Abstract: An injection molded product may include a corner shingle resembling a single course of tiles that differ in size. The corner shingle may be a semi-crystalline thermoplastic and having a wood grain direction. Streaks may be formed in the corner shingle that are substantially parallel to the wood grain direction. The streaks may extend through an interior of the corner shingle and appear as contrasting streaks on an exterior of the corner shingle to form a variegated wood grain appearance. In addition, an injection molded vestige may be formed in the corner shingle. The injection molded vestige may be located adjacent a perimeter of the corner shingle, and may comprise the location at which material entered an injection mold through a gate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a decorative welding rod, and to a method to produce a decorative welding rod, comprising a gelified plastisol-based composition comprising a PVC resin in a benzoate plasticizer, and unfused and coloured PVC-based particles.

Abstract: A roofing membrane includes a membrane layer. An adhesive layer is adhered to a first side of the membrane layer and a layer of granules is adhered to the first adhesive layer.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article that includes a nonwoven substrate, a first film supported by the nonwoven substrate, and a second film such that the first film is between the nonwoven substrate and the second film. The first film includes a first polymer and a pore-forming filler. The difference between a surface energy of the first film and a surface energy of the nonwoven substrate is at most about 10 mN/m. The second film includes a second polymer capable of absorbing and desorbing moisture and providing a barrier to aqueous fluids.

Abstract: A hydrophobic surface comprises a surface texture and a coating disposed on the surface texture, wherein the coating comprises an amorphous diamond like carbon material doped with 10 to 35 atomic percent of Si, O, F, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, or a low surface energy material selected from fluoropolymer, silicone, ceramic, fluoropolymer composite, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and wherein the surface texture comprises a micro texture, a micro-nano texture, or a combination of a micro texture and a micro-nano texture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flooring material including: a plasticizer; fibers comprising at least one type of inorganic fibers or at least one type of organic fibers; and a thermoplastic resin. The fibers have an alignment. In addition, a method for manufacturing a flooring material is also disclosed. The method includes preparing a first mixture by mixing a liquid plasticizer with fibers comprising at least one type of inorganic fibers or at least one type of organic fibers; preparing a second mixture in which the fibers are dispersed in the liquid plasticizer by agitating the first mixture; preparing a third mixture by mixing the second mixture with a thermoplastic resin; and forming a floor material through thermo-compression of the third mixture.

Abstract: Engineered stone, and methods of manufacturing same. An engineered stone comprises: a surface of the engineered stone, wherein the surface comprises one or more pores; and a sealant mixture including a sealant material and a functional component, wherein the functional component modifies one or more properties of said engineered stone.

Abstract: A multi-layer surface covering includes at least a first and a second layer made of a polyvinyl chloride material, each of the two layers having a different density. One of the two layers includes a pigment such that the layer resembles teak. A surface of the colored layer is at least partly abraded to resemble a wood grain. The surface covering may additionally include grooves cut into the surface to resemble individual wood planks. The grooves additionally provide traction and drainage of liquid from the surface to an edge of the covering.

Abstract: A roofing material including: a polycarbonate layer which is a polycarbonate panel having a predetermined thickness and in which a convex portion and a concave portion are alternately repeated in order to diffuse light incident on the roofing material, wherein a two-dimensional array of a plurality of bumps for diffusing light incident on the roofing material, is formed on a surface of each convex portion and a surface of each concave portion of the polycarbonate layer.

Abstract: An epitaxial base is provided. The epitaxial base includes a substrate and a carbon nanotube layer. The substrate has an epitaxial growth surface and defines a plurality of grooves and bulges on the epitaxial growth surface. The carbon nanotube layer covers the epitaxial growth surface, wherein a first part of the carbon nanotube layer attached on top surface of the bulges, and a second part of the carbon nanotube layer attached on bottom surface and side surface of the grooves.

Abstract: A plasmonic scattering nanomaterial comprising a substrate layer, a metal oxide layer in continuous contact with the substrate layer and silver nanoparticles with a diameter of 25-300 nm deposited on the metal oxide layer is disclosed. The silver nanoparticles have a broad size distribution and interparticle distances such that the silver nanoparticles plasmonically scatter light throughout the metal oxide layer with a near electric field strength of 1-30 V/m when excited by a light source having a wavelength in the range of 300-500 nm and/or 1000-1200 nm. In addition, a method for producing the nanomaterial by sputter deposition is disclosed as well as an appropriate thin film plasmonic solar cell comprising the nanomaterial with a solar efficiency of at least 10%.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an article that includes a nonwoven substrate and a film supported by the nonwoven substrate. The film can include a first polymer and a polymer that is immiscible with the first polymer. The first polymer can include a polyolefin and the second polymer can include a polycycloolefin, a polymethylpentene, or a copolymer thereof.

