At least a selected microporous membrane is made by a dry-stretch process and has substantially round shaped pores and a ratio of machine direction tensile strength to transverse direction tensile strength in the range of 0.5 to 6.0. The method of making the foregoing microporous membrane may include the steps of: extruding a polymer into a nonporous precursor, and biaxially stretching the nonporous precursor, the biaxial stretching including a machine direction stretching and a transverse direction stretching, the transverse direction including a simultaneous controlled machine direction relax. At least selected embodiments of the invention may be directed to biaxially oriented porous membranes, composites including biaxially oriented porous membranes, biaxially oriented microporous membranes, biaxially oriented macroporous membranes, battery separators, filtration media, humidity control media, flat sheet membranes, liquid retention media, and the like, related methods, methods of manufacture, methods of use, and the like.

According to one embodiment, a polyisocyanurate foam board is described. The foam board includes a polyisocyanurate core that is produced from: an isocyanate, a polyol, and a phosphorous containing non-halogenated fire retardant. The foam board also includes a facer material that is applied to at least one surface of the polyisocyanurate core. The polyisocyanurate core has an isocyanate index greater than about 200 and is able to forms a sufficiently stable char when exposed to flame conditions to enable the polyisocyanurate core to pass the ASTM E-84 test. The foam board has an initial R-value of at least 6.40 and exhibits an ASTM E1354-11b test performance that is equivalent with or better than a similar foam board having a halogenated fire retardant, such as tris(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate (TCPP).

Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties. Various properties of such networks of polyurethane particles (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, thermal conductivity) may be tailored depending on which monomers are provided in the reaction.

This invention elates to polysaccharide materials and more particularly to microbial-derived cellulose having the porosity and containing pores of the desired size making it suitable for cellular infiltration during implantation and other desirable properties for medical and surgical applications. The invention also relates to the use of porous microbial-derived cellulose as tissue engineering matrices, human tissue substitutes, and reinforcing scaffolds for regenerating injured tissues and augmenting surgical procedures The invention outlines various methods during and after fermentation to create porous microbial cellulose capable of allowing cell infiltration while preserving the physical properties of the microbial-cellulose.

A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.

A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.

Compositions and blends of biopolymers and bio-acceptable polymers are described, along with the use of benign solvent systems to prepare biocompatible scaffolds and surgically implantable devices for use in supporting and facilitating the repair of soft tissue injuries.

Provided are separators for use in batteries and capacitors comprising (a) at least 50% by weight of an aluminum oxide and (b) an organic polymer, wherein the aluminum oxide is surface modified by treatment with an organic acid to form a modified aluminum oxide, and wherein the treatment provides dispersibility of the aluminum oxide in aprotic solvents such as N-methyl pyrrolidone. Preferably, the organic acid is a sulfonic acid, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid. Also preferably, the organic polymer is a fluorinated polymer, such as polyvinylidene fluoride. Also provided are electrochemical cells and capacitors comprising such separators.

A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.

A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.