Low-density carbon nanotubes may be prepared using a fluidized bed reactor provided with a side nozzle, and are excellent in electrical properties and appearance characteristics when used as a composite material.

The invention relates to an acrylic alloy composition that can be 3-D printed by a material extrusion additive manufacturing process, to an acrylic filament that has a very uniform diameter useful in the extrusion additive manufacturing process, to acrylic articles made from the acrylic alloy composition by a material extrusion additive process, and to a material extrusion additive manufacturing process for producing the acrylic articles. The acrylic alloy composition is an alloy of an acrylic polymer, and a low melt viscosity polymer, such as polylactic acid. The alloy may optionally be impact modified, preferably with hard core core-shell impact modifiers.

Compositions that include a polymer and an aldaric acid, such as glucaric acid, are disclosed. The compositions may include polyvinyl alcohol and glucaric acid. The compositions may also include polyacrylonitrile and glucaric acid. In addition, the compositions may further include lignin. Also disclosed are fibers including the compositions, methods of making the fibers, and uses of the fibers.

A method for forming a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing carbon fibers or nanotubes into a molten polymer phase comprising one or more molten polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase breaks the carbon fibers successively with each event, producing reactive edges on the broken carbon fibers that react with and cross-link the one or more polymers. The composite shows improvements in mechanical properties, such as stiffness, strength and impact energy absorption.

A method for forming a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing carbon fibers or nanotubes into a molten polymer phase comprising one or more molten polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase breaks the carbon fibers successively with each event, producing reactive edges on the broken carbon fibers that react with and cross-link the one or more polymers. The composite shows improvements in mechanical properties, such as stiffness, strength and impact energy absorption.

Polymers suitable for forming carbon nanotube-functionalized reverse thermal gel compositions, compositions including the polymers, and methods of forming and using the polymers and compositions are disclosed. The compositions have reverse thermal gelling properties and transform from a liquid/solution to a gel—e.g., near or below body temperature. The polymers and compositions can be injected into or proximate an area in need of treatment.

Polymers suitable for forming carbon nanotube-functionalized reverse thermal gel compositions, compositions including the polymers, and methods of forming and using the polymers and compositions are disclosed. The compositions have reverse thermal gelling properties and transform from a liquid/solution to a gel—e.g., near or below body temperature. The polymers and compositions can be injected into or proximate an area in need of treatment.

A polymer composition comprising carbon nanostructures dispersed within a polymer matrix that includes a thermoplastic polymer having a deflection temperature under load of about 40° C. or more as determined in accordance with ISO 75:2013 at a load of 1.8 MPa and a melting temperature of about 140° C. or more is provided. The carbon nanostructures include carbon nanotubes that are arranged in a network having a web-like morphology and optionally disposed on a substrate.

Described are articles including treads and/or other tire components that are formed at least in part by rubber compositions having solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes. Such rubber compositions include a diene rubber component and a solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes that consist of a continuous network of carbon nanotubes that contains 1) voids and 2) aggregates of carbon nanotubes having a mean size d.sub.50 of less than 5 μm, the voids and the aggregates together in an amount that is less than 60% of a predetermined surface area, as determined by electron microscopy imagery analysis, the remainder being the disaggregated carbon nanotubes in the continuous network that do not comprise a clearly defined shape.

Described are articles including treads and/or other tire components that are formed at least in part by rubber compositions having solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes. Such rubber compositions include a diene rubber component and a solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes that consist of a continuous network of carbon nanotubes that contains 1) voids and 2) aggregates of carbon nanotubes having a mean size d.sub.50 of less than 5 μm, the voids and the aggregates together in an amount that is less than 60% of a predetermined surface area, as determined by electron microscopy imagery analysis, the remainder being the disaggregated carbon nanotubes in the continuous network that do not comprise a clearly defined shape.