1342 results about "Polymer network" patented technology

The present invention relates to a negative electrode for a lithium metal battery and a lithium metal battery comprising the same. The negative electrode of the present invention comprises a negative active material layer of metallic lithium or a lithium alloy, and a passivation layer formed on the negative active material layer. The passivation layer has a structure comprising a 3-dimensionally cross-linked polymer network matrix penetrated by linear polymers. The passivation layer formed on the surface of the negative electrode reduces reactivity of the negative electrode and stabilizes the surface, so that it offers a lithium metal battery having superior life cycle characteristics.

The present invention provides interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPNs), and related methods and compositions. The hydrogel material of this invention comprises an interpenetrating network of two or more polymer networks, wherein at least one of the polymer networks is based on a biopolymer. Also provided is a method of producing the hydrogel material comprising, combining a first polymeric network with a second polymeric network, wherein the first polymeric network or the second polymeric network is based on a biopolymer. The present application also discloses devices manufactured from the IPN hydrogel material and uses thereof.

The present invention comprises methods and compositions for making a silver-containing antimicrobial hydrophilic material. More particularly, the present invention comprises methods and compositions for stabilized silver antimicrobial devices comprising a matrix comprising a polymer network and a non-gellable polysaccharide, and an active agent. The matrix may be formed into any desired shape for its desired uses.

A membrane for use in an implantable glucose sensor including at least one crosslinked substantially hydrophobic polymer and at least one crosslinked substantially hydrophilic polymer; wherein the first and second polymers are different polymers and substantially form an interpenetrating polymer network, semi- interpenetrating polymer network, polymer blend, or copolymer. The membranes are generally characterized by providing a permeability ratio of oxygen to glucose of about 1 to about 1000 in units of (mg / dl glucose) per (mmHg oxygen). Three methods of making membranes from hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers formed into polymer networks are provided, wherein according to at least two of the methods, the monomers may be substantially immiscible with one another.

The present invention comprises methods and compositions for delivery devices. More particularly, the present invention comprises methods and compositions for devices comprising a matrix comprising a polymer network and a non-gellable polysaccharide having oxygen and optionally active agents incorporated therein. The matrix may be formed into any desired shape for treatment of compromised tissue or for delivery of oxygen to a localized environment.

Thermoset polymer particles are used in many applications requiring lightweight particles possessing high stiffness, strength, temperature resistance, and / or resistance to aggressive environments. The present invention relates to the use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of such particles. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. In general, its main benefits are the enhancement of the maximum possible use temperature and the environmental resistance. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous “nanocomposite” morphology. In general, its main benefits are increased stiffness and strength. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. It also relates to the optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment. Furthermore, it also relates to processes for the manufacture of said particles. Finally, it also relates to the use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and / or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells; for example, as a proppant partial monolayer, a proppant pack, an integral component of a gravel pack completion, a ball bearing, a solid lubricant, a drilling mud constituent, and / or a cement additive.

[PROBLEMS] To provide a liquid crystal display device that does not need any surface aligning treatment, realizes striking increase of a response speed of movie display and is free from any light leakage (produce dark field) at black display.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] There is provided a liquid crystal display device comprising a pair of transparent substrates and, interposed therebetween, a polymer stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display device utilizing the polymer stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal exhibits a large birefringence change upon application of an electric field to cell substrate in an in-plane direction. The polymer stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal is composed of a low-molecular liquid crystal capable of developing a blue phase between cholesteric phase and isotropic phase and a polymer network created in the low-molecular liquid crystal. Further, by optimizing the type and amount of chiral dopant added to the liquid crystal, there can be provided a liquid crystal display device that is free from any light leakage (produce dark field) at black display.

Embodiments of the present invention include a material comprising a polymer having a modulus of elasticity less than 105 Pa and a material comprising a polymer having a modulus of elasticity of less than 5×104 Pa. Embodiments also include a material comprising a polymeric network and a multiplicity of side chains attached to the polymeric network. The multiplicity of side chains may have an average molecular weight below the critical molecular weight for entanglements. In certain embodiments it may be advantageous for the side branches to have a glass transition temperature below the use temperature of the material. The polymer network may comprise at least two monomers so that the polymer network is a copolymer. Embodiments of the present invention also include methods of forming a polymer network. Such as, for example, a method of preparing a polymer network comprising cross-linking a polymer, wherein the polymer comprises a multiplicity of side chains. The polymer may be at least one of a polymer brush, a polymer comb, and a nanocomposite material. An additional embodiment may include polymerizing macromonomers in the presence of a crosslinking agent. This embodiment may result in the forming a polymer network, wherein the polymer network comprises a multiplicity of branches attached to the polymer network, wherein the macromonomers may have a molecular weight less than the critical molecular weight for entanglements. Another embodiment of the method of forming a polymer network may comprising polymerizing monomers directly from a crosslinked polymer network. This method may result in forming a branched polymer network, wherein the polymer network comprises a multiplicity of branches attached to the polymer network.

