Sequential, double elastomer vulcanization method, system, and composition. First and second immiscible elastomers are mixed together with a first additive package. A first curative system is activated to vulcanize the first elastomer in a dispersed phase of the first elastomer to form a partially vulcanized mixture while maintaining melt flowability of the second elastomer in a continuous phase. Then, a second curative system is activated to vulcanize the second elastomer in the continuous phase. Since the partially vulcanized mixture is melt processable, a second additive package can be introduced to the mixture after activating the first curative system. Or, the second curative system can be activatable at a temperature which is higher than an activation temperature of the first curative system. In this manner, blends of dissimilar elastomers can be vulcanized with independent control of plasticizer, filler and curative distribution.

A shear-thinning hydrogel composition includes: a first polymer chain including: (i) a first plurality of units each having at least one of a monosaccharide and an amino acid; and (ii) a cross-linking group bound to the at least one of the monosaccharide and the amino acid of one of the first plurality of units via conversion of a carboxyl group of the unit to a peptide bond; a second polymer chain including a second plurality of the units; and a cross-linking additive connecting one of the second plurality of units to the first polymer chain via the cross-linking group.

Provided is a one part, dual curable composition comprising (A) a first acrylic functional polyorganosiloxane with at least one moisture curable functional group, (B) a second acrylic functional polyorganosiloxane, which may optionally contain a moisture curable functional group, and (C) a third functional polyorganosiloxane, which optionally contains an acrylic and moisture curable functional group. The combination of (A), (B), and (C) provides a composition that is both moisture curable and radiation curable and provides a material that is fast curing via the dual cure functionality and provides a cured material exhibiting a relatively low modulus, good adhesion, and optical clarity.

A biodegradable polymer includes starch groups, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) backbone having a crosslinked layered configuration and a Schiff base structure bonded to the starch groups. The PVA backbone has double bonds, and the starch groups have reversible acetal linkages. The biodegradable polymer is produced by mixing starch and water; mixing partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and water; mixing the starch solution with the PVA solution; mixing in a catalyst; and mixing in a cross-linking agent and a dialdehyde.

The present invention provides a new polyester biomaterial through a simple one-step polycondensation synthesis. 124 polymer exhibited highly elastic properties under aqueous conditions that were tunable according to the UV light exposure, monomer composition, and porosity of the cured elastomer. Its elastomeric properties fell within the range of adult heart myocardium, but they could also be optimized for higher elasticity for weaker immature constructs. The polymer showed relatively stable degradation characteristics, both hydrolytically and in a cellular environment, suggesting maintenance of material properties as a scaffold support for potential tissue implants. When assessed for cell interaction, this polymer supported rat cardiac cell attachment in vitro as well as decreased fibrous capsule formation in vivo when compared to poly(L-lactic acid) control. This suggests the potential applicability of this material as an elastomer for cardiac tissue engineered constructs. Furthermore, the highly elastic polyester could be molded and photocrosslinked into a complex mesh structure with feature size on the order of tens of micrometers, demonstrating utility in cardiac tissue engineering constructs.

Provided is a novel transparent adhesive material having low relative permittivity as well as excellent adhesive characteristics, whereby an olefinic polymer resin layer and an acrylic polymer adhesive layer can be suitably integrated. Suggested is a transparent adhesive material provided with an outermost surface layer containing an acrylic polymer (B) and a photocrosslinking initiator, and an intermediate layer containing an olefinic polymer (A), a crosslinking agent, and a photocrosslinking initiator, in which the intermediate layer contains a (meth)acrylate monomer as the crosslinking agent.

The invention relates to a process for producing storage-stable polyurethane prepregs and mouldings produced therefrom (composite components). For production of the prepregs or components, for example, (meth)acrylate monomers, (meth)acrylate polymers, hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate monomers and/or hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate polymers are mixed with non-(meth)acrylic polyols and with uretdione materials. This mixture or solution is applied to fibre material, for example carbon fibres, glass fibres or polymer fibres, by known methods and polymerized thermally, via a redox initiation or with the aid of radiation or plasma applications.

Polymerization, for example at room temperature or at up to 80° C., gives rise to thermoplastics or thermoplastic prepregs which can subsequently be subjected to a forming operation. The hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate constituents and the polyols can subsequently be crosslinked with the uretdiones already present in the system by means of elevated temperature. In this way, dimensionally stable thermosets or crosslinked composite components can be produced.

A multistage filament winding process for manufacturing a composite article using a dual chemistry formulation including the steps of (a) providing a dual chemistry formulation containing components to effectuate dual cure of the formulation; (b) winding fibers on a liner or on a mandrel; (c) impregnating the wound fibers of step (b) with the dual chemistry formulation; (d) activating a first reaction (A) by UV or thermal-free radical initiation sufficient to form first macroscopic gels and to allow the first macroscopic gels to phase separate from the remaining substantially unreacted components in the formulation; (e) optionally, activating a second reaction by heating through IR lamps or other heating apparatus and controlling the second reaction sufficient to form second macroscopic gels subsequent to the formation of the first macroscopic gels which have gelled and phase separated in the formulation; (f) repeating steps (a)-(d) until a composite article having a predetermined thickness is formed; and (g) heating the formed composite article of step (f) sufficient to form a final composite article product having a predetermined glass transition temperature; a cured thermoset article prepared by the above process; and a process for manufacturing spoolable pipe.

Process for producing a composite material comprising depositing a prepreg containing a radiation initiated curing agent onto a mould using automated apparatus and applying heat and second source radiation to at least partially cure the prepreg at least simultaneously with the deposition of the prepreg. Also epoxy resin formulations of a mixture of a liquid epoxy resin and a solid or semi-solid epoxy resin containing a photoinitiator are used as the matrix in prepregs which are cured or partially cured by radiation to avoid the need for thermal cure in an oven. The formulation is particularly useful in the production of wind turbine blades especially in an automated process. Additionally an automated tape laying apparatus comprising compaction device, a heat source and a second radiation source.

The polymer compositions described herein include the reaction product obtained from a mixture that includes: (i) a hydroxyl terminated intermediate containing at least one furan functional group; and (ii) a polyisocyanate component. The polymer compositions may further include a polymaleimide compound which may be (a) added as a component of the polymer composition, (b) incorporated into the structure of the hydroxyl terminated intermediate containing at least one furan functional group, or (c) both. The resulting polymer composition is capable of thermally reversible crosslinking. Also described are processes for making such polymer compositions, methods of reversibly increasing and/or decreasing the amount of crosslinking in a polymer composition thermally, through utilization of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition mechanism between furan functional groups and the polymaleimide compound, and methods of using the described furan functional group containing materials to prepare polymer compositions capable of thermally reversible crosslinking.