An interpenetrating network (IPN) polymer membrane material includes a soft polyurethane interspersed with a crosslinked conducting polymer. The material can be reversibly “switched” between its oxidized and reduced states by the application of a small voltage, ˜1 to 4 volts, thus modulating its diffusivity.

The invention relates to silane mixtures comprising a silane of the formula I
(R.sup.1).sub.y(R.sup.2).sub.3-ySi—R.sup.3—(S—R.sup.4).sub.n—S.sub.x—R.sup.5  (I)
and a silane of the formula II
(R.sup.1).sub.y(R.sup.2).sub.3-ySi—R.sup.3—S—R.sup.4—S—R.sup.3—Si(R.sup.1).sub.y(R.sup.2).sub.3-y  (II)
where the molar ratio of silane of the formula I to silane of the formula II is 15:85-90:10. The silane mixture according to the invention can be prepared by mixing the silanes of the formula I and silanes of the formula II.

An interpenetrating network (IPN) polymer membrane material includes a soft polyurethane interspersed with a crosslinked conducting polymer. The material can be reversibly “switched” between its oxidized and reduced states by the application of a small voltage, ˜1 to 4 volts, thus modulating its diffusivity.

Systems, methods, fuel cells, and mixtures to inhibit ionomer permeation into porous substrates using a crosslinked ionomer are described. A method includes preparing an ionomer premix, mixing a crosslinking additive with the ionomer premix to thereby form a crosslinked-ionomer solution, and adding catalyst particles to the crosslinked-ionomer solution to produce a catalyst ink. The ionomer premix includes an ionomer dispersed within a solvent. The catalyst ink includes the catalyst particles distributed homogenously therethrough. The catalyst ink may be cast onto a porous substrate and dried to thereby form a catalyst layer for use in a fuel cell.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

A method of producing a polymer aerogel includes dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of 1.5 or lower, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, and removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce the polymer aerogel. A method of producing a polymer aerogel include dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce the polymer aerogel, and reducing a refractive index of one of either the gel polymer or the polymer aerogel.

Embodiments of organic peroxide formulations provide longer scorch time protection and require fewer additives. The peroxide formulations may include, for example, at least one organic peroxide, at least one nitroxide-containing compound (e.g., 4-hydroxy-TEMPO), and at least one quinone-containing compound (e.g., mono-tert-butylhydroquinone).

The present invention provides thermosetting resin pre-impregnated or infused fiber materials or prepregs comprising a thermosetting resin mixture and a fiber material component of a heat resistant fiber, such as carbon fiber, having an areal weight of from 500 to 3,000 g/m2 having a coating of from 0.5 to 4 phr of a latent, particulate curative or solid curative, preferably, dicyandiamide, wherein the prepregs are infused with a thermosetting resin mixture comprising (a) at least one liquid epoxy resin, and (b) a hardener and/or a catalyst, as well as methods of making the same. The prepregs of present invention enables the simple provision of lightweight composites having consistent resin cure throughout.

The present invention includes a hydrogel and a method of making a porous hydrogel by preparing an aqueous mixture of an uncrosslinked polymer and a crystallizable molecule; casting the mixture into a vessel; allowing the cast mixture to dry to form an amorphous hydrogel film; seeding the cast mixture with a seed crystal of the crystallizable molecule; growing the crystallizable molecule into a crystal structure within the uncrosslinked polymer; crosslinking the polymer around the crystal structure under conditions in which the crystal structure within the crosslinked polymer is maintained; and dissolving the crystals within the crosslinked polymer to form the porous hydrogel.

Stabilized liquid agrochemical compositions are provided that comprise flowable, liquid dispersion concentrates comprising a) a continuous liquid phase; and b) a dispersed phase comprising a dispersion of gel-like polymer matrix particles having a hardness greater than 0.01 MPa and less than 6 MPa, and where the outside surfaces of the particles comprise a colloidal solid material and the particles have a agrochemically active ingredient distributed therein The agrochemically active ingredient may be solid or liquid and is distributed within the polymer matrix particle. The compositions of the invention can be used directly or with dilution to combat pests or as plant growth regulators.