Abstract: Synthetic methods for the preparation of hydrophobic organics aerogels. One method involves the sol-gel polymerization of 1,3-dimethoxybenzene or 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene with formaldehyde in non-aqueous solvents. Using a procedure analogous to the preparation of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogels, this approach generates wet gels that can be dried using either supercritical solvent extraction to generate the new organic aerogels or air dried to produce an xerogel. Other methods involve the sol-gel polymerization of 1,3,5 trihydroxy benzene (phloroglucinol) or 1,3 dihydroxy benzene (resorcinol) and various aldehydes in non-aqueous solvents. These methods use a procedure analogous to the one-step base and two-step base/acid catalyzed polycondensation of phloroglucinol and formaldehyde, but the base catalyst used is triethylamine. These methods can be applied to a variety of other sol-gel precursors and solvent systems.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing nanotube composite materials and fibers that provide exceptional nanotube alignment and dispersion. The disclosed processes include contacting nanotube dispersions with polymer melts. Also disclosed are nanotube composite fibers having high nanotube concentrations, exceptional nanotube alignment, and high thermal conductivity.

Abstract: Nanostructured chromium(III)-oxide-based materials using sol-gel processing and a synthetic route for producing such materials are disclosed herein. Monolithic aerogels and xerogels having surface areas between 150 m2/g and 520 m2/g have been produced. The synthetic method employs the use of stable and inexpensive hydrated-chromium(III) inorganic salts and common solvents such as water, ethanol, methanol, 1-propanol, t-butanol, 2-ethoxy ethanol, and ethylene glycol, DMSO, and dimethyl formamide. The synthesis involves the dissolution of the metal salt in a solvent followed by an addition of a proton scavenger, such as an epoxide, which induces gel formation in a timely manner. Both critical point (supercritical extraction) and atmospheric (low temperature evaporation) drying may be employed to produce monolithic aerogels and xerogels, respectively.

Abstract: A siloxane-based resin having germanium and an interlayer insulating film for a semiconductor device formed using the same. The siloxane-based resins have a low dielectric constant in addition to excellent mechanical properties so that they are useful materials for an insulating film between interconnecting layers of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A porous ion exchanger includes an open cell structure including interconnected macropores and mesopores whose average diameter is in a range of 1 to 1000 ?m existing on walls of the macropores. Moreover, a total pore volume is in a range of 1 to 50 ml/g, ion exchange groups are uniformly distributed, and an ion exchange capacity is not less than 0.5 mg equivalent/g of dry porous ion exchanger. The porous ion exchanger can be used as an ion exchanger filled into a deionization module of an electrodeionization water purification device, solid acid catalyst, adsorbent, and filler for chromatography.

Abstract: A process for producing a porous polymeric structure which process comprises preparing a solution comprising a polymer which comprises vinylidene fluoride in a solvent/non-solvent mixture; holding the solution at an elevated temperature until the polymer is completely solvated; casting the solution to form a thin layer; and drying the thin layer to form a membrane. The polymer is dispersed in the non-solvent before addition of the solvent, when preparing the solution, to prevent microgel formation. The prolonged solvation at elevated temperature provides a stable solution, and enables membranes of controlled porosity to be formed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing porous and composite materials comprising steps of: freezing a complex containing at least one calcium salt selected from calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite and collagen, at least a part of which is gelatinized; and then lyophilizing the resultant. The porous and composite materials obtained by the method of the present invention have large pore diameters, high porosities, and adequate mechanical strengths and biodegradability. Thus, they are suitable for implants such as bone fillers, drug carriers for sustained-release, and the like.

Abstract: A method for preparing a highly porous, high surface area degradable or partially degradable material. The method comprises the steps of mixing a degradable or partially degradable polymer with a mixed solvent comprising a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the mixed solvent comprises a ratio higher than 1:1, first solvent to second solvent; gelling the mixture; and treating the gel under conditions whereby a substantially solvent free porous structure is created having a porosity greater than about 80%; wherein the material is mechanically strong and has a complex porous structure with nano fibrous architecture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing one or more macroporous cross-linked polymer particles, which comprises polymerization and cross-linking of divinyl ether monomers in an inert solvent, in which method the polymerization is free radical initiated. The invention also relates to particles so produced, which are useful as separation medium e.g. in RPC or, after suitable derivatization, in other chromatographic methods.

