Abstract:
A composite material comprising a thermosetting polymer and a nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is provided. The thermosetting polymer forms a polymeric matrix and nanocrystals of the nanocrystalline cellulose are embedded in the polymeric matrix. A process of producing such composite material is also provided. The process comprises the steps of combining a pre-polymer of a thermosetting polymer and an aqueous suspension of a NCC to form an aqueous mixture of the pre-polymer and the NCC, and subsequently removing water from the aqueous mixture to produce the composite material.
Abstract:
Process for the production of a polymer foam with use of hydrogel pearls as porosity generating template, comprising the steps of: - providing a matrix of polymer or prepolymer in viscous state including, as a dispersed phase, hydrogel pearls, where said pearls are dispersed in said matrix so as to generate intercommunicating cells, - causing the solidification of the matrix of polymer or prepolymer to obtain said polymer foam including said hydrogel pearls, characterised in that it comprises the operation of subjecting the thus obtained foam to conditions which cause the dehydration of said hydrogel pearls so as to obtain a reduction of volume of said pearls and - removing the dehydrated pearls by immersion in water of the polymer foam or by exposure of the foam to a flow of pressurized gas or water.
Abstract:
A new conductive interconnected porous film, useful as a material for a gas diffusion layer which is used in a solid polymer type fuel cell, which satisfies the requirements of a good conductivity, good gas permeability, surface smoothness, corrosion resistance, and low impurities and which is strong in bending and excellent in handling to an extent not obtainable by existing sheet materials of carbon fiber, that is, a conductive interconnected porous film wherein a resin base material part of a thermoplastic resin has a porous interconnected cell structure which is formed by removal of removable particulate matter and has cells of sizes of 10 µm to 50 µm and wherein the resin base material part is comprised of different particle size particles of first carbon particles of large size carbon particles of a diameter of 5 µm or more and second carbon particles of micro size carbon particles of a diameter of 10 nm or more mixed together, and a method of production of the same.
Abstract:
A new conductive interconnected porous film, useful as a material for a gas diffusion layer which is used in a solid polymer type fuel cell, which satisfies the requirements of a good conductivity, good gas permeability, surface smoothness, corrosion resistance, and low impurities and which is strong in bending and excellent in handling to an extent not obtainable by existing sheet materials of carbon fiber, that is, a conductive interconnected porous film wherein a resin base material part of a thermoplastic resin has a porous interconnected cell structure which is formed by removal of removable particulate matter and has cells of sizes of 10 µm to 50 µm and wherein the resin base material part is comprised of different particle size particles of first carbon particles of large size carbon particles of a diameter of 5 µm or more and second carbon particles of micro size carbon particles of a diameter of 10 nm or more mixed together, and a method of production of the same.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for production of a porous membrane that includes the steps of: layering a film-forming dope that contains a polymer (A) that forms a membrane base, a polyvinylpyrrolidone (B) and a solvent (C) into a single layer or two or more layers; immersing the film-forming dope in a solidifying fluid that is a non-solvent with respect to the polymer (A) and is a good solvent with respect to the polyvinylpyrrolidone (B); and removing the polyvinylpyrrolidone (B), wherein the polyvinylpyrrolidone (B) has a K value of 50 to 80, a mass ratio r of the polyvinylpyrrolidone (B) to the polymer (A) is 0.5 or more and less than 1, and the viscosity of the film-forming dope at a membrane production temperature is 100 to 500 Pa·s. Accordingly, by using an appropriate amount of a low-molecular-weight hydrophilic polymer capable of being easily removed, it is possible to produce a porous membrane of a three-dimensional network structure in which macrovoids are suppressed, having high water permeability and superior filtration performance.