Shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomers. The shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomers being synthesized by filling an alignment cell with liquid crystal monomers. The liquid crystal monomers align to a surface of the alignment cell and then are polymerized with a dithiol chain transfer agent. The alignment cell is configured to impose a director orientation on a portion of the shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomer. For some embodiments, liquid crystal elastomer laminates are prepared by arranging a plurality of liquid crystal elastomers such that a director orientation of each liquid crystal elastomer of the plurality is in registered alignment with an adjacent liquid crystal elastomer of the plurality. The arrangement is secured and the plurality of liquid crystal elastomers cured.

The present invention relates to a polymer latex comprising: (A) particles of a latex polymer (A) obtainable by free-radical emulsion polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers the latex polymer comprising a plurality of functional groups (x); and (B) a compound bearing a beta-hydroxy ester linkage and at least one additional functional group (y) reactive with the functional groups (x) on latex polymer (A),to a method for preparation of said polymer latex, to its use, to a method for dip-molding and to articles obtained from the latex.

The use of a first water-soluble film and a second water-soluble film to make a unit dose article and the use of the unit dose article.

Various methods of reshaping and recycling thermoset polymers and composites containing thermoset polymers are provided. The methods involve the bond exchange reaction of exchangeable covalent bonds in the polymer matrix with a suitable small molecule solvent in the presence of a catalyst. In some aspects, the methods are applied to a carbon fiber reinforced polymer or a thermoset polymer where the thermoset polymer matrix includes a plurality of ester bonds. Using a small molecule alcohol, the methods provide for recycling one or both of the carbon fiber and the polymer, for welding two surfaces, or for repairing a damaged surface in the materials.

The invention provides a biaxially oriented polyester film roll which has excellent transparency and mechanical characteristics, as well as an excellent ability to be wound up into a roll and/or lubricity during film manufacturing operations, which is environmentally friendly, and which exhibits little variation in physical properties in the machine direction thereof even when in the form of a long film roll, i.e., a roll of long wound length, and a production method therefor. In particular, the invention provides a biaxially oriented polyester film roll, wound up at which there is a biaxially oriented polyester film comprising a polyester resin composition comprising particles and polyester resin recycled by the market and/or society and including PET bottles, the biaxially oriented polyester film roll satisfying predetermined ranges of haze, purge time for air, arithmetic mean height Sa, maximum projecting height Sp, and variation thereof.

A fluororesin film including a fluorine-containing composition, wherein the oxygen element percentage as measured when heat treatment is performed at 180° C. for 3 minutes and then the state of one or both surfaces of the film is observed by scanning X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/ESCA) is 1.35 atom % or more, and an absolute value of the rate of dimensional change in MD and TD before and after heat treatment as measured when the film is heat-treated at 180° C. for 10 minutes and then cooled to room temperature is 2% or less. Also disclosed is a copper-clad laminate, including copper foil and the fluororesin film; a substrate for circuit, including the copper-clad laminate; and a method for producing the copper-clad laminate.

Planters are provided. The planters include one or more molded foam articles that are formed from polylactic acid. Forming the molded foam articles from polylactic acid advantageously enables air and water transport through the walls of the planter, reduces the overall weight of the planter, enables highly customizable shapes and sizes of planters, and enables compostability of the planter.

Composite ceramic materials are disclosed in which an interconnected network of ceramic material on a substrate contains pores with an accessible pore volume that is at least partially filled with a polymer, resin, and/or wax.

Surface modifications and coating materials are provided that may be applied to a substrate to reduce or eliminate damage that would accrue to do environmental effects or operational stress when incorporated into a device such as a heat exchanger. Structured ceramic surface modification materials may be incorporated into the surface modification and may optionally include a gradient in one or more physical or chemical property.

Assemblies of stacked layers of materials are described. The assemblies include functional and structural layers. Functional layers include binderless ceramic materials on woven or non-woven substrates of natural, synthetic, or metallic materials. The layers of functional and structural materials may be configured to transport moisture or heat from an inner surface to an outer surface that is exposed to an ambient environment.