A composition of matter comprising a water-swellable IPN or semi-IPN including a hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer and an ionic polymer, articles made from such composition and methods of using such articles. The invention also includes a process for producing a water-swellable IPN or semi-IPN from a hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer including the steps of placing an ionizable monomer solution in contact with a solid form of the hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer; diffusing the ionizable monomer solution into the hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer; and polymerizing the ionizable monomers to form a ionic polymer inside the hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer, thereby forming the IPN or semi-IPN.

Synthetic polymer complements (SPCs) are provided, as well as methods for their synthesis and use. The SPCs may have surfaces that include functional groups that are complementary to surface sites of targets such as nanostructures or macromolecular targets, and may be capable of specifically interacting with such targets. The positions of the functional groups in one embodiment are stabilized by a polymer network. The SPCs are formed by contacting the target with a set of monomers which self-assemble on the target, and then are polymerized into a network to form the synthetic polymer complement. At least a portion of the surface of the resulting SPC thus may include an imprint of the target. The complex of the SPC and the target may be the desired product. Alternatively, the target is released, for example, by controllably expanding and contracting the crosslinked network. The SPC is isolated and used in many applications.

Presents a liquid crystal display device that does not require a surface orientation treatment, dramatically improves the response rate of dynamic image displays and does not experience light leaks when the display is black, which means to yield a dark field of vision. The liquid crystal display device comprises polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals sandwiched between a pair of clear substrates. The liquid crystal display device obtained using polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals exhibits large double refraction changes when an electrical field is applied in an in-plane direction to the cell substrates. The polymer-stabilized blue phases liquid crystals comprises a low molecular weight liquid crystal that allows a blue phase to appear between cholesteric and isotropic phases and polymer network formed in the low molecular weight liquid crystals. Furthermore, a liquid crystal display device that does not leak light when the display is black (yields a dark field of vision) can be obtained by optimizing the type and amount of a chiral dopant added to the liquid crystals.

A method of manufacturing a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) pad comprises the steps of (a) forming a layer of a polymer resin liquid solution (i.e., a polymer resin dissolved in a solvent); (b) inducing a phase separation in the layer of polymer solution to produce an interpenetrating polymeric network comprising a continuous polymer-rich phase interspersed with a continuous polymer-depleted phase in which the polymer-depleted phase constitutes about 20 to about 90 percent of the combined volume of the phases; (c) solidifying the continuous polymer-rich phase to form a porous polymer sheet; (d) removing at least a portion of the polymer-depleted phase from the porous polymer sheet; and (e) forming a CMP pad therefrom. The method provides for microporous CMP pads having a porosity and pore size that can be readily controlled by selecting the concentration polymer resin in the polymer solution, selecting the solvent based on the solubility parameters of the polymer in the solvent polarity of solvent, selecting the conditions for phase separation, and the like.

A resizable polymer-stabilized, thermotropic liquid crystal device formulation is used in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films, materials and devices, including construction materials. Implementations of the device may be composed of five basic elements: one or more transparent substrates, a transparent surface treatment, a liquid crystal mixture, a stabilizing polymer, and spacer beads. The polymer-stabilized liquid crystal is coated and cured on at least one substrate. The transparent surface treatment and the stabilizing polymer network are selected to provide phase separation, curing, and adhesion within the LC mixture. The substrate or substrates may be polarizing or nonpolarizing.

The invention relates to composite compositions having a matrix of polymer networks and dispersed phases of particulate or fibrous materials. The polymer matrix contains a polyurethane network formed by the reaction of a poly- or di-isocyanate and one or more saturated polyether or polyester polyols, and an optional polyisocyanurate network formed by the reaction of optionally added water and isocyanate. The matrix is filled with a particulate phase, which can be selected from one or more of a variety of components, such as fly ash particles, axially oriented fibers, fabrics, chopped random fibers, mineral fibers, ground waste glass, granite dust, or other solid waste materials. The addition of water can also serve to provide a blowing agent to the reaction mixture, resulting in a foamed structure, if such is desired.