Abstract: The present photosensitive resin composition 2 comprises a polyamic acid resin 4, a photosensitive agent, a dispersible compound 3 dispersible in the polyamic acid resin 4, and a solvent. The porous resin is obtained by removing the solvent from the photosensitive resin composition 2 to form a composition in which the dispersible compound 3 is dispersed in the polyamic acid resin 4, removing the dispersible compound to make the composition porous, and curing the porous photosensitive resin composition. The porous resin enables forming a fine circuit pattern and has a low dielectric constant and, when used as an insulating layer of a circuit board, brings about improved high frequency characteristics.

Abstract: A siloxane-based resin having a novel structure and a semiconductor interlayer insulating film using the same. The siloxane-based resins have a low dielectric constant in addition to excellent mechanical properties and are useful materials in an insulating film between interconnecting layers of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A pattern forming material contains a block copolymer or graft copolymer and forms a structure having micro polymer phases, in which, with respect to at least two polymer chains among polymer chains constituting the block copolymer or graft copolymer, the ratio between N/(Nc?No) values of monomer units constituting respective polymer chains is 1.4 or more, where N represents total number of atoms in the monomer unit, Nc represents the number of carbon atoms in the monomer unit, No represents the number of oxygen atoms in the monomer unit.

Abstract: A pattern forming material contains a block copolymer or graft copolymer and forms a structure having micro polymer phases, in which, with respect to at least two polymer chains among polymer chains constituting the block copolymer or graft copolymer, the ratio between N/(Nc-No) values of monomer units constituting respective polymer chains is 1.4 or more, where N represents total number of atoms in the monomer unit, Nc represents the number of carbon atoms in the monomer unit, No represents the number of oxygen atoms in the monomer unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nanopore-forming material for forming an insulating film for a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a nanopore-forming organic material containing a triazine functional group and preparation thereof, and a composition for forming an insulating film for a semiconductor device comprising the same, an insulating film using the same, and a manufacturing process thereof. The pore-forming material of the present invention is easy to synthesize, and the molecular weight, molecular structure, and microenvironment thereof are easy to control, and thus it is suitable for a nanopore-forming material.

Abstract: A composition comprising a fluid, silica precursor (A) obtained by subjecting alkoxysilane(s) to hydrolysis/polycondensation in the presence of an acid catalyst, a basic compound (B) having a basic hydroxyl group and/or a basic nitrogen atom, wherein the pH of a 0.1 N aqueous solution of compound (B) is 11 or more, and the vapor pressure of compound (B) is 1.3 kPa or lower at 100° C., and an organic compound (C) having a boiling point of 100° C. or higher, compound (C) being compatible with silica precursor (A), wherein the amount of compound (B) is from 0.0015 to 0.5 mol, in terms of the total molar amount of the basic hydroxyl groups and the basic nitrogen atoms in compound (B), per mole of Si atoms contained in silica precursor (A).

Abstract: Processes for the preparation of adherent polyvinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene coatings on objects and for the direct production of open celled foams from a polymer latex without a need for any blowing agent.

Abstract: An organic porous material having a continuous pore structure, which comprises interconnected macropores and mesopores with a radius of 0.01 to 100 ?m in the walls of the macropores, having a total pore volume of 1 to 50 ml/g and having pore distribution curve characteristics wherein the value obtained by dividing the half-width of the pore distribution curve at the main peak by the radius at the main peak is 0.5 or less. The organic porous material is useful as an adsorbent having high physical strength and excelling in adsorption amount and adsorption speed, an ion exchanger excelling in durability against swelling and shrinkage, and a filler for chromatography exhibiting high separation capability.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing porous beads, which comprises the steps of providing a first liquid phase comprising a bead matrix material and essentially edgy templating particle(s), said particle(s) being treated with a surface modifying agent; providing a second liquid phase which is immiscible with the first liquid phase; contacting the first phase and the second phase under conditions resulting in an emulsion of droplets comprised of the first liquid phase dispersed in the continuous second liquid phase; transforming the droplets to mesoporous beads by solidification of the liquid; and removing the templating particle(s) from the beads without causing any essential change of the surrounding bead, whereby hierarchical networks of pores are provided in the beads.

