruding the mixture obtained to form a film; then in washing the film obtained in aqueous medium to remove said plasticizer(s). The plasticizer is chosen from non-volatile compounds which are stable with respect to the ionic groups of the polymer, which are soluble in water or in solvents that are miscible with water, said plasticizers being chosen from the compounds that react with the ionic group of the polymer via formation of a weak bond of the hydrogen bond-type, and the compounds that react with the ionic group of the polymer via formation of a strong bond, of the ionic bond-type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the extrusion of thermoplastic polymers having acid ionic groups. The process consists in preparing a mixture composed of a thermoplastic polymer having acid ionic groups and a plasticizer, in extruding the mixture obtained to form a film, then in washing the film obtained in aqueous medium to remove said plasticizer(s). The plasticizer is chosen from non-volatile compounds which are stable with respect to the ionic groups of the polymer, which are soluble in water or in solvents that are miscible with water, said plasticizers being chosen from the compounds that react with the ionic group of the polymer via formation of a weak bond of the hydrogen bond-type, and the compounds that react with the ionic group of the polymer via formation of a strong bond, of the ionic bond-type.

Abstract: Improved polymer-based materials are described, for example for use as an electrode binder in a fuel cell. A fuel cell according to an example of the present invention comprises a first electrode including a catalyst and an electrode binder, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may be a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). The electrode binder includes one or more polymers, such as a polyphosphazene.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrophilic polymer microparticle which shows reduced swelling in an aqueous medium and has an excellent dispersibility in an aqueous medium, a filler for ion-exchange liquid chromatography which can effectively suppress non-specific adsorption of protein and the like, a method for analyzing glycosylated hemoglobin using the filler for ion-exchange liquid chromatography, a method for production of a filler for ion-exchange liquid chromatography that can maintain suppressive effects on swelling, non-specific adsorption and the like for a long period of time, a filler for ion-exchange liquid chromatography produced by the method for production of a filler for ion-exchange liquid chromatography, and a filler for ion-exchange liquid chromatography for glycosylated hemoglobin analysis.

Abstract: Methods of producing macromolecular compositions and using same are provided. The method includes preparing a resin material; forming an acetyl group on the resin material; and oxidizing the acetyl group via a one-step reaction including reacting a sulfoxide and an acid with the acetyl group to form a ketoaldehyde group. The macromolecular compositions are capable of removing an effective amount of one or more constituents from a physiological solution, such as urea during dialysis therapy.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of making graft copolymers, and articles having such graft copolymers. The methods may provide better control than in radicalization or photoinitiated polymerization techniques. For example, a graft copolymer can be prepared by reacting an alkoxide ion with a polymer. The alkoxide, in turn, can be provided by any suitable technique, for example, by reacting an alcohol with a base. In some embodiments of the invention, the graft copolymers may be a normally hydrophobic polymer, such as a polysulfone, that has been made more hydrophilic due to the attachment of hydrophilic side groups such as polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol. The copolymers of the invention have many uses, for example, in films or porous membranes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing porous macroreticular polymers comprising polymerizing one or more monoethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a silicone based porogen.

Abstract: A porous or non-porous polymeric substrate having its surface modified with an immobilized fluorocarbon such as perfluorocarbon, polymeric composition is provided. The immobilized fluorocarbon is formed from a monomer having formula: [T—SO2Y—SO2T?]?M+ in which —T and T? are identical or different and comprise an organic radical bearing at least one active polymerization function such as an unsaturation or a ring that can be opened; —M+ comprises an inorganic cation.

