According to the present invention, there is provided a prepreg characterized by including a reinforcing fiber substrate composed of a reinforcing fiber, and an epoxy resin composition with which the reinforcing fiber substrate is partially or wholly impregnated, in which the epoxy resin composition includes, as an essential component, an epoxy resin, an amine-based curing agent, and a polyamide particle, the epoxy resin composition includes, as an optional component, an epoxy resin-soluble thermoplastic resin; and an epoxy group is introduced to the surface of the polyamide particle, and/or at least one of the epoxy resin, the amine-based curing agent, and the epoxy resin-soluble thermoplastic resin, included in the epoxy resin composition, partially permeates into the polyamide particle.

A process can be used for producing (rigid) particle foams from polymer compositions containing at least one polymer having a glass transition temperature according to ISO 11357-2 of at least 180° C. with an underwater pelletization system.

A polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU) consisting essentially of benzophenone coupled phenylene sulfone segments A and B of formula (I) wherein segments A and B can be same or different and are of formula (II) wherein x is an integer of from 4.5 to 8.

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The present invention concerns Method for producing a unidirectional tape, the method comprising the steps of a) providing an impregnation slurry comprising primary particles and secondary particles, water, optionally an organic carrying medium, optionally an organic compound and optionally a surface active compound, and providing a unidirectional fiber layer having an average interstitial filament distance, wherein the primary particles comprise a first polymer and the primary particles have a particle size equal to or smaller than the average interstitial filament distance, and the secondary particles comprise a second polymer and the secondary particles have a particle size larger than the average interstitial filament distance, b) impregnating the unidirectional fiber layer with the impregnation slurry to form an impregnated unidirectional fiber web comprising an impregnated unidirectional fiber layer and a surface polymer layer, wherein the impregnated unidirectional fiber layer comprises, preferably consists of, the unidirectional fibers and the primary particles, and the surface polymer layer comprises the secondary particles, c) drying the impregnated unidirectional fiber web to obtain a unidirectional tape.

The invention relates to membranes, monomers and polymers. The monomers can form polymers, which can be used for membranes. The membranes can be used in alkaline fuel cells, for water purification, for electrolysis, for flow batteries, and for anti-bacterial membranes and materials, as well as membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells. In addition to the membranes, polymers and monomers and methods of using the membranes, the present invention also relates to methods of making the membranes, monomers and polymers.

A composite semipermeable membrane capable of forming, on a surface of a porous support in a highly reproducible manner, a separation layer that is extremely thin and that exhibits superior separability. It provides, on a surface of a porous support, a composite semipermeable membrane that has an organic/inorganic hybrid separation layer that is extremely thin and that exhibits superior separability. A method for manufacturing a composite semipermeable membrane includes forming, on a surface of a porous support, a separation layer containing a cross-linked condensate having a siloxane bond by bringing an organic solution that contains an organic silicon compound containing three or more reactive functional groups, each of which is at least one type selected from a hydrolyzable group and a hydroxyl group, into contact with water or an aqueous solution on the porous support, and by performing interfacial polycondensation of the organic silicon compound.

A major challenge in the development of anion exchange membranes for fuel cells is the design and synthesis of highly stable (chemically and mechanically) and conducting membranes. Membranes that can endure highly alkaline environments while rapidly transporting hydroxides are desired. A design for using cross-linked polymer membranes is disclosed to produce ionic highways along charge delocalized pyrazolium and homoconjugated triptycenes. The ionic highway membranes show improved performance in key parameters. Specifically, a conductivity of 111.6 mS cm.sup.−1 at 80° C. was obtained with a low 7.9% water uptake and 0.91 mmol g.sup.−1 ion exchange capacity. In contrast to existing materials, these systems have higher conductivities at reduced hydration and ionic exchange capacities, emphasizing the role of the highway. The membranes retain more than 75% of initial conductivity after 30 days of alkaline stability test. This effective water management through ionic highways is confirmed by density functional theory and Monte Carlo studies. A single cell with platinum group metal catalysts at 80° C. showed a high peak density of 0.73 W cm.sup.−2 (0.45 W cm.sup.−2 from silver-based cathode) and stable performance during 400 h tests.

A core/shell polymer material suitable for three-dimensional printing is provided. The core/shell polymer material may include at least one amorphous polymer as a core particle and at least one semicrystalline polymer as a shell material surrounding the core particle.

A method of preparing a reinforced separator comprising the steps of:—providing a porous support (6) on a pre-wetted casting drum (23);—applying a dope solution (3) including a polymer resin and hydrophilic inorganic particles on a side of the porous support other than the side of the porous support in contact with the pre-wetted casting drum;—performing phase inversion (9, 1) of the applied polymer solution thereby obtaining a reinforced separator; and—removing the reinforced separator (7) from the casting drum; wherein the casting drum is pre-wetted with a non-solvent for the polymer resin.

Disclosed are co-continuous immiscible polymer blends of a polysulfone and a polyaryletherketone optionally reinforced with carbon fiber. A method of preparing such a co-continuous immiscible polymer blend of a polysulfone and a polyaryletherketone reinforced with a carbon fiber is also disclosed.