Fractal-like polymeric particles having a hierarchical, branched structure are disclosed. The particles have fibers with nanometer-scale diameters on their peripheries, which enables a number of unique and highly desirable properties. The particles are fabricated by a method combining phase separation and shear forces of different solutions, in particular a polymer solution. In addition, the particles may be used as coatings, nonwovens, textiles and viscosity modifiers and adhesives, among other applications.

A manufacturing process includes spinning at least one continuous poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS)/alginate fiber from a polymeric solution comprising PGS and alginate in water, drafting the at least one continuous PGS/alginate fiber in at least one coagulation bath, and drawing the at least one continuous PGS/alginate fiber from the at least one coagulation bath. A yarn includes at least one continuous PGS fiber. A continuous poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS)/alginate fiber forming system includes a feeding tank holding a polymeric solution of alginate and PGS, a pump, a spinneret, a first coagulation bath, a first winder, a second coagulation bath, a second winder, and a bobbin winder, the system forming at least one continuous PGS/alginate fiber from the polymeric solution of alginate and PGS.

A manufacturing process includes spinning at least one continuous poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS)/alginate fiber from a polymeric solution comprising PGS and alginate in water, drafting the at least one continuous PGS/alginate fiber in at least one coagulation bath, and drawing the at least one continuous PGS/alginate fiber from the at least one coagulation bath. A yarn includes at least one continuous PGS fiber. A continuous poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS)/alginate fiber forming system includes a feeding tank holding a polymeric solution of alginate and PGS, a pump, a spinneret, a first coagulation bath, a first winder, a second coagulation bath, a second winder, and a bobbin winder, the system forming at least one continuous PGS/alginate fiber from the polymeric solution of alginate and PGS.

A sensor to detect solid particles of a target salt can include a support substrate, an adsorption layer, a sensing layer oriented between the support substrate and the adsorption layer, and an electrode pair in contact with the sensing layer and separated by the sensing layer. The adsorption layer can include an ion exchange medium formed of a first porous structured material functionalized with basic or acidic functional groups. The basic or acidic functional groups can remove an acid or base component from the target salt to form a free base or free acid, respectively, of the target salt. The sensing layer can include a second porous structured material functionalized to detect the free base or acid of the target salt by a change in conductivity.

An emulsion composition, a polystyrene nano-fiber, a polystyrene nano-fiber product and a preparation method and use thereof, wherein the emulsion composition comprises a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, the dispersed phase contains a soluble salt and a first solvent, the continuous phase contains polystyrene, a second solvent and sulfonated polystyrene being syndiotactic polystyrene and/or isotatic polystyrene; the preparation of the emulsion composition: under heating and stirring, dropwise adding the dispersed phase into the continuous phase; the preparation of the polystyrene nano-fiber or polystyrene nano-fiber product: crystallize the above emulsion composition; the polystyrene nano-fiber prepared by the above emulsion composition has a pore structure, and the prepared product has a stable and controllable three-dimensional structure and multi-level and/or intercommunicated pore structure, and also has a high preparation efficiency, therefore the above polystyrene nano-fiber or product has excellent application prospects in absorption, adsorption, oil-water separation, and construction of special wettability surfaces.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing an aramid nanofiber dispersion. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for preparing aramid nanofibers in a short time from aromatic polyamide-based polymers other than fibers, and to aramid nanofibers prepared therefrom.

A method of preparing hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) fibers includes mixing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and boron oxide (B.sub.2O.sub.3) to form a polymer precursor or mixing PVP and ammonia borane (BH.sub.3NH.sub.3) to form the polymer precursor. The method includes forcespinning the polymer precursor to form fibers of the polymer precursor, curing the fibers to form polymer fibers, and pyrolyzing the polymer fibers to form the h-BN fibers.

A method for producing a protein polymer fiber, the method comprising providing a liquid protein solution in a container for liquid, and repeatedly moving the liquid surface in the container back and forth between a first and a second position. Said movement of the liquid surface is such that the protein polymer solution is allowed to form a film in the interface between the liquid surface of the liquid protein solution and a surrounding fluid. The movement of the liquid surface being performed by respectively raising and lowering the liquid surface relative to the container or by moving an object extending through the liquid surface of the liquid protein solution. Also, a device for performing said method.

A method for producing a protein polymer fiber, the method comprising providing a liquid protein solution in a container for liquid, and repeatedly moving the liquid surface in the container back and forth between a first and a second position. Said movement of the liquid surface is such that the protein polymer solution is allowed to form a film in the interface between the liquid surface of the liquid protein solution and a surrounding fluid. The movement of the liquid surface being performed by respectively raising and lowering the liquid surface relative to the container or by moving an object extending through the liquid surface of the liquid protein solution. Also, a device for performing said method.

The present invention relates to a preparation method of para-aramid nanofibers, and belongs to the technical field of novel polymer materials. The para-aramid nanofibers prepared in the present invention have a diameter of 10-100 nm, and a length of hundreds of microns. The preparation method includes: adding a certain amount of surfactant in a PPTA low-temperature polymerization process, and controlling aggregation of PPTA molecules along with growth of a PPTA molecule chain, thereby preparing the para-aramid fibers with a uniform size and an adjustable nano-scale diameter under assistance of other means (e.g., a coagulator and high-speed shearing dispersion). The present invention is short in production process and simple in equipment, can realize stable batch production to meet needs of large-scale production of the para-aramid nanofibers, has wide application prospects and can be applied to preparing a lithium-ion battery separator, a high-performance composite material and the like.