Cross-linked polymer networks that are at least partially conjugated (e.g., phenylene vinylene polymer networks). The cross-linked polymer networks may be thin-films disposed on a substrate. The cross-linked polymer network may be covalently bonded to the substrate. The cross-linked polymer networks can be used, for example, in methods of detecting explosives (e.g., RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine)) and degradation products thereof.

Provided is method of treating a collection of resin beads (a) comprising the steps of (a) providing the collection of resin beads (a), wherein the resin beads (a) comprise one or more vinyl polymers having quaternary ammonium groups; wherein 90 mole % or more of the quaternary ammonium groups are each associated with a chloride anion; (b) bringing the collection of resin beads (a) into contact with an aqueous solution (b) comprising one or more dissolved (M).sub.nX.sub.q to form a mixture (b), (c) separating water and compounds dissolved in the water from the mixture (b), to form resin beads (c) and waste solution (bw); (d) bringing resin beads (c) into contact with an aqueous solution (c) comprising dissolved (M3)(OH).sub.p, to form a mixture (d).

Circuit and to a process for managing transients and process and product anomalies in a plant for production of granulated expandable polymers EPS or extruded polymers XPS, said circuit being placed e.g. in a granulation plant along which are positioned: a mixing device suitable for mixing additives and expanding agent within a stream of molten polymer; a granulator or an extrusion device positioned downstream of said mixing device; a deviation valve suitable for molten polymers placed along the line connecting said mixing device to said granulator or to said extrusion device upstream of said granulator or extruder, said deviation valve being provided with at least one inlet (A), a Stand-by position (A.fwdarw.C) and a Run position (A.fwdarw.B), said circuit further comprising a heating device downstream of said valve, a separation device downstream of said heating device suitable for physically separating the blowing agent from the polymer and any additives present therein, and a cooling device positioned between said separation device and said mixing device.

The invention relates to the co-use of a) a certain type of silica and b) a certain type of graphite, wherein the silica and the graphite are used in a weight ratio in a range of from 1:1 to 1:10, for decreasing the thermal conductivity of vinyl aromatic polymer foam.

A membrane for fuel cells, such as PEM and/or AEM fuel cells and/or electrolyzers is disclosed. Such a membrane (e.g., an anion conducting membrane) may include: crosslinked ionomer comprising two types of functional groups: a first type of functional groups forming crosslinking bonds between two ionomer chains; and a second type of functional groups comprising ion conducting functional groups. In some embodiments, the crosslinking bonds may not include the ion conducting functional groups. A catalyst coated membrane (CCM) is also disclosed. In such case the membrane may further include at least one catalyst layer attached to at least one side of the membrane to form the catalyst coated membrane (CCM). The at least one catalyst layer may include catalyst nanoparticles and crosslinked ionomer of the catalyst layer comprising two types of functional groups.

The present invention relates to a method for producing foam and foam produced thereby. The method for producing foam includes a step for producing foam by kneading and injection molding a first extrusion product and a second extrusion product, wherein the first extrusion product is obtained by extruding a first composition including an aromatic vinyl-based resin, and the second extrusion product is obtained by extruding a second composition including a polyamide resin and a foaming agent.

A melt-processable conductive material including a first continuous phase, a second continuous phase and a non-continuous phase. The first continuous phase includes a first polymer, the second continuous phase includes a second polymer, and the non-continuous phase includes a third polymer. The second continuous phase is co-continuous with the first continuous phase and the non-continuous phase is substantially contained within the first continuous phase. A plurality of conductive particles is distributed in the first polymer or at a boundary between the first continuous phase and the second continuous phase. The conductive particles form a conductive network.

The invention relates to a composition and method for producing a solid extracting agent for extraction of scandium from sulfuric acid solutions.

There is provided a solid extracting agent (Solex) for extraction of scandium from scandium-containing solutions comprising a styrene-divinylbenzene matrix with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid. The extracting agent further comprises tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, tributyl phosphate, isododecane, in the following ratio of components, wt. %: di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid 32.0-37.5, tri-n-octylphosphine oxide 4.2-8.0, tributyl phosphate 0.8-1.7, isododecane 16.7-20.0, the remainder styrene-divinylbenzene, with the styrene/divinylbenzene ratio in the matrix equal to 75-80 to 20-25 wt. %. There is also provided a method of producing the Solex. The technical result is the production of a scandium-selective Solex with a high dynamic exchange capacity.

Disclosed is a thermally expandable composition, comprising at least one polymer P, cross-linkable by peroxide, and between 1 wt.-% and 2.5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one acrylate A, and between 0.2 wt.-% and 2.5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one peroxide, and at least one blowing agent, characterised in that the equivalent ratio of said peroxide to said acrylate A is between 0.01 and 0.5, preferably between 0.13 and 0.41, and the weight ratio of said peroxide to said acrylate A is lower than 0.33 and said polymer P comprises or essentially consists of at least two polymers PI and P2, wherein PI exhibits a melt flow index (MFI) of between 100 and 200 g/10 min, and P2 exhibits a melt flow index of between 0.1 and 60 g/10 min, wherein MFI is determined by ASTM D1238. The thermally expandable composition shows excellent properties in terms of expansion stability and minimised buckling and is especially suitable for baffle and/or reinforcement elements, e.g. in automotive manufacturing.

The present disclosure relates to a generalized method for producing a vertically oriented block copolymer film, a block copolymer film with controlled orientation obtained thereby, and a method for producing a self-assembled pattern. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to form a crosslinked layer, which is mechanically stable and undergoes no chemical change, by subjecting the block copolymer surface to plasma treatment using a filter. It is also possible to obtain a vertically oriented block copolymer film by annealing the block copolymer film having such a crosslinked layer. The method for producing a vertically oriented block copolymer film according to the present disclosure is advantageous in that it can be applied for general purpose regardless of the chemical structure, type and morphology of a block copolymer, and the method can be applied generally to the conventional directed self assembly process.