Abstract: The invention provides novel solid supports comprising dihydroxyalkyl aminoalkyl and dihydroxyalkylaminobenzyl groups, and methods for making and using them. The supports are particularly useful for immobilizing and derivatizing functionalized boronic acids for use in solid phase synthesis, such as those used in combinatorial chemistries. The compositions and methods of the invention are also useful as scavenger solid supports, e.g., in solution-phase parallel synthesis of small molecule libraries, and for use in resin-to-resin transfer reactions via phase transfer of solid supported boronic acids under both aqueous and anhydrous conditions. The methods of the invention provide convergent solid-phase synthesis of symmetrically or unsymmetrically functionalized compounds, such as biphenyl compounds. Also provided are synthesizer devices, e.g., semiautomated parallel synthesizers.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing anion exchange resins based on the use of a non-agitated plug-flow quench procedure followed by recycle of a portion of the recovered chloromethylation reaction fluids into subsequent chloromethylation reactions is disclosed. The combination of plug-flow hydration, providing highly concentrated recovered sulfuric acid, together with the recycle or reuse of the recovered concentrated sulfuric acid, allows for reduced raw material requirements during anion exchange resin manufacture and reduces the environmental impact of waste sulfuric acid processing.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing 2-(4-pyridyl)ethanethiol easily.

Abstract: Polymer composition, membrane comprising the same, process for production thereof and use thereof The composition described comprises 30 to 99.5% by weight of a sulfonated aromatic polyether ketone which has an ion-exchange capacity of from 1.3 to 4.0 meq (—SO3H)/g of polymer, and from 0.5 to 70% by weight of a polybenzimidazole. This composition can, as can a sulfonated polyether ketone of PEK type, be processed to give membranes, preferably used in fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing porous macroreticular polymers comprising polymerizing one or more monoethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a silicone based porogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of fabricating composite membranes wherein at least one of the components is initially provided in the form of a precursor. The composite material comprising the precursor is processed to transform the precursor and obtain a membrane having a desired property. Including a thermoplastic precursor to a desired component, which itself is less thermoplastic, permits separate pieces of the membrane to be joined by welding or other thermal processes relying on the meltability of the components to achieve a bond. The invention also encompasses fabricating a reinforced ion conducting membrane by melting and mixing a non ion-conducting precursor to an ion-conducting polymer with an essentially inert polymer. The composite material is then processed to transform the non ion-conducting polymer into the ion-conducting form.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane for use in a fuel cell can contain sulfonated polyphenylether sulfones. The membrane can contain a first sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone and a second sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone, wherein the first sulfonated polyphenylether and the second sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone have equivalent weights greater than about 560, and the first sulfonated polyphenylether and the second sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone also have different equivalent weights. Also, a membrane for use in a fuel cell can contain a sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone and an unsulfonated polyphenylether sulfone. Methods for manufacturing a membrane electrode assemblies for use in fuel cells can include roughening a membrane surface. Electrodes and methods for fabricating such electrodes for use in a chemical fuel cell can include sintering an electrode. Such membranes and electrodes can be assembled into chemical fuel cells.

Abstract: A composite membrane is provided in which a porous substrate is impregnated with a polymeric composition comprising various combinations of .alpha.,.beta.,.beta.-trifluorostyrene, substituted .alpha.,.beta.,.beta.-trifluorostyrene and ethylene-based monomeric units. Where the polymeric composition includes ion-exchange moieties, the resultant composite membranes are useful in electrochemical applications, particularly as membrane electrolytes in electrochemical fuel cells.

Abstract: A process for preparing an N-oxide of pyridine or a halopyridine, said process comprising reacting a reaction mixture of said pyridine, or said halopyridine, and hydrogen peroxide in a reaction conducted at an elevated temperature in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a heterogeneous catalyst, said heterogeneous catalyst being insoluble in said reactants, to form said 2-halopyridine-N-oxide or pyridine-N-oxide.

Abstract: A composite membrane is provided in which a porous substrate is impregnated with a polymeric composition comprising various combinations of .alpha.,.beta.,.beta.-trifluorostyrene, substituted .alpha.,.beta.,.beta.-trifluorostyrene and ethylene-based monomeric units. Where the polymeric composition includes ion-exchange moieties, the resultant composite membranes are useful in electrochemical applications, particularly as membrane electrolytes in electrochemical fuel cells.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are derived from copolymers of .alpha.,.beta., .beta.-trifluorostyrene with a variety of substituted .alpha.,.beta.,.beta.-trifluorostyrenes. These compositions are suitable for use as membranes, particularly as ion-exchange membranes, and most particularly as solid polymer electrolytes in electrochemical applications, such as, for example, electrochemical fuel cells.

