Abstract: A ferrule holder for holding a ferrule in a grinding apparatus, wherein said holder is e.g., substantially spherical in shape or provided with a cardanic mounting device. The ferrule holder has a cut face, a holder recess in the cut face adapted to accept the ferrule, and an attachment mechanism for attaching the ferrule within the holder recess. Moreover, a ferrule grinding apparatus is disclosed with at least one grinding plate for grinding the surface of a ferrule, at least one ferrule holder adapted to hold the ferrule and at least one ferrule positioning mechanism, wherein the ferrule holder and the said ferrule positioning mechanism cooperate together to position dynamically the ferrule such that the face of the ferrule is parallel to the surface of the grinding plate.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference gasket formed of an electrically conductive material having a non-rectangular profile, whereby the profile may be viewed and processed by automated vision equipment during high-speed assembly of the gasket onto a conductive surface.

Abstract: A crush, kink, and torque resistant, flexible fiber optic cable having a closely spaced, spiraled, rigid, metal wire layer disposed around the cable. Small size, light weight, good flexibility with minimum spring-back and excellent crush resistance are provided, along with excellent kinking and torque resistance.

Abstract: A dental floss holder including a pair of arms, each arm having a middle portion and first and second opposite end portions. The first end portion of each arm curves outwardly away from its respective middle portion wherein the middle portions of the arms are positioned proximate one another so as to define a pivot. The second end portions are movable between a first position in which the first end portions of the arms diverge away from one another, and a second position in which the first end portions are moved toward one another. Dental floss material has one end secured to the first end portion of one arm and an opposite end secured to the first end portion of the other arm. The dental floss material has a first tension when the first end portions are in their spaced apart position and a second tension when the first end portions are moved toward one another, said first tension being greater than the second tension. Also disclosed is a filament, such as a dental floss, that contains fumed silica.

Abstract: An electrically conductive composite article consisting essentially of a main body composed of a polytetrafluoroethylene material and a plurality of electrically conductive particles, wherein an elastomer material is disposed within the main body.

Abstract: The functioning of an aircraft is dependent on numerous mechanical, hydraulic and electronic systems. Access to these systems, for example for maintenance purposes, can often only be made from the outside or inside of the aircraft by removing panels. In order to protect the systems from environmental influences such as water ingress, a reliable panel sealant is required. A sealant material has been developed which before use consists essentially of a) 30-90% by weight porous base material and b) 10-70% by weight corrosion inhibitor having the requirements that it is compatible with saud porous material and has a group which is polar in nature. Preferably the porous base material is expanded polytetrafluorethylene.

Abstract: Complex-shaped articles formed by gas-pressure-molding composite preforms of liquid crystal polymer and porous polytetrafluoroethylene material are described. Processes for making the composite material preforms and parisons needed for gas-pressure-molding methods, such as vacuum-molding and blow-molding, are also described.

Abstract: A plurality of polarizable electrodes, a laminate of a collector layer, a polarizable electrode layer of a porous sheet, and a carbon-based conductive material interposed therebetween, are disposed in a row arrangement, interposing separators between the polarizable electrodes, and an electrolyte is packed between said polarizable electrodes and said separators; the carbon-based conductive material penetrating into the voids in the polarizable electrode layers. A process is provided whereby the polarizable electrode is manufactured by applying a conductive material solution to the collector and/or polarizable electrode sheet surface, superposing the two, and then evaporating out the dispersion medium of the conductive material solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a distinct advancement over presently known ion-exchange composite membranes, and the techniques for making such membranes. In one embodiment of the present invention, this is accomplished by a thin integral composite membrane comprised of a microporous polymer film, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a porous microstructure defined by polymeric fibrils, which provides a reinforcing support that supports an ion-exchange polymer resin or material on one side of the porous polymeric film and supports another different ion-exchange polymer resin on the other side. Thus, the invention uses two different ion-exchange resins on each side of a porous polymeric support film. By employing ionic exchange resins which differ in structure, functional groups or equivalent weight, or a combination of such, a wide variety of composites can be made and tailored to specific end uses.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a solid polymer electrolyte and a catalyst layer disposed adjacent to the solid polymer electrolyte, where the gas diffusion layer includes a carbon fiber woven cloth having a surface and a coating of a fluororesin (such as polytetrafluoroethylene) containing carbon black on the surface, wherein the carbon fiber woven cloth is adapted to be disposed in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell such that the coating is adjacent to the catalyst layer in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Preferably, the coating penetrates no more than one-half the thickness of the carbon fiber woven cloth. Most preferably, the coating penetrates no more than one-third the thickness of the carbon fiber woven cloth. The carbon fiber woven cloth may be pre-treated with a water-repellent fluororesin (such as polytetrafluoroethylene), or with a mixture of a fluororesin and carbon black, to enhance water repellency.

