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

Jeffery Ray Owens

Derek Lovingood

Rashelle S McDonald

Wallace Bruce Salter

Katherine Moss Simpson

Dmytro Volkov

A functionalized fiber. The functionalized fiber includes a fiber strand and silica nanoparticles at least partially encapsulating the fiber strand. The silica nanoparticles are synthesized by hydrolyzing a tetramethyl orthosilicate in hydrochloric acid to form silicic acid monomers. The silicic acid monomers are diluted in acetone and irradiated for a time that is less than 90 seconds with an energy source configured to generate microwave frequency energy to polymerize the silicic acid monomers into the silica nanoparticles.

Controlled microwave assisted synthesis of functionalized silica nanoparticles

Rose Bengal for detecting a presence of chemical warfare agents. A method of detecting presence of a chemical warfare agent and includes applying a quinoid form of Rose Bengal to a substrate. When the substrate is exposed to the chemical warfare agent, a lactone form of Rose Bengal is spectrally observed because presence of the chemical warfare agent converts the quinoid form to the lactone form of Rose Bengal.

Methods for using rose bengal for detection of chemical warfare agents

A method of using select Schiff base compounds for chemical agent detoxification. The method including applying a compound to the contaminated substrate. The compound includes an imine having at least one Schiff base nitrogen and an alkyl substituent or an aryl substituent having an electron acceptor. The at least one Schiff base nitrogen is spaced away from the electron acceptor by a distance ranging from about 200 pm to about 1000 pm. The substrate and the compound are dried. The at least one Schiff base nitrogen of the compound promotes a nucleophilic attack on an electrophilic site of the toxic chemical agent.

Methods of using select Schiff base compounds for chemical agent detoxification

A Schiff base compound configured to detoxify a toxic chemical agent. The toxic chemical agent includes at least one leaving group and the Schiff base compound includes an imine having at least one Lewis base and an alkyl substituent or an aryl substituent having an electron acceptor. The at least one Schiff base nitrogen is spaced way from the electron acceptor by a distance that ranges from about 200 pm to about 1000 pm.

Select Schiff base compounds for chemical agent detoxification

A method of synthesizing silica nanoparticles. The method includes hydrolyzing a silica precursor to form a plurality of monomers, each monomer of the plurality comprising a microwave reactive silicon species. The plurality of monomers is irradiated by an energy source configured to generate microwave frequency energy. Irradiation cases the plurality of monomers polymerize into a silica nanoparticle.

Rose Bengal for detecting a presence of and decomposing contaminants. A method of detecting the presence of a contaminant includes treating a substrate with Rose Bengal and exposing the substrate to a light having a wavelength within the visible spectrum. A response of the Rose Bengal is monitored during the light exposure. When a contaminant is present and is exposed to the light, a conversion of the Rose Bengal between a quinoid form and a lactone form is induced.

Methods for using rose bengal for detection of oxidative decomposition of contaminants

A method of doping a substrate with dielectric dopant particles. The substrate, comprising an organic polymer, is exposed to a first layer comprising a first plurality of dielectric dopant particles. The organic polymer has a thermal conductivity that is less than 5 WmKand a lossiness that is less than a lossiness of the first plurality of dielectric dopant particles. The substrate and first layer are irradiated by an energy source operating at an operating frequency. During the irradiation, the first plurality of dielectric dopant particles of the first layer diffuses into the organic polymer of the substrate. Irradiation continues for a first desired time to achieve a first desired depth of penetration of the first plurality of dielectric dopant particles into the organic polymer.

Microwave driven diffusion of dielectric nano- and micro-particles into organic polymers

The present invention relates to coatings for disease control. More particularly, the present invention relates to coatings that are effective against toxins, precursors to these coatings and methods of forming the coatings.

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Panama City, FL, United States of America

Jeffery Ray Owens