Abstract: An ion exchanger comprising a particle of an insoluble crosslinked polymer having alcoholic hydroxyl groups, as a base material, and a glycidyl-adduct of polyol and/or its oligomer, as a spacer, wherein ion exchange groups are attached to the spacer.

Abstract: Cation-exchange resins are provided which have improved resistance to copolymer degradation caused by oxidizing agents like molecular oxygen. The resins are prepared by incorporating a para-substituted styrenic monomer having an oxidation-stabilizing moiety in a position para to a polymerizable vinyl moiety. These cation-exchange resins can be used in separation processes for longer periods of time without detrimental increases in bed pressure drops, loss of operating capacity, or leaching of organic contaminants.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polymer product for immobilizing of metal ions, adsorption, and the like, with the structureP--X--A--Qwherein P is a hydrophilic polymer with a molecular weight of more than 3 000 Daltons. X is a heteroatom, O, S or N, A is an atom sequence with at least 3 carbon atoms, and Q is a group with at least two branches with terminal, metal, metal chelate forming substituents, each having at least two hetero atoms, N, O or S, separated by two or at most three carbon atoms in a sequence or Q is a macrocyclic ring with at least 8 and not more than 30 atoms, at least 3 of which are nitrogen atoms, in sequence in the ring, and the preparation thereof which is done by activating a hydrophilic polymer with epoxi or vinylsulfone or inserting of aldehyde groups, couupling with tris-(2-aminoethyl)-amin and treating with reagents chosen from .alpha.-haloalkanoate, .alpha.

Abstract: In one aspect, this invention is a polyurethane polymer having dispersed therein elongated particles of a high-melting, rigid polymer in an amount sufficient to measurably increase the tensile strength and/or elongation of the polyurethane relative to a like polyurethane which is prepared in the absence of said elongated particles.In another aspect, this invention is an active hydrogen-containing composition comprising at least one active hydrogen-containing compound having dispersed therein elongated particles of a high-melting rigid polymer in an amount which provides reinforcement to a polyurethane polymer prepared by reacting said active hydrogen-containing composition with a polyisocyanate.

Abstract: In the purification of acarbose by contacting an acarbose-containing solution with a cation exchanger to adsorb the acarbose, eluting the ion exchanger and collecting an eluate fraction enriched in purified acarbose, the improvement wherein the cation exchanger is a polymer obtained by polymerizing an aromatic compound possessing at least one vinyl group and at least one hydrophilic monomer in the presence of a solvent for the monomer which is a precipitant for the crosslinked polymer formed, isolating the resistant polymer, and sulphonating the polymer in the presence of a swelling agent for the polymer. The invention gives shapr separation and other processing advantages.

Abstract: An improved process for the manufacture of crosslinked copolymer particles from seed particles by imbibing a monomer therein and polymerizing the same under controlled suspension conditions wherein said improvement comprises expanding the seed in staged or sequential steps of feeding lower levels of crosslinking monomers in the early stages and preferably higher levels of crosslinking monomers at later stages of polymerization.

Abstract: A cationic adsorption agent which is obtained by reaction of(a) an amino compound which contains at least one amino group and at least one free or methylolated carbamide or thiocarbamide group, or a salt thereof,with(b) an aminoplast precondensate which does not contain amino groups.The novel absorption agent is suitable in particular for removing anionic substances, such as acid dyes or reactive dyes, from aqueous solutions, especially from wastewaters.

Abstract: Ferric ions may be removed very selectively from aqueous solutions by means of a metal-chelating resin consisting of the acid-quaternized form of a cross-linked polymer produced by the condensation of a phenolic component comprising one or more phenols, formaldehyde, and a diamino component comprising one or more di-(secondary amino) compounds under neutral conditions. The resin is prepared by treating the cross-linked polymer with an aqueous solution of a strong mineral acid.