This disclosure provides an investigation of the kinetic uptake properties of water in amorphous PEF and PET across the entire water activity interval at various temperatures, and also investigates the corresponding equilibrium uptake properties at the same conditions. Uptake data were measured using three independent and complementary methodologies, and excellent agreement was observed among all three methodologies. Accordingly, this disclosure provides for methods of plasticizing poly(ethylene furanoate) film by cold water sorption, and provides a plasticized poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) film made according to the disclosed methods. Methods for making thin films of PEF are also provided.

This disclosure provides an investigation of the kinetic uptake properties of water in amorphous PEF and PET across the entire water activity interval at various temperatures, and also investigates the corresponding equilibrium uptake properties at the same conditions. Uptake data were measured using three independent and complementary methodologies, and excellent agreement was observed among all three methodologies. Accordingly, this disclosure provides for methods of plasticizing poly(ethylene furanoate) film by cold water sorption, and provides a plasticized poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) film made according to the disclosed methods. Methods for making thin films of PEF are also provided.

A method, i.e., trapping of structural coloration (TOSC), for fabricating solid 3D network-structured photonic crystals featuring tunable visible structural colorations includes the steps: a PS-PVP copolymer is dissolved in a chloride-containing solvent and is cast as an initial film, the copolymer self-assembles into 3D periodic network-structured morphology; the copolymer in the initial film is swollen in a polar solvent to form a solvated film; the solvated film is dried to form a solid photonic crystal. During evaporation of the polar solvent, the PVP blocks of the copolymer become glassy and form a thin glassy layer on the surface of the solvated film such that the 3D network structures of the copolymer in solvated state can be preserved into the solid photonic crystal revealing the similar periodicity and dimension to that in solvated state, which is very distinct from the film having 1D lamellar structure.

A method, i.e., trapping of structural coloration (TOSC), for fabricating solid 3D network-structured photonic crystals featuring tunable visible structural colorations includes the steps: a PS-PVP copolymer is dissolved in a chloride-containing solvent and is cast as an initial film, the copolymer self-assembles into 3D periodic network-structured morphology; the copolymer in the initial film is swollen in a polar solvent to form a solvated film; the solvated film is dried to form a solid photonic crystal. During evaporation of the polar solvent, the PVP blocks of the copolymer become glassy and form a thin glassy layer on the surface of the solvated film such that the 3D network structures of the copolymer in solvated state can be preserved into the solid photonic crystal revealing the similar periodicity and dimension to that in solvated state, which is very distinct from the film having 1D lamellar structure.

A method, i.e., trapping of structural coloration (TOSC), for fabricating solid 3D network-structured photonic crystals featuring tunable visible structural colorations includes the steps: a PS-PVP copolymer is dissolved in a chloride-containing solvent and is cast as an initial film, the copolymer self-assembles into 3D periodic network-structured morphology; the copolymer in the initial film is swollen in a polar solvent to form a solvated film; the solvated film is dried to form a solid photonic crystal. During evaporation of the polar solvent, the PVP blocks of the copolymer become glassy and form a thin glassy layer on the surface of the solvated film such that the 3D network structures of the copolymer in solvated state can be preserved into the solid photonic crystal revealing the similar periodicity and dimension to that in solvated state, which is very distinct from the film having 1D lamellar structure.

A method, i.e., trapping of structural coloration (TOSC), for fabricating solid 3D network-structured photonic crystals featuring tunable visible structural colorations includes the steps: a PS-PVP copolymer is dissolved in a chloride-containing solvent and is cast as an initial film, the copolymer self-assembles into 3D periodic network-structured morphology; the copolymer in the initial film is swollen in a polar solvent to form a solvated film; the solvated film is dried to form a solid photonic crystal. During evaporation of the polar solvent, the PVP blocks of the copolymer become glassy and form a thin glassy layer on the surface of the solvated film such that the 3D network structures of the copolymer in solvated state can be preserved into the solid photonic crystal revealing the similar periodicity and dimension to that in solvated state, which is very distinct from the film having 1D lamellar structure.

A constant velocity joint having a boot constructed from a thermoplastic polyether ester as the boot material. The boot includes a lubricating grease composition for lubricating the constant velocity joint, the lubricating grease composition comprising calcium lignin sulfonate.

A constant velocity joint having a boot constructed from a thermoplastic polyether ester as the boot material. The boot includes a lubricating grease composition for lubricating the constant velocity joint, the lubricating grease composition comprising calcium lignin sulfonate.

A separating fluid, method and use for separating multilayer systems, especially photovoltaic modules, for the purpose of recycling, which allow the separation of multilayer systems. Especially photovoltaic modules, in comparatively simple manner in terms of the processes used, in as environmentally friendly a manner as possible, at high recycling rates. For this purpose, the separating fluid is a nanoscale dispersion or a precursor thereof.

A depolymerization reaction of a polyester input with an organocatalyst and an alcohol solvent produces (i) a recycled monomeric or oligomeric diester from the polyester, (ii) the organocatalyst for reuse, and (iii) the alcohol solvent, which may also be reused. The presence of volatile impurities, such as water, acetyl aldehyde, and organic solvents can interfere with the success of the depolymerization reaction. A pre-reaction distillation step removes volatile impurities from the polyester input resulting in an efficient depolymerization reaction with consistency among batches. The polyester input may be further treated with a water azeotrope to remove water from the polyester input prior to the pre-reaction distillation.