A method of forming a polymeric vacuum insulation board is provided, the polymeric vacuum insulation board including a plurality of evacuated, closed-cell pores therein. In one embodiment, the method includes intermixing a polymer with zeolite particles that contain water and extruding the resulting composition under high pressure. During extrusion, water in the zeolite particles evaporates and creates a porous, closed-cell microstructure within a polymer matrix. As the polymer matrix cools and solidifies, water vapor is reabsorbed by the zeolite, which at least partially evacuates the closed-cell pores. In another embodiment, the method includes intermixing a polymer with expandable graphite particles and extruding the resulting composition under high pressure. During extrusion, the expandable graphite particles define evacuated voids. The polymer binder can be selected to include low gas permeance, for example ethylene vinyl alcohol (EvOH) or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). In some applications, the polymer can be blended with nano-clays or other additives to further decrease the gas permeance of the vacuum insulation board.

A method for preparing a vapor sensitive sacrificial support material. The method may include decomposing a polycondensed PEO polymer with heat in the presence of a graphene-like material to release PEO polymer radicals from the polycondensed PEO polymer, such that at least a portion of the PEO polymer radicals become trapped on at least a portion of a surface of the graphene-like material to form a coated graphene-like material, which may be defined as a structural reinforcement material. The method may further include forming the vapor sensitive water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymer. The vapor sensitive water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymer may include a polyethylene oxide polymer backbone. The vapor sensitive water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymer may further include one or more nanoscopic particulate processing aids. The structural reinforcement material may be uniformly dispersed in the vapor sensitive water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite.

Fabricating a high refractive index photonic device includes disposing a polymerizable composition on a first surface of a first substrate and contacting the polymerizable composition with a first surface of a second substrate, thereby spreading the polymerizable composition on the first surface of the first substrate. The polymerizable composition is cured to yield a polymeric structure having a first surface in contact with the first surface of the first substrate, a second surface opposite the first surface of the polymeric structure and in contact with the first surface of the second substrate, and a selected residual layer thickness between the first surface of the polymeric structure and the second surface of the polymeric structure in the range of 10 μm to 1 cm. The polymeric structure is separated from the first substrate and the second substrate to yield a monolithic photonic device having a refractive index of at least 1.6.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing reduced graphene oxide, incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into polyisoprene latex to provide a polyisoprene latex graphene composite and elastomeric articles prepared using the polyisoprene latex-graphene composite. In particular, the reduction of graphene oxide is accomplished without the use of strong reducing agents and organic solvents and incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into polyisoprene latex is accomplished using room temperature latex mixing method or hot maturation. The resultant composite exhibits good colloid stability and polyisoprene latex films produced from the composite exhibit good mechanical properties with improved ageing resistance.

Systems, methods, components, and materials are disclosed for stereolithographic fabrication of three-dimensional, dense objects. A resin including at least one component of a binder system and dispersed particles can be exposed to an activation light source. The activation light source can cure the at least one component of the binder system to form a green object, which can include the at least one component of the binder system and the particles. A dense object can be formed from the green object by removing the at least one component of the binder system in an extraction process and thermally processing particles to coalesce into the dense object.

A material for use as support material for energy-pulse-induced transfer printing, which contains (a) at least one energy transformation component, (b) at least one volume expansion component and (c) at least one binder and which has a viscosity at 25° C. of from 0.2 Pas to 1000 Pas and a surface tension at 25° C. of from 20 to 150 mN/m. The invention furthermore relates to a process for producing three-dimensional objects using the support material.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer material comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, and a plurality of piezoelectric covalently bonded to the at least one thermoplastic polymer and dispersed in at least a portion of the polymer material. The compositions are extrudable and may be pre-formed into a form factor suitable for extrusion. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles non-covalently interacting with at least a portion of a polymer material via π-π bonding, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions stronger than van der Waals interactions, or any combination thereof. The piezoelectric particles may be dispersed in the polymer material and remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The polymer material may comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer, optionally further including a polymer precursor. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

In at least one embodiment, a microporous membrane having a moderate to high water vapor permeability and high liquid water penetration resistance is disclosed. The microporous membrane may be used in building applications, including as or as part of a building wrap, a rain screen, a roofing underlayment, a flashing, a sound proofing material, or an insulation material. The microporous membrane may include at least one thermoplastic polymer, at least one filler, and at least one processing oil. The microporous membrane may be flat or may have ribs. The microporous membrane may include at least one scrim component. A method for forming the microporous membrane is also disclosed.

3D printable ink compositions for forming objects, films and coatings are provided. Also provided are methods of printing the ink compositions and methods for making the ink compositions. The ink compositions include an elastic polymer binder and may have high loadings of solid particles.