Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a cork stopper by compression molding cork grains, which can provide a cork stopper excellent in sealability and safety. There is provided a method for producing a cork stopper, comprising: mixing cork grains and an adhesive; compression molding the mixture to give an intermediate; and then heating the intermediate to expand the cork grains.

Abstract: A non-destructive method for analyzing a cork stopper for the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole. The stopper is introduced into a hermetically closed container. The container containing the stopper is heated under conditions vaporizing any 2,4,6-trichloroanisole present in the stopper. A gaseous sample of the atmosphere surrounding the stopper in the container is collected and analyzed for the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole. This method allows the selection, in a batch of cork stoppers, of the stoppers that are substantially free of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, in a non-destructive manner.

Abstract: A cork-insulated cooler having reversible skid plates and a transparent inner basin is described. The cooler is comprised of an outer basin having an open top, a plurality of cork panels lining the outer basin, a transparent inner basin having an open top which is constructed and arranged to hold and maintain the plurality of cork panels against the outer basin, a lid hingedly connected to the inner and outer basin such that the inner basin and lid cooperate to define a compartment, and at least one pair of reversible skid plates removably fastened to the bottom surface of the outer basin. The reversible skid plates include a skid side for easy sliding of the cooler and a non-skid side to keep the cooler in place.

Abstract: The method of making a compressed biocomposite body includes compressing a mass of biocomposite material comprised of discrete particles and a network of interconnected glucan-containing mycelia cells in the presence of heat and moisture into a compressed body having a density in excess of 18 pcf. Compression may take place batch wise in a press or continuously in a path of narrowing cross-section defined by a series of heated rollers.

Abstract: The present invention provides sintered composite polymeric materials and methods of making and using the same. The sintered composite polymeric materials are made by sintering composite particles comprising a polytetrafluoroethylene component and a carbonaceous component, wherein the carbonaceous component is dispersed throughout the polytetrafluoroethylene component.

Abstract: Biodegradable disposable flatware and utensils manufactured from wood-based or plant-based raw materials, including materials that may be traditionally discarded such as sawdust, plant stalks, seed or grain hulls or the like. The process includes the use of a resin made from the discarded materials to form disposable utensils and flatware.

Abstract: A culm block and a method of manufacture are disclosed. The culm block comprises a plurality of straw stalks forming a first rigid wall and a second rigid wall as a result of an application of heat and pressure to the same and the inherent bonding agent found in the straw stalks. Preferably, the culm block further comprises a plurality of through-holes for receiving structural reinforcements or otherwise and a restraining device wrapped about the block for added structural support.

Abstract: First, wood or bamboo is crushed to obtain wood powder with an average grain size of 5 ?m to 100 ?m. Next, the wood powder is put in a first mold, and a first compression molding step is carried out under the conditions that, for example, a temperature is 160° C. and a pressure is 30 MPa. Thus, a temporary molded body is obtained. Subsequently, the temporary molded body is immersed in a flame retardant and a surface of the temporary molded body is impregnated with the flame retardant. Thereafter, the temporary molded body is put in a second mold, and a second compression molding step is carried out under the conditions that, for example, a temperature is 200° C. and a pressure is 100 MPa. At this time, ingredients such as lignin and a hemicellulose are separated from the wood powder, and function as an adhesive. For this reason, pieces of crushed material are firmly bonded with each other so as to be integrated into a single body. Thus, a compression-molded product with a predetermined shape is obtained.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for forming a three dimensional sintered body (100) comprising the steps of a) providing a basic mould having a configuration adapted to the sintering body that is to be produced, b) treating the surface of the basic mould to facilitate application of a first surface layer (130) of the sintered body (100), c) applying powder particles (131) onto the basic mould, to form said first surface layer (130), d) applying at least one more layer (120) on top of said first surface layer (130), e) heat treating the basic mould (400) and the particles to form a sintered body, wherein step b) is performed by providing an adhering (604) to the basic mould arranged to adhere the particles (131) of at least a portion of the surface layer (130).