Abstract: In an injection molded product of the invention, an unevenness forming portion having unevenness formed by thermal expansion of thermally expandable capsules is formed. The injection molded product includes a highly expanded portion that is formed at a surface side of the unevenness forming portion in a thickness direction of the injection molded product and in which the thermally expandable capsules are thermally expanded, and a main body portion that is a portion adjacent to the highly expanded portion in the thickness direction and in which the thermally expandable capsules are substantially not thermally expanded. The thickness of the highly expanded portion is a half or smaller than the thickness of the injection molded product in the unevenness forming portion, and a polymer material of the highly expanded portion and a polymer material of the main body portion are the same polymer material.

Abstract: Hip and ridge shingles may be single layer or laminated. One hip and ridge shingle has a base layer and a dimensional layer affixed to the base layer by an adhesive line that extends in the machine direction and along the width of the base and the dimensional layers. The adhesive line is disposed on only one lateral side of the base layer and dimensional layers to allow movement of another lateral side of the dimensional layer relative to the base layer. Another laminated hip and ridge shingle includes a base layer and a dimensional layer affixed to the base layer by an adhesive line that extends in the machine direction and along the width of the base and the dimensional layers. Sealant that comprises at least two parallel lines of sealant material that extend in the machine direction of the base and dimensional layers is disposed on a bottom surface of the base layer for adhering the hip and ridge shingle to an underlying hip and ridge shingle.

Abstract: Provided is an article containing non-cellulosic nonwoven fabric layer between two non-cellulosic nonwoven paper layers wherein one or both of the nonwoven paper and nonwoven fabric are electrically insulating. At least some embodiments are flame retardant.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alpha alumina (?-Al2O3) thin film comprising the lower layer formed on the base material made from cemented carbide; and the ?-Al2O3 thin film layer formed on the lower layer, wherein when the ?-Al2O3 thin film layer is divided, from the total thickness (T) thereof, into a D1 layer which is from an interface layer to 0.15T, a D2 layer which is from 0.15T to 0.4T, and a D3 layer which is from 0.4T to 1T, an S1 (D3 layer grain size/D1 layer grain size) is 2-5.5 and an S2 (D2 layer grain size/D1 layer grain size) is 1.5-4.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a composite structural body including a base material; and a film-like structural body formed on a surface of the base material by causing an aerosol to impinge on the base material, the aerosol including fine particles dispersed in a gas, a distance between an end part of the film-like structural body and an outermost part closest to the end part of a portion of the film-like structural body having a film thickness equal to an average film thickness of the film-like structural body as viewed perpendicular to the surface being 10 times or more of the average film thickness.

Abstract: An array of carbon nanotube micro-tip structure includes an insulating substrate and a plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures. The insulating substrate includes a surface. The surface includes an edge. A plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures spaced from each other. Each of the plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures is partially arranged on the surface of the insulating substrate. Each of the plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures comprises two strip-shaped arms joined together forming a tip portion protruding and suspending from the edge of the surface of the insulating substrate. Each of the two strip-shaped arms comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes parallel to the surface of the insulating substrate.

Abstract: The thermoplastic resin composition of the present invention comprises: (A) a rubber-modified aromatic vinyl-based graft copolymer resin; (B) a polyester resin; (C) a maleimide-based polymer; (D) a copolymer resin of a modified aromatic vinyl compound-cyanide vinyl compound comprising a functional group which can react with a polyester; and (E) an aromatic vinyl-based resin copolymerized with an alkyl(meth)acrylate, wherein the aromatic vinyl-based resin copolymerized with the alkyl(meth)acrylate (E) is included in the composition at approximately 6 to 12 percent by weight.

Abstract: Roofing shingle layers, roofing shingles, and roofing systems having fire retardant properties are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, the roofing shingle layers, roofing shingles, or roofing systems include an expandable fire retardant material. The expandable fire retardant material may comprise expandable graphite, ammonium polyphosphate, or a combination thereof.