The present invention relates to a process comprising the step of contacting an aqueous dispersion of swelled polymer particles with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L. The swelled polymer particles arise from neutralization of alkali swellable polymer particles having a high acid core content and a low T.sub.g shell. The composition arising from the process of the present invention is useful for improving open time, especially for low VOC coatings applications.

Provided herein is a method for forming a composite. The method can include mixing a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles in a non-polar medium. At least some of the plurality of CNTs form entangled CNTs. The method also includes attaching first ones of the plurality of magnetic nanoparticles to exposed surfaces of the entangled CNTs; disentangling the entangled CNTs to form a plurality of dispersed CNTs; and aligning the plurality of dispersed CNTs. The disentangling of the entangled CNTs to form a plurality of dispersed CNTs includes exposing the plurality of magnetic nanoparticles and the plurality of entangled CNTs to electromagnetic energy.

A method of preparing a resin infused random fiber mat including the step of forming a liquid dispersion mat of polymeric resin and fiber on a porous substrate.

Liquid mixing processes are provided for producing an elastomeric composition as a function of a selected elastomeric composition recipe. A system (10) is also provided for the production of an elastomeric composition according to the disclosed liquid mixing processes.

A method for preparing active carbon-based special synthetic paper capable of degrading harmful substances in environment, including: stirring polyurethane particles and a solvent in a reactor, and standing to completely dissolve the polyurethane particles to obtain a polyurethane solution; adding active carbon having harmful substances adsorption property in the obtained polyurethane solution, stirring and mixing uniformly to obtain a solid-liquid mixture; coating the obtained solid-liquid mixture onto a piece of release paper, soaking the release paper coated with the solid-liquid mixture into an aqueous solution of silver nitrate having photocatalytic degradation property, completely curing the solid-liquid mixture to form a film, and soaking the release paper and the film into an aqueous solution of sodium chloride; drying the obtained release paper and the film in an electric blast drying oven, and stripping the film from the release paper to obtain the active carbon-based special synthetic paper.

Various aspects disclosed relate to hybrid nanoparticles embedded in non-magnetic microparticles. These materials can be used to directionally orient and impart an ordered structure to a variety of materials.

A cellulose-fiber dispersion polyethylene resin composite material, formed by dispersing a cellulose fiber into a polyethylene resin, wherein a proportion of the cellulose fiber is 1 part by mass or more and 70 parts by mass or less in a total content of 100 parts by mass of the polyethylene resin and the cellulose fiber, and wherein water absorption ratio satisfies the following formula; and a formed body and a pellet using the same, a production method therefor, and a recycling method for a cellulose-fiber adhesion polyethylene thin film piece.

(water absorption ratio)<(cellulose effective mass ratio).sup.2×0.01  [Formula].

A curable composition, includes a diluent, an epoxy functionalized resin derived from a nutshell oil, an epoxy-rubber copolymer adduct, and a curing agent. There is disclosed a method for making the curable composition, a method of imbuing improved flexibility to a curable composition and a method for improving oily metal adhesion of a curable composition. The method of imbuing improved flexibility to a curable composition includes providing a curable composition, adding an epoxy functionalized resin derived from a nutshell oil and adding a liquid modified hydrocarbon resin derived from a nutshell oil.

A curable composition, includes a diluent, an epoxy functionalized resin derived from a nutshell oil, an epoxy-rubber copolymer adduct, and a curing agent. There is disclosed a method for making the curable composition, a method of imbuing improved flexibility to a curable composition and a method for improving oily metal adhesion of a curable composition. The method of imbuing improved flexibility to a curable composition includes providing a curable composition, adding an epoxy functionalized resin derived from a nutshell oil and adding a liquid modified hydrocarbon resin derived from a nutshell oil.

A wood composite material made of a mixture of wood particles and polystyrene, where the composite is made of at least 50% polystyrene but no more than 75% polystyrene and at least 25% wood particles but no more than 50% wood particles, with some embodiments of the composite material having approximately 1% of carbon nanofibers by weight. The composite material is made by dissolving polystyrene in an organic solvent to create a slurry paste, adding wood particles to the slurry paste (and in some embodiments, adding the carbon nanofibers to the slurry paste) to create a solvent mixture, and as the solvent evaporates from the solvent mixture, the final mixture is created and hardens into the final composite.