Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing flame-retardant porous materials comprising the following steps: (a) reacting at least one polyfunctional isocyanate (a1) and at least one polyfunctional aromatic amine (a2) in an organic solvent optionally in the presence of water as component (a3) and optionally in the presence of at least one catalyst (a5); and then (b) removing the organic solvent to obtain the organic porous material, where step (a) is carried out in the presence of at least one organic flame retardant as component (a4), where this flame retardant is soluble in the solvent. The invention further relates to the porous materials thus obtainable, and also to the use of the porous materials for thermal insulation.

Abstract: Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.

Abstract: A method of forming a porous composite material in which substantially all of the pores within the composite material are small having a diameter of about 5 nm or less and with a narrow PSD is provided. The porous composite material includes a first solid phase having a first characteristic dimension and a second phase comprised of pores having a second characteristic dimension, wherein the characteristic dimensions of at least one of said phases is controlled to a value of about 5 nm or less.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous polymer structure comprising the steps of: forming a liquid composition comprising at least one polymer dissolved in at least one solvent; subjecting the liquid composition to stress, and if necessary also to a reduction in temperature, to cause the liquid composition to form a bi-continuous phase separated composition, the bi-continuous phase separated composition comprising a polymer rich phase and a polymer poor phase; solidifying the at least one polymer in the polymer rich phase; and removing the polymer poor phase from the polymer rich phase to provide the porous polymer structure having a bi-continuous morphology from the polymer rich phase.

Abstract: Porous infusible polymer (IP) parts are made by incorporating 0.2 to 10 volume percent organic fibers, preferably with short lengths, into the particulate IP, consolidating the mixture under pressure and optionally heating, and then “burning off” the fibers. After the fibers are burned off the resulting part has porosity in which the pores are elongated, usually retaining the shape of the organic fibers. When these parts are exposed to moisture (which they usually absorb) and then suddenly heated they tend not to blister from vaporization of the water. This makes them useful as parts for aircraft (jet) and other engines and other applications where sudden temperature increase may occur.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a composite or porous composite used as a biodegradable scaffold, the composite prepared therefrom and the use of the composite. In particular, the composite is a calcium sulfate-polylactic acid composite or porous composite and the composite can be especially used as an in situ pore forming scaffold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pump and pumping system for a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip, and a fabricating method thereof. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of fabricating a pump for microfluidic lab-on-a-chips, the method including: infiltrating PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) solution into a porous lump of water-soluble material; performing soft baking of the porous lump of water-soluble material containing the PDMS solution; and dissolving the porous lump of water-soluble material via water to obtain a porous PDMS structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an organic aerogel including a polymer obtained from reaction an aryl alcohol compound, an aldehyde compound, and a polyol compound, a composition for forming the same, and a method of preparing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing porous materials, which comprises reaction of at least one polyfunctional isocyanate with an amine component comprising at least one polyfunctional substituted aromatic amine and also water in the presence of a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use as an antisoiling coating of a porous coating comprising a polysiloxane matrix and a porous volume such that the potential filling ratio of the total volume of said coating by oleic acid is at least 25% by volume, having a porosity rate ranging from 25 to 70% by volume and having no photocatalytic properties. The antisoiling porous coating is self-cleaning, easy to clean and can be regenerated by simple washing. It is mainly intended for use in ophthalmic optics, and proves to be very effective against sebum. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this coating has a mesoporous structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a porous resin particle having a functional group X, the method including: dissolving a radical polymerizable aromatic monovinyl monomer and a radical polymerizable aromatic divinyl monomer together with a polymerization initiator in an organic solvent to prepare a monomer solution, dispersing the monomer solution in water in the presence of a dispersion stabilizer to obtain a suspension polymerization reaction mixture, and performing a suspension copolymerization while adding, when 0 to 80% of the entire polymerization time of the suspension copolymerization is passed, a mercapto compound represented by the formula (I): HS—R—X??(I) in which R represents an alkylene group having a carbon number of 2 to 12, and the functional group X represents a functional group selected from a hydroxy group and a primary amino group, to the suspension polymerization reaction mixture; and the porous resin particle obtained by the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to macroporous absorbent resin special for extracting cephalosporin C and process for preparation. Specific surface area of such kinds of adsorbent resins is around 1000-2000 m2/g, pore volume is 1.5-2.5 ml/g. The preparation method is as follows: according to the suspension polymerization to prepare the macroporous copolymer matrix. The mixture of monomer, porogenic agent, initiator of polymerization was put into solution of dissolving some dispersant, then system was heated to 60-100 C.°, and maintained for 5-10 hours, then crosslinked macroporous copolymer matrix is obtained. With the existence of inert medium, the above described macroporous copolymer matrix reacted with Lewis acid as catalyst at 50-120 C.° though the alkylate reaction between the aromatic nucleus.