The invention comprises a method of producing an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) comprising the steps of I) providing a silicone polymer composition; (ii) providing one or more monomers for a polymer; (iii) providing a solvent for the one or more monomers; iv) exposing said silicone polymer composition to said one or more monomers and said solvent to precipitate monomer within said silicone polymer composition and v) polymerizing said monomer to form an IPN, wherein said solvent has a surface tension at the exposing step of about 15 mNZm or less. It is preferred that the solvent, which is preferably CO2, in the exposing step is in or near its supercritical state. The method is fast and simple, and the dispersion of the monomers may be controled to thereby controle the amount and distribution of the interpenetrating network in the silicone material. Further more the method results in new materials, where silicone polymers are used as the basic materials.

The present invention relates to relates to combination degradable and non-degradable matrices and related methods. In an embodiment, the invention includes an active agent delivery matrix including a degradable polymer network, a non-degradable polymer network, the non-degradable polymer network interspersed within the degradable polymer network, and an active agent. In an embodiment, the invention includes an active agent elution control matrix including a degradable polymer; and a non-degradable polymer interspersed with the degradable polymer. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of making an active agent delivery matrix including mixing a degradable polymer with a first solvent to form a degradable polymer solution; mixing a non-degradable polymer with a second solvent to form a non-degradable polymer solution; and simultaneously depositing the degradable polymer solution and the non-degradable polymer solution onto a substrate.

The present invention relates to amorphous phase segregated networks of ABA triblock copolymers. The networks do possess good shape memory properties. The materials of the present invention are in particular suitable as materials in the medicinal field, as implants, for the target designed stimuli sensitive drug release, for ligament augmentation or as disc replacement.

ClotFoam is a surgical sealant and hemostatic agent designed to be used in cases of non-compressible hemorrhage. It can be applied in the operating room through laparoscopic ports, or directly over lacerated tissue in laparotomy procedures or outside the operating room through a mixing needle and / or a spray injection method following abdominal, chest, extremities or other intracavitary severe trauma to promote hemostasis. Its crosslinking technology generates an adhesive three-dimensional polymeric network or scaffold that carries a fibrin sealant required for hemostasis. When mixed, Clotfoam produces a foam that spreads throughout a body cavity reaching the lacerated tissue to seal tissue and promote the coagulation cascade.The viscoelastic attachment properties of the foam as well as the rapid formation of a fibrin clot that ensure that the sealant remains at the site of application without being washed away by blood or displaced by movement of the target tissue .

A composition of matter comprising a hydrophobic or hydrophilic (or both) interpenetrating polymer network containing a non-ionic / ionic polymer and a hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer, articles made from such composition and methods of preparing such articles. The invention also includes a process for preparing a hydrophobic / hydrophilic IPN or semi-IPN from a hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer including the steps of placing an non-ionizable / ionizable monomer solution in contact with a hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer; diffusing the monomer solution into the hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer; and polymerizing the monomers to form a penetrating polymer inside the hydrophobic thermoset or thermoplastic polymer, thereby forming the IPN or semi-IPN.

A composition including a non-silicone material, a silicone material, and a crosslinking agent. The composition forms a structure selected from the group consisting of an interpenetrating network structure and a thermoplastic vulcanizate structure.

The invention discloses a liquid crystal display screen, a display device and a quantum dot layer graphical method. A plurality of pixel units are arranged in a liquid crystal panel; each pixel unit comprises a plurality of subpixel units capable of displaying different colors; and a monochromatic quantum dot layer is arranged at the position corresponding to at least one color of subpixel unit of each pixel unit. The embodiment of the invention substitutes the quantum dot layer for the conventional resin to serve as a color filter for converting background light into monochromatic light, the emission spectrum of the quantum dots is narrow and the luminous efficiency is high, and the background light can be efficiently converted into monochromic light, so the color gamut of the liquid crystal display screen can be improved, the color saturation is enhanced and the display quality of the display screen is improved. The monochromic quantum dots are dispersed by a high-molecular polymer network, so accumulation of the quantum dots can be avoided, the quantum yield is increased, the quantum excited lighting effect can be improved, contact of the monochromic quantum dots and oxygen can be avoided, and the service life of the quantum dots is prolonged.

The present invention provides materials that have high glucose and oxygen permeability, strength, water content, and resistance to protein adsorption. The materials include an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel that is coated with biomolecules. The IPN hydrogels include two interpenetrating polymer networks. The first polymer network is based on a hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer. The second polymer network is based on a hydrophilic monomer. The hydrophilic monomer is polymerized and cross-linked to form the second polymer network in the presence of the first polymer network. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer is PEG-diacrylate or PEG-dimethacrylate and the hydrophilic monomer is an acrylic-based monomer. Any biomolecules may be linked to the IPN hydrogels, but are preferably biomolecules that support the growth of cornea-derived cells. The material is designed to serve as a corneal prosthesis.