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making dimensionally stable reconstituted composite products from lignocellulosic material. By treating lignocellulose with high pressure steam to decompose and hydrolyze the hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin fractions of the lignocellulose and using those decomposition products as both a bonding and bulking agent, it converts, under heat and pressure in a molding operation, the treated lignocellulose into molded composite products such as panel boards and molded articles. The composite products thus produced possess good physical and mechanical properties. Specifically, the dimensional stability in terms of the thickness swelling and linear expansion of panel boards such as fiberboards and particleboard, can be minimized to very low levels when the panel boards are made in high density.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component in which a cellulosic material is mixed with a plastic material to form a cellulosic reinforced plastic composite. The cellulosic reinforced plastic composite is then formed into irregular shaped granules, such as by grinding. The granules are then molded into the component.

Abstract: Shaped bodies, such as boards, are manufactured from particles having a surface with a wax layer, such as straw, hemp stalks, maize stalks, grapevine stalks and the like. The particles are first comminuted, then heated and then further comminuted. Thereafter the particles are admixed with a binder to form a mixture, the mixture is scattered into a mat, and the mat is then pressed into the shaped body of the desired size.

Abstract: A method of producing boards or panels from cereal straw includes the steps of treating and mechanically refining the straw with steam under elevated pressure which may be in excess of 8 bar (800 kPa). The resulting fibre may then be pressed in to boards or panels without added binder or mixed with a urea formaldehyde or melamine urea formaldehyde binder.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process of using agricultural biomass to make particle or fiberboards. The preferred biomass is selected with high cellulose and hemicellulose concentration and low silica content. The process utilizes short refining time and low steam pressure.

Abstract: Weatherable building materials particularly well suited for entry door skins and other exterior building components are prepared by compression molding lignocellulosic fibers digested under conditions such that partial breakdown of hemicellulosic and other components produces an in situ binder, together with a secondary phenol/formaldehyde binder resin, followed by impregnating the product with a non-fugitive tertiary binder.

Abstract: The invention provides a compounded polymer feedstock formed by cold-pressing of the ingredients into tablets or pellets. This avoids the need for heating associated with conventional pellet-forming processes, and is particularly suitable for compounding of heat-sensitive materials such as PVA. The invention also provides a novel tablet-forming apparatus, suitable for forming large volumes of pressed compounded polymer feedstock, together with tablets of the feedstock, and methods of manufacturing plastics products using the tablets.

Abstract: A hog fuel board is made by placing a hog fuel mat including an ammonium chloride catalyst with flexible non-sticking layers on outside surfaces between screens in a preheated platen press and pressing the mat to preset stops and for a predetermined time and pressure to cause adhesives naturally present in the hog fuel to disperse throughout the board. The presence of ammonium chloride as a catalyst uniformly distributed through the hog fuel mat significantly lowers the temperature required at the heating press platens to form a board which also has improved properties. There is also described a hog fuel veneer board with a hog fuel mat sandwiched between veneer sheets and a lumber product with a hog fuel coating thereon. These additional products are both formed using the ammonium chloride catalyst to reduce press temperatures and create a product with improved properties, particularly, internal bond strength.

Abstract: A multicolored, patterned floor covering is disclosed along with a method for its manufacture. The floor covering is made of a sheeting which has a first color, and a granular material dyed differently from the sheeting which is embedded in the sheeting along at least in the area of the top side. The sheeting and the granular material consist of cross-linkable, elastomeric materials, the granular material comprising particles which have at least two subregions dyed differently from each other and from the sheeting. The quantity and color of the fractions of each component as selected so that the mixed color resulting from an homogeneous intermixing of all the components contained in the floor covering agrees with the first color.

Abstract: A method and system are described for controlling the delivery of vapor from a bubbler containing a supply of liquid through which a carrier gas is bubbled and from which bubbler vapors are delivered in a vapor stream entrained with the carrier gas. In general, the present invention involves utilizing the pressure of the vapor leaving the bubbler as the specific characteristic monitored and controlled to ensure that the concentration level of carrier gas to vapor is maintained at the desired level throughout the manufacturing process.The present invention involves introducing a concentration detector within the flow path of the bubbler vapors from the bubbler and having the output of the concentration detector input to a concentration controller. The concentration controller compares the concentration value received from the concentration detector to a desired concentration value determined for the system.