Abstract: Microporous PTFE (ePTFE) is known to possess certain properties based on which it is excellently suited for specific purposes, for example, the material is air-permeable and water vapor-permeable, but not water-permeable so that it can be used for filter membranes, etc. In order to create additional functions and application possibilities for this material, a material is proposed that consists of a blend of a fluoropolymer and a thermoplastic. The two substances in the material are present as continuous structures, in which at least one of these structures, preferably both structures, are microporous. The two structures are intertwined with each other and form a so-called co-continuous macrostructure.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved gasket for use in a wide variety of sealing applications. The gasket comprises a sheet of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that is helically wrapped around itself and sealed in that orientation. This construction produces a gasket that has significant tensile strength in both its longitudinal and transverse axes. As such, the gasket of the present invention retains all of the operational advantages of PTFE while being quite resistant to creep.

Abstract: A PTFE fiber that is adapted to be sewn at high speeds. The fiber has a toughness greater than about 0.36 grams per denier (g/d). A range for the toughness is from about 0.36 to about 1.01 g/d, with a preferred range being from about 0.50 to about 0.80 g/d. The toughness of the inventive PTFE fiber is most preferably about 0.60 g/d. The inventive fiber has a peak engineering stress greater than about 1.6 g/d and a break strain greater than about 15.5 percent. A preferred range for the peak engineering stress is from about 3.0 g/d to about 5.0 g/d, and a preferred range for the break strain is from about 20 percent to about 50 percent. Most preferably, the peak engineering stress is about 4.4 g/d, and the break strain is about 24 percent. In another aspect, this invention provides a process for making a fiber that involves providing a PTFE fiber and heating the PTFE fiber to a temperature of from about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention provides a solid polymer ion exchange membrane/electrode assembly, or an electrode/solid polymer ion exchange membrane /electrode assembly, for an electrochemical cell, which consists of planar layers of materials intimately joined together to form a unitary structure. The layers are joined together by solid polymer ion exchange resin present in at least one of each pair of adjacent layers. The unitary assembly can be used in an electrochemical cell such as a battery, electrolytic reactor, or fuel cell.

Abstract: A composite fluoropolymer material contains outer layers consisting essentially of conformable porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and interior layers consisting essentially of rigid fluoropolymer material which may be a densified expanded PTFE, wherein the composite layers may optionally contain electrically conductive fillers. The composite is bonded together to form a sheet material that is sufficiently conformable to provide good seal between surfaces and is sufficiently rigid to make the material easy to handle and install. The material of the present invention is particularly suitable for use as a gasket where rigidity is needed, customization or modification of gasket shape is desirable, and/or where a wide, even sealing surface is sought.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluoropolymer tubes which exhibit excellent properties such as strength, wear resistance and dimensional stability when subjected to repeated flexing due to vibration, bending, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides and employs a very thin yet highly light reflective material for use in providing diffuse reflectivity of light, especially in tightly confined applications such as in laptop computer displays. The present invention uses an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) comprising a microstructure of polymeric nodes and fibrils combined with a coating or filler of material having a high index of refraction, such as titanium dioxide. The material of the present invention demonstrates exceptional diffuse reflectivity across a wide spectrum of visible and infrared light. Additionally, the material of the present invention provides many properties that have been previously unavailable in thin, highly diffuse reflective material, including a high degree of malleability, moldability and flexibility, and effective reflectivity even at very thin cross-sections.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly including a porous tubular substrate made from a fluid-permeable material, and a plurality of elongated flexible polymer electrolyte fuel cells wound in side by side relation onto the substrate. Each elongated cell includes a central proton exchange membrane, a cathode element mounted on one side of said membrane and an anode element mounted on the other side of said membrane. In a preferred arrangement, the anode element of a first elongated wound fuel cell is in electrical contact with the cathode element of an adjacently wound fuel cell.

Abstract: A foldable shipping container, having a main body and first and second side wall panels, which in an assembled configuration forms a display container, wherein a display portion is detached from the main body at a predetermined separation region to form an erected display panel and wherein each of the first and second side wall panels includes a detachable access panel.