A composite exhibiting a thermoelectric effect is provided. The composite comprises a metal sulphosalt, an electrically conductive polymer, and fibres. A method of making a composite material is also provided, comprising mixing the components. The three components work together to provide a low-cost thermoelectric composite that utilises readily available materials. A friction material and a thermoelectric device comprising the composite of the invention are also discussed. Preferably a copper sulphosalt is used, such as tetrahedrite. Preferably man-made vitreous fibres and a binder are used.

The present invention provides a resin composition comprising: (A) 100 parts by weight of epoxy resin; (B) from 10 to 80 parts by weight of benzoxazine resin; (C) from 10 to 50 parts by weight of dicyclopentadiene phenol resin; and (D) from 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of amine hardener; wherein the resin composition is free of diallyl bisphenol A (DABPA).

The invention relates to an extrusion process for the production of expandable vinyl aromatic polymer granulate comprising mixing first and second additives with first and second polymer components, respectively, in dedicated mixers.

Embodiments of the invention provide a composition for shielding radiation, including 100 parts by weight of a first resin including one or more selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a polysiloxane resin, a silicone resin; a fluorine resin, an acrylic resin, and an alkyd resin; 5 to 30 parts by weight of a second resin including one or more selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), medium-density polyethylene (MDP E), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE); 5 to 30 parts by weight of a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) resin powder; 5 to 80 parts by weight of a metal powder; 1 to 70 parts by weight of a metal oxide powder; 1 to 50 parts by weight of paraffin; 5 to 15 parts by weight of a boron compound; and 10 to 50 parts by weight of a carbon powder. Accordingly, a fiber complex, protective clothing, and the like including the composition for shielding radiation of the present invention includes a PEEK resin without use of lead, and thus, may shield even neutron rays as well as radiation, such as alpha rays, beta rays, proton rays, gamma rays, and X-rays.

Water vapor transport membranes for ERV and other water vapor transport applications are provided. The membranes include a substrate and an air impermeable selective layer coated on the substrate, the selective layer including a cellulose derivative and a sulfonated polyaryletherketone. In some embodiments the sulfonated polyaryletherketone is in a cation form and/or the selective layer includes s PEEK and CA in an s PEEK:CA (wt.:wt.) ratio in the range of about 7:3 to 2:3. Methods for making such membranes are provided. The methods include applying a coating solution/dispersion to a substrate and allowing the coating solution/dispersion to dry to form an air impermeable selective layer on the substrate, the coating solution/dispersion including a cellulose derivative and a sulfonated polyarylether ketone. In some embodiments the sulfonated polyaryletherketone is in a cation form and/or the coating solution/dispersion includes s PEEK and CA in an sPEEK:CA (wt.:wt.) ratio in the range of about 7:3 to 2:3.

A component (A1) thereof includes an epoxy resin having at least one of a naphthalene skeleton or a biphenyl skeleton. A component (A2) thereof includes a phenolic resin having at least one of the naphthalene skeleton or the biphenyl skeleton. A component (B) thereof includes a high molecular weight substance having structures expressed by at least formulae (b2) and (b3) out of formulae (b1), (b2), and (b3) and having a weight average molecular weight equal to or greater than 200,000 and equal to or less than 850,000. A component (C1) thereof includes a first filler obtained by subjecting a first inorganic filler to surface treatment using a first silane coupling agent expressed by formula (c1). A component (C2) thereof includes a second filler obtained by subjecting a second inorganic filler to surface treatment using a second silane coupling agent expressed by formula (c2).

A component comprising a first part and a second part, wherein a third part is positioned between the first and second parts, wherein: (iv) said first part comprises a polymeric material (A) which comprises a repeat unit of formula (XI)

##STR00001## wherein t1, and w1 independently represent 0 or 1 and v1 represents 0, 1 or 2; (v) said second part comprises a polymeric material (B) which comprises a repeat unit of formula (XI)

##STR00002## wherein t1, and w1 independently represent 0 or 1 and v1 represents 0, 1 or 2; and (vi) said third part comprises a polymeric material (C) which comprises a polymer having a repeat unit of formula

O-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph-I and a repeat unit of formula

O-Ph-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph-II wherein Ph represents a phenylene moiety.

Described is a method for producing covalently and/or ionically cross-linked blend membranes from a halomethylated polymer, a polymer comprising tertiary N-basic groups, preferably polybenzimidazole, and, optionally, a polymer comprising cation exchanger groups such as sulfonic acid groups or phosphonic acid groups. The membranes can be tailor-made in respect of the properties thereof and are suitable, for example, for use as cation exchanger membranes or anion exchanger membranes in low-temperature fuel cells or low-temperature electrolysis or in redox flow batteries, orwhen doped with proton conductors such as phosphoric acid or phosphonic acidfor use in medium-temperature fuel cells or medium-temperature electrolysis.

Provided is a thermosetting resin composition that contains a high dielectric constant material and that can suppress, in producing a cured product thereof, generation of outgas, decrease in heat resistance, and decrease in peel strength. Also provided are a prepreg, a resin film, a laminate, a printed wiring board, an antenna device, an antenna module, and a communication device obtained by using the thermosetting resin composition. The thermosetting resin composition is, specifically, a thermosetting resin composition containing (A) a thermosetting resin and (B) at least one high dielectric constant inorganic filler selected from the group consisting of a titanium-based inorganic filler and a zircon-based inorganic filler, the thermosetting resin composition further containing (C) a resin having 3% by mass or more of an acidic group in an amount of 1 part by mass or more with respect to 100 parts by mass of the component (B).

A soft structure fiber reinforcement and actuation technology is provided. In an example embodiment, the tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membrane comprises an elastomer matrix material and a fiber array embedded within the elastomer matrix material. The one or more tendons are not mechanically bonded to the elastomer matrix material, such that the one or more embedded tendons are able to move through the elastomer matrix material. One or more apparatuses may employ one or more such tendon-driven, fiber-reinforced elastomer membranes for use in a variety of applications.