Abstract:
The invention relates to a material for thermal insulation, including aerogel produced by drying an organogel prepared from pseudopeptides of formula (I), where R is a side chain of an amino acid, R1 is a (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, or heterocyclic compound group, n = 1 or 2, and A is an aromatic group with one or more rings.
Abstract:
A macroporous-structured polymeric aerogel, and methods for making and using the same, having a polymeric matrix that includes macropores is disclosed.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for producing aerogel materials are generally described. In certain cases, the methods do not require supercritical drying as part of the manufacturing process. In some cases, certain combinations of materials, solvents, and/or processing steps may be synergistically employed so as to enable manufacture of large (e.g., meter-scale), substantially crack free, and/or mechanically strong aerogel materials.
Abstract:
A polyolefin microporous membrane is disclosed. The membrane includes at least one microporous membrane layer, where the microporous membrane layer has an air permeability between about 100 sec/100 cc and about 220 sec/100 cc, a pin puncture strength of at least 550 gf, and a crystallization half time t1/2 of from 10 to 35 minutes when subjected to isothermal crystallization at 117° C. The air permeability and the pin puncture strength are normalized to a thickness of 16 μm.
Abstract:
Novel absorbable foams, lyophilizing solutions, and lyophilizing and annealing processes are disclosed. The foams are made from copolymers of glycolide and epsilon-caprolactone. The foams are useful in or as implantable medical devices.
Abstract:
Absorbable medical devices based on novel foams and films made from semi-crystalline, segmented copolymers of lactide and epsilon-caprolactone exhibiting long term absorption characteristics are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing said foams and films, and useful polymer solutions.
Abstract:
Methods for making polymer particles in gel form via an emulsion and/or suspension polymerization are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the method can include reacting a first reaction mixture comprising a phenolic monomer, an aldehyde monomer, and a first catalyst to produce a prepolymer. The method can also include combining the prepolymer with a carrier fluid and a second catalyst to produce a second reaction mixture. The second catalyst can include a dicarboxylic acid, an anhydride, a dihydroxybenzene, or any mixture thereof. The method can also include polymerizing the prepolymer to form polymer particles in gel form.
Abstract:
A method for making polyethylene aerogels, including high molecular weight aerogels, commences by in a hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., toluene or benzene) in which polyethylene is insoluble at room temperature, adding polyethylene to the solvent heated to a temperature at which said polyethylene is soluble to form a reaction mixture. A free-radical catalyst is added to the reaction mixture and the reaction mixture is held until the desired gelation of the polyethylene has been achieved. The reaction mixture is cooled to about room temperature; and the hydrocarbon solvent is replaced with a gas (e.g., CO2 or air) to form the polyethylene aerogel. Optionally, the cooled reaction mixture can be contacted with an anti-solvent for polyethylene to replace the hydrocarbon solvent with the anti-solvent. Silica aerogel particles can be encapsulated in polyethylene aerogel by adding the particles to the polyethylene gelation reaction mixture.