Abstract: A gradient refractive-index plastic rod is prepared by prepolymerizing a mixture containing a first monomer and at least a component selected from a second monomer and a non-reactive dopant sealed in a tube, while rotating the tube horizontally around its longitudinal axis; and polymerizing the resulting prepolymer or prepolymers while keeping the tube vertical. In the vertical polymerization stage, the polymerization undergoes in the direction from the periphery to the center of the tube due to an increase of polymerization rate caused by gel effect of the prepolymers which has been piled up on the tube wall during the centrifugal stage, so that the monomers contained in the central part of the tube diffuse outwardly, and thus a plastic rod having a larger region of gradient refractive-index is obtained.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of silica particles is mixed with a dialkyldialkoxysilane monomer, e.g., dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDES), typically under basic conditions. Optionally, the monomer, or a portion thereof, is partially reacted prior to mixing, such that it is possible for a polydialkylsiloxane oligomer, e.g., polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), to be added either with or instead of the monomer. The addition of the monomer (or oligomer) induces gelation of the silica. The contemplated mechanism is that the silanol groups on the growing polydialkylsiloxane chains are able to condense with silanol groups found on the silica particle surfaces, thereby anchoring the chains to the particles. These chains appear to have the ability to form bridges between particles and/or loops on individual particles. Such bridges appear to initiate formation of a silica particle network, and both the bridges and loops increase the silica particles' hydrophobicity.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical waveguide substrate including a ridge-shaped structural portion containing at least an optical waveguide, which process including the steps of forming an optical waveguide-forming layer on a substrate body to prepare a substrate workpiece, and forming said ridge-shaped structural portion at said substrate workpiece by grinding.

Abstract: The transmission properties of an optical fiber are enhanced by cooling the fiber gradually to temperatures of at least -300.degree. Fahrenheit, maintaining the fiber at such reduced temperature for a time suitable to stabilize the transmission properties of the fiber, and then allowing the fiber gradually to return to normal room temperature. The heating of the fiber to restore it to room temperature in part is accomplished by transmitting through the fiber optical pulses of the frequency and repetition rate the fiber will experience in normal use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for seamless closed mold microreplication using a one-piece expandable mold are disclosed. The apparatus includes an expandable mold having a plurality of microstructured features on the inner surface thereof. The apparatus also includes a means for elastically expanding the mold in order to remove the finished molded article. The expandable mold may be used to make seamless articles having microstructured features, such as an illumination device comprising a fiber core having a plurality of microstructured light extraction structures on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A glass-fiber bushing including a bottom tip-plate and side walls surrounding the bottom tip-plate forming a container for molten glass. The bottom tip-plate including a plurality of tips arranged to permit molten glass to flow there through to produce a multiplicity of individual molten glass streams from which glass fibers may be formed. The glass-fiber bushing includes at least one tip-plate thermocouple having a platinum tube housing, a pair of thermocouple wires transversing the tube housing and terminating in a weld junction. The tube housing, thermocouple wires and the weld are attached directly to the tip-plate such that the thermocouple junction is formed directly at the tip-plate surface.

Abstract: A cylindrical base material having an outer and inner at least two layer structure is produced by using a cylindrical molded body made of a low-refractive-index material as a mold, and forming at least one layer made of a layer-forming material having a relatively high refractive index in the inner surface of the cylindrical molded body by the rotational molding, wherein the centrifugal force during the rotational molding is changed.

Abstract: A potting compound for use in the fabrication of fiber optic gyro sensor coils utilizes a silver-filled silicone base to reduce gyro sensitivity to changes in heat rate and thereby improve gyro performance during warm-up and periods of thermal cycling.

