The University of Akron

Shing-Chung Josh Wong

Pei Chen

Johhny F Najem

Johnny F Najem

A freshwater harvesting assembly includes a micro-scale component selected from a polymer, a foam, and a membrane; a water-sorption material selected from metal-organic framework (MOF), nanosilica gel, and superabsorbent polymer; wherein the water-sorption material is incorporated within the micro-scale component to thereby provide a water-sorption-material-containing micro-scale component; and a housing carrying the water-sorption-material-containing micro-scale component.

Freshwater harvesting assembly utilizing water-sorption material within hierarchical component

A dry adhesive including a non-woven fabric of nanofibers comprising a polymeric material. The nanofibers include an average diameter within a range of from 50 nm to 10000 nm, and the non-woven fabric of nanofibers has a thickness within a range of from 0.1 μm to 100 μm. The dry adhesive has a shear adhesion strength that is higher than the normal adhesion strength. Additionally disclosed is a dry adhesive fiber mat including substantially aligned fibers extending lengthwise from a first region to a second region, each of the fibers having a diameter that is less than or equal to 10 microns. The dry adhesive fiber mat is selectively repositionable to, from, and between a mechanically interlocked state wherein the fibers at the first region are intimately positioned within void spaces between the fibers at the second region and a separated state not intimately positioned as such.

Fabrication of nanofibers as dry adhesives and applications of the same

A dry adhesive includes a first plurality of fiber segments mechanically interlocked with a second plurality of fiber segments. A dry adhesive can include a first plurality of fibers mechanically interlocked with a second plurality of fibers or a single plurality of fibers having a first end region mechanically interlocked with a second end region. The fiber segments and fibers can be aligned, electrospun nanofibers. One or more continuous and scalable methods of making aligned fibers are also provided. One or more apparatuses are also provided.

Electrospun aligned nanofiber adhesives with mechanical interlocks

A polymeric article includes an electrorheological (ER) fluid in a polymer medium. In some applications, the polymer medium forms a body ply of a tire. The ER fluid can be incorporated into the polymeric article in a number of particular ways. The ER fluid may simply fill a pocket in the polymeric article or may be part of an electrorheological composite or electrorheological microsphere. The ER fluid is responsive to the application of an electric field to change the apparent viscosity or elastic modulus of the polymeric article.

Electrorheological fluids incorporated into polymeric articles and tires

Microscale and nanoscale tubular structures are provided including rheological fluids in their interior volume and including at least one electroactive component. Multiple tubular structures are provided, including simple hollow tube structures; core/shell structures, wherein the tube includes a tubular outer shell with a core extending axially therein; concentric tube or coaxial tube structures, wherein the tube includes a tubular outer shell and one or more concentric tubes extending axially therein; and core/concentric tube structures, wherein concentric tubes further include a core extending axially therein, thus having a core and two or more tubes surrounding the core. The tubular structures are formed by electrospinning and special spinnerets are provided. The tubular structures form fabrics for beneficial uses.

Electrospun microtubes and nanotubes containing rheological fluid

A method of forming a dry adhesive by includes forming an electrospun non-woven of a spinnable polymer, wherein the polymer fiber forming the non-woven is aligned. A dry adhesive is provided that comprises aligned polymeric nanofibers. The polymeric nanofibers may be formed from a mixture of highly spinnable material is combined with an adhesive component to further enhance the adhesion onto substrates. The non-woven can further be processed by plastic deformation to create microprotrusions.

Growing community of inventors

Akron, OH, United States of America

Shing-Chung Josh Wong