A functionalized fiber. The functionalized fiber includes a fiber strand and silica nanoparticles at least partially encapsulating the fiber strand. The silica nanoparticles are synthesized by hydrolyzing a tetramethyl orthosilicate in hydrochloric acid to form silicic acid monomers. The silicic acid monomers are diluted in acetone and irradiated for a time that is less than 90 seconds with an energy source configured to generate microwave frequency energy to polymerize the silicic acid monomers into the silica nanoparticles.

The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

An alloying-element additive for adding an alloy element to a copper melt formed by melting a base material including a copper in manufacturing a copper alloy. The alloying-element additive includes a wire-shaped or plate-shaped core including an alloy element, and an outer layer material including a copper and covering the core. A weight ratio of the copper in the outer layer material and the alloy element in the core is in a range of weight ratio where the alloying-element additive has a liquid phase in a temperature range of not more than a melting point of the copper in a copper-alloy element phase diagram.

Halogen-free flame retardant compositions comprising thermoplastic vulcanizates, which exhibit desired flame retardance and low-smoke emission. These flame retardant compositions comprise a) one or more thermoplastic vulcanizates, and b) from at or about 18 to at or about 50 weight percent, the weight percentage being based on the total weight of the flame retardant composition, of a flame retardant mixture comprising: b1) at least one flame retardant comprising a phosphinate, diphosphinate and/or polymers thereof, b2) a phosphorous-containing amino composition, and b3) a zeolite.

A layered body comprising: a core region; at least one intermediate layer disposed around the core region; and an outer layer disposed around the at least one intermediate layer, wherein at least one of the at least one intermediate layers comprises a gas, the layered body having at least one dimension, measured across the body and through the core region, of 100 m or less.

A cable including a conductor surrounded by a covering layer, the covering layer formed from a thermoplastic vulcanizate composition which includes a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The continuous phase is formed of a thermoplastic polyolefin. The dispersed phase is formed of a cross-linked elastomeric polyolefin. The thermoplastic vulcanizate composition passes the Hot Creep Test at 150 C. in accordance with UL 2556 (2013) and has a dielectric loss of 3 or less. Methods of forming cables with coverings are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an equipment and method for producing polymer pellets which comprise one or more polymer components and one or more further components, wherein in said process at least one of said one or more further components is incorporated into pellets by applying a liquid, which comprises said at least one component, onto said pellets.

An article comprises a substrate and a functional polymeric phase change material bound to the substrate. In some aspects the functional polymeric phase change material is chemically bound to the substrate and can be accomplished by at least one of covalent bonding or electrovalent bonding. The functional polymeric phase change material can comprise a reactive function selected from the group consisting of an acid anhydride group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkyl group, an aldehyde group, an amide group, an amino group and their salts, a N-substituted amino group, an aziridine, an aryl group, a carbonyl group, a carboxy group and their salts, an epoxy group, an ester group, an ether group, a glycidyl group, a halo group, a hydride group, a hydroxy group, an isocyanate group, a thiol group, a disulfide group, a silyl or silane group, an urea group, and an urethane group, and wherein the substrate comprises at least one of cellulose, wool, fur, leather, polyester and nylon. Methods of producing the articles are also disclosed.

A layered body comprising: a core region; at least one intermediate layer disposed around the core region; and an outer layer disposed around the at least one intermediate layer, wherein at least one of the at least one intermediate layers comprises a gas, the layered body having at least one dimension, measured across the body and through the core region, of 100 m or less.

A dry adhesive and a method of forming a dry adhesive. The method includes forming an opening through an etch layer and to a barrier layer, expanding the opening in the etch layer at the barrier layer, filling the opening with a material, removing the barrier layer from the material in the opening, and removing the etch layer from the material in the opening.