An aromatic polysulfone resin having a repeating unit represented by Formula (I) and a repeating unit represented by Formula (II), in which a ratio (m:n) of a molar content (m) of the repeating unit represented by Formula (I) to a molar content (n) of the repeating unit represented by Formula (II) is 1:2,000 to 1:200. ##STR00001## wherein hydrogen atoms of phenylene groups of Formulae (I) and (II) may be each independently substituted with an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a halogen atom.

A porous polymer composite for daytime radiative cooling includes a porous polymer matrix comprising a thermoplastic polymer and including a plurality of pores, and selectively emitting particles dispersed in the porous polymer matrix. When exposed to solar radiation, the porous polymer composite comprises an infrared emissivity of at least about 80% in a wavelength range of 8-13 μm and/or a solar reflectivity of at least about 80% in a wavelength range of 0.3-2 μm.

Polymer matrix composite comprising a porous polymeric network; and a plurality of thermally conductive particles distributed within the polymeric network structure; wherein the thermally conductive particles are present in a range from 15 to 99 weight percent, based on the total weight of the thermally conductive particles and the polymer (excluding the solvent); and wherein the polymer matrix composite has a density of at least 0.3 g/cm.sup.3; and methods for making the same. The polymer matrix composites are useful, for example, in electronic devices.

A polymer matrix composite includes a porous polymeric network structure; and a plurality of acoustically active particles distributed within the polymeric network structure. The weight fraction of acoustically active particles is between 0.80 and 0.99, based on the total weight of the polymer matrix composite. The polymer matrix composite has an air flow resistance of less than 100 seconds/50 mL/500 μm.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing a microporous polyolefin film comprising: a step of injecting a composition comprising polyolefin 30 to 60 wt % and a diluent mixture comprising a diluent, which can make liquid-liquid phase separation with the polyolefin thermodynamically 40 to 70 wt %, into an extruding machine, and melting and kneading thereof to prepare a single phase melt; and a step of extruding the melt while conducting liquid-liquid phase separation by passing through a section having the temperature below the liquid-liquid phase separation temperature and forming thereof in the form of a sheet, and a microporous polyolefin film prepared according to the method.

A method of synthesizing aerogels and cross-linked aerogels in a single step and in a single pot without requiring any solvent exchange is described. Porous matrices are synthesized through a modification of hydrolysis condensation of alkoxides in which addition of water is minimized. The reaction occurs in an ethanol-water azeotrope mixture; the water in the azeotrope slowly hydrolyzes the alkoxide. Additionally, after gelation, the porous matrix is dried in supercritical ethanol rather than liquid CO.sub.2, which allows for elimination of solvent exchange steps. These modifications allow for the preparation of aerogel monoliths in any size in one step and in one pot and much faster than conventional procedures. In addition, the method provides for custom aerogel parts with large dimensions, as well as high volume fabrication of aerogels. The custom aerogel parts may be used in a variety of thermal insulation applications.

In an embodiment, a porous material comprises a base polymer having a continuous pore structure. In another embodiment, a method of making the porous material comprises reacting a base polymer with a degradable polymer with a crosslinker in the presence of a solvent and/or reacting a base polymer and a degradable polymer with a crosslinker in the presence of the solvent; removing the solvent to form a phase separated material; and removing the degradable polymer to form the porous material.

(Co)polymer matrix composites including a porous (co)polymeric network; a nonvolatile diluent, and a multiplicity of thermally-conductive particles distributed within the (co)polymeric network; wherein the thermally-conductive particles are present in a range from 15 to 99 weight percent, based on the total weight of the (co)polymer matrix (including the thermally-conductive particles and the nonvolatile diluent). Optionally, the (co)polymer matrix composite volumetrically expands by at least 10% of its initial volume when exposed to a temperature of at least 135° C. Methods of making and using the (co)polymer matrix composites are also disclosed. The (co)polymer matrix composites are useful, for example, as heat dissipating or heat absorbing articles, as fillers, thermal interface materials, and thermal management materials, for example, in electronic devices, more particularly mobile handheld electronic devices, power supplies, and batteries.

A polymer matrix composite comprising a porous polymeric network; and a plurality of dielectric particles distributed within the polymeric network structure; wherein the dielectric particles are present in a range from 5 to 98 weight percent, based on the total weight of the dielectric particles and the polymer (excluding the solvent); and wherein the polymer matrix composite has a dielectric constant in a range from 1.05 to 80; and methods for making the same. Polymer matrix composites comprising dielectric particles are useful, for example, as electric field insulators.

A polymer composition can be used in selective absorbing sintering, SAS, or selective inhibition sintering, SIS, methods. The polymer of the polymer composition has open mesopores, where a cumulative pore volume distribution of the mesopores, measured according to DIN 66134, is at least 0.01 cm.sup.3/g.