Porous, low density nanoclay composite

Disclosed are porous, low density nanoclay composites that exhibit highly homogeneous microcellular morphology and methods for forming the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites include a three-dimensional matrix having a non-lamellar, generally isotropic cellular structure with little or no macroscopic pores. The nanocomposites also include a gel that may be a noncovalently cross-linked, thermoreversible gel. The nanocomposites may include a binder and/or fibrous reinforcement materials. The nanocomposites may be formed according to a freeze-drying process in which ice crystal growth is controlled to prevent formation of macroscopic pores in the composite materials.

AGGLOMERATED PARTICLE CLOUD NETWORK COATED FIBER BUNDLE

An agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle containing a bundle of fibers and an agglomerated particle cloud network. The bundle of fibers contains a plurality of fibers and void space between the fibers. The agglomerated particle cloud network contains a plurality of agglomerated nanoparticles located in at least a portion of the void space in the bundle of fibers. The agglomerated nanoparticles form bridges between adjacent fibers. Between 10 and 100% by number of fibers contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle. The agglomerated nanoparticles form between about 1 and 60% of the effective cross-sectional area of the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle. 1. An agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle comprising:a bundle of fibers comprising a plurality of fibers and void space between the fibers, wherein the fibers comprise a surface, and wherein the distance between adjacent fibers is defined as the separation distance; and,an agglomerated particle cloud network comprising a plurality of agglomerated nanoparticles, wherein the agglomerated particle cloud network is porous;wherein the agglomerated nanoparticles are located in at least a portion of the void space in the bundle of fibers, wherein the agglomerated nanoparticles form bridges between at least a portion of the adjacent fibers, wherein between about 10 and 100% by number of fibers contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle, wherein the agglomerated nanoparticles form between about 1 and 60% of the effective cross-sectional area of the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle.2. The agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle of claim 1 , wherein the average size of the agglomerated nanoparticles is between about 0.25 and 4 times the average separation distance of the fibers.3. The ...

Process for forming an agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle

A process of making an agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle containing forming a bundle of fibers, coating the bundle of fibers with a nanoparticle solution, and drying the solvent from the coated bundle of fibers at a temperature above room temperature forming an agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle comprising a plurality of agglomerated nanoparticles. The agglomerated nanoparticles are located in at least a portion of the void space in the bundle of fibers and form bridges between at least a portion of the adjacent fibers. Between about 10 and 100% by number of fibers contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle. The agglomerated nanoparticles form between about 1 and 60% of the effective cross-sectional area of the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle.

FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER STRENGTHENING SYSTEM

A fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system containing a concrete or masonry structural member having at least one outer facing surface with at least one groove. The at least one groove contains at least one reinforcing element, where the reinforcing element contains a matrix material having a transition temperature of at least about 120° C. and a plurality of fibers having a tensile strength of at least about 1000 MPa. The groove also contains a binder comprising an inorganic material and is incombustible. 1. A fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system comprising:a concrete or masonry structural member having at least one outer facing surface, wherein the outer facing surface comprises at least one groove;at least one reinforcing element comprising a roughened surface, a matrix material having a transition temperature of at least about 120° C., and a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers have a tensile strength of at least about 1000 MPa; and,a binder comprising an inorganic material, wherein the inorganic material is incombustible, and wherein the at least one reinforcing element and binder are located in at least a portion of the groove in the concrete or masonry structural member such that the binder at least partially covers the reinforcing element.2. The fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system of claim 1 , wherein the fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system further comprises an insulation layer claim 1 , wherein the insulation layer is adjacent the outer facing surface of the concrete or masonry structural member covering at least a portion of the at least one groove.3. The fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcing element comprises inorganic particles covering at least a portion of the surface of the reinforcing element claim 1 , wherein the inorganic particles are adhered to the reinforcing element using an adhesive material having a transition temperature of at least about the ...

