Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metal, ceramic, or composite part (PF) by flash sintering, which comprises simultaneously applying, inside a die (M), a uniaxial pressure and an electric current to a device containing a powder constituent material, said uniaxial pressure being applied by means of at least two pistons (P1, P2) which slide toward one another inside said die and each of which has a bearing surface (F1, F2) contacting said material, said bearing surfaces engaging so as to define the shape of the part to be manufactured, characterised in that: said part has a complex shape, including at least one first slender portion (V), such as a rod, plate, bevel, or shell, and a second portion (B), such as a base, plinth, or solid part, which is not slender in the slender direction of said first portion, and in that said uniaxial pressure is applied in a direction (z) substantially parallel to the smallest dimension of said first portion of the part, or to one of the two smallest dimensio

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles in an aqueous medium employing a living macroinitiator requiring a reinitiation temperature of less than 100° C. Application of the particles obtained in the field of surface coatings.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing poly(-hydroxy acids), the polymerization reaction being performed in controlled manner in the presence of a catalytic system including a base, said base being a 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocycle comprising at least one endocyclic nitrogen atom, provided that when the base is used alone in the catalytic system, it does not represent pyridine, 2-methylpyridine, 2,6-dimethylpyridine or 2-methoxypyridine. The invention also concerns poly(-hydroxy acids) of formula (IV). Finally, the invention concerns the use of a poly(-hydroxy acid), obtainable by the inventive method, for vectoring active principles or for making biomaterials.

Abstract: A semiconductor switch arrangement (300) comprises a bipolar transistor (302) and a semiconductor power switch (301) having an input node (306), an output node (304) and a control node (305) for allowing a current path to be formed between the input node (306) and the output node (307). The bipolar transistor (302) is coupled between the input node (306) and the control node (305) such that upon receiving an electro-static discharge pulse the bipolar transistor (302) allows a current to flow from the input node (306) to the control node (305) upon a pre-determined voltage being exceeded at the input node (306) to allow the control node (305) to cause a current to flow from the input node (306) to the output node (307). Thus, the bipolar transistor device protects the semiconductor switch device, such as an LDMOS device, against ESD, namely protection against power surges of, say, several amperes in less than 1 usec.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel ionic compounds with low melting point whereof the onium type cation having at least a heteroatom such as N, O, S or P bearing the positive charge and whereof the anion includes, wholly or partially, at least an ion imidide such as (FX1O)N?(OX2F) wherein X1 and X2 are identical or different and comprise SO or PF, and their use as solvent in electrochemical devices. Said composition comprises a salt wherein the anionic charge is delocalised, and can be used, inter alia, as electrolyte.