Aerogel, calcined articles, and crystalline articles comprising ZrO.sub.2. Exemplary uses of the crystalline metal oxide articles include dental articles (e.g., restoratives, replacements, inlays, onlays, veneers, full and partial crowns, bridges, implants, implant abutments, copings, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liner, and bridge frameworks) and orthodontic appliances (e.g., brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, and buttons).

Fine-cell PMMA foams are produced using a production process including nucleators in addition to suitable blowing agents. It was found that, surprisingly, a simple-to-produce stable PMMA foam having very fine cells and very good properties can be produced.

A compressible, thermally-conductive, removable nanocomposite gasket includes: a nanocomposite foam; and a nanoparticle filler, wherein the nanocomposite foam has a filler loading of less than approximately 20%. A compressible, thermally-conductive, removable nanocomposite gasket includes: a nanocomposite foam; a nanoparticle filler; and a metallic mesh embedded in the foam wherein the nanocomposite foam has a filler loading of less than approximately 20%.

Reversibly cross-linkable foam is provided. The reversibly cross-linked foam includes a first polymeric material, at least one reversibly cross-linkable monomer polymerized with the first polymeric material, and at least one blowing agent. The reversibly cross-linkable co-polymeric foam is thermally stable at temperatures of at least 10 degrees higher than otherwise identical polymeric foam that does not include the reversibly cross-linkable agent polymerized with the first polymeric material.

A bio-based polyol-containing polymer foam material, which includes a bio-based polyol-containing polymer foam present in a bulk concentration of the bio-based polymer foam material of 99% by weight or greater; and a graphite material present in a bulk concentration of the bio-based polyol-containing polymer foam material of 1% by weight or less. The bio-based polyol-containing polymer foam material is especially suitable for automotive components having deadening and vibration management features.

A method of fabricating a composite material can include adding particulate material to an elastomeric material. The particulate material can include expanded graphite particulates and/or graphite nanoplatelet particulates. The particulate material can be diffused within the elastomeric material to uniformly disperse the particulate material within the elastomeric material. The elastomeric material having the particulate material dispersed therein can then be cured after the diffusing to form a structure comprised of the composite material, the composite material including the elastomeric material and the particulate material. In some embodiments, surfaces of the particulate material can be modified to include carboxyl and hydroxyl groups before the particulate material is added to the elastomeric material to facilitate improved bonding of the particulate material. In some embodiments, the formed structure can be configured as or for use in a gasket, seal, vibration dampening device or sound reduction device.

A composition can be used for producing a PMMA-based cast polymer with a low styrene content using urea (derivatives) as a formulation constituent, and a hydrophilic inorganic compound as a filler. It is possible to produce PMMA-based cast polymers and mouldings having surprisingly high mechanical stability from the composition.

Aerogel, calcined articles, and crystalline articles comprising ZrO.sub.2. Exemplary uses of the crystalline metal oxide articles include dental articles (e.g., restoratives, replacements, inlays, onlays, veneers, full and partial crowns, bridges, implants, implant abutments, copings, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liner, and bridge frameworks) and orthodontic appliances (e.g., brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, and buttons).

A microcellular foaming nanocomposite includes an elastomeric polymer; a nanofiller; at least two of amphiphilic dispersing agents; a chemical blowing agent; an activator for chemical blowing agent; and a crosslinking agent. The present arrangement also relates to a preparation method of a microcellular foamed nanocomposite.

The present invention concerns composite biomaterials comprising ceramic and a biodegradable polymer gel, with improved bioactivity, their process of preparation and their use for orthopedics, dentistry or reconstructive surgery, in particular for use as a bone filler.