A water insoluble interpenetrating polymer network is obtained by independently cross-linking a first polymer derived from a sulfonic acid or phosphonic acid group containing alkenyl monomer and a second polymer polymerized independently of the first polymer and interpenetrating the first polymer, where the second polymer is selectively permeable to water compared to methanol. Through adjustment of the degree of first polymer monomer acidification, polymer ratios and the extent of cross-linking in the at least two interpenetrating polymers, ion conductivity and solvent permeability are controlled. A film produced from such a water insoluble interpenetrating polymer network is well suited as a membrane in a direct methanol fuel cell. The relative degree and mechanism of cross-linking and interpenetrating the first polymer and second polymer are also adjustable parameters that impact on film properties.

An adhesive is provided containing at least one synthetic polymer with receptor sites that enable the selective capture or release of a target molecule. A polymer is synthesized by polymerizing and cross-linking a functional monomer or functional copolymers in the presence of a target or template molecule allowing for reversible interactions between the polymer and the target molecule. The target molecule may be extracted from the polymer creating receptor sites complimentary to the target molecule. Alternatively, the target molecule may remain in the polymer network and be controllably released. The molecularly imprinted polymer is formulated into an adhesive. The adhesive can be used as a component in an in-vitro diagnostic device to release template molecules or to capture target molecules in vacated receptor sites in the synthetic polymer.

A functional, porous, interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) includes a first polymer network in the form of a porogenic support fabric (PSF) composed of linear polymers in the form of a pre-formed network comprising a fibrous composite and a second polymer network synthesized, gelated, and / or cross-linked in the presence of the first polymer network to form a system of polymers which have their respective chains held in place by means of permanent physical entanglements produced by the interweaving of the component polymer networks. The IPN is modified by dissolving and dispersing a portion of the PSF fibers, the dispersible fiber network (DFN) to form a pre-designed interconnected pore structure. The resultant porous, supported, second polymer network has convective flow, diffusive flow, and high capacity, and may include functional capture chemistries to provide an adsorptive media for chromatography and filtration of various compounds including biomolecules.

The present invention provides a topical composition that contains a water-soluble film-forming polymer, a bimodal copolymer comprising a first polymeric component with anionic functional groups and a second polymeric component with cationic functional groups, and one or more biological polymers that are derived from a source selected from the group consisting of animals, plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria or are biotechnologically synthesized. The first and second polymeric components of the bimodal copolymer form an interpenetrating polymeric network that interacts with the water-soluble film-forming polymer and the biological polymers to form a polymeric film with superior skin-firming and skin-toning effects. Such a topical composition can be applied to saggy or wrinkled skin for enhancing the appearance of the skin.

Described herein are various articles that have improved resistance to the adverse effects observed when tactilely-transferable residue is contacted therewith, along with methods for their manufacture and use. The articles and methods generally make use of an adhesion binder that can be used to form a polymer network around a solvent-soluble fluoropolymer to adhere the fluoropolymer to the surface of the article substrate.

Nanocolumn chromatography devices useful, e.g., in CEC and nanoLC are disclosed. An exemplary chromatography device of the invention includes a nanocolumn, e.g., a capillary, packed with a particulate stationary phase material and a solid support. The solid support, or in situ frit, is adjacent to and integral with the stationary phase material. An in situ frit of the invention may be a mixture of the stationary phase material and a polymeric network of cross-linked poly(diorganosiloxane), e.g., poly(dimethylsiloxane), which may optionally be sintered. The invention also provides methods of making and using such devices.

The present invention relates to a topical cosmetic composition that has improved non-oily feel comprising: (a) a hybrid silicone composite powder having a spherical shape with particle diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm, of which each particle has a composite structures consisting of two interpenetrating polymer networks of polydimethylsiloxane (PMS) and polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ). These two interpenetrating polymer networks are joined together by physical entanglements instead of chemical bonds; (b) a volatile cosmetic fluid; (c) a silicone fluid with viscosity ranging from 2 to 350 cSt; (d) an oil base consisting of an oil, wax, oil gelling agent or the mixture thereof; (e) a surface active agent; (f) a cosmetic pigment; and (g) an optional aqueous gel containing glycerin, glycols and an aqueous thickening agent. The cosmetic composition provides an improved skin sensory feel and a superior matte finish, and is useful for skin treatment, makeup and personal hygiene products.