Dow Corning

About: Dow Corning is a company organization based out in Tokyo, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Silicone & Siloxane. The organization has 5160 authors who have published 7282 publications receiving 135377 citations. The organization is also known as: Dow Corning Corp..

Cloning of a disintegrin metalloproteinase that processes precursor tumour-necrosis factor-alpha.

Abstract: Tumour-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine that contributes to a variety of inflammatory disease states. The protein exists as a membrane-bound precursor of relative molecular mass 26K which can be processed by a TNF-alpha-converting enzyme (TACE), to generate secreted 17K mature TNF-alpha. We have purified TACE and cloned its complementary DNA. TACE is a membrane-bound disintegrin metalloproteinase. Structural comparisons with other disintegrin-containing enzymes indicate that TACE is unique, with noteable sequence identity to MADM, an enzyme implicated in myelin degradation, and to KUZ, a Drosophila homologue of MADM important for neuronal development. The expression of recombinant TACE (rTACE) results in the production of functional enzyme that correctly processes precursor TNF-alpha to the mature form. The rTACE provides a readily available source of enzyme to help in the search for new anti-inflammatory agents that target the final processing stage of TNF-alpha production.

Silane Coupling Agents

Abstract: A novel organosilane coupling agent is disclosed and its use as an adhesion promoter in mineral-filled unsaturated polymer systems is described. Additionally, use of the organosilane as a primer for various substrates is presented. The coupling agent comprises the reaction product of an isocyanatoalkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid with an aminoorganosilane. The organosilane so formed links the acryloxyalkyl or methacryloxyalkyl functionality to an alkylene, or aminoalkylene, group on the silicon atom through a urea group. Use of the organosilane as a coupling agent in a mineral-filled unsaturated polymer results in superior resistance to moisture, particularly when the polymer is selected from the group of corrosion resistant unsaturated polyesters.

How to make water run uphill.

Abstract: A surface having a spatial gradient in its surface free energy was capable of causing drops of water placed on it to move uphill. This motion was the result of an imbalance in the forces due to surface tension acting on the liquid-solid contact line on the two opposite sides ("uphill" or "downhill") of the drop. The required gradient in surface free energy was generated on the surface of a polished silicon wafer by exposing it to the diffusing front of a vapor of decyltrichlorosilane, Cl(3)Si(CH(2))(9)CH(3). The resulting surface displayed a gradient of hydrophobicity (with the contact angle of water changing from 97 degrees to 25 degrees ) over a distance of 1 centimeter. When the wafer was tilted from the horizontal plane by 15 degrees , with the hydrophobic end lower than the hydrophilic, and a drop of water (1 to 2 microliters) was placed at the hydrophobic end, the drop moved toward the hydrophilic end with an average velocity of approximately 1 to 2 millimeters per second. In order for the drop to move, the hysteresis in contact angle on the surface had to be low (

A Survey of Applications of Polyoxometalates

Abstract: The field of polyoxometalates (POMs), although a mature field, continues to attract significant attention. The number of publications and patents continues to grow. New researchers are entering the field. The scientific communities of fast-growing new economic/technology powers such as Peoples Republic of China and India are becoming important contributors of the total number of worldwide publications on POMs. Figure 1 depicts the growth of the POM literature per year since 1966. In 1996, according to Chemical Abstracts, nearly 600 refereed publications and over 120 patents were issued in reference to the POM chemistry and technology. Figure 2 shows the countries where the most research activity exists based on publications, and Figure 3 lists the 10 largest patent assignee countries in the world. Japan issues 40% of the worldwide patent literature followed by the USA with ∼17%. The applications of POMs are based on combinations of so-called “value-adding properties” which are summarized in Table 1. From the above-listed properties, the applications of POMs are centered primarily on their redox properties, photochemical response, ionic charge, conductivity, and ionic weights. The majority of the patent and applied literature is devoted to the applications of the Keggin type heteropolyacids (HPA) and their salts. Primarily H3PMo12O40, H3PW12O40, H4SiMo12O40, and H4SiW12O40 are used as the main examples for many applications. Their popularity can be attributed to a large extent to the enormous volume of literature over several decades that describes their fundamental chemistry and to their commercial availability, which makes them convenient starting materials. Approximately two-thirds of the applied chemistry/technology literature describes applications that are based on these POMs. Dimitris E. Katsoulis was born in Athens, Greece in 1955. He received a B.S. degree in Chemistry from University of Athens in 1977. He subsequently joined the research group of Prof. Michael T. Pope at Georgetown University and obtained a Ph.D. degree in 1985. He continued with a postdoctoral assignment at Georgetown University, and in 1988 he joined the Science and Technology function of Dow Corporation in Midland Michigan. He is currently an Associate Research Scientist in the Rigid Materials Science Expertise Center (Central R&D) in Dow Corning. His research interests include hybrid materials, with focus on siloxane-polyoxometalate compositions, sol−gel chemistry, silsesquioxanes, gel systems, polymer matrix composites, and nanocomposites. 359 Chem. Rev. 1998, 98, 359−387