Abstract: Acid-labile poly(N-vinyl formamide) (“PNVF”) nanocapsules were synthesized by free radical polymerization of N-vinyl formamide with optional active ingredients on the surface of silica nanoparticles. Polymerization in the presence of a novel cross-linker that contains an acid-labile ketal facilitated stable etching of silica nanoparticle templates using sodium hydroxide and recovery of PNVF nanocapsules. The formamido side group of PNVF was then hydrolyzed by extended exposure to sodium hydroxide to produce polyvinylamine (“PVAm”) nanocapsules. PNVF and PVAm nanoparticles are also synthesized that form nanogels with optional active ingredients.

Abstract: To obtain a non-particle-aggregation-type organic polymer monolith separation medium, there is provided a monolith separation medium comprising a skeletal phase and pores being continuous in the form of three-dimensional network, which skeletal phase on its surface has a functional group permitting introduction of a new functional group. The skeletal phase has a non-particle-aggregation-type co-continuous structure having an average diameter of submicron to micrometer size, and is constituted of an addition polymer from an epoxy compound of bi- or higher functionality and an amine compound of bi- or higher functionality. Further, the skeletal phase is enriched in organic matter and does not contain any carbon atoms derived from aromatic series.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a porous epoxy network, especially a porous epoxy membrane. The process according the present invention comprises the steps of: providing a reactant solution comprising an epoxy resin, a solvent and a curing agent; performing a first curing process to transform the reactant solution to a gel; and performing a second curing process to essentially remove the remaining solvent and transform the gel to form a porous epoxy network with open pores; wherein the curing agent is a tertiary amine.

Abstract: Organosilicate materials and methods for preparing organosilicate materials, including organosilicate films are provided. The organosilicate materials are hydrophobic, amorphous, and substantially microporous. These materials are prepared from organo-functional hydrolysable silane precursors and are prepared without the use of porogens. These materials are suitable for a wide range of uses, including as detection layers for sensing applications.

Abstract: Methods of preparing hybrid aerogels are described. The methods include co-condensing a metal oxide precursor and an organo-functional metal oxide precursor, and crosslinking the organo-functional groups with an ethylenically-unsaturated crosslink agent. Thermal energy and actinic radiation crosslinking are described. Both supercritical aerogel and xerogels, including hydrophobic supercritical aerogel and xerogels, are described. Aerogel articles, including flexible aerogel articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A porous polyimide obtained by removing a silica phase from an organic-inorganic polymer hybrid having a molecule structure in which a polyimide phase and the silica phase are held together by covalent bond.

Abstract: The present invention provides a porous resinous oil-retaining article, containing lubricating oil, which is excellent in the utilization efficiency of the lubricating oil, has a high mechanical strength, and further allows the resin and the lubricating oil to be combined with each other according to a use and a specification. The present invention also provides a method of producing the resinous oil-retaining article. The resinous oil-retaining article comprises a resinous porous article having interconnected holes which are open to a surface of the resinous porous article; and an oil impregnated into the resinous porous article. The interconnected holes are formed by molding a resin containing a pore-forming substance into a molding and extracting a part of the pore-forming substance from the molding with a solvent which dissolves the pore-forming substance and does not dissolve the resin. An interconnected hole porosity of the resinous porous article is not more than 30%.

Abstract: A polymeric hollow nanoshell or nanosphere for release of an agent is described, wherein the hollow nanosphere comprises at least one biodegradable polymer, characterised in that the polymer is cross-linked. The biodegradable mono-disperse nanospheres described are suitable for use as carriers of biomolecules, therapeutic agents and/or imaging agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new class of organic/inorganic hybrid materials having [ER]n rings interconnected by E? atoms. In an embodiment a class of materials called high organic group content periodic mesoporous organosilicas (HO-PMO's) with [SiR]3 rings interconnected by O atoms is described. The measured dielectric, mechanical and thermal properties of the materials suggest that an increased organic content achieved by the [SiR]3 rings of a high organic group content periodic mesoporous organosilica leads to superior materials properties potentially useful for a wide range of applications including microelectronics, separation, catalysis, sensing, optics or electronic printing.

