United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Hilmar Koerner

Loon-Seng Tan

David Huabin Wang

Zhenning Yu

Timothy J White

Tyler C Guin

Benjamin A Kowalski

Nicholas P Godman

Anesia D Auguste

Richard A Vaia

Bingqian Zheng

The invention relates to cross-linkable thermoplastics, processes of making such cross-linkable thermoplastics and products comprising such cross-linkable thermoplastics. Such cross-linkable thermoplastics provide articles made by the additive manufacturing (AM) process with increased strength, the desired in use temperature stability and the desired thermo-oxidative stability.

Cross-linkable thermoplastics, and processes of making and using same

The invention relates to cross-linkable oligoimides, processes of making such cross-linkable oligoimides and products comprising such cross-linkable oligoimides. Such cross-linkable oligoimides provide articles made by an AM process with the desired process ability that permits filament formation, post cure increased strength, the desired in use temperature stability and the desired thermo-oxidative stability.

Cross-linkable oligoimides, and processes of making and using same

A family of low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline co-polyimides (TLC-CoPI) that are crosslinkable, and based on a unique, liquid-crystallinity (LC)-enabling diamine, namely, 1,3-bis[4-(4′-aminophenoxy)cumyl]benzene (BACB) and two or more mesogenic dianhydrides, at least one of which is a diphthalic dianhydride (DPA) that contains one or more thermally reactive and crosslinkable moieties similar to that of phenylethynyl (PE) is disclosed. Processes of making and using such low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline co-polyimides are also provided.

Highly aromatic and liquid-crystalline co- polyimides endcapped with aromatic groups and crosslinked products therefrom

Shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomers. The shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomers being synthesized by filling an alignment cell with liquid crystal monomers. The liquid crystal monomers align to a surface of the alignment cell and then are polymerized with a dithiol chain transfer agent. The alignment cell is configured to impose a director orientation on a portion of the shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomer. For some embodiments, liquid crystal elastomer laminates are prepared by arranging a plurality of liquid crystal elastomers such that a director orientation of each liquid crystal elastomer of the plurality is in registered alignment with an adjacent liquid crystal elastomer of the plurality. The arrangement is secured and the plurality of liquid crystal elastomers cured.

Liquid crystal elastomers

A crosslinked aromatic polyimide having shape memory properties and methods of making the same. The crosslinked aromatic polyimide comprises at least one aromatic diamine, at least one dianhydride monomer, and a tri(oxybenzene-amine) crosslinker. The crosslinked aromatic polyimide polymers and films possess superior shape memory properties at temperatures above 225&#xb0; C.

Growing community of inventors

Beavercreek, OH, United States of America

Hilmar Koerner