University of Connecticut

Alexandru Asandei

Richard Steven Parnas

Sudsiri Hemsri

Timothy Dowding

Iman Noshadi

Baishali Kanjilal

A polymer having a contact angle with water that is greater than or equal to 90&#xb0; and a contact angle with 1,3-propane diol that is less than 90&#xb0;. A pervaporation membrane comprising the polymer and a process for purifying a fermentation broth using a pervaporation membrane comprising the polymer is also described.

Polymers and membranes for separation of polar organic compounds from aqueous mixtures and methods of using

A free radical or controlled radical polymerization process of atom or group transfer radical polymerization. The process comprises radically polymerizing one or more radically (co)polymerizable monomers in the presence of a polymerization system. The one or more radically (co)polymerizable monomers comprise at least one or more radically (co)polymerizable diene monomers. The polymerization system comprises: an initiator having one or more radically transferable atoms or groups; a transition metal-ligand complex catalyst, wherein the ligand comprises any C-, N-, O-, P- or S-containing ligand which coordinates with the transition metal; an optional reducing agent capable of regenerating the lower oxidation state of the transition metal catalyst; and an optional organic solvent or water capable of solubilizing the transition metal-ligand complex catalyst. (Co)polymers produced by the free radical or controlled radical polymerization process of atom or group transfer radical polymerization.

Polymerization of diene monomers

The disclosure discloses initiating systems for the radical polymerization of alkenes, and especially fluorine substituted alkenes. The polymerization is catalyzed by a metal carbonyl, preferably manganese carbonyl. The polymerization is initiated directly from alkyl halides at room temperature under visible white light. The polymers also allow the synthesis of block copolymers. The process comprises polymerizing at least one alkene monomer in the presence of a halide radical initiator, carbonyl catalyst and a solvent, under reaction conditions and for a time sufficient to polymerize the at least one alkene monomer to form a polymer. The present disclosure provides a method for living polymerization of alkene monomers which provides a high level of macromolecular control over the polymerization process and which leads to uniform and controllable polymeric products. This disclosure also provides a method for activating any halide (Cl, Br, I) chain ends of such polymers for the synthesis of block copolymerizations.

Manganese catalyzed photopolymerization of fluorinated monomers

Improved particleboard and methods for fabricating improved particleboard (e.g., natural fiber/material-based particleboard) are disclosed. More particularly, the present disclosure provides systems/methods for fabricating particleboard (e.g., formaldehyde-free particleboard) utilizing natural fibers/materials (e.g., lignocellulosic materials), wherein the particleboard has improved performance characteristics and/or mechanical properties. Methods for fabricating fiber-reinforced biocomposites (e.g., natural fiber-reinforced wheat gluten biocomposites) are disclosed. For example, systems/methods for fabricating particleboard from lignocellulosic materials (e.g., coconut materials), along with a binder material (e.g., wheat gluten), are provided. In general, the fiber or lignocellulosic material is treated with sodium hydroxide and/or a silane coupling agent as an adhesion promoter to enhance interfacial adhesion between the fiber and the binder. For example, (3-triethoxysilylpropyl)-t-butylcarbamate (MISO) (a masked isocyanate functional silane) was utilized to improve interfacial adhesion between the binder and the natural fibers.

Process for particleboard manufacture

A process is described comprising polymerizing at least one unsaturated monomer (e.g., fluorine substituted alkene monomer) in the presence of a hypervalent iodide radical initiator and a solvent, under reaction conditions and for a time sufficient to polymerize the at least one unsaturated monomer to form a polymer. The present disclosure provides a method for living polymerization of unsaturated monomers (e.g., fluorine substituted alkene monomers), which provides a high level of macromolecular control over the polymerization process and which leads to uniform and controllable polymeric products. The present disclosure also provides a method of functionalization of organic substrates with a CFor perfluoro (R) group.

Free radical and controlled radical polymerization processes using hypervalent iodide radical initiators

Cyclic esters are polymerized in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Group 4 transition metal hydride. The method is capable of producing high molecular weight polyesters with low polydispersities. These high molecular weight polyesters exhibit improved mechanical properties and are useful in a variety of product applications.

Growing community of inventors

Vernon, CT, United States of America

Alexandru Asandei