Abstract: Bubble-free solder stop lacquer coatings of circuitboards are obtained for high conductor runs and close spacing, in that one proceeds from a photopolymerizable low-solvent lacquer, which is heated to pouring viscosity through a heatable roll and doctor blade by means of infrared lamps and is poured onto cooled circuitboards as a lacquer curtain.

Abstract: A coating composition which includes an ionizing radiation-polymerizable oligomer, an ionizing radiation-polymerizable monomer and a releasing agent. The composition has a viscosity regulated to 1000 cps or less, can be rapidly and continuously produced and has excellent surface characteristics. A process for forming a decorative material using the coating composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for photo-plating only a light-irradiated portion of a dye layer formed on a substrate comprises: forming a dye layer on the surface of a substrate; immersing the substrate with the dye layer into an electroless plating solution comprising a sacrificial reagent for supplying electrons by irreversible oxidative decomposition, and at least one of copper ions, nickel ions, cobalt ions, and tin ions; and irradiating the surface of the dye layer with light having an energy higher than the excitation energy of the dye in the dye layer. A thick coating containing at least one of copper, nickel, cobalt, and tin can be formed with excellent adhesion strength only on the light-irradiated portion of the dye layer formed on the substrate.

Abstract: A process for producing a deposit of an inorganic and amorphous protective coating on an organic polymer substrate, the coating comprising compounds in the form of an oxide, nitride, carbide, or alloys thereof, by photosensitized decomposition in the gas phase, which comprises decomposing a gas medium by photosensitized decomposition, including precursors of the elements constituting the deposit of the inorganic and amorphous protective coating to be produced by photonic excitation of an impurity which has been previously introduced into the medium, said decomposition being adapted for producing an indirect transfer of energy to the molecules of the medium, thereby causing the decomposition and subsequent deposition of the these elements onto the substrate.

Abstract: A layer of a hydrocarbon molecule is applied to a substrate by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, and the surface is irradiated with a laser to decompose the layer of molecules at the surface without influencing the substrate. After decomposition the carbon atoms rearrange on the surface of the substrate to form a DLC film. The method of the invention may also be used to form other film, using a suitable molecule to produce the LB layer before irradiation.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printed circuit assembly is formed by first making a substrate (20). A substrate (20) is first formed from a photoactive polymer (14) that is capable of altering its physical state when exposed to a radiant beam (30). At this point, the substrate is only partially cured. A conductive circuit pattern (50) is then formed on the partially cured substrate. The substrate is then molded to create a three-dimensional structure, and then further cured to cause the photoactive polymer to harden.

Abstract: Precise, adherent deposits of a metal such as palladium are formed on an substrate such as polyimide, silicon dioxide, tantalum oxide and polyethylene terephthalate by contacting the substrate surface with a solution of the metal, and then exposing the surface through the solution to laser radiation characterized by a wavelength absorbable by the substrate and a power density and fluence effective to release electrons to promote deposition of the metal onto the substrate without thermal activation of the substrate or the solution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing gas separation membranes wherein a thin film of an amorphous fluoropolymer is spray-deposited as an aerosol onto a microporous substrate and rendered substantially continuous or defect-free by thermal and/or chemical treatment.

Abstract: Surface characteristics of a molded article formed by a composition including a polypropylene resin, an engineering plastic and a functionalized polyolefin resin or a composition including the said composition and an inorganic filler or a rubbery substance incorporated therein can be improved without deteriorating such characteristics as rigidity, impact resistance, heat resistance, dimensional stability and moldability, by radiating an ultraviolet light not longer than 300 nm in wavelength to the molded article, the said functionalized polyolefin resin containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid group-, carboxylic ester group- or acid anhydride group-containing monomers, epoxy group-containing monomers, hydroxyl group-containing monomers, amino group-containing monomers, alkenyl cyclic iminoether derivatives and polyfunctional monomers.

Abstract: A process of fabricating a three-dimensional object from a light curable liquid resin includes irradiating a light to a surface of the light curable liquid resin so as to form successive cross-sectional layers of the cured resin at that surface and to superimpose the successive layers on each other. An improvement resides in that one or more of the successive layers is made to have different portions made through different curing conditions. By providing such cross-sectional layers having different curing conditions, the resulting three-dimensional object can be made into accurate outer configuration without leaving any critical residual stress therein.

