The invention provides a flame retardant-stabilizer combination for thermoplastic polymers, comprising as component A 20% to 99.7% by weight of phosphinic salt of the formula (I), (I), in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each ethyl, M is Al and m is 3; as component B 0.2% to 16% by weight of aluminium salts of ethylbutylphosphinic acid, of dibutylphosphinic acid, of ethylhexylphosphinic acid, of butylhexylphosphinic acid and/or of dihexylphosphinic acid; as component C 0.1% to 80% by weight of a salt of phosphorous acid having the general formula (II) [HP(═O)O.sub.2].sup.2−M.sup.m+(II) in which M is Zn and m is 2; as component D 0% to 80% by weight of a salt of phosphorous acid having the general formula (III) [HP(═O)O.sub.2].sup.2−.sub.3 M.sup.m+.sub.2 (III) in which M is Al and m is 3; as component E 0% to 30% by weight of a nitrogen-containing synergist and/or of a phosphorus-containing and/or nitrogen-containing flame retardant; as component F 0% to 10% by weight of an inorganic synergist selected from zinc borate, zinc stannate, boehmite and/or hydrotalcite; as component G 0% to 3% by weight of an organic phosphonite and/or a mixture of an organic phosphonite and an organic phosphite and as component H 0% to 3% by weight of an ester and/or salt of long-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids (fatty acids) typically having chain lengths of C.sub.14 to C.sub.40, where the sum total of the components is always 100% by weight.

##STR00001##

Provided is an epoxy resin composition including a nano-sized radioactive radiation shielding material which has superior shielding effects for against radiation, and to a method for preparing same. In particular, the method for preparing the epoxy resin composition for neutron shielding, includes the steps of: a step of mixing a boron compound powder for absorbing neutrons, optionally a high density metal powder for shielding from against gamma rays and a flame retardant powder, respectively separately or in combination, with an amine-based curing agent to obtain a mixture of a curing agent and a powder; an ultrasonic wave treating step of applying ultrasonic waves to the mixture to coat the surface of the powder with the amine-based curing agent and to disperse the powder in the curing agent; and a dispersing step of mixing and dispersing the amine-based curing agent, that was dispersed and includes the powder treated with ultrasonic waves, in an epoxy resin.

The disclosure provides a composite for forming an insulating substrate. The composite includes 100 parts by weight of a liquid crystal polymer and 0.5-85 parts by weight of a dielectric additive. The liquid crystal polymer has a repeating unit represented by ##STR00001##
in which Ar is 1,4-phenylene, 1,3-phenylene, 2,6-naphthalene, or 4,4′-biphenylene, Y is —O— or —NH—, and X is carboxamido, imido/imino, amidino, aminocarbonylamino, aminothiocarbonyl, aminocarbonyloxy, aminosulfonyl, aminosulfonyloxy, aminosulfonylamino, carboxyl ester, (carboxyl ester)amino, (alkoxycarbonyl)oxy, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyamino, alkoxyamino, cyanato, isocyanato, or a combination thereof.

A radiation shielding material is fabricated by providing a mixture of a polyester polymer and lead oxide. The material can be formed by the open mold cast technique. A nanocomposite material comprising at least 10% lead oxide is used to provide shielding for diagnostic or medium x-rays. A formulation comprising 40% of lead oxide nanofiller embedded in a polyester matrix performed best at attenuation of diagnostic and medium x-ray levels.

A piezoelectric composite comprising (a) an olefin copolymer and (b) a plurality of piezoelectric filler particles is disclosed. Each of the plurality of piezoelectric filler particles can be dispersed in the olefin copolymer. Also disclosed are films containing such piezoelectric composites and methods of preparing such films.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer matrix comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are immiscible with each other, and a plurality of piezoelectric particles located in at least a portion of the polymer matrix. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer matrix. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer material comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, and a plurality of piezoelectric covalently bonded to the at least one thermoplastic polymer and dispersed in at least a portion of the polymer material. The compositions are extrudable and may be pre-formed into a form factor suitable for extrusion. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles non-covalently interacting with at least a portion of a polymer material via π-π bonding, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions stronger than van der Waals interactions, or any combination thereof. The piezoelectric particles may be dispersed in the polymer material and remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The polymer material may comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer, optionally further including a polymer precursor. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a polymer-based piezoelectric composite material including lead zirconate titanate particles in a matrix consisting of a polymer material, the polymer-based piezoelectric composite material having a high piezoelectric characteristic; and a method for producing raw-material particles for a composite, the raw-material particles being used in the polymer-based piezoelectric composite material. The object is accomplished by a configuration in which the lead zirconate titanate particles include a polycrystalline material, a crystal structure of primary particles constituting the polycrystalline material of the lead zirconate titanate particles includes tetragonal particles, and a volume fraction occupied by the tetragonal particles is 80% or more.

Provided are a polymer-based piezoelectric composite material and a piezoelectric film which have high productivity and are capable of suppressing degradation of piezoelectric conversion efficiency in an environment where the temperature and the humidity are severe. The polymer-based piezoelectric composite material is a polymer-based piezoelectric composite material including piezoelectric particles in a matrix containing a polymer material, in which the polymer-based piezoelectric composite material contains greater than 500 ppm and 10000 ppm or less of a substance on a mass basis which has an SP value of less than 12.5 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 and is in a liquid state at room temperature, voids are formed in the polymer-based piezoelectric composite material, and an area ratio of the voids in a cross section of the polymer-based piezoelectric composite material is 0.1% or greater and 20% or less.