In various aspects, the sensors include a substrate that is porous and non-conductive with nanoparticles deposited onto the substrate within pores of the substrate by an electrophoretic process to form a sensor element. The nanoparticles are electrically conductive. The sensor includes a detector in communication with the sensor element to measure a change in an electrical property of the sensor element. The change in the electrical property may result from alterations in quantum tunneling between nanoparticles within the sensor element, in various aspects.

The present invention discloses compositions and materials for providing protection against heat and fire. More particularly, the present invention discloses thermal insulating and fire protecting materials and products and processes of developing the same. The materials of the present invention provide excellent insulation even above 500 C. without being degraded or change in shape.

The present invention discloses compositions and materials for providing protection against heat and fire. More particularly, the present invention discloses thermal insulating and fire protecting materials and products and processes of developing the same. The materials of the present invention provide excellent insulation even above 500 C. without being degraded or change in shape.

A method of battery separator manufacture and method of use includes applying a slurry including high surface area carbon to a glass mat scrim on a negative separator. A method for the application of a slurry including the high surface area carbon to a glass mat scrim on the negative separator to increase charge acceptance and/or cycle life of a lead acid battery. A battery separator with a glass mat scrim having a slurry including high surface area carbon for increasing charge acceptance and/or cycle life of a lead acid battery. The method or battery separator wherein the slurry including the high surface area carbon, lignosulfonate, and a binder. The method or battery separator disclosed herein being used in a flooded or an enhanced flooded battery EFB. The method or battery separator disclosed herein being used in an absorbed glass mat AGM battery.

A method of battery separator manufacture and method of use includes applying a slurry including high surface area carbon to a glass mat scrim on a negative separator. A method for the application of a slurry including the high surface area carbon to a glass mat scrim on the negative separator to increase charge acceptance and/or cycle life of a lead acid battery. A battery separator with a glass mat scrim having a slurry including high surface area carbon for increasing charge acceptance and/or cycle life of a lead acid battery. The method or battery separator wherein the slurry including the high surface area carbon, lignosulfonate, and a binder. The method or battery separator disclosed herein being used in a flooded or an enhanced flooded battery EFB. The method or battery separator disclosed herein being used in an absorbed glass mat AGM battery.

In various aspects, the processes disclosed herein may include the steps of inducing an electric field about a non-conductive substrate, and depositing functionalized nanoparticles upon the non-conductive substrate by contacting a nanoparticle dispersion with the non-conductive substrate, the nanoparticle dispersion comprising functionalized nanoparticles having an electrical charge, the electric field drawing the functionalized nanoparticles to the non-conductive substrate. In various aspects, the related composition of matter disclosed herein comprise functionalized nanoparticles bonded to a surface of a non-conductive fiber, the surface of the non-conductive fiber comprising a sizing adhered to the surface of the non-conductive fiber. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the processes, and related apparatus and compositions of matter disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

In various aspects, the processes disclosed herein may include the steps of inducing an electric field about a non-conductive substrate, and depositing functionalized nanoparticles upon the non-conductive substrate by contacting a nanoparticle dispersion with the non-conductive substrate, the nanoparticle dispersion comprising functionalized nanoparticles having an electrical charge, the electric field drawing the functionalized nanoparticles to the non-conductive substrate. In various aspects, the related composition of matter disclosed herein comprise functionalized nanoparticles bonded to a surface of a non-conductive fiber, the surface of the non-conductive fiber comprising a sizing adhered to the surface of the non-conductive fiber. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the processes, and related apparatus and compositions of matter disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

Composite materials are provided which include a glass-ceramic matrix composition that is lightly crystallized, a fiber reinforcement within the glass-ceramic matrix composition which remains stable at temperatures greater than 1400 C., and an interphase coating formed on the fiber reinforcement. A method of making a composite material is also provided, which includes applying heat and pressure to a shape including fiber reinforcements and glass particles. The heat and pressure lightly crystallize a matrix material formed by the heat and pressure on the glass particles, forming a thermally stable composite material.

Composite materials are provided which include a glass-ceramic matrix composition that is lightly crystallized, a fiber reinforcement within the glass-ceramic matrix composition which remains stable at temperatures greater than 1400 C., and an interphase coating formed on the fiber reinforcement. A method of making a composite material is also provided, which includes applying heat and pressure to a shape including fiber reinforcements and glass particles. The heat and pressure lightly crystallize a matrix material formed by the heat and pressure on the glass particles, forming a thermally stable composite material.

Reinforced nanocomposite structures are described herein. Nanocomposite structures containing reinforcement fibers that are mechanically interlocked together with nanostructures are also described. Helical carbon nanotubes can be used to create high-performance multifunctional nanocomposite materials systems. Nanocomposite materials systems described also include chemically functionalized nanomaterials that are highly bent, kinked, twisted, entangled and mechanically interlocked within a resin system and/or traditional microfiber reinforcements.