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. These hydrophobic organics aerogels have numerous application potentials in the field of material absorbers and water-proof insulation.
Abstract:
This application relates to flexible, microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials with physical characteristics that make them suitble for a variety of uses. This application particularly relates to degassing the components of the high internal phase emulsions which are subsequently cured to form such foams.
Abstract:
Disclosed are polymeric foam materials obtained using monomers based on silicon and/or germination. The copolymerization of silicon- or germanium-based monomers provide foams that have low glass transition temperatures and low densities. These foams also exhibit relatively high yield stress values, which make the foams suitable for absorption of fluids, particularly aqueous fluids such as urine and menses (when the foams are rendered hydrophilic). The foams have a variety of other uses, including insulation applications.
Abstract:
A porous polymeric material has cell sizes within the range 100 to 0.5 .mu.m and total pore volume with respect to the overall volume of the material in the range 75 to 98% and includes cross-linked polycondensation polymeric material. The material can be made from a high internal phase emulsion in which the cross-linked polycondensation polymer is formed in the continuous phase. The materials are preferably open interconnected cellular structures. They can be made of a wide range of polycondensation materials. The materials are thus highly porous and light weight and have a range of properties depending primarily on their constituent polycondensation materials.
Abstract:
The invention relates to polyolefin foams consisting of polyolefins of ultrahigh molecular weight, i.e. weight-average molecular weight from about 4.times.10.sup.5 to 6.times.10.sup.6 g/mol and higher, and to a novel process for producing these foams by foaming a solution of a polyolefin of ultrahigh molecular weight in a solvent with the use of a physical or chemical blowing agent or of an inert gas blown into the solution, and cooling of the resulting foam to a temperature below the gelling temperature of the polyolefin. If appropriate, these foams can be provided wholly or partially with a smooth skin on their surface by superficial cooling, if appropriate under the action of pressure. These foams are distinguished by high tensile strength and impact strength values, shock-absorbing properties, low glass transition temperatures, low embrittlement at low temperatures and high chemical resistance, and they are used especially as mechanical and acoustic insulating materials, materials of construction, filter agents and implantation materials.
Abstract:
The disclosed invention relates to films from a novel latex mixture which are non-porous, microcellular and opaque in the absence of an opacifying agent. The preparation of the films of the disclosed invention comprises providing control techniques for entrapping a sufficient amount of a liquid non-solvent for the polymer in the polymer matrix of a latex after the continuous phase removal, so that upon evaporation of the non-solvent from a coalesced and tack-free polymer matrix, a resulting opaque and continuous, non-porous film is produced which will have minute, discrete and substantially closed voids and which is opaque in the absence of an opacifying agent such as pigment.The disclosed invention also relates to opaque films with enhanced optical properties produced by the inclusion of pigments, fluorescent materials and optical brighteners in the opaque films in such a manner as to maximize their effectiveness therein.
Abstract:
This provides a flexible, porous, dissolvable solid sheet article having large pores on its top surface as well as a method of making the same.
Abstract:
This provides a flexible, porous, dissolvable solid sheet article having large pores on its top surface as well as a method of making the same.
Abstract:
Silica-based organogels, including aerogels, incorporating hexahydrotriazine and/or hemiaminal species are described. These organo-silica gel materials can have applications as insulating materials. In a particular example, an aerogel includes silica groups and a hexahydrotriazine moiety with at least one nitrogen atom that is covalently linked to a silica group. Methods of making such silica-based organogels are also described.