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.

An aqueous sol gel composition is useful as a storage-stable, solvent-free precursor for zinc powder paints. The composition is based on the reaction of at least the components (i) a glycidyloxypropyl alkoxysilane of the general formula (I) XSi(OR).sub.3 (I), where X represents a 3-glycidyloxypropyl group and R represents a methyl or ethyl group, (ii) an aqueous silica sol with an average particle size ranging from 5 to 150 nm and a solids content of 45 to 55 wt. %, (iii) at least one acid selected from nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, and acetic acid, and (iv) a his-amino silane of the general formula (II) (R.sup.1O).sub.3Si(CH.sub.2).sub.3(NH)(CH.sub.2).sub.3Si(OR.sup.1).sub.3 (II), where R.sup.1 is a methyl or ethyl group, and optionally (v) at least one additional alkoxysilane of the general formula (III) Y.sub.nSi(OR.sup.3).sub.4-n (I), where Y represents a propyl-, butyl-, octyl-, 3-mercaptopropyl-, 3-ureidopropyl-, or 3-isocyanatopropyl group, R.sup.3 represents a methyl or ethyl group, and n equals 0 or 1, wherein it is assumed that a mass ratio of (ii) to (i) ranges from 0.55 to 0.75 and a mass ratio of (ii) to (iv) ranges from 0.35 to 0.55. The composition also contains at least one particulate filler from precipitated silica acid, pyrogenic silica acid, crystalline silica, kaolin, feldspar, talcum, zinc oxide, iron(III) oxide, aluminum oxide, and titanium dioxide in a proportion of 5 to 70 wt. %, based on the composition.

A noncovalent soft elastomer includes a binary block copolymer composed of an A block and a B block and a solvent, wherein the B block has a noncovalent-bonding functional group, and the solvent is a nonvolatile liquid which has a property of dissolving the B block but not dissolving the A block and which forms a functional group capable of noncovalent-bonding of the B block.

A noncovalent soft elastomer includes a binary block copolymer composed of an A block and a B block and a solvent, wherein the B block has a noncovalent-bonding functional group, and the solvent is a nonvolatile liquid which has a property of dissolving the B block but not dissolving the A block and which forms a functional group capable of noncovalent-bonding of the B block.

The invention relates to a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, to the vulcanizate thereof, and to a vehicle tire. The rubber mixture according to the invention comprises at least the following constituents: at least one diene rubber; and, at least one char (HTC char) obtained by hydrothermal carbonization of at least one starting substance. A vehicle tire according to the invention comprises at least one vulcanizate according to the invention of the rubber mixture in at least one component.

There is provided a resin formulation comprising a base acrylate monomer or oligomer, a solubilizing acrylate monomer or oligomer, a photoinitiator compound, a photoabsorber compound, and a photochromic dye, wherein the solubilizing acrylate monomer or oligomer comprises a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxyl, carboxylic acid, amine, alkylamine, amide, alkylamide, alkylacrylate, acrylate, alkyl and heterocycloalkyl. There is also provided a method of preparing the resin formulation and uses of the resin formulation thereof.

Disclosed herein are novel materials and methods of forming those novel materials. The materials are synthesized from Poly(acrylic acid), a crosslinker; and a salt. The material can be further synthesized from sodium hydroxide. The crosslinker can be a covalent crosslinking agent such as N,N-methylenebisacrylamide. Examples of applicable salts are calcium chloride, lithium chloride, zinc chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, barium chloride, cesium chloride, magnesium chloride, cobalt chloride, lithium bromide. In example, the Poly(acrylic acid) can be about 3 moles of Poly(acrylic acid), the crosslinker can be about 0.005 moles of N,N-methylenebisacrylamide, and the salt can be formed by the addition of about 0.003 moles of potassium persulfate.

Compositions are disclosed for dewatering mixtures of petroleum and water. The compositions comprise one or more of the following: an unreacted polysaccharide component; and one or both of a polysaccharide component reacted with a hydrophilic component and a polysaccharide component reacted with a hydrophobic component. The compositions may also include viscosifying agents or stabilizers to stabilize the compositions against separation, for example, prior to use. In particularly preferred embodiments the invention is drawn to compositions for breaking an emulsion; such compositions comprising a carbohydrate component containing a cationic starch joined to a hydrophobic moiety, providing the carbohydrate component oil solubility. The composition may optionally comprise one or more additional demulsifier selected from, without limitation, salts (such as a polyaluminum chloride, an aluminum chlorohydrate, an alum, etc.), metal salts (such as iron and zinc salts), dithiocarbamate, tannin, and organic demulsifiers such as poly-DADMAC and similar compounds.

A composition including a plurality of quantum dots; a binder polymer; a thiol compound having at least two thiol groups; a polyvalent metal compound; a polymerizable monomer having a carbon-carbon double bond; a photoinitiator; and a solvent.

The invention relates to a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, to the vulcanizate thereof, and to a vehicle tire. The rubber mixture according to the invention comprises at least the following constituents: at least one diene rubber; and, at least one char (HTC char) obtained by hydrothermal carbonization of at least one starting substance. A vehicle tire according to the invention comprises at least one vulcanizate according to the invention of the rubber mixture in at least one component.