The present application is directed to a nanocomposite organo gel having a continuous polymeric network structure, wherein polymer chains are held together by ionic interaction between polymer chain ends, interparticle chain entanglements, layered silicate surface modifier, ionic salt, and layered silicate. The present application is also directed to methods of making and using the nanocomposite organo gel.

To provide methods for producing a liquid composition, a coating liquid for a catalyst layer and a membrane electrode assembly, capable of making cracking less likely to occur at the time of forming a solid polymer electrolyte membrane or a catalyst layer. A copolymer having a structural unit represented by [CF.sub.2CF{(OCF.sub.2CFX).sub.mO.sub.p(CF.sub.2).sub.nSO.sub.3H}] (wherein X: F or CF.sub.3, m: 1 to 3, p: 0 or 1, and n: an integer of 1 to 12) and a structural unit derived from tetrafluoroethylene, is dispersed in a medium containing water and a hydrocarbon-type alcohol (but not including a fluorinated solvent) to prepare a dispersion wherein the concentration of the copolymer is from 13 to 26 mass %, and the dispersion and a fluorinated solvent are mixed so that the sum of the concentration of the copolymer and the concentration of the fluorinated solvent becomes to be from 17 to 35 mass %, to prepare a liquid composition.

Provided is a method of producing a composite resin material that has excellent shapeability and enables supply of a shaped product having good properties. The method of producing a composite resin material includes: a mixing step of mixing a fluororesin, fibrous carbon nanostructures, and a dispersion medium to obtain a slurry; and a formation step of removing the dispersion medium from the slurry and forming a particulate composite resin material. The particulate composite resin material has a D50 diameter of at least 20 m and not more than 500 m and a D90 diameter/D10 diameter value of at least 1.2 and not more than 15. The D10 diameter, D50 diameter, and D90 diameter are particle diameters respectively corresponding to cumulative volumes of 10%, 50%, and 90% calculated from a small particle end of a particle diameter distribution of the particulate composite resin material.

Copolymers comprising recurring units of a phenyl glycidyl ether and alkylene oxides are disclosed. Some of the copolymers comprise a di- or polyfunctional nucleophilic initiator and recurring units of the phenyl glycidyl ether and an alkylene oxide. The di- or polyfunctional nucleophilic initiator is an alcohol, phenol, amine, thiol, thiophenol, sulfinic acid, or deprotonated species thereof. Other copolymers comprise a monofunctional nucleophilic initiator selected from thiols, thiophenols, aralkylated phenols, sulfinic acids, secondary amines, C.sub.10-C.sub.20 terpene alcohols, and deprotonated species thereof. Pigments dispersions comprising the copolymers are also disclosed. The copolymers meet the growing needs of the industry with their ease of manufacture, diverse structures, and desirable performance attributes for dispersing a wide range of organic and inorganic pigments. Agricultural applications for the copolymers are also disclosed.

The disclosure provides redispersible CNC. The CNC disclosed herein is redispersible in non-polar and polar organic solvents as well as polar and non-polar polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The disclosure surprisingly also provides redispersible CNC bearing improved redispersion in aqueous systems and most particularly in high ionic strength aqueous systems which usually require significant mixing energy to achieve dispersion.

A subject-matter of the present invention are new complexes comprising cyclic alkylene carbonates and polyamides, processes for their preparation and uses. Additionally, a subject-matter of the invention is the use of alkylene carbonates for recycling, solubilization, purification, and/or powdering of polyamide-based materials.

A binder composition includes a dispersion medium and a group of binder particles. The group of binder particles is dispersed in the dispersion medium. The group of binder particles include a polymer material. The polymer material includes a constitutional unit originated from vinylidene difluoride. The group of binder particles has a number-based particle size distribution. The particle size distribution satisfies the following conditions: 0.19X0.26, 0.69Y0.76, and 0Z0.05. Here, X represents a frequency of particles each having a particle size of less than or equal to 40 m. Y indicates a frequency of particles each having a particle size of more than 40 m and less than or equal to 110 m. Z indicates a frequency of particles each having a particle size of more than 110 m and less than or equal to 250 m.

In an aspect, a method of making a composition, comprising forming a solvent mixture comprising a polymer and a solvent; precipitating the solvent mixture with a non-solvent to form the composition comprising the filler in a fibrillated polymer matrix, wherein the composition is in the form of a particulate and at least one of the solvent and the non-solvent comprises a filler; and separating the composition from the solvent and the non-solvent to isolate the composition. In another aspect, a porous material wherein the filler particles are mechanically bonded together by the polymer and wherein the polymer is present as filaments adhering to and connecting the filler particles across interstitial spaces between the filler particles. In another aspect, a precipitated polymer solution produced by a phase inversion where the majority of the liquids can be mechanically removed.

A method of making an active layer for an activated carbon anode in a lead carbon battery includes forming a solvent mixture including poly(vinylidene fluoride) and a solvent; combining the solvent mixture with a non-solvent to form a precipitate comprising an activated carbon in a fibrillated poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix; separating the precipitate from the solvent and the non-solvent; and forming the active layer from the precipitate. An active layer is formed by the method. A lead carbon battery includes an activated carbon anode comprising the active layer and a current collector, wherein the active layer is in electrical contact with the current collector; a lead oxide cathode that is in electrical contact with a cathode side current collector; an acid located in between the activated carbon anode and the cathode; and a casing encapsulating the activated carbon anode, the cathode, and the acid.

Disclosed herein is a nanocomposite including a carbonaceous perimorph, the perimorph having a diameter of less than 1,000 ?m and comprising interconnected cells, each of a plurality of the cells comprising a carbonaceous cell wall possessing an average thickness of less than 100 nm or smaller and a morphology corresponding to a surface region of a, non-metallic template particle, the template particle having a diameter of less than 1,000 ?m, and an interior space bounded and enclosed by the cell wall.