Abstract: A preform having a core and a cladding portion is prepared for a refractive index-distributed type plastic optical fiber. The fiber obtained has a large difference in refractive index between the central and peripheral zone of the core portion. This suppresses light propagation modes in the cladding portion, a cause of deteriorated transmission characteristics, without raising the concentration of non-polymerizable compounds contained in the core portion. To manufacture the preform, a cylindrical vessel is prepared from a polymer, which serves as cladding portion. The inner surface of the preform is then provided with a polymer-containing layer having a refractive index lower than that of the polymer used for the core portion, so as to leave a cavity inside this vessel. This cavity is then filled with a monomer, which is subsequently polymerized while dissolving the lower-refractive index, polymer-containing layer, so as to form the core portion.

Abstract: A heating furnace is used in a drawing device for drawing a base material made of plastic. The base material is fed into the heating furnace, melted under heat and drawn into a plastic optical fiber. The heating furnace is divided into a pre-heating zone located upstream and a heat-melting zone located downstream in the advancing direction of the base material and of the plastic optical fiber made therefrom. The preheating zone includes a pre-heater for pre-heating the base material, while the heat-melting zone includes a melting heater for melting the base material. Both zones are controllable independently so as to give an appropriate temperature for each zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding an illumination device using an open mold are provided which allow for the addition of light extraction structures to a prefabricated light guide using a curable material. A mold containing the extraction structures is first provided. Curable molding material and the prefabricated light guide are placed into the mold, and an overlay comprising light extraction structures is cured onto the light guide, providing a functional illumination device.

Abstract: A method for patterning a material onto a substrate including the steps of: providing a micro-mold having a plurality of non-communicating independent channels and having a plurality of reservoirs for receiving a micro-molding fluid each of which reservoirs communicates with a channel, the micro-mold including an elastomeric master having a surface with a plurality of recesses therein and a substrate; introducing a micro-molding fluid into the micro-mold reservoirs filling said communicating channels; and solidifying the fluid in the micro-mold and removing the elastomeric master thereby generating a pattern of material on the substrate. The micro-mold is formed by contacting the surface of the elastomeric master with the substrate such that the recesses in the surface form the plurality of reservoirs and channels.

Abstract: A method of molding an illumination device using an open mold is provided. The method allows for the addition of light extraction structures to a prefabricated light guide using a curable material. A mold containing the extraction structures is first provided. Curable molding material and the prefabricated light guide are placed into the mold, and an overlay comprising light extraction structures is cured onto the light guide, providing a functional illumination device.

Abstract: A method for producing a microstructured body, in which a casting mold including a casting frame and a bottom plate is formed and is filled with a reaction molding compound. After curing, the casting frame is part of the component, while the bottom plate can be reused. Since both the base plate and the frame have been produced by microstructuring technology methods, this method yields a component that has high precision but can nevertheless be produced inexpensively in large numbers.

Abstract: An optical fiber (7) exhibits varying transmission characteristics in different strain states and can have an S-shaped microbend. For producing such a fiber it is heated locally in a small region, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the fiber, and then the portions of the fiber (1) located at the two sides of the heated region are displaced in relation to each other in a transverse direction in relation to the longitudinal direction of the fiber. It can be performed in a conventional fusion-splicing apparatus for optical fibers. Alternatively, a laser can be used as a heating source, what is particularly suitable for processing optical fibers having longitudinal cavities in order to infer to it similar transmission characteristics. The optical fibers produced by this method are suited for use as sensors, e.g. strain gauges.

Abstract: A back lighting device includes a light waveguide having generally planar upper and lower surfaces, a light module having a lamp member encapsulated between the upper and lower surfaces, a specular reflective material applied about the waveguide lower surface, and a light extracting material applied about the waveguide upper surface. The waveguide can be mounted in a user specific frame to allow high volume usage of a common waveguide element.