Abstract: A method including introducing a precursor in the presence of a circuit substrate, and forming a film including a reaction product of the precursor on the substrate, wherein the precursor includes a molecule comprising a primary species of the film and a modifier. A method including introducing a precursor in the presence of a circuit substrate, the precursor including a primary species and a film modifier as a single source, and forming a film on the circuit substrate. An apparatus including a semiconductor substrate, and a film on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, the film including a reaction product of a precursor including a molecule comprising a primary species and a modifier.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel process for the preparation of carbon based structured materials with controlled topology, morphology and functionality. The nanostructured materials are prepared by controlled carbonization, or pyrolysis, of precursors comprising phase separated copolymers. The precursor materials are selected to phase separate and self organize in bulk, in solution, in the presence of phase selective solvents, at surfaces, interfaces or during fabrication, into articles, fibers or films exhibiting well-defined, self-organized morphology or precursors of well-defined, self-organized, bi- or tri-phasic morphology. Compositional control over the (co)polymers provides control over the structure of the phase separated precursor whose organization therein dictates the nanostructure of the material obtained after carbonization or pyrolysis, wherein each dimension of the formed structure can be predetermined.

Abstract: A porous ion exchanger includes an open cell structure including interconnected macropores and mesopores whose average diameter is in a range of 1 to 1000 ?m existing on walls of the macropores. Moreover, a total pore volume is in a range of 1 to 50 ml/g, ion exchange groups are uniformly distributed, and an ion exchange capacity is not less than 0.5 mg equivalent/g of dry porous ion exchanger. The porous ion exchanger can be used as an ion exchanger filled into a deionization module of an electrodeionization water purification device, solid acid catalyst, adsorbent, and filler for chromatography.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resinous filter for an ink-jet recording apparatus, which is obtained by a process comprising: adding common salt to a melt of a resin comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes having a number-average molecular weight of from 30,000 to 80,000 and polypropylenes having a number-average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 100,000; kneading the resultant mixture to prepare a melt to be molded; molding the melt to be molded to obtain a molding; and washing the molding with water to remove the salt therefrom.

Abstract: Methods of preparing porous optical materials are provided. These methods allow for the selection of the desired pore size and level of porosity in the porous optical material. Such methods utilize a preformed polymeric porogen.

Abstract: Ordered, monodisperse macroporous polymers, their corresponding ordered, monodisperse colloids, and methods of preparing them are disclosed. The methods use an ordered, monodisperse colloidal template to define the polymer pore morphology, which in turn acts as a mold for the growth of a new ordered, monodisperse colloid. The macroporous polymer may be prepared with either spherical or ellipsoidal pores from a wide variety of polymeric systems. The new ordered, monodisperse colloid may be grown from a wide variety of materials including ceramics, semiconductors, metals and polymers. These materials are potentially useful in optical, micro-filtering and drug delivery applications.

Abstract: A durable, conformable, absorbent, hydrophilic, polymeric latex foam composition having a free absorbent capacity of at least 5 grams of a 0.9 weight percent aqueous saline solution per gram of foam and capable of vertically wicking said aqueous saline solution to a height of greater than about 5 cm. In a preferred embodiment, after compression, the latex foam composition remains thin until wet, whereupon it expands and exhibits a high free absorbent capacity and high vertical wicking height.

Abstract: Reinforced, laminated, impregnated, and materials with composite properties as cross linked polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel structures in bulk or cellular matrix forms that can take essentially any physical shape, or can have essentially any size, degree of porosity and surface texture. They have a wide range of physical properties, unusual and unique combinations of physical properties and unique responses to stress fields, which allows for their use in many end use applications.

Abstract: An organic porous material having a continuous pore structure, which comprises interconnected macropores and mesopores with a radius of 0.01 to 100 ?m in the walls of the macropores, having a total pore volume of 1 to 50 ml/g and having pore distribution curve characteristics wherein the value obtained by dividing the half-width of the pore distribution curve at the main peak by the radius at the main peak is 0.5 or less. The organic porous material is useful as an adsorbent having high physical strength and excelling in adsorption amount and adsorption speed, an ion exchanger excelling in durability against swelling and shrinkage, and a filler for chromatography exhibiting high separation capability.

