Abstract: A cable has a conductor extending therefrom and a partially exposed fluid-containing layer surrounding the conductor. A connector is joined to an end of the conductor, and an electrically insulative, elastomeric tube is covers all of the exposed fluid-containing layer and a portion of the connector. The elastomeric tube is substantially impermeable to the fluid in the cable. For cables having more than one conductor, an additional elastomeric boot is installed over the cable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for modifying a polymer by carrying out a thermally-induced reaction in a mixing apparatus having a high shear environment and devolatilization capabilities. Also disclosed are the resulting materials.

Abstract: A carrier tape for storing components and for preventing nesting of successive wraps of the carrier tape when round onto a roll. In particular, the carrier tape comprises a strip like portion defining a top surface of the tape, and wall portions defining a plurality of substantially similarly shaped pockets spaced along the carrier tape and opening through the top surface. The wall portions of the substantially similarly shaped pockets include a bottom wall portion, a first wall portion extending from the bottom wall portion to the top surface of the carrier tape, a first cross-beam wall portion extending from the bottom wall portion and located between adjacent pockets on the carrier tape, and a second cross-beam wall portion extending from the bottom wall portion and located between selected adjacent pockets on the carrier tape. One or more of the cross-beam wall portions have a notched opening formed at a selected location along a length of the first or second cross-beam wall portions.

Abstract: An electrical connector configured to maintain an electrical connection with a conductor during heating and cooling cycles is provided. The electrical connector includes a base portion and an arm extending from the base portion. The arm and the base portion combine to define an opening configured to receive the conductor, and one of the arm and the base portion defines a bore communicating with the opening. A fastener inserted into the bore is configured to retain the conductor inserted into the opening, and the arm is configured to deflect to provide a spring force that secures the fastener against the conductor during the heating and cooling cycles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser having a laser diode coupled with a passive intra-cavity tapered waveguide.

Abstract: An apparatus for irradiating an article, particularly a multi-layer article, with electron beam radiation is provided. The apparatus contains a window having a short unit path length and allows for controlled irradiation of an article such that upper portions of the article receive significantly higher electron beam dosages than lower portions of the article. Such differential dosage allows for modification of an article comprising a coating composition that can be modified by electron beam irradiation on a substrate that is vulnerable to degradation from electron beam radiation. A method of irradiating an article with electron beams, and products manufactured using the apparatus and method of the invention, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Organic electronic devices having a conducting self-doped polymer buffer layer, particularly a self-doped polyaniline buffer layer, are described. Also described are organic light emitting diodes with buffer layers comprised of an intrinsically conducting polymer having no mobile counterions.

Abstract: A continuous method for making foams having uniform and/or small cell sizes and articles made with these foams are described. The method allows for adjusting or controlling cell size and cell size distribution by controlling temperature and/or blowing agent concentration. The foams feature small and/or uniform cell sizes and may be comprised of amorphous thermoplastic polymers, pressure sensitive adhesive compositions, and immiscible thermoplastic polymer compositions. A method for coextruding the foams is also described.

Abstract: A continuous method for making foams having uniform and/or small cell sizes and articles made with these foams are described. The method allows for adjusting or controlling cell size and cell size distribution by controlling temperature and/or blowing agent concentration. The foams feature small and/or uniform cell sizes and may be comprised of amorphous thermoplastic polymers, pressure sensitive adhesive compositions, and immiscible thermoplastic polymer compositions. A method for coextruding the foams is also described.

Abstract: A continuous method for making foams having uniform and/or small cell sizes and articles made with these foams are described. The method allows for adjusting or controlling cell size and cell size distribution by controlling temperature and/or blowing agent concentration. The foams feature small and/or uniform cell sizes and may be comprised of amorphous thermoplastic polymers, pressure sensitive adhesive compositions, and immiscible thermoplastic polymer compositions. A method for coextruding the foams is also described.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making foams by photopolymerizing emulsions comprising a reactive phase and a phase immiscible with the reactive phase components. Foams made from water-in-oil emulsions, including high internal phase emulsion are disclosed. Articles and uses for the foams are also described.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides an energy efficient polymerization method comprising irradiating a polymerizable composition and a photoinitiator with a source of essentially monochromatic radiation where the photoinitiator and the wavelength of the radiation source are selected such that the extinction coefficient of the photoinitiator at the peak wavelength of the source is greater than about 1000 M−1 cm−1 and such that the photoinitiator absorbs at least two percent of the actinic radiation incident on the coating. In another aspect the invention provides energy efficient methods of polymerizing polymerizable compositions and crosslinking crosslinkable compositions by irradiating the respective compositions with a low power source of essentially monochromatic radiation. The low power energy sources have an input power of less than about 10 W/cm.

Abstract: Dispersants that adsorb to hydrophobic particle surfaces in aqueous media are described. The dispersants comprise dendritic polymers having at least one ionizable moiety and at least one peripheral hydrophobic long chain hydrocarbon moiety. Dispersions and inks wherein the dispersant operates as a solitary or co-dispersant are also described.

Abstract: Described is an article comprising a biaxially textured metal substrate and a layer of palladium deposited on at least one major surface of the metal substrate; wherein the palladium layer has desired in-plane and out-of-plane crystallographic orientations, which allow subsequent layers that are applied on the article to also have the desired orientations.

Abstract: An elastic web of material has a multiplicity of stems extending from at least one side of the web. The web includes a first continuous layer of elastic material having a first side and a second side and a second layer of material. The second layer of material has a first side which faces the first side of the first layer and a second side from which the stems extend. The first and second layers of material are joined together. The second layer of material can be formed of thermoplastic material or melt processable polymeric material. The first and second layers of material are melt formed. They are joined by coextrusion or lamination to form a multiple layer sheet on which a multiplicity of stems are formed on at least the second layer by a process such as embossing the stems into the heated web using a patterned roll or mold.

Abstract: Coated porous materials that exhibit air permeability and repellency to liquids having a surface tension at least equal to or greater than 20 dynes/cm which are suitable for making ileostomy vent filters, transdermal drug substrates, agricultural and medical apparel, as well as paint and chemical protective garments. The coating for the porous material is applied as a curable composition containing fluorocarbon urethane precursors which are cross-linked in situ.

Abstract: Methods for making metal matrix composite articles such as wires and tapes. The metal matrix composites include a plurality of substantially continuous, longitudinally positioned fibers in a metal matrix. The fibers are selected from the group of ceramic fibers, boron, carbon fibers, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Accelerators that can be useful for an energy polymerizable composition comprising a cationically curable material; energy polymerizable -compositions comprising at least one cationically curable material and an initiation system therefor, the initiation system comprising at least one organometallic complex salt and at least one accelerator; and a method for curing the compositions. The cured compositions can provide useful articles. The invention also provides compositions of matter comprising an organometallic complex salt and at least one compound selected from the Class 1 and Class 2 compounds disclosed herein.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods for making foams comprising functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles by photopolymerizing or thermally polymerizing emulsions comprising a reactive phase and a phase immiscible with the reactive phase components. Foams made from water-in-oil emulsions, including high internal phase emulsion are also disclosed. Articles and uses for the foams are also described.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a continuous process for the production of anionically-polymerized organic materials having controlled architectures. The organic materials may be made from one or more temperature-sensitive anionically-polymerizable monomers. The materials are made under plug-flow and temperature-controlled conditions.