Abstract: Carbonaceous films are coated on a surface by chemical vapor reation. In advance of the deposition of carbonaceous film, a silicon nitride film as coated on the surface to prevent interdiffusion between the carbonaceous film and the underlying surface.

Abstract: An improved stereolithographic apparatus (SLA) and an improved method for generating a part from curable material. The invention utilizes control and/or knowledge of depths of penetration of actinic radiation into a vat of photopolymer to determine and/or control and/or produce desirable characteristics associated with the creation of parts. From a predictive point of view, these desirable characteristics may include determination of cure depth from a given exposure, determination cure width, determination of required minimum surface angle (MSA), determination of optimum skin fill spacing, the strength of cross sections of partially polymerized material, amount of curl type distortion, and necessary overcure to attain adhesion between layers, etc. These determinations can lead to the use of particular building techniques to insure adequate part formation.

Abstract: An improved method for stereolithographically making an object by alternating the order in which similar sets of vectors are exposed over two or more layers. In another method, a pattern of tightly packed hexagonal tiles are drawn. Each tile is isolated from its neighboring tiles by specifying breaks of unexposed material between the tiles. Using an interrupted scan method, vectors are drawn with periodic breaks along their lengths. In another method, modulator and scanning techniques are used to reduce exposure problems associated with the acceleration and deceleration of the scanning system when jumping between vectors or changing scanning directions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for stereolithographically forming a three-dimensional object includes a vessel for holding a building material and a smoothing member for forming a uniform coating over a previously formed layer of the object. The smoothing member has a plurality of blades. The smoothing member is swept over a previously formed layer of the object, in at least two directions. Different clearances between the lower surface of the smoothing member and the upper surface of the previously formed layer are used to provide a uniform coating for a subsequent layer over the previously formed layer. The sweeping velocity of the smoothing member can be varied. Retractable needles are attached to the smoothing member for adjusting a blade gap between the lower surface of the smoothing member and the surface of the building material.

Abstract: A method for producing a three dimensional plastic article having an insert. The three dimensional plastic article (20) is formed by exposing a liquid photopolymer or other material (14) capable of selective solidification or curing to a source of energy (10), preferably a laser beam (30). A portion of the three dimensional plastic article is formed by selectively exposing portions of the surface (12) of the liquid photopolymer to the laser beam. The insert (26) is placed onto the partially formed article (20), and the remainder of the article is formed by selectively exposing additional portions of the surface (16) of the liquid polymer to the laser beam, creating successive layers, whereupon a plurality of the layers form the three dimensional article (20). The insert (26) becomes an integral part of the completed three-dimensional article.

Abstract: Method for improved photolithography using a laser induced metallization cess to produce a metal mask wherein a work piece surface is treated to have a predetermined pattern of at least two materials each having different electron band gaps, the treated work piece is positioned in a metallizing solution, and the workpiece is exposed to a laser beam having a wavelength corresponding to the electron gap of a selected one of the materials. The method can advantageously be used to produce ohmic contacts for microcircuit devices.

Abstract: A method for forming a lens at an end portion of an optical apparatus, such as an optical fiber assembly, a fiber optical CRT or an LED array, which method comprises a dipping step wherein the end portion of the optical apparatus is dipped into an unsolidified photo-setting resin and a lighting step wherein the photo-setting resin is solidified according to an intensity distribution of the light outputted from the optical apparatus. Further, an optical information processing apparatus and an optical signal transmission apparatus have a lens array formed by the above method.

Abstract: An improved stereolithography method for building a three-dimensional article including the steps of patternwise curing successive layers of a bath of curable liquid resin formulation until the article has been completely built up, removing the article from the liquid resin bath and then post-curing the article, wherein the liquid resin is a "thiol/nene" formulation including:(a) a first compound having a plurality of norbornene groups thereon;(b) a second compound having a plurality of thiol groups therein; and(c) a free radical photoinitiator,the total functionality of the formulation being greater than 4.

Abstract: A method of modifying surfaces of polymeric objects which comprises immersing the polymeric object in an aqueous dispersion of a polymerizable surfactant, a cross-linking agent, and a free radical initiator and exposing the immersant to ultraviolet light to form a permanent, cross-linked surface coating on the object. Also disclosed are coated objects prepared by this method, which is particularly suited for coating contact lenses.