Abstract: A disc is provided which includes a disc body of disc shape having a center hole. An information recording area is formed on one side surface of the disc body. The information recording area has information thereon read by reflection of laser light. The information recording area has an inner circumferential edge positioned adjacent to the center hole. The disc body has a radius ranging from 39 mm to 80 mm, the center hole has a radius ranging from 7.5 mm to 7.55 mm, and the inner circumferential edge of the information recording area being positioned to extend from a radius of 15 mm to 22 mm from the center of the disc body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing an improved cable and an improved optical fiber cable comprising a central reinforcement member and a plurality of loose tubes as laying elements, placed longitudinally around the central reinforcement member. The loose tubes comprising at least one or more optical fiber filaments. A gel filling material is contained in both the inner section as well as the outer section of the loose tubes. A layer encircling the assembly is selected from the group consisting of an aramide fiber layer, a fiber glass and combination thereof. At least one or more plastic cover is placed longitudinally over the fiber layer to support metal ribbons which are peripherally incorporated to the assembly and a second layer of plastic cover is placed over the metal ribbon.

Abstract: This method allows manufacture of an optical cable including optical fibers (1) placed in a protective sheath including two coaxial tubes (3, 5), of which the inner tube (3) which is made of plastic material, contains said fiber (1). The method consists in placing the fibers in the first tube (3) so that they have a certain overlength with respect to said tube. Then, the assembly (1, 2, 3) is surrounded by second tube (5). The second tube (5) is placed around the first tube (1) after obtaining the overlength, from a metal tape whose longitudinal edges are butted together progressive around the assembly while being fixed to each other, then the second tube (5) is shrunk against the first tube (3). A layer adhesive material (4) is preferably interposed between the two tubes (3, 5).

Abstract: In an optical fiber ribbon including a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a common plane in generally side-by-side relationship and surrounded by a layer of matrix material, at least one stress concentration is formed in the matrix material surrounding the optical fiber ribbon. The stress concentration extends along at least a portion of the ribbon parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ribbon and concentrates stress applied to the ribbon such that the matrix material easily separates at the stress concentration. Each stress concentration may be formed directly in the matrix material during its application on the optical fibers, or an abrasive surface may be applied to the fiber to form the stress concentration. Stress concentrations may formed on at least one extreme edge of the optical fiber ribbon such that the entire matrix material may be easily removed from a section of optical fiber ribbon at a desired ribbon access location.

Abstract: There is provided a very thin light guide plate for a surface light source device and a method of manufacturing it without the use of high-precision molding machine. A surface light source device using this light guide plate generates outgoing light having high uniformity. According to the manufacturing method, a light guide plate free from a weld line or warp can be manufactured with good transferring characteristics. The light guide plate is thick on an incident surface 1 side and thin on a lower surface 4 side. At the central portion of an incident surface 1 in a longitudinal direction, a projecting portion obtained by cutting an overhang portion 7 at a position a distance D apart from the incident surface 1 is formed. The cut surface of the projecting portion is not made specular and is kept rough. In molding of the light guide plate, a molten material is supplied from the position of a gate mark 9.

Abstract: The present invention attains the foregoing and other objects of the invention by providing a method of forming a composite particle product from ligno-cellulosic material bonded together with water-insoluble lignin. The lignin has a relatively low molecular mass, e.g., less than 10,000 Daltons, and has a relatively high number of reactive functional groups. The lignin and material is then heated and compressed to promote bending and cross-linking between the lignin binder and the ligno-cellulosic material.

Abstract: A plastic optical-fiber is provided having a desired length and a desired graded refractive index. To this end, a base polymer is mixed with a non-polymerizable compound having a higher refractive index to obtain a fiber material. This material is then transformed continuously into a fiber in a fiber-preparing unit. A plurality of diffusion tanks are each provided with a solution, each solution having a level of viscosity different from one another. The fiber is then dipped successively into the solutions in the order from a lowest viscosity level to a higher viscosity level. During this process, the non-polymerizable compound and polymerizable compound diffuse inside the fiber and form a graded refractive index distribution. The polymerizable compound is then polymerized and hardened in a drying-and-heating unit. The fiber thus obtained is drawn and coated with a cladding.