Abstract: The invention presents a new method to prepare biomedical polyurethanes with high tensile and tear strengths. Such polyurethanes are especially interesting for making foams thereof, e.g. as meniscus implants. A new method, applicable to the biomedical polyurethanes, has been found to make such foams, that can be used as scaffolds. This method is based on salt leaching and phase separation.

Abstract: A method to create interconnected porosity in materials that can be poured or injected into a cast. The process allows the arrangement of interconnected volumetric porosity to be directed in materials that are poured or injected into a cast. This process allows a manufacturer to tailor porosity with any size, shape, and configuration with the dissolvable material used to create the pores. This procedure can be applied to medical materials to direct bone growth or implant attachment. These resulting porous materials can include, but is not limited to short fiber reinforced epoxy or epoxy.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing a molecular fingerprint comprising sites for identifying at least one target molecule, the fingerprint being obtained from at least one master molecule of polymeric type, called master polymer. The invention is characterized in that the master polymer is different from the target molecule(s), and is capable of being eliminated by degradation and/or washing, and that at least 5% in number of monomer units constituting the master polymer are involved in the formation of the sites for identifying the target molecule(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides a resinous porous article having a high interconnected hole porosity and capable of retaining a large amount of a lubricating oil and does not rust iron and steel, even though an unextracted portion of a pore-forming substance bleeds out when the resinous porous article is used as parts which contact a metal portion or the like and a method of producing the resinous porous article. The resinous porous article is formed by a producing method of molding a resin containing the pore-forming substance into a molding, and extracting the pore-forming substance from the molding with a solvent which does not dissolve the resin therein. The resinous porous article has an interconnected hole porosity not less than 30%. The pore-forming substance consists of an alkali compound.

Abstract: An apparatus (2) includes: a first tank (4); a line mixer (6); a second tank (8); a cooling jacket (10); a first tube (12); a second tube (14); and a third tube (16). In the first tank (4), (i) sodium persulfate serving as a polymerization initiator and (ii) water are fed so as to obtained an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is continuously taken out and transferred via the first tube (12) to the line mixer (6). Between the first tank (4) and the line mixer (6), water is injected into the first tube (12). The water and the sodium persulfate aqueous solution are stirred together in the line mixer (6). This stirring decreases a concentration of the aqueous solution. The resulting aqueous solution is continuously fed to the second tank (8) via the second tube (14). The aqueous solution is then continuously taken out via the third tube (16) and is continuously added to an acrylic acid (salt) aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method of making mesoporous carbon beads comprises steps of providing a nucleophilic component such as phenolic compound or phenol condensation prepolymer, dissolving the nucleophilic component in a pore former, together with at least one electrophilic cross-linking agent such as formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, furfural and hexamethylene tetramine, dispersing the resulting solution into a mineral oil to form beads, condensing both the component and the agent in the presence of the pore former to form beads of porous resin, removing the beads from the mineral oil and carbonizing the beads to form mesoporous carbon beads.

Abstract: [Problem] A dope solution for membrane production comprising polyethersulfone having high strength, high water permeability, a high rejecting ability and excellent contamination resistance, a separation membrane, and a process for producing the separation membrane are provided. [Means for Resolution] A dope solution for membrane production comprising polyethersulfone, and a solvent for thermally induced phase separation, in which a member selected from the group consisting of 3-pyridinemethanol, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-one, 4-benzylpiperidine, trimethyl phosphate, 1,3-dioxolane-2-one and mixtures thereof is used as the solvent.

