Polymer matrix composite comprising a porous polymeric network; and a plurality of intumescent particles distributed within the polymeric network structure; wherein the intumescent particles are present in a range from 15 to 99 weight percent, based on the total weight of the intumescent particles and the polymer (excluding the solvent); and wherein the polymer matrix composite volumetrically expands at least 2 times its initial volume when exposed to at least one temperature greater than 135 C.; and methods for making the same. The polymer matrix composites are useful, for example, as fillers, thermally initiated fuses, and fire stop devices.

A method for producing a polymer solution including a methacrylate copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 100,000, a weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight of 1.01 to 1.8 and a glass transition temperature of not more than 40 C. and including methyl methacrylate units and alkyl (meth)acrylate units containing a C10-36 alkyl group, and a first solvent having a boiling point of not less than 200 C., through steps including a step (I) of preparing the methacrylate copolymer by polymerizing monomers in a second solvent having a boiling point of below 200 C., and a step (II) of mixing the solution from the step (I) which includes the methacrylate copolymer and the second solvent, with the first solvent, and removing the second solvent to raise the content of the first solvent to not less than 10 mass % of the polymer solution.

A method for treating polymer particles is disclosed. Polymer particles and a liquid are provided. The method includes the following steps (a) and (b). (a) Mixing said polymer particles with said carrier liquid to form a dispersion of said particles in said carrier liquid at a concentration of at least 0.1 g/L, based on the volume of the dispersion. (b) Subjecting the dispersion to microfluidization treatment thereby causing particle stretching, particle size reduction and increasing the surface area per unit mass of the polymer particles. Also disclosed is a particulate composition comprising polymer particles mixed with nanoplates derived from a layered material, wherein the particulate composition has a BET surface area of at least 10 m.sup.2/g. Furthermore, there is disclosed a method for the manufacture of a component formed of a composite of a polymer with a dispersion of nanoplates. The particulate composition is provided as a precursor particulate. Then the precursor particulate is formed into the component.

A method for treating polymer particles is disclosed. Polymer particles and a liquid are provided. The method includes the following steps (a) and (b). (a) Mixing said polymer particles with said carrier liquid to form a dispersion of said particles in said carrier liquid at a concentration of at least 0.1 g/L, based on the volume of the dispersion. (b) Subjecting the dispersion to microfluidization treatment thereby causing particle stretching, particle size reduction and increasing the surface area per unit mass of the polymer particles. Also disclosed is a particulate composition comprising polymer particles mixed with nanoplates derived from a layered material, wherein the particulate composition has a BET surface area of at least 10 m.sup.2/g. Furthermore, there is disclosed a method for the manufacture of a component formed of a composite of a polymer with a dispersion of nanoplates. The particulate composition is provided as a precursor particulate. Then the precursor particulate is formed into the component.

A method for manufacturing an organism adhesion reduction paint includes a first process of gelling a raw material composition that includes polyvinyl alcohol and at least one of a hydroxyl group-containing inorganic compound or an inorganic oxide; a second process of drying and subsequently pulverizing a resulting product in the first process to thereby obtain a composite gel fine powder; and a third process of adding the composite gel fine powder to a main component of a two-component urethane paint and stirring, to thereby prepare a main component of the organism adhesion reduction paint, and also adding a curing agent immediately before use.

A method for manufacturing an organism adhesion reduction paint includes a first process of gelling a raw material composition that includes polyvinyl alcohol and at least one of a hydroxyl group-containing inorganic compound or an inorganic oxide; a second process of drying and subsequently pulverizing a resulting product in the first process to thereby obtain a composite gel fine powder; and a third process of adding the composite gel fine powder to a main component of a two-component urethane paint and stirring, to thereby prepare a main component of the organism adhesion reduction paint, and also adding a curing agent immediately before use.

A near-infrared shielding ultrafine particle dispersion body, and others, having excellent near-infrared shielding function, low haze value and excellent design, with suppressed change in color tone during outdoor use and blue haze phenomenon, using near-infrared shielding ultrafine particles transparent in visible light range, having excellent near-infrared shielding properties, and produced with high productivity, and a near-infrared shielding ultrafine particle dispersion body in which ultra-fine particles having near-infrared shielding properties are dispersed in solid medium, wherein the ultrafine particles are composite tungsten oxide ultrafine particles represented by general formula MxWyOz, and have XRD peak top intensity ratio value of 0.13 or more based on XRD peak intensity ratio value of 1 on plane of silicon powder standard sample, and solid medium contains resin binder and weather resistance improver, and weather resistance improver includes at least one selected from benzotriazole-based UV absorber, triazine-based UV absorber, and benzophenone-based UV absorber.

A near-infrared shielding ultrafine particle dispersion body, and others, having excellent near-infrared shielding function, low haze value and excellent design, with suppressed change in color tone during outdoor use and blue haze phenomenon, using near-infrared shielding ultrafine particles transparent in visible light range, having excellent near-infrared shielding properties, and produced with high productivity, and a near-infrared shielding ultrafine particle dispersion body in which ultra-fine particles having near-infrared shielding properties are dispersed in solid medium, wherein the ultrafine particles are composite tungsten oxide ultrafine particles represented by general formula MxWyOz, and have XRD peak top intensity ratio value of 0.13 or more based on XRD peak intensity ratio value of 1 on plane of silicon powder standard sample, and solid medium contains resin binder and weather resistance improver, and weather resistance improver includes at least one selected from benzotriazole-based UV absorber, triazine-based UV absorber, and benzophenone-based UV absorber.

A description is given of the use of a polymer dispersion for producing sound deadener compositions, the polymer dispersion comprising at least one polymer obtainable by emulsion polymerization of radically polymerizable monomers, and the polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of more than 100 000, preferably of more than 100 000 to 350 000. A description is also given of corresponding sound deadener compositions which comprise the polymer dispersion, and of a method for damping oscillations or vibrations of vehicle components.

A description is given of the use of a polymer dispersion for producing sound deadener compositions, the polymer dispersion comprising at least one polymer obtainable by emulsion polymerization of radically polymerizable monomers, and the polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of more than 100 000, preferably of more than 100 000 to 350 000. A description is also given of corresponding sound deadener compositions which comprise the polymer dispersion, and of a method for damping oscillations or vibrations of vehicle components.