A porous composite material (50) for sound absorption and a method (10) of producing the porous composite material (50) are provided. The method (10) includes preparing (12) a mixture of mechano-electrical conversion elements (56) and electro-thermal conversion elements (58) in an organic solvent. The mixture of the mechano-electrical conversion elements (56) and the electro-thermal conversion elements (58) in the organic solvent is mixed (14) with an aqueous solvent to precipitate a piezoelectric hybrid filler material (54). The piezoelectric hybrid filler material (54) is mixed (16) with a precursor. A foaming operation is performed (18) with the precursor to produce the porous composite material (50).

An aqueous binder composition is provided that includes a carbohydrate and a crosslinking agent. In exemplary embodiments, the carbohydrate-based binder composition may also include a catalyst, a coupling agent, a process aid, a crosslinking density enhancer, an extender, a moisture resistant agent, a dedusting oil, a colorant, a corrosion inhibitor, a surfactant, a pH adjuster, and combinations thereof. The carbohydrate may be natural in origin and derived from renewable resources. Additionally, the carbohydrate polymer may have a dextrose equivalent (DE) number from 2 to 20. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the carbohydrate is a water-soluble polysaccharide such as dextrin or maltodextrin and the crosslinking agent is citric acid. Advantageously, the carbohydrates have a low viscosity and cure at moderate temperatures. The environmentally friendly, formaldehyde-free binder may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven chopped strand mats. A method of making fibrous insulation products is also provided.

A fixed abrasive article having a body including abrasive particles contained within a bond material, the abrasive particles including shaped abrasive particles or elongated abrasive particles having an aspect ratio of length:width of at least 1.1:1, each of the shaped abrasive particles or elongated abrasive particles having a predetermined position or a predetermined three-axis orientation, including a placement angle ranging from +90 degrees to −90 degrees and a rake angle ranging from +90 degrees to −90 degrees.

A fixed abrasive article having a body including abrasive particles contained within a bond material, the abrasive particles including shaped abrasive particles or elongated abrasive particles having an aspect ratio of length:width of at least 1.1:1, each of the shaped abrasive particles or elongated abrasive particles having a predetermined position or a predetermined three-axis orientation, including a placement angle ranging from +90 degrees to −90 degrees and a rake angle ranging from +90 degrees to −90 degrees.

A fluidized-bed coating method includes: immersing at least part of a workpiece in a powder coating material contained in a fluidized-bed vessel while air is introduced from a bottom of the fluidized-bed vessel at an average air flow rate of 5 mm/min or higher and 20 mm/min or lower per unit area of the bottom so that a floating ratio of the powder coating material is 5% or higher and 20% or lower, the workpiece having a temperature higher than or equal to a softening temperature of the powder coating material and lower than or equal to a melting temperature of the powder coating material; taking the workpiece out of the powder coating material; and heating the powder coating material attached to the workpiece.

Hydrogel compositions, and corresponding methods of making, are provided. The hydrogels do not freeze, or only partially freeze, over a wide range of temperatures below the freezing temperature of water. Concurrently, these hydrogels also retain their room temperature mechanical properties (e.g., strength, modulus, elasticity) over a wide range of temperatures, including temperatures below the freezing temperature of water. The hydrogels are synthesized by adding a suitable amount of a salt together with previously cross-linked polymer gel. Hydration of the gel with aqueous solutions containing the prescribed salts not only depresses the hydrogel freezing point but protects the structure. For example, the salts do not allow the hydrogel to completely freeze, thus protecting the hydrogel from brittle failure. Whether the hydrogels partially freeze or remain non-frozen when chilled below the freezing temperature of water is determined by concentration of salt within the hydrogel.

Provided is a preparation method of a coating material. The method includes: using an aluminum salt and a silicon source as precursors; and performing hydrothermal crystallization and calcination treatments successively under an action of a template agent to obtain the coating material, wherein the template agent is used to cause the coating material to form a porous spherical structure. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the preparation process of the coating material is simple and the cost is low, and the specific surface area of the prepared coating material is large.

A method for the manufacture of polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), including: (i) providing a 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex; (ii) purifying said 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex; (iii) reacting said 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex with at least one difunctional aromatic acyl chloride in a reaction solvent and optional additional Lewis acid to obtain a product mixture including a PEKK-Lewis acid complex; and (iv) decomplexing the PEKK-Lewis acid complex to obtain a PEKK polymer. Further, a composition including at least 40 wt. % of 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex and an anhydrous aprotic solvent or solvent mixture, characterized in that it includes less than 1 wt. %, preferably less than 0.5 wt. % and in particular less than 0.1 wt. % of molecules including xanthydrol groups and its use for the manufacture of polyether ketone ketone.

A method for the manufacture of polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), including: providing a 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex; purifying said 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex; reacting said 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex with at least one difunctional aromatic acyl chloride in a reaction solvent and optional additional Lewis acid to obtain a product mixture including a PEKK-Lewis acid complex; and decomplexing the PEKK-Lewis acid complex to obtain a PEKK polymer. Also, a composition including at least 40 wt. % of 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex and an anhydrous aprotic solvent or solvent mixture, wherein the composition includes less than 1 wt. %, preferably less than 0.5 wt. % and in particular less than 0.1 wt. % of molecules comprising xanthydrol groups. And, the use of the composition for the manufacture of polyether ketone ketone.

Modified asphalts and methods for producing the same are disclosed. The modified asphalts can include asphalt having a T5 boiling point of 400 C. or more, an olefin compound, and an acid promoter. The modified asphalt can include at least a portion of the olefin compound chemically grafted to at least a portion of the asphalt. The method can include exposing the asphalt, olefin compound, and acid promoter to a temperature of about 160 C. or more.