Abstract: Foams composed of water-absorbing basic polymers, obtainable by (I) foaming a crosslinkable aqueous mixture including (a) at least one basic polymer whose basic groups have optionally been neutralized, (b) at least one crosslinker, (c) at least one surfactant, (d) optionally at least one solubilizer, (e) optionally thickeners, foam stabilizers, fillers, fibers and/or cell nucleators, and (f) optionally particulate water-absorbing acidic polymers, by dissolving a gas which is inert toward free radicals in the crosslinkable aqueous mixture under a pressure from 2 to 400 bar and subsequently decompressing the crosslinkable aqueous mixture to atmospheric or by dispersing fine bubbles of a gas which is inert toward free radicals, and (II) crosslinking the foamed mixture to form a hydrogel foam and if applicable adjusting the water content of the polymer foam to 1-60% by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed are porous material having hierarchical pore structure and preparation method thereof. A method of synthesizing a nanoporous material having high functionality as a support for bioactive material is combined with a three-dimensional rapid prototyping technique. Thereby, the porous material of the invention has interconnected pores of respective size regions and uneven surface corresponding to each size region, and thus conditions favorable for adhesion, division, proliferation, movement, and differentiation of cells are provided, thereby exhibiting efficient applications in various fields, in addition to bone fillers, restorative materials, and scaffolds.

Abstract: A method for the formation of a membrane is described. A collection of substantially spherical particles formed from a selected material is contacted with at least one reactive material. The reactive material is cured or otherwise polymerized by various techniques, so that it forms a matrix that substantially surrounds and contains the particles. A portion of the particle material is then removed, so that the matrix contains a pattern of pores that are permeable to selected substances in solution. In some instances, the matrix is formed by an interfacial reaction between at least two reactive materials. Related filtration membranes are also described.

Abstract: Gelled biopolymer based foams are disclosed. The gelled foams comprise a cross-linked biopolymer, preferably alginate; optionally, a foaming agent such as hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose; and a plasticizer, preferably glycerin sorbitol, or a mixture thereof, that forms the predominant portion of the gelled foam. The foams are soft and pliable and have high absorbency. They are used as wound dressing materials, controlled release delivery systems, cell culture, barrier media for preventing tissue adherence, and bioabsorbable implants. They also have various personal care applications, especially in oral hygiene, and can be used in food applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biomedical, biocompatible, polymeric foam scaffold suitable for use in the repair and regeneration of tissue and which contains located therein a network of, branched channels that are effective to encourage and facilitate vascularization and tissue growth within the scaffold and to methods for making such biomedical scaffolds.

Abstract: Gelled biopolymer based foams are disclosed. The gelled foams comprise a cross-linked biopolymer, preferably alginate; optionally, a foaming agent such as hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose; and a plasticizer, preferably glycerin sorbitol, or a mixture thereof, that forms the predominant portion of the gelled foam. The foams are soft and pliable and have high absorbency. They are used as wound dressing materials, controlled release delivery systems, cell culture, barrier media for preventing tissue adherence, and bioabsorbable implants. They also have various personal care applications, especially in oral hygiene, and can be used in food applications.

Abstract: Gelled biopolymer based foams are disclosed. The gelled foams comprise a cross-linked biopolymer, preferably alginate; optionally, a foaming agent such as hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose; and a plasticizer, preferably glycerin sorbitol, or a mixture thereof, that forms the predominant portion of the gelled foam. The foams are soft and pliable and have high absorbency. They are used as wound dressing materials, controlled release delivery systems, cell culture, barrier media for preventing tissue adherence, and bioabsorbable implants. They also have various personal care applications, especially in oral hygiene, and can be used in food applications.

Abstract: Gelled biopolymer based foams are disclosed. The gelled foams comprise a cross-linked biopolymer, preferably alginate; optionally, a foaming agent such as hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose; and a plasticizer, preferably glycerin sorbitol, or a mixture thereof, that forms the predominant portion of the gelled foam. The foams are soft and pliable and have high absorbency. They are used as wound dressing materials, controlled release delivery systems, cell culture, barrier media for preventing tissue adherence, and bioabsorbable implants. They also have various personal care applications, especially in oral hygiene, and can be used in food applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer bead material that are characterised by having pore sizes that can be pre-determined and that can be obtained with a narrow distribution of such pore sizes created by use of sacrificial filler materials within the polymer material. The invention also discloses processes for production of the material as spherical or approximately spherical beads or resins with predefined sizes. Also, the invention relates to the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymer materials that are created by the said method. Further the invention relates to the use of said polymer materials for separation, detection, catalysis or entrapment of chemicals, metal ions, inorganic compounds, drags, peptides, proteins, DNA, natural and artificial polymers, natural or artificial compounds, food or pharma products, viruses, bacteria, cells and other entities.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous polymer structure comprising the steps of: forming a liquid composition comprising at least one polymer dissolved in at least one solvent; subjecting the liquid composition to stress, and if necessary also to a reduction in temperature, to cause the liquid composition to form a bi-continuous phase separated composition, the bi-continuous phase separated composition comprising a polymer rich phase and a polymer poor phase; solidifying the at least one polymer in the polymer rich phase; and removing the polymer poor phase from the polymer rich phase to provide the porous polymer structure having a bi-continuous morphology from the polymer rich phase.

