Abstract: Microporous material comprising a polypropylene polymer having at least 20 percent crystallinity; and a compatible, amorphous, glassy polymer, wherein said polymers are miscible in a compound when heated above the melting temperature of the polypropylene polymer and wherein a polypropylene polymer phase separates from the compound when cooled below the crystallization temperature of the polypropylene polymer. Microporous material is made by a thermally induced phase separation process using a compound such as mineral oil to form one phase containing both polymers. The pores of the microporous material resist collapse during processing. Membranes made of this material are useful as battery separators having a good combination of strength, porosity, and ionic resistance when imbibed with an electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved composite panel that is suitable for architectural and display applications and an advantageous method for making the composite panel. The composite panel comprises a foamed plastic core and two metallic skin layers bonded to the plastic core. The composite panel exhibits an effective bond strength sufficient to prevent peeling of the skin layers under normal use conditions, at least one visually flat surface substantially free of surface defects, and a stiffness to weight ratio of at least about 500 lbf-in/lbm/ft2.

Abstract: An anodized micro-pore aluminum tag bearing indicia thereon wherein the micro-pore anodized aluminum has its micro-pores filled with the cured reside of a composition, which contains silicone resin having pendant groups selected from one or more of methyl groups or phenyl groups. The composition in the micro-pores was cured to a degree effective for marking by blackening thereof with a, e.g., CO2, laser beam, in the form of indicia thereon. The surface of the tag preferably is substantially free of said composition. The method for treating the surface of the anodized micro-pore aluminum tag for forming indicia thereon commences by applying the composition to the surface. Excess of the composition from the surface is removed to leave composition resident in said micro-pores. The composition in the micro-pores then is at least partially cured. A laser then can create the indicia by blackening the composition in the micro-pores.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing material composed of an expansion-molded article of polypropylene resin particles is excellent in shock-absorbing property and impact resilience compared with shock-absorbing materials composed of other resin materials, but has not been said to be satisfactory in stiffness and energy absorption efficiency. The present invention relates to a shock-absorbing material composed of an expansion-molded article produced by using foamed particles comprising, as a base resin, a polypropylene homopolymer obtained by using a metallocene polymerization catalyst. The base resin has a tensile modulus of at least 15,000 kgf/cm2, and the expansion-molded article has a crystal structure that an inherent peak a and a high-temperature peak b appear as endothermic peaks on a DSC curve obtained by the differential scanning calorimetry of the molded article.

Abstract: An optically clear protective thin film having covalent chemical bonds on a molecular level between organic polymer and in situ generated silica molecules is formed from a hydrolyzed coating solution of tetraalkyl orthosilicate, epoxyalkylalkoxy silanes, (math)acryloxyalkylalkoxy silanes and solvent.

Abstract: There is provided an array of fluoro-substituted silsesquioxane thin film precursors having a structure wherein fluoro groups are bonded to the silicon atoms of a silsesquioxane cage. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a composition comprising a vaporized material having the formula [F—SiO1.5]x[H—SiO1.5]y, wherein x+y=n, n is an integer between 2 and 30, x is an integer between 1 and n and y is a whole number between 0 and n. Also provided are films made from these precursors and objects comprising these films.

Abstract: In the present invention, for the production of a blow-molded foam, there is used a base resin which is mainly composed of a polypropylene resin and has, at 230° C., a melt tension (MT) of 10 gf or over and a melt flow rate (MFR) of 0.5 g/10 minutes or over. A foaming agent is added to the base resin, followed by melt kneading by means of an extruder under high temperature and high pressure conditions to provide a foamable melt. This melt is subjected to extrusion from a circular die 5 and expanded to form a cylindrical foamed parison 4. Thereafter, molds 6, 6 are clamped, and the parison 4 in a softened condition is placed in the molds 6, 6, and a pressurized gas is blown into the parison 4 from a gas blowing port 7 for blow molding in the form of a hollow shape conforming to the mold profile to produce a blow-molded foam.

Abstract: An electrode for control of an electric field strength in a gaseous electrically insulating medium at the surface of the electrode and in the vicinity of the electrode, comprising an electrically conducting inner electrode (1′) and an electrically non-conducting layer (8) on at least parts of the surface of the inner electrode, wherein the thickness of the non-conducting layer is at least 5% of the mean diameter of the inner electrode and that the relative dielectric constant of the non-conducting layer is smaller than 3.

