An external part element or component for a timepiece or piece of jewellery made with a fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite material, this external part element including on at least one of the faces thereof at least one cavity wherein an insert made of metallic glass is housed. A method for manufacturing such an external part element is also described.

An external part element or component for a timepiece or piece of jewellery made with a fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite material, this external part element including on at least one of the faces thereof at least one cavity wherein an insert made of metallic glass is housed. A method for manufacturing such an external part element is also described.

Gels and gel-containing materials, including hydrogels, are described. A gel can be formed by blending polyacrylic acid (PAA) and a polyglycol, such as polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) at room temperature and, in some cases, without using a catalyst. The blend material can be used to form soft or hard materials, films and particles. The blend material can be combined with vinyl monomers and polymerize to form a hydrogel. The hydrogel can have a high mechanical strength and high water absorbency.

Gels and gel-containing materials, including hydrogels, are described. A gel can be formed by blending polyacrylic acid (PAA) and a polyglycol, such as polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) at room temperature and, in some cases, without using a catalyst. The blend material can be used to form soft or hard materials, films and particles. The blend material can be combined with vinyl monomers and polymerize to form a hydrogel. The hydrogel can have a high mechanical strength and high water absorbency.

Adhesive compositions are described that significantly improve the adhesion of polymer overmold compositions to metal substrates in polymer-metal junctions. The adhesive compositions include one or more poly(aryl ether) polymers, where each of the poly(aryl ether) polymers is, independently, a poly(aryl ether sulfone) polymer or a poly(aryl ether ketone) polymer. The overmold composition includes at least one poly(aryl ether ketone) polymer. Polymer-Metal junctions can be formed by, for example, dip-coating, spin-coating, extruding, or injection molding the adhesive composition and/or the overmold composition onto the metal substrate. Desirable applications settings for the polymer-metal junctions described include, but are not limited to electrical wiring.

Adhesive compositions are described that significantly improve the adhesion of polymer overmold compositions to metal substrates in polymer-metal junctions. The adhesive compositions include one or more poly(aryl ether) polymers, where each of the poly(aryl ether) polymers is, independently, a poly(aryl ether sulfone) polymer or a poly(aryl ether ketone) polymer. The overmold composition includes at least one poly(aryl ether ketone) polymer. Polymer-Metal junctions can be formed by, for example, dip-coating, spin-coating, extruding, or injection molding the adhesive composition and/or the overmold composition onto the metal substrate. Desirable applications settings for the polymer-metal junctions described include, but are not limited to electrical wiring.

A phthalonitrile-based composite material has a thermally conductive filler. The thermally conductive filler is distributed in the phthalonitrile matrix resin, or the thermally conductive filler is distributed in a thermally conductive filler layer at least partially covering the surface of the phthalonitrile-based microspheres. The phthalonitrile-based composite material has good application prospects in the fields of heat conduction and heat conductive insulation.

A phthalonitrile-based composite material has a thermally conductive filler. The thermally conductive filler is distributed in the phthalonitrile matrix resin, or the thermally conductive filler is distributed in a thermally conductive filler layer at least partially covering the surface of the phthalonitrile-based microspheres. The phthalonitrile-based composite material has good application prospects in the fields of heat conduction and heat conductive insulation.

A composition comprising: (i) a polymeric material (A) having a repeat unit of formula

(O-Ph)n-O-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph-   I and a repeat unit of formula

—O-Ph-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph-   II wherein Ph represents a phenylene moiety and n represents 0 or 1; and (ii) a polymeric additive comprising one or more of. (a) a polycarbonate; and/or (b) a polymeric material (B) which includes a repeat unit of general formula

##STR00001## wherein R′ and R′″ independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally-substituted (preferably un-substituted) alkyl group, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally-substituted alkyl group, an anhydride-containing moiety or an alkyloxycarbonyl-containing moiety.

A composition comprising: (i) a polymeric material (A) having a repeat unit of formula

(O-Ph)n-O-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph-   I and a repeat unit of formula

—O-Ph-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph-   II wherein Ph represents a phenylene moiety and n represents 0 or 1; and (ii) a polymeric additive comprising one or more of. (a) a polycarbonate; and/or (b) a polymeric material (B) which includes a repeat unit of general formula

##STR00001## wherein R′ and R′″ independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally-substituted (preferably un-substituted) alkyl group, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally-substituted alkyl group, an anhydride-containing moiety or an alkyloxycarbonyl-containing moiety.