Abstract: A composition for preparing a nanoporous material. The composition comprises a thermostable matrix precursor, a calixarene derivative, and a solvent. The composition may enable formation of a low dielectric constant film in which nanopores with a size not larger than 50 ? are uniformly distributed.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods, systems of making a composition that includes one or more active agent; a recognitive polymeric matrix; and a porosigen, wherein the composition comprises a porous recognitive, swellable hydrogel that dissociates under conditions of low water or humidity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymeric porous material characterized in that: the porous material has a bimodal pore size distribution attributable to macropores having a pore size of at least 50 nm and mesopores having a pore size of from 2 nm to less than 50 nm, the proportion of the specific surface area of the macropores to the specific surface area of all pores of the porous material is at least 10%, and the porous material is produced by (1) polymerizing a monomer in the presence of a polymerization initiator using as a porogen a solution obtained by dissolving a polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of at least 100,000 and a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of not more than 1.5 in a good solvent for the monomer, and (2) removing the porogen from the resultant product.

Abstract: A radiation diffractive material that diffracts radiation according to Bragg's law is disclosed. The material includes an ordered periodic array of diffracting regions received within a matrix, the matrix comprising an inorganic sol-gel.

Abstract: The invention relates to the drying of foams by means of microwave radiation, and in particular, where the foams are obtained from aqueous polyurethane dispersions (PU dispersions).

Abstract: Olefin polymer-based, durable, open-cell foam compositions, structures and articles derived from same; methods for preparation of such foams; and use of the dry durable foams in various applications are disclosed. Further described is use of the foams and structures and articles made of same in absorption, filtration, insulation, cushioning and backing applications, and in particular for odor removal, hygiene and medical applications due to, among other properties, good absorption capabilities, softness and/or flexibility of the foams and their recyclable nature.

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 “high internal phase polymeric emulsion” (“HIPPE”) composition is described which comprises an emulsion of a discrete phase (component A) and a continuous phase (component B), wherein the volume fraction of the discrete phase is the majority fraction (on a volume basis) of the total volume of the emulsion. A compatibilizer, component C, is used to lower the interfacial tension between the phases containing components A and B. A process is described for creating such HIPPE composition in which the A component is a colloidal polymer particle.

Abstract: A porous object comprising a three-dimensional network skeleton of a cured epoxy resin and having interconnecting pores, characterized in that the three-dimensional network skeleton forms a non-particle-aggregation type porous object constituted of a three-dimensional branched columnar structure, the proportion of aromatic-ring-derived carbon atoms to all the carbon atoms as a component of the cured epoxy resin is 0.10-0.65, and the porous object has a porosity of 20-80% and an average pore diameter of 0.5-50 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a porous structure material, which is synthesized by mixing an alkyl siloxane compound or a silicate compound with an organic solvent through a sol-gel process, and modified by modification agents. The present invention is also related to a method for manufacturing porous structure material, which comprises reacting an alkyl siloxane compound or a silicate compound with an organic solvent through sol-gel process. The present invention utilizes modification agents to modify hydrophilic groups into hydrophobic groups on the surface of the porous structure material, thereby to lower the surface tension and maintain the porous structure. The porous structure material of the present invention has properties of low conductive coefficient, high porosity, high hydrophobicity and self-cleaning.

Abstract: Process for producing porous polyisocyanate polyaddition products by reacting (a) isocyanates with (b) compounds which are reactive toward isocyanates in the presence of (f) solvent, wherein compounds having a functionality toward isocyanates of at least 6 and a molecular weight of at least 1000 g/mol are used as (b) compounds which are reactive toward isocyanates.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for reducing monomer loss during curing of a high internal phase emulsion. The method has the steps of: forming a water-in-oil emulsion, curing the monomer component in the emulsion in a saturated steam environment, and forming a saturated polymeric foam material. The water-in-oil emulsion has an aqueous phase and an oil phase comprising a monomer component.