Abstract: A foam plank laminate of thermoplastic material comprises at least two expanded foam sheets, both partially perforated, and laminated with the perforated surfaces facing each other and the smooth non perforated surfaces as the outer plank surfaces. The foam plank laminate can be obtained by an industrially acceptable production method as the partial perforation of the forming foam sheets accelerates the removal of a majority of the blowing agent from the foam structure, thus drastically reducing the curing time, and at the same time it has impermeability, good mechanical properties, and an attractive appearance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a Three Dimensional Printing materials systems and method that satisfies the need for a quick, reliable, safe, and inexpensive method for producing both appearance models and small numbers of functional parts in an office environment. The method of the present invention includes building cross-sectional portions of a three-dimensional article, and assembling the individual cross-sectional areas in a layer-wise fashion to form a final article. The individual cross-sectional areas are built by using an ink-jet printhead to deliver an aqueous solvent to an adhesive particulate mixture, causing the particles of the mixture to adhere together, and to previous cross-sectional areas.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward multilayer pressure-sensitive adhesive constructions with improved convertibility and aging. In one embodiment, the multilayer constructions have one layer formed of a first adhesive composition having a first glass transition temperature, and also having a tangent delta greater than about 0.5 at 102 radians per second at 20° C., and a storage modulus greater than about 3×108 dynes/cm2 at 104 radians per second at 20° C. At least a second adhesive layer is provided in the construction, the second adhesive layer comprising a second adhesive composition with a second glass transition temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for sealing any foamed rubber product or foamed plastic product having a foam cell structure, excluding foamed polystyrene, to provide a continuous, flexible, impervious surface including applying to the surface a primer which penetrates partially into the foam cell and then applying a polymeric composition to the primer-treated surface. The invention also relates to formulations used in the process and products produced by the process.

Abstract: A structure that is suitable for partial or full use in a spacer of a flat-panel display. The structure may be formed with a porous body having a face along which multiple primary pores extend into the porous body. A coating consisting primarily of carbon and having a highly uniform thickness overlies the porous body's face, extending along the primary pores to coat their surfaces and converting the primary pores into further pores. The coating can be created by removing non-carbon material from carbon-containing species provided along the pores. A solid porous film whose thickness is normally no more than 20 &mgr;m has a resistivity of 108-1014 ohm-cm. A spacer for a flat-panel display contains a support body and an overlying, normally porous, layer whose resistivity is greater parallel to a face of the support body than perpendicular to the body's face.

Abstract: A polyvinyl acetal sponge sheet of a porous structure having fine continuous pores and a film on the surface thereof. This sponge sheet can be used for a wiping material for car washing which does not leave unwiped portions during wiping after car washing and has a small frictional resistance and a high working factor.

Abstract: This invention provides a selectively permeable protective covering capable of transmitting high quantities of water vapor while also being capable of significantly restricting the passage of noxious or harmful chemicals even under conditions of high humidification. The material of this invention provides the basis for creating protective garments and accessories suitable for application in the broad range of conditions likely to be encountered in realistic use scenarios. In its broadest aspect, the protective and water vapor permeable covering of this invention comprises a sheet of a polyamine polymer wherein at least 10% of the polyamine polymer amines are amine-acid moieties wherein the acidic species of said amine-acid moieties have a pKa less than 6.4.

Abstract: A lightweight equipment base comprises a foam core having top, bottom and side surfaces; a first layer of paint disposed on the top and side surfaces; sand particles disposed on the top and side; and a second layer of paint disposed on the top and side surfaces over the sand particles.

Abstract: A heat absorbing coating having a plurality of micro-capsules each being an encapsulant shell and a heat absorbing material within the shell, and a carrier adherable to a substrate and throughout which the micro-capsules are dispersed. The heat absorbing material is preferably a phase change material and can be non-limitedly chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polywax, and combinations thereof. Shell material can be a metal such as copper, for example, or a polymer. The carrier can be a sprayable polymer mix which provides significant efficacy in uniform application to a substrate. An inventive substrate structure, such as an aircraft structure for example, has thereon the above-defined coating in an amount sufficient to absorb a sufficient amount of heat from the substrate to substantially inhibit thermal erosion in normal operating environments.

Abstract: The multilayered film of the present invention is formed by stretching a multilayered structure to 7 to 12 times larger at least in one direction. The multilayered structure is formed by laminating a resin composition (A) layer and a polypropylene (C) layer via an adhesive resin (B) layer. The resin composition (A) comprises two ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers (a1) and (a2) having different melting points and satisfies the following formulae (1) to (3): 150≦MP(a1)≦172  (1) 162≦MP(a2)≦180  (2) 4≦{MP(a2)−MP(a1)}≦30  (3) where MP(al) represents the melting point (° C.) of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (a1) measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and MP (a2) represents the melting point (° C.) of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (a2) measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).

Abstract: A welding apparatus provided with lower electrode portions, upper electrode portions, and a cooling water circulation duct which circulates and supplies cooling water to welding electrode pressurizing cylinder guns on the upper electrode portions. A check valve is disposed on an upstream side to the cylinder guns in the cooling water circulation duct. Further, a booster is disposed on a downstream side to the cylinder guns in the cooling water circulation duct, and the cylinder guns are extended for welding by pressurizing the cooling water in the duct from the booster to the check valve through the cylinder guns.

Abstract: This invention relates to a low fiber, plyable facer suitable for use in the construction industry, particularly for insulation board manufacture, comprising a dry preformed fiber mat containing a binder for the fibers, preferably a preformed glass mat, coated with a prefoamed composition which contains a thixotropic polymer latex, a foam sustaining amount of a surfactant and a flame retarding and/or strengthening amount of a mineral filler and also to the use and process for the preparation of the above as well as to a siding underlayment or insulation board having a foamed, thermosetting resin core which is surfaced with said facer as a product for commercial use.