The present invention concerns monomeric or polymeric linker molecules useful in biological and chemical applications, their synthesis, and the synthesis and use of derivatives of the linkers conjugated to a variety of detectable labels and other substances. The linkers may be used, for example, in conjunction with fluorescent labels, nucleic acid or nucleic acid analog probes, and solid phase systems, and to enhance the solubility of the conjugated molecules.

A method includes functionalizing edges of particles of an anisotropic material, exfoliating of the particles to form sheets of the material, aligning the sheets of material to form a network of multi-layered and aligned particles, and forming a structure out of the network of particles. A method includes functionalizing edges of particles of an anisotropic material, exfoliating the particles to form sheets of the material, aligning the sheets of material to form a network of multi-layered and aligned particles, and forming a structure out of the network of particles.

A method includes functionalizing edges of particles of an anisotropic material, exfoliating of the particles to form sheets of the material, aligning the sheets of material to form a network of multi-layered and aligned particles, and forming a structure out of the network of particles. A method includes functionalizing edges of particles of an anisotropic material, exfoliating the particles to form sheets of the material, aligning the sheets of material to form a network of multi-layered and aligned particles, and forming a structure out of the network of particles.

For laser sintering, a material includes at least one powder that has been treated by heat to modify at least one of: a melting temperature of the at least one powder; and a recrystallization temperature of the at least one powder and results in the narrowing of the melting curve of the treated material relative to the untreated material. The heating can include a series of heating steps. The treatment improves the efficacies of the SLS process and product quality.

For laser sintering, a material includes at least one powder that has been treated by heat to modify at least one of: a melting temperature of the at least one powder; and a recrystallization temperature of the at least one powder and results in the narrowing of the melting curve of the treated material relative to the untreated material. The heating can include a series of heating steps. The treatment improves the efficacies of the SLS process and product quality.

The invention relates to a method for producing polyamide composite materials containing silicon, comprising the copolymerisation of: a) at least one silicon compound (SV) having at least one silicon atom, said silicon atom having at least one lactamyl group of formula (A) bonded by means of the nitrogen atom thereof; b) the method also comprises copolymerisation with at least one comonomer (CM) that is selected from among ammonium salts of dicarboxylic acids, amino acids, amino acid amides and lactams. In formula (A), m represents a whole number between 1 and 11, in particular in between 2 and 9, and specifically 3, and # represents the connection to the silicon atom of the compound (SV).

The invention relates to a method for producing polyamide composite materials containing silicon, comprising the copolymerisation of: a) at least one silicon compound (SV) having at least one silicon atom, said silicon atom having at least one lactamyl group of formula (A) bonded by means of the nitrogen atom thereof; b) the method also comprises copolymerisation with at least one comonomer (CM) that is selected from among ammonium salts of dicarboxylic acids, amino acids, amino acid amides and lactams. In formula (A), m represents a whole number between 1 and 11, in particular in between 2 and 9, and specifically 3, and # represents the connection to the silicon atom of the compound (SV).

A copolymerized polyamide resin according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a repeat unit derived from a dicarboxylic acid; a repeat unit derived from a diamine; and a repeat unit represented by Formula 1, wherein the copolymerized polyamide resin has a melting point (T.sub.m) of about 280 C. to about 330 C. The copolymerized polyamide resin has excellent heat resistance and melt-process ability.

The present invention relates to a powder of polyamide PA (homopolyamide or copolyamide) derived at least partially from renewable materials, in which the particles have a nonspherical shape and a volume median diameter of less than or equal to 20 m. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing such a powder.

The present invention relates to a polyamide and a process for the preparation thereof, and to compositions containing it. It relates more particularly to a polyamide obtained by polymerization of diacid and diamine monomers in the presence of multifunctional and monofunctional compounds capable of forming an amide function by reaction with either an aminated function or an acid function. This polyamide can in particular be used for the preparation of compositions intended, for example, to be moulded.