Abstract: A method of making an optical fiber device, which comprises the steps of providing an optical fiber element comprising an optical fiber having at least one thermally removable coating thereon, and thermally removing all or a predetermined portion of the thermally removable coating(s) to sufficiently expose said optical fiber for a subsequent processing step. Following removal of the thermally removable coating, the optical fiber has a predetermined median fracture stress, as measured according to FOTP-28. The optical fiber may then be processed into an optical fiber device and optionally recoated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a waveguide pattern in a waveguide connector. The waveguide connector comprising a topographic pattern is placed over a transparent polymeric multilayer laminate arranged on a rigid foundation, where at least one layer consist of a core and at least two other layers are formed of a cladding material, said cladding material surrounding said core layer, each on one side, and the cladding material having a lower refractive index than the core material. The waveguide connector is pressed towards the polymeric multilayer laminate so that the topographic pattern in the waveguide connector stands out in relief in the laminate to form the waveguide pattern in the waveguide connector and where the multilayer laminate is fixed in the waveguide connector after pressing.

Abstract: Fiber bow makes mass fusion splicing of optical fiber difficult and this is undesirable. We have found that fiber bow can be significantly reduced if the fiber that is being drawn from a heated optical fiber preform is caused to run through a tubular cooling chamber that extends from the draw furnace, the cooling chamber comprising a tube of inner diameter d.sub.1 <35 mm, preferably <20 mm. In a preferred embodiment the cooling chamber includes an upper cooling chamber of inner diameter d.sub.2 >d.sub.1, with a transition element providing a smooth transition between the two chambers. The cooling chamber desirably is free of turbulence-causing air leaks and/or geometrical features.

Abstract: Acrylic light pipe as described in Bigley et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,406,641 and 5,485,541, has adequate thermal stability for many purposes. It has been found that improved thermal stability, as reflected in color formation, can be imparted by adjusting the polymerization conditions to produce the uncured core polymer of the core/clad construction with a much reduced terminal vinyl content, preferably below 0.5 vinyl groups/1000 monomer units.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a plastic optical fiber by drawing while melting an optical fiber preform under heating. The optical fiber preform includes at least a core containing an organic polymer and a cladding layer disposed on the outer circumference of the core and containing an organic polymer. The drawing is conducted under a drawing tension of 10 g or more, and preferably under a drawing tension of 100 g or less, until winding-up of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to allow an optical element to be obtained with good precision using a polymer film and a glass substrate as a reinforcer. The present invention is characterized by the fact that a polymer film is formed on a glass substrate which has been treated to prevent the glass substrate and polymer from separation. This allows an optical circuit pattern to be formed without producing separation between the glass substrate and polymer film when the film is formed. The dimensional precision of the configuration of the distributed index in the polymer film can be maintained generally to the same extent as the expansion and shrinkage of the glass substrate. In addition, a vessel obtained with a glass substrate as the bottom surface can be used as the casting vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fluorescence based sensor for measuring the concentration of a gas (e.g., CO.sub.2 or ammonia) in a medium such as blood which has improved drift stability. In a preferred embodiment, the sensors of the present invention comprise microcompartments of an aqueous phase having a pH sensitive sensing component within a hydrophobic barrier phase. The sensors of the present invention are substantially free of partitioning species other than the analyte of interest which can migrate from one phase to the other in response to a change in pH in the aqueous phase and which substantially affect the concentration dependent signal. In an alternative embodiment, the sensors of the present invention are constructed so as to retard the migration of partitioning species, thus reducing the initial rate of drift.

Abstract: A method for producing a plastic material containing a diffractive optic pattern therein including embossing a curable plastic material with a diffractive optic pattern by pressing the curable plastic material against a master having a diffractive optic pattern thereon which is coated with a thin layer of a fluorinated silane, having at least one fluorinated alkyl group bonded to an Si atom and at least one alkoxy or halide group bonded to an Si atom, as a release layer. Also, the master coated with the fluorinated silane and cured plastic, particularly epoxy resins, containing diffractive gratings prepared by the method, preferably on a substrate, such as a waveguide.