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.

The invention provides networked polymeric nanofibers having a structure in which amorphous polymeric fibers are branched at multiple sites and having a diameter of from 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers. A solution of a polymer such as polystyrene in a good solvent thereof is rapidly frozen to form a nanoscale phase-separation structure of the polymer and the frozen solvent. The networked polymeric nanofibers can then be obtained upon removing the frozen solvent.

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 t.sub.1/2 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 ?m.

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.

Disclosed is an aerogel having an open-cell structured polymer matrix that includes 5 wt. % to 50 wt. % of a polyamic amide polymer, based on the total weight of the aerogel, wherein the aerogel includes pores and at least 90% of the pore volume of the aerogel is made up of pores with an average pore diameter of 100 nanometers (nm) to less than 500 nm, wherein the aerogel has a porosity of at least 80%, as measure according to ASTM D4404-10, wherein the aerogel has a density of 0.05 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, and wherein the aerogel is thermally stable to resist browning at 330? C.

A macroporous-structured polymeric aerogel, and methods for making and using the same, having a polymeric matrix that includes macropores is disclosed.

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.

Aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides, methods for preparing the aerogel compositions, and articles of manufacture that include or manufactured from the aerogel compositions are described.

Functionalized isocyanate based organic aerogel/xerogel/cryogel comprising: a cross-linked porous network structure made of polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate and/or polyurea, comprising on their pore surface before functionalization reactive groups (B) and functionalization molecules having a solubility in water <10 g/L at 20? C. chemically attached to the pore surface of the cross-linked porous network structure wherein said molecules have at least one reactive group (A) being capable of binding to said pore surface (by reaction with groups (B)) and at least one functional group (C) providing the pore surface with the desired functionalization.

Thermally treated aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides in an amount less than the aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides prior to thermal treatment, and articles of manufacture that include or are manufactured from the aerogel compositions are described.