Water vapor transport membranes for ERV and other water vapor transport applications are provided. The membranes include a substrate and an air impermeable selective layer coated on the substrate, the selective layer including a cellulose derivative and a sulfonated polyaryletherketone. In some embodiments the sulfonated polyaryletherketone is in a cation form and/or the selective layer includes sPEEK and CA in an sPEEK:CA (wt.:wt.) ratio in the range of about 7:3 to 2:3. Methods for making such membranes are provided. The methods include applying a coating solution/dispersion to a substrate and allowing the coating solution/dispersion to dry to form an air impermeable selective layer on the substrate, the coating solution/dispersion including a cellulose derivative and a sulfonated polyarylether ketone. In some embodiments the sulfonated polyaryletherketone is in a cation form and/or the coating solution/dispersion includes sPEEK and CA in an sPEEK:CA (wt.:wt.) ratio in the range of about 7:3 to 2:3.

A copolymer including a repeating unit represented by Formula I: wherein: L is a divalent hydrocarbon group comprising from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and L is optional and when present is represented by Formula II: wherein: Y, Y and Y if present, are independently selected from: a carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, phosphorous acid and phosphoric acid and their corresponding salt or ester; imino, amide, nitrile, hydrogen, hydroxyl and alkyl comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and A, A and A if present, are independently selected from an arylene moiety, with the proviso one or both Y and A may not be present. ##STR00001##

Provided is a novel liquid crystalline elastomer that can reversibly undergo phase transition between a liquid crystalline phase and an isotropic phase thereof in a relatively low temperature region. A liquid crystalline elastomer precursor comprising a mesogenic group to which an oxide compound is attached, wherein the liquid crystalline elastomer precursor has a molecular moiety excluding the mesogenic group, the molecular moiety having at least one ester bond and at least two active hydrogen groups. A liquid crystalline elastomer comprising the liquid crystalline elastomer precursor cross-linked by a trifunctional or higher-functional isocyanate compound and/or polyol compound, wherein the liquid crystalline elastomer has a molecular moiety excluding the mesogenic group, the molecular moiety having at least one ester bond, and the liquid crystalline elastomer reversibly changes a state thereof between a liquid crystalline phase and isotropic phase thereof in response to a change in temperature thereof.

A method for manufacturing a filter membrane for inhibiting microorganisms includes the following steps: obtaining a nano-zinc precursor and dissolving it into water, adding at least one reducing agent and interfacial agent to the water, thereby reducing zinc ions of the nano-zinc precursor to zinc particles so as to form liquid having nano-zinc particles; respectively placing the liquid having nano-zinc particles and a polymer material into plastic masterbatch process equipment, respectively volatilizing the fluid having nano-zinc particles and polymer material through the plastic masterbatch process equipment, performing air extraction and mixing by the plastic masterbatch process equipment, and adding at least one grafting agent to perform a mixed graft link, allowing the nano-zinc particles and polymer material to be linked together stably so as to form a plastic masterbatch having nano-zinc particles; and making the plastic masterbatch into a filer membrane through film making equipment.

A process for mixing two materials using acoustic energy. A first material and a second material are placed within a mixing vessel and acoustic energy is transferred to the vessel. The first material has a plurality of particles with porosity and the second material may or may not be a polymeric liquid. The acoustic energy mixes the first material and the second material, the second material coats the first material, and shear forces are created that force the second material into at least a portion of the porosity of the first material.

The present disclosure herein relates to a terminally-crosslinked methyl morpholinium-functionalized block copolymer, and an anion exchange membrane using the same, and more particularly, to a terminally-crosslinked block copolymer which has a novel structure, and in which, in a poly(arylene ether sulfone) multiblock copolymer (MM-PES) having methyl morpholinium as a conducting group, an azide compound may be used as a crosslinking agent so that crosslinking only occurs at ends of the polymer chains (xMM-PES), thereby minimizing conductivity loss, significantly increasing mechanical and chemical stability, attaining additional conductivity resulting from the three-dimensional structure of morpholinium, and reducing water uptake while enhancing water retention capacity, uses thereof as an alkaline fuel cell anion exchange membrane (AEM), and a method for conveniently preparing the same through simple heat-treatment.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compositions, methods for producing TPU compositions, methods of using TPU compositions, and apparatuses produced therefrom are disclosed. Disclosed TPU compositions include a thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, a heat stabilizer, a flow agent, and a filler material. The filler may be a glass fiber. Disclosed TPU compositions have improved thermal stability and improved flow properties suitable for injection molding of articles of manufacture having a large plurality of fine openings or pores. Articles produced from the composition have superior thermal stability, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance. Example articles include screening members for vibratory screening machines.

Embodiments presented herein relate to various polymers. Some of the polymer embodiments are heparin binding polymers. Some embodiments of the heparin binding polymers can be employed to bind to heparin for methods such as separating, purifying, removing, and/or isolating heparin and heparin like molecules.

A polyimide random copolymer has a structure represented by formula (I). A method for preparing the polyimide random copolymer, a membrane made of the polyimide random copolymer, and a method for preparing a polyimide-based hollow fiber membrane are also provided. A system for purifying helium gas and a method for purifying helium gas are related to the membrane made of the polyimide random copolymer.

##STR00001##

Embodiments presented herein relate to various polymers. Some of the polymer embodiments are heparin binding polymers. Some embodiments of the heparin binding polymers can be employed to bind to heparin for methods such as separating, purifying, removing, and/or isolating heparin and heparin like molecules.