A conversion product which has at least one aliphatic amidine or guanidine group and at least one polysiloxane radical, and the use of the conversion product as a catalyst for cross-linking hardenable compositions, in particular based on polymers containing silane groups. The conversion product is largely odor-free, non-volatile, and of low toxicity. The conversion product accelerates the cross-linking of such compositions surprisingly well, does not impair the stability of such compositions in storage, and is very highly compatible, which means that such compositions do not tend toward separation or migration or evaporation of the catalyst.

A method of synthesizing aerogels and cross-linked aerogels are described that incorporate freeze-drying in lieu of super-critical solvent drying. Advantages over supercritical drying include a reduction in hazard risks posed by drying at supercritical conditions as well as the ability to up-scale the process to accommodate large pieces of material without introducing risk. hi addition, inexpensive and more sophisticated mold technologies, which are not impervious to super-critical conditions, can be used to produce aerogel materials according to the freeze-drying method of the invention. This introduces a level of freedom never before available for the production of aerogel components.

The invention relates to a liquid bi-component composition comprising a silylated polymer having alkoxysilane functions, an epoxy resin, an amine catalyst for the epoxy and a catalyst for silanol condensation, and an adhesion promoter or a coupling agent. After crosslinking, the liquid composition according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a waterproofing membrane suitable for pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic.

The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.

The present invention is a stretchable film composition including: a silicone main-chain type urethane having a structure shown by the following general formula (1)-1 and/or (1)-2, and a silicone-pendant type urethane having a structure shown by the following general formula (2)-1 and/or (2)-2. The present invention provides a stretchable film composition that has excellent stretchability and strength, with the film surface having excellent water repellency, and is favorably used for a non-tackiness stretchable film, a stretchable film using the stretchable film composition, and a method for forming the same. ##STR00001##

This invention provides a scrollable and foldable transparent polysiloxane film and its preparation and self-healing method. 2-Hydroxyethyl disulfide, diisocyanate and alkane chloride were mixed and reacted to get disulfide-containing diisocyanate. ,-Aminopropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane, diisocyanate and alkane chloride were mixed and reacted get linear chain-extended polydimethylsiloxane. Linear chain-extended polydimethylsiloxane, multi-amino terminated hyperbranched polysiloxane, disulfide-containing diisocyanate and alkane chloride were mixed and poured into a mould. After drying, the scrollable and foldable transparent polysiloxane film was obtained. The polysiloxane film described in this invention are constructed by dynamic physical crosslinking induced by hydrogen bond and permanent chemical crosslinking generated by hyperbranched polysiloxane. Hence, the polysiloxane film achieves both high stiffness and toughness. The good self-healing behavior of the polysiloxane films is originated from the temperature controlled dissociation of hydrogen bonds and exchange reaction rate of disulfide bonds.

The present invention provides a surface treatment technology that gives excellent surface functionality to surfaces of a variety of large-area substrate materials. According to the present invention, when precursor solution containing an organosilane and a metal alkoxide is coated on a substrate material to form a polymerization initiator layer by a sol-gel process, a polymerization initiator group-containing organosilane having a formula: XR.sup.1-(Ph).sub.k-(R.sup.2).sub.mSiR.sup.3.sub.nR.sup.4.sub.3-n (X stands for a halogen atom, R.sup.1 stands for an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, Ph stands for a phenylene group, R.sup.2 stands for a C1 to C10 alkylene group optionally via an oxygen atom, R.sup.3 stands for an alkoxy or chloro group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R.sup.4 stands for an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, k is 0 or 1, m is 0 or 1, and n is 1, 2 or 3) is used as the organosilane.

The subject invention provides chemical compositions and synthesis strategies to create molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) via sol-gel processes. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention utilizes a(n) organic, inorganic, or metallic template analyte to create a hybrid organic-inorganic or inorganic three-dimensional network possessing cavities complementary to the shape, size, and functional orientation of the template molecule or ions. The subject invention further pertains to the use of the novel MIPs as selective solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for pre-concentration and clean-up of trace substances in biological and environmental samples. Synthesis of other molecularly imprinted polymers with environmental, pharmaceutical, chemical, clinical, toxicological, and national security implications can be conducted in accordance with the teachings of the subject invention.

A melt-processable conductive material including a first continuous phase, a second continuous phase and a non-continuous phase. The first continuous phase includes a first polymer, the second continuous phase includes a second polymer, and the non-continuous phase includes a third polymer. The second continuous phase is co-continuous with the first continuous phase and the non-continuous phase is substantially contained within the first continuous phase. A plurality of conductive particles is distributed in the first polymer or at a boundary between the first continuous phase and the second continuous phase. The conductive particles form a conductive network.

Urea and amine comprising sol-gel hybrid coatings have been developed for numerous applications, including capillary microextraction-high performance liquid chromatographic analysis from aqueous samples. A fused silica capillary may be coated from the inside with surface bonded coating material and may be created by in-situ sol-gel reaction(s). Urea-functionalized coatings can be immobilized on the inner surface of a capillary by condensing silanol groups of capillary and sol-solution. Urea functionalized, sol-gel coated capillaries may be installed, e.g., in HPLC manual injection ports, and optionally pre-concentrated analytes including phenols, ketones, aldehydes, and/or polyaromatic hydrocarbons, from highly polar to non-polar, maybe analyzed by online extraction and high-performance liquid chromatographic. Such coatings may achieve sensitivities with lower detection limits (S/N=3) of 0.10 ng/mL to 14.29 ng/mL, with reproducibilities of <12.0% RSD (n=3), or <10.0% RSD (n=3) by exchanging the capillary of the same size.