Abstract: A plurality of voids are introduced into a polymeric material. One or more stress sensitive components in abutment with a portion of the polymeric material are buffered from one or more stresses through employment of the portion of the polymeric material that comprises one or more voids of the plurality of voids. A movement of the portion of the polymeric material is accommodated through compression of one or more of the one or more voids.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for fabricating ultra-low dielectric constant porous materials. In one aspect of the invention, a method for making porous low-k films is disclosed. The method uses polymer based porogens as sacrificial templates around which a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) deposited matrix is formed. Upon pyrolysis, the porogens decompose resulting in a porous ultra-low dielectric material. This method can be used, for example, to produce porous organosilicate glass (OSG) materials, ultra-low dielectric nanoporous materials, porous ceramics, porous scaffolds, and/or porous metals. Various uses and embodiments of the methods and systems of this invention are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing silicone foam includes the step of adding a mechanical foaming agent to uncured silicone. The mechanical foaming agent is a plurality of solid bodies insoluble in the silicone. The method also includes the steps of curing the silicone and removing the mechanical foaming agent as intact solid bodies from the silicone thereby providing a silicone foam.

Abstract: The present invention features a method for the formation of superporous hydrogels using an ion-equilibration technique. Anionic polysaccharides are included in the hydrogel reaction mixture and cations are introduced either during or after hydrogel formation. Properties of the resulting hydrogel can be subsequently adjusted by treating the cation-complexed gel with a different cation or cation mixture under equilibrating conditions. It has been found that by properly adjusting the cations and the sequence in which they are used in the equilibration process, superporous hydrogels can be formed that are highly absorbent while maintaining favorable structural properties, including strength, ruggedness, and resiliency. It has also been found that applying appropriate dehydration conditions to them after their formation can further stabilize the superporous hydrogels formed by the method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for preparing porous polymer materials by a combination of gas foaming and particulate leaching steps. The invention is also directed to porous polymer material prepared by the process, particularly having a characteristic interconnected pore structure, and to methods for using such porous polymer material, particularly for tissue engineering.

Abstract: An organic aerogel or xerogel formed by a sol-gel reaction using starting materials that exhibit similar reactivity to the most commonly used resorcinol starting material. The new starting materials, including thio-, amine- and nitro-containing molecules and functionalized macrocyclic molecules will produce organic xerogels and aerogels that have improved performance in the areas of detection and sensor technology, as well as water stream remediation. Also, further functionalization of these new organic aerogels or xerogels will yield material that can be extracted with greater facility than current organic aerogels.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, compositions and methods are provided in which the mechanical strength and durability of a precursor material having a plurality of pores is increased by a) providing a precursor material; b) treating the precursor material to form a nanoporous aerogel, preferably by using a supercritical drying process; c) providing a blending material having a reinforcing component and a volatile component; d) combining the nanoporous aerogel and the blending material to form an amalgamation layer; and e) treating the amalgamation layer to increase the mechanical strength of the layer by a substantial amount, and to ultimately form a low dielectric material that can be utilized in various applications.

Abstract: A method of producing silicone foam includes the step of adding a mechanical foaming agent to uncured silicone. The mechanical foaming agent is a plurality of solid bodies insoluble in the silicone. The method also includes the steps of curing the silicone and removing the mechanical foaming agent as intact solid bodies from the silicone thereby providing a silicone foam.

Abstract: A porous, low-k dielectric film that has good mechanical properties as well as a method of fabricating the film and the use of the film as a dielectric layer between metal wiring features are provided. The porous, low-k dielectric film includes a first phase of monodispersed pores having a diameter of from about 1 to about 10 nm that are substantially uniformly spaced apart and are essentially located on sites of a three-dimensional periodic lattice; and a second phase which is solid surrounding the first phase. Specifically, the second phase of the film includes (i) an ordered element that is composed of nanoparticles having a diameter of from about 1 to about 10 nm that are substantially uniformly spaced apart and are essentially arranged on sites of a three-dimensional periodic lattice, and (ii) a disordered element comprised of a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 2.8 or less.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous fiber, the method including blending a natural polymer having a thermal stability with a synthetic polymer having a thermal stability, wherein the thermal stability of the natural polymer is different from the thermal stability of the synthetic polymer, and wherein the natural polymer and synthetic polymer from immiscible phases; extruding the blended polymers while heating at a predetermined heating rate to the fiber spinning temperature; spinning the fibers while maintaining the temperature; and heating the fibers at a heating rate that maintains the natural polymer in a fiber form and that removes the synthetic polymer, whereby a porous fiber is formed.

