Foster-Miller, Inc.

Superex Polymer, Inc.

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Leslie S Rubin

Richard W Lusignea

Andrew Cecil Harvey

Robert F Kovar

Nelson Landrau

Paul Osenar

Kent G Blizard

Richard M Formato

Nese Orbey

David Ofer

Elmer C Lupton

Hans A Hug

Harris Gold

William A Stevenson

Elizabeth Yost

Bruce S Bernstein

John D Larouco

Justyna B Teverovsky

R Edwin Hicks

Bindu R Nair

Thomas H E Mendum

Ross R Haghighat

William Slager

The present invention provides variable pore size filters. The variable pore size filters of the present invention comprise a fabric matrix, having a set pore size, wherein the fabric matrix is coated with a gel that expands and shrinks in response to a trigger. When the gel is expanded, the pore size of the filter is small and filtering is accomplished. When the gel is shrunken, the pore size of the filter is large and cleaning of the filter by a backwash or forward flush of fluid is accomplished.

Responsive gels and methods of use thereof

The invention features dilute solutions of rigid rod or extended rod lyotropic liquid crystalline polymers prepared from high concentration polymerization mixtures. The invention also features methods of preparing such dilute solutions which utilize high mechanical shear to induce mix the high concentration solution with a diluent. The invention further provides articles of manufacture, including films and fibers, having a porous microstructure which are prepared from the dilute homogeneous solutions of the invention.

Dilute solutions of lyotropic liquid crystalline polymers, methods of making same and compositions prepared from same

The present invention relates to composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) which include a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material. SPEMs of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications, including fuel cells and electrodialysis.

Composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes

A protective coating, underwater applicator including a housing for receiving an underwater protective coating compound; a nozzle on a distal end of the housing having an end opening for applying the protective coating; a spatula extending from one portion of the end opening for spreading the protective coating; and a seal disposed about a substantial portion of the end opening for preventing the loss or coagulation of the protective coating.

Protective coating underwater applicator

The present invention provides polyester/polyurethane/vinyl dioxolane based coating compositions containing no or essentially no volatile organic components. Oligomers for forming the coating compositions of the present invention are vinyl dioxolane end-capped polyesters and polyurethane oligomers.

Polyester/polyurethane vinyl dioxolane based coating compositions

An electrical cable protected against moisture by a tubular liquid crystal film having its molecules multiaxially oriented.

Moisture resistant underground cable

A flat and nearly mechanically isotropic polymer film or sheet, or a tube, can be formed by laminating two or more films, preferably by coextrusion of a liquid crystal polymer film and a thermoplastic polymer film. A liquid crystal polymer layer may be combined with one or more thermoplastic polymer layer in various arrangements. The liquid crystal, and possibly the thermoplastic as well, may have a controlled molecular orientation. The film may be formed by passing a polymer through a set of two or three tubular rotors which are concentric and have facing surfaces which define inner and outer annular polymer flow channels.

Coextrusion of liquid crystal polymers and thermoplastic polymers

The present invention relates to articles of manfacture, such as films, tubes, and coatings, comprising a multiaxially oriented film having a planar morphology, wherein the article of manfacture comprises at least one thermoplastic flexible polymer, at least one thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, or a blend thereof. Recyclable articles of manufacture having improved barrier properties are also provided.

Extruded thermoplastic, liquid crystalline polymers and blends thereof

Coatings of multiaxially oriented Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymer (TLCP) are provided to elongated members. Suitable members include glass rods, glass fibers, pipes, beams, and other oval or polygonal members having an essentially regular cross-section. Members of ceramic, plastic, or metal can also be coated. This extrusion is performed using a die having inner and outer mandrels capable of rotating in opposite directions. Concentricity between inner and outer mandrels of the die is maintained to assure uniform coating thickness. In order to produce a high level of multiaxial orientation at lower die rotational speeds, the die design may include spiraling feed zones on one or both facing surfaces of the inner and outer mandrels. The application of the multiaxially oriented coating provides superior impermeability to water vapor and oxygen, and increased strength to the elongated member in the axial direction.

Members having a multiaxially oriented coating of thermotropic liquid

The retortable multilayer container of the present invention includes a receptacle and lid having at least a barrier layer includes an LCP film and inner food contact layer comprising at least one thermoplastic material. The receptacle has a base portion and a sidewall portion extending from the base portion defining a storage compartment. The storage compartment has a filling volume from about 0.03 to about 20 liters. The receptacle may be in the form of a tray, cup, bowl, tub or bucket. The tray may be designed as a simple tray or a multi-compartment tray. The receptacle may further have a lip portion extending from the sidewall portion providing an area for the lid to rest.

Retortable extended shelf life food container

The present invention provides methods of preparing thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer film-based and tubular components having a controlled CTE and components produced by such methods. The methods of the present invention include treating a melt or dope of liquid crystalline polymer with simultaneous biaxial shearing forces and with an electric or magnetic field normal to each of the biaxial shearing forces.

Controlling the coefficient of thermal expansion of liquid crystalline

Liquid crystal polymer film

A liguid separation system includes a first separator unit, a second separator unit and means including a pump for flowing a liquid mixture from a system inlet to the inlet of the first separator unit. A first outlet of the first separator unit is connected to the inlet of the second separator unit, a second outlet of said second separator unit is connected to the inlet of the first separator unit, a first outlet of the second separator unit is connected to a system outlet, and feedback means is adapted to provide continuous flow during system operation of at least about 0.01 gallon per minute from a second outlet of the second separator unit to the inlet of the first separator unit. The first separator unit includes a separation chamber and a control chamber in communication with the separation chamber for receiving a light constituent of the mixture, and control means responsive to a predetermined quantity of the light constituent in the control chamber for discharging a portion of the light constituent from the first separator unit. The second separator unit includes housing structure, a bowl assembly mounted for rotation in the housing structure, and means for rotating the bowl assembly at a speed of at least one thousand rpm. The bowl assembly includes structure defining an inner chamber region in which a plurality of accelerating vanes are radially disposed in the inner chamber region, and structure defining an outer chamber region surrounding the inner chamber region in which a circumferential array of coalescing vanes ae disposed.

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Newton, MA, United States of America

Leslie S Rubin