Elastomeric compositions are described that include at least one filler that are carbon nanostructures or fragments thereof. Methods to prepare elastomeric compositions are further described. Loadings of the carbon nanostructures can be from about 0.1 phr to about 50 phr or a volume fraction of from about 0.1 vol % to about 20 vol %.

This disclosure describes formulations and methods for dust control, for example, coal topping, a term which refers to the application of liquid products to the top of coal loads, such as those in open topped coal hopper railcars as commonly used today to transport coal. Disclosed herein are asphalt-based emulsion formulations that accomplish dust control during industrial operations in which dust handling is required.

This disclosure describes formulations and methods for dust control, for example, coal topping, a term which refers to the application of liquid products to the top of coal loads, such as those in open topped coal hopper railcars as commonly used today to transport coal. Disclosed herein are asphalt-based emulsion formulations that accomplish dust control during industrial operations in which dust handling is required.

Compositions having solid core particles with functionalizing layers over at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the solid core particles are described. The functionalizing layers are formed from a reaction product of a 1,1-di-activated vinyl compound, or a multifunctional form thereof, or a combination thereof.

Compositions having solid core particles with functionalizing layers over at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the solid core particles are described. The functionalizing layers are formed from a reaction product of a 1,1-di-activated vinyl compound, or a multifunctional form thereof, or a combination thereof.

A composition including a particulate solid, a plastic material and a polymer represented by formula (1):

A-(B).sub.n (1)

wherein: A is a residue of a polyether having a polyether segment and 2 or 3 amine groups; wherein the polyether segment is derived from monomers of at least one of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or tetrahydrofuran; wherein the polyether segment has a number average molecular weight of from 160 to 2000; and wherein the amine groups are primary or secondary; each B is independently a residue of a C.sub.6-C.sub.50 fatty acid or fatty acid anhydride, which is linear or branched, and which is saturated or unsaturated; and n is 2 or 3; wherein each B is independently bound to A by an amide bond or a cyclic imide group. Methods of using, and use of, a polymer represented by the formula (1) as a dispersant in a composition further comprising a particulate solid and a plastic material.

The present invention addresses the problem of evaluating the hydrophobicity of a powder. According to the present invention, a powder is charged into a mixed solvent composed of a lipophilic solvent and a hydrophilic solvent, the voltage rate R of the mixed solvent is measured at predetermined time intervals while adding a lipophilic solvent to the mixed solvent charged with the powder, a parameter x correlating with the concentration of powder is defined for an arbitrary voltage rate R, a continuous function HP(x) of the ratio of a lipophilic solvent corresponding to x is defined, and HP(x) for required x is set as a representative value of a lipophilic solvent ratio distribution and used as an index of hydrophobicity.

Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system includes a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system includes a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

The present invention relates to a thickener composition comprising a hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polyurethane obtained by reacting a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol, a diisocyanate and a polyester end-capping agent which is a reaction product of a lactone compound and a monhydroxy compound. The present invention further relates to a process for the preparation of the hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polyurethane.