METHOD OF FORMING A POINT BRIDGED FIBER BUNDLE

A process of forming a point bridged fiber bundle containing obtaining a fiber bundle, applying an emulsion or suspension to the fiber bundle where the emulsion or dispersion contains a solvent and a bridge forming material, at least partially crosslinking or solidifing the bridge forming material, and drying the emulsion or suspension coated fiber bundle. The fiber bundle contains a bundle of unidirectional fibers comprising a plurality of fibers and void space between the fibers. The point bridged fiber bundle contains a plurality of bridges between and connected to at least a portion of adjacent fibers, where the bridges contain a bridging material, between about 10 and 100% by number of fibers in a given cross-section contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the point bridged fiber bundle, and the anchoring surfaces of the bridges cover less than 100% of the fiber surfaces. 1. A process of forming a point bridged fiber bundle comprising:obtaining a fiber bundle comprising a bundle of unidirectional fibers comprising a plurality of fibers and void space between the fibers, wherein the fibers comprise a fiber surface and a fiber diameter, and wherein the distance between adjacent fibers is defined as the separation distance, wherein the majority of the separation distances between adjacent fibers in the bundle of fibers are less than about the fiber diameter;applying an emulsion or suspension to the fiber bundle, wherein the emulsion or dispersion comprises a solvent and a bridge forming material;at least partially crosslinking or solidifying the bridge forming material;drying the emulsion or suspension coated fiber bundle forming the point bridged fiber bundle, wherein the point bridged fiber bundle comprises a plurality of bridges between and connected to at least a portion of adjacent fibers, wherein the bridges comprise a bridging material, wherein each bridge has at least a first anchoring surface and a second anchoring surface, the anchoring ...

POINT BRIDGED FIBER BUNDLE

A point bridged fiber bundle containing a bundle of unidirectional fibers and a plurality of bridges between and connected to at least a portion of adjacent fibers within the bundle of unidirectional fibers. The bridges contain a bridge forming material, have at least a first anchoring surface and a second anchoring surface where the first anchoring surface is discontinuous with the second anchoring surface. The bridges further contain a bridging surface defined as the surface area of the bridge adjacent to the void space. Between about 10 and 100% by number of fibers in a given cross-section contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the point bridged fiber bundle and the anchoring surfaces of the bridges cover less than 100% of the fiber surfaces. 1. A point bridged fiber bundle comprising:a bundle of unidirectional fibers comprising a plurality of fibers and void space between the fibers, wherein the fibers comprise a fiber surface and a fiber diameter, and wherein the distance between adjacent fibers is defined as the separation distance, wherein the majority of the separation distances between adjacent fibers in the bundle of fibers are less than about the fiber diameter; and,a plurality of bridges between and connected to at least a portion of adjacent fibers, wherein the bridges comprise a bridge forming material, wherein each bridge has at least a first anchoring surface and a second anchoring surface, the anchoring surface is defined as the surface area adjacent a fiber, wherein the first anchoring surface is discontinuous with the second anchoring surface, wherein the bridge further comprises a bridging surface defined as the surface area of the bridge adjacent to the void space,wherein between about 10 and 100% by number of fibers in a given cross-section contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the point bridged fiber bundle, and wherein the anchoring surfaces of the bridges cover less than 100% of the fiber surfaces.2. The point ...

EXTERNALLY BONDED FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER STRENGTHENING SYSTEM

A fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system having a concrete structural member having at least one outer facing surface. At least one pultruded element is located on the outer facing surface of the concrete structural member, the pultruded element containing a matrix material having a Tof at least about 110° C. and a plurality of fibers having a tensile strength of at least about 300 MPa and an operating temperature of at least the Tof the matrix material. Also located on the outer surface of the concrete member and at least partially covering the at least one pultruded element is an inorganic binder comprising an inorganic material having an operating temperature of at least about Tof the matrix material of the pultruded element. 1. A fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system comprising:a concrete structural member having at least one outer facing surface;{'sub': g', 'g, 'at least one pultruded element on the outer facing surface of the concrete structural member comprising a matrix material having a Tof at least about 110° C. and a plurality of fibers having a tensile strength of at least about 300 MPa and an operating temperature of at least the Tof the matrix material; and,'}{'sub': 'g', 'an inorganic binder comprising an inorganic material having an operating temperature of at least about Tof the matrix material of the pultruded element, wherein the inorganic material is incombustible, and wherein the inorganic binder is adjacent the outer facing surface of the concrete structural member and at least partially covering the at least one pultruded element.'}2. The fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system of claim 1 , wherein the fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system further comprises an insulation layer claim 1 , wherein the insulation layer is adjacent the outer facing surface of the concrete structural member covering a least a portion the inorganic binder and pultruded elements.3. The fiber reinforced polymer strengthening system of claim ...