Abstract: Methods of forming a polymeric structure having a plurality of cells therein that include contacting a polymeric material that includes a first phase and a second phase with a composition comprising carbon dioxide to form the polymeric structure having a plurality of cells therein are described. Polymeric materials and microelectronic devices formed by such methods are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a foamed material comprises heating a mixture which includes a polymer, especially a polyaryletherketone polymer, and a decomposable material, especially magnesium hydroxide or aluminium hydroxide/hydrated alumina, to a foaming temperature at or above the decomposition temperature of the decomposable material. In the method, the decomposable material decomposes to produce water which produces foaming within the polymeric material.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a porous composite product. The process steps are forming a homogeneous mixture having one or more insoluble polymers, one or more soluble or calcinable polymers and one or more fillers, in particular with a high specific surface; extruding the mixture to form an extruded precursor product; removing the soluble or calcinable polymer or polymers from the extruded precursor product, in order to form pores, and recovering the porous composite product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing water immiscible porogens from macroreticular copolymers comprising distilling said porogen in water soluble organic solvent.

Abstract: This relates variously to techniques for comminuting polymeric foams, to techniques for preparing polymeric foams containing that comminuted foam, and to the resulting comminuted foam powder and polymeric foams. The procedures may be used on foams containing production contaminants such as polyolefins, paper, and foam skins and on other foams containing consumer contaminants such as wood, metal, leather, etc. The comminuted foam powder, with or without contaminants, preferably is screened or sifted to obtain a foam powder having a particle size of about 2 mm or less.

Abstract: Small particles of polymeric material are produced by expansion of a mixture of monomers and a propellant. The size and shape of the particles can be precisely tailored by materials selection and expansion conditions. Particles of 10 nanometers to 100 microns can be produced. If monomers exhibiting solid state reactivity are utilized, the particles thus formed can be polymerized at any time after formation. The particles produced by this method can be molecularly imprinted by incorporating a template into the particle prior to fully curing the particle, in a manner which allows selective extraction of the template from the cured particle after formation without deformation of the imprint site. A two step polymerization process allows the particles to be deposited on and adhered to a wide variety of substrates without additional agents.

Abstract: A porous carbonized film with fine continuous pores, obtained by carbonization of a highly heat-resistant resin porous film in an anaerobic atmosphere, and a process for its production.

Abstract: A durable, conformable, absorbent, hydrophilic, polymeric latex foam composition having a free absorbent capacity of at least 5 grams of a 0.9 weight percent aqueous saline solution per gram of foam and capable of vertically wicking said aqueous saline solution to a height of greater than about 5 cm. In a preferred embodiment, after compression, the latex foam composition remains thin until wet, whereupon it expands and exhibits a high free absorbent capacity and high vertical wicking height.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein are physically cross-linked, cellular hydrogels and methods for their preparation. The cellular materials are highly resilient, hydrophilic materials having broad uses. The cellular materials are prepared by the physical crosslinking of frothed polymers and providing materials that have cellular pores provided by the use of removable materials during the formation of the cellular materials.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus combinations and methods for producing a coating powder are provided wherein a stream of a powder coating precursor including at least one resin and at least one additional powder coating ingredient is contacted with a process fluid effective to reduce the viscosity of the powder coating precursor to allow processing of the powder coating precursor at a lower temperature.

Abstract: A pattern forming material contains a block copolymer or graft copolymer and forms a structure having micro polymer phases, in which, with respect to at least two polymer chains among polymer chains constituting the block copolymer or graft copolymer, the ratio between N/(Nc−No) values of monomer units constituting respective polymer chains is 1.4 or more, where N represents total number of atoms in the monomer unit, Nc represents the number of carbon atoms in the monomer unit, No represents the number of oxygen atoms in the monomer unit.

Abstract: A nanoporous polymer comprises hollow structures fabricated from crosslinked polymeric strands. The hollow structures are further coupled to other crosslinked polymeric strands by a covalent bond. Particularly contemplated nanoporous polymers have a Tg of no less than 400° C. and a dielectric constant k of no more than 2.5.

Abstract: Disclosed are organo polysilica dielectric materials having low dielectric constants useful in electronic component manufacture are disclosed along with methods of preparing the porous organo polysilica dielectric materials. Also disclosed are methods of forming electronic devices containing such porous organo polysilica dielectric materials without the use of antiretlective coatings.