Abstract: The disclosure relates to flexible membrane structures having a layer of a ductile metal thereon or sandwiched therein. The disclosure further relates to improved prophylactic devices having improved resistance to the transmission of very small viruses, such as AIDS or HERPES therethrough, which utilize the flexible membrane structures of the present invention, and the present invention furthermore relates to flexible electrodes which utilize the flexible membrane structures of the present invention. The present invention also relates to methods of making such membranes, electrodes, and prophylactic devices.

Abstract: A thin, multilayered rubber article and method of making it, having greater resistance to the leakage of fluids therethrough, despite repeated stretching and relaxing of the article within a wide range of movement. The article exhibits a "self-healing" property to impede fluid leakage despite preexisting, or later formed, pinholes or other small openings through the layers. In the method, the base layer is initially stretched before applying an intimately adhered, thinner overlayer of elastomeric material, thereby to provide a stressed interface between the two adhered layers. Additional overlayers can be applied.