Point bridged fiber bundle

A point bridged fiber bundle (10) containing a bundle of unidirectional fibers (100) and a plurality of bridges (200) between and connected to at least a portion of adjacent fibers (110) within the bundle of unidirectional fibers (100). The bridges (200) contain a bridge forming material, have at least a first anchoring surface and a second anchoring surface where the first anchoring surface is discontinuous with the second anchoring surface. The bridges (200) further contain a bridging surface defined as the surface area of the bridge adjacent to the void space (120). Between about 10 and 100% by number of fibers (110) in a given cross-section contain bridges (200) to one or more adjacent fibers (110) within the point bridged fiber bundle (10) and the anchoring surfaces of the bridges (200) cover less than 100% of the fiber surfaces.

Porous, low density nanoclay composite

Disclosed are porous, low density nanoclay composites that exhibit highly homogeneous microcellular morphology and methods for forming the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites include a three-dimensional matrix having a non-lamellar, generally isotropic cellular structure with little or no macroscopic pores. The nanocomposites also include a gel that may be a noncovalently cross-linked, thermoreversible gel. The nanocomposites may include a binder and/or fibrous reinforcement materials. The nanocomposites may be formed according to a freeze-drying process in which ice crystal growth is controlled to prevent formation of macroscopic pores in the composite materials.

Photoplethysmographic sensor containing a polymer composition

A photoplethysmographic sensor comprising a light source for emitting light onto a tissue and an optical detector for receiving light that interacts with the tissue is provided. The sensor comprises a liquid crystalline polymer.

Agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle

An agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle containing a bundle of fibers and an agglomerated particle cloud network. The bundle of fibers contains a plurality of fibers and void space between the fibers. The agglomerated particle cloud network contains a plurality of agglomerated nanoparticles located in at least a portion of the void space in the bundle of fibers. The agglomerated nanoparticles form bridges between adjacent fibers. Between 10 and 100% by number of fibers contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle. The agglomerated nanoparticles form between about 1 and 60% of the effective cross-sectional area of the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle.

Photoplethysmographic sensor containing a polymer composition

A photoplethysmographic sensor comprising a light source for emitting light onto a tissue and an optical detector for receiving light that interacts with the tissue is provided. The sensor comprises a liquid crystalline polymer.

Connected medical device containing a liquid crystalline polymer composition having a low dielectric constant

A medical device capable of transmitting a radiofrequency signal to and/or receiving a radiofrequency signal from an external device is provided. The medical device comprises at least one component that contains a polymer composition that exhibits a dielectric constant of about 6 or less at a frequency of 2 GHz, wherein the polymer composition includes a liquid crystalline polymer.

Connected medical device containing a liquid crystalline polymer composition having a low dielectric constant

A medical device capable of transmitting a radiofrequency signal to and/or receiving a radiofrequency signal from an external device is provided. The medical device comprises at least one component that contains a polymer composition that exhibits a dielectric constant of about 6 or less at a frequency of 2 GHz, wherein the polymer composition includes a liquid crystalline polymer.

Connected medical device containing a liquid crystalline polymer composition having a high dielectric constant

A medical device capable of transmitting a radiofrequency signal to and/or receiving a radiofrequency signal from an external device is provided. The medical device comprises at least one component that contains a polymer composition that exhibits a dielectric constant of greater than about 6 at a frequency of 2 GHz, wherein the polymer composition includes a liquid crystalline polymer.

Connected medical device containing a liquid crystalline polymer composition having a high dielectric constant

A medical device capable of transmitting a radiofrequency signal to and/or receiving a radiofrequency signal from an external device is provided. The medical device comprises at least one component that contains a polymer composition that exhibits a dielectric constant of greater than about 6 at a frequency of 2 GHz, wherein the polymer composition includes a liquid crystalline polymer.

System and method for frequency domain interferometric second harmonic spectroscopy

A method of spectroscopically analyzing amplitude and phase information of a particular sample (510) is disclosed, comprising providing a femtosecond laser source (502) positioned in an angularly distal relationship to the sample, generating from the laser source a primary light pulse (504) of substantial peak intensity and spectral bandwidth directed at the sample, and providing a reference medium (512) interposed between the light source and the sample, fixed in position with respect to the sample. A portion of the primary light pulse is directed through the reference medium generating a reference second harmonic signal (514) directed at the sample, which propagates collinearly with the primary light pulse towards the sample. A spectrometer (520) is provided, positioned in an angularly distal relationship to the sample and opposing the laser source, to receive second harmonic reflections of the primary pulse and reference signal (516 and 514, respectively) from said sample. The second harmonic reflections received are then analyzed.

System and method for frequency domain interferometric second harmonic spectroscopy