Abstract: A high performance battery containing an aluminum current collector is described which includes a noncorrosive salt disposed in a matrix, said salt being a bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide having a total of at least 3 carbon atoms or a cyclic(perfluoroalkylenedisulfonyl)-imide.

Abstract: An electronic circuit structure having a reduced size includes a circuit substrate, an aperture extending through the circuit substrate, and an electronic component suspended within the aperture. The suspension of the electronic component within the aperture significantly reduces the profile of the overall electronic circuit structure. The aperture further enables electronic components to be mounted in a partially overlapping fashion to reduce the surface area of the electronic circuit structure. The electronic circuit structure can make use of standard FR-4, G-10, or ceramic circuit substrates or multilayer flex circuits, as well as electronic components in the form of standard leaded integrated circuit packages. The mounting of the electronic component within the aperture of the circuit substrate provides an advantage of assisting in heat dissipation. The incorporation of mesh-like voltage and ground planes can further aid in heat dissipation and provide electrical isolation and capacitive filtering.

Abstract: A dispensing container, such as a double-barrel cartridge used in dispensing dental material, matingly receives a sliding cap that maintains a seal between material in the barrels and the atmosphere. The cap includes a body and a gasket within the body, and the cap also includes a cam portion that shifts the body slightly away from an outlet of the container as the cap is moved toward a closed position to seal the container. Once the cap is in a fully closed position, the cam portion enables the body to shift somewhat closer to the container outlet in order to increase the compression of the gasket between the body and the outlet. Optionally, an orienting section is provided for insuring that the cap is coupled to the container in only one certain orientation, so that the likelihood of cross-contamination of material within the barrels due to residual material on the gasket is substantially reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an easy-to-use and effective magnetically resealable moisture-proof pouch containing moisture-curable orthopedic splinting/casting product in bulk form or in individually packaged rolls. The preferred pouch incorporates a frame disposed about an opening into the pouch which provides a mounting place for a moisture-proof magnetic seal. Also disclosed are containers for the preferred pouches which are adapted for use with the magnetic sealing system according to the present invention.

Abstract: A system controls the flow of a conductive fluid after the fluid is coated onto a substrate by applying an electrostatic force to the coated fluid. The force applied to the fluid can be controlled to counteract the fluid tendency to dewet to a thicker state if significant interfacial surface tension differences exists between the fluid and substrate.

Abstract: A method of reducing the frequency of and/or preventing migraine, involving the step of administering melatonin, preferably to and across a mucosal surface, in an amount and for a time sufficient to increase the period of time between episodes of migraine.

Abstract: A halogen-free acrylic urethane sheet material 10 is disclosed which can be marked by conventional printing methods and by radiation methods. The halogen-free acrylic urethane sheet material of the invention is manufactured from a polymer comprising components A, B and C whereincomponent A comprises a copolymer of(i) a monoester of acrylic or methacrylic acid and an aliphatic diol having 2 to 8 carbon atoms and(ii) an ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid and an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and optionally a vinyl aromatic monomer as well as N-vinylpyrrolidone or N-vinylcaprolactame,said component A having a T.sub.g of 30.degree. C. to 100.degree. C.,component B comprising an aliphatic polyester diol with a molecular weight less than 20,000 andcomponent C comprising a polyfunctional isocyanate or blocked polyfunctional isocyanate.

Abstract: a method for removing wallpaper involving the employment of a composition comprising a surfactant, a polyhydric alcohol humectant, an organic solvent and water.

Abstract: A mounting composite for removably mounting sheet materials on a vertical wall formed of woven or knitted fabric. The mounting composite comprises a support layer with means along its front surface for retaining and displaying sheet materials, and a fastener attached along a rear major surface of the support layer. The fastener can include a multiplicity of aligned curved hook-like projections, or upstanding stems with mushroom heads. The mounting composite can be firmly removably attached on a vertical wall covered with woven or knitted fabric by engagement of the hook-like projections mushroom heads with the fibers of the fabric.

Abstract: A method of making a pressure sensitive skin adhesive sheet material whereby a coating medium involving a liquid and a polymer is applied to a base layer of a polymer, and the liquid is allowed to diffuse into the base layer.

Abstract: A nonwoven abrasive or scouring article having at least one major surface and an interior region comprises an open, lofty web of first and second crimped, staple organic thermoplastic fibers, wherein the first organic thermoplastic fiber comprises materials selected from the group consisting of polyamides, pololefins, and polyesters, and wherein said second organic thermoplastic fiber comprises at least two materials of different heat stability. The first and second organic crimped, staple thermoplastic fibers are melt-bonded together at least at a portion of points where they contact. At least a portion of the first and second fibers of one major surface of the nonwoven article have an abrasive coating bonded thereto, and at least a portion of the first and second fibers of the interior region have no abrasive coating bonded thereto, a structure which minimizes the amount of binder which must be used.

Abstract: A Z-axis adhesive is produced by dispersing electrically-conductive particles in an organic binder and then imagewise exposing the material to electromagnetic radiation, preferably from a laser or a flash lamp, under conditions sufficient to transfer the particles from the binder to a receptor in a patterned fashion such that the resulting adhesive is a Z-axis conductor in the patterned areas. The patterned adhesive can then be used to establish electrical interconnection between facing electrodes of a number of different structures including semiconductor chips and a flexible printed circuit board.

Abstract: A sign having raised or recessed, three-dimensional graphics and a method of making the sign are disclosed. The sign is fabricated from a laminated, multi-layered blank having a substantially continuous face layer formed of a conformable, thermoplastic material; a substantially continuous middle layer formed of a colored film; and a substantially continuous profile layer formed of a profile film. In use, dimensional characters are cut into the blank through the profile and middle layers only. Unwanted material is weeded out from around the cut, dimensional characters, and the resulting blank is vacuum-thermoformed to cause the uncut face layer to conform to the dimensional characters. A background sheet of a color contrasting to the middle sheet is then laminated to the back of the blank to form the completed sign.

Abstract: An anisotropic, electrically conductive adhesive film includes an insulating adhesive, electrically conductive particles dispersed in the electrically insulating adhesive, and transparent, spherical glass particles dispersed in the insulating adhesive.

Abstract: A cellulose polymer network crosslinked with metal ions selected from the group consisting of: Al.sup.+3, Zr.sup.+4, and Ti.sup.+4, the crosslinked cellulose polymer network having incorporated therein a colloidal sol containing metal oxide-hydroxide particles wherein the metal is Al, Zr, or Ti. The inventive material is optically clear and can be used to cast microporous films, either supported or unsupported, which are useful as coatings on ink jet recording materials.

Abstract: A composition comprises organoborane polyamine complex and polyol. The composition can form a part of a polymerization initiator system that also includes polyisocyanate. The system can be used to initiate polymerization of acrylic monomer and to form a polyurethane/polyurea acrylic adhesive that has exceptionally good adhesion to low surface energy polymers.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making a catalytic converter for automotive exhaust gases comprising:(a) placing a catalytic converter element in a mold;(b) injecting a sufficient amount of a flowable mounting material into the mold to form a seamless continuous coating around a portion of the element, the flowable mounting material comprising 2 to 90 dry weight percent of at least one unexpanded intumescent material, 10 to 98 dry weight percent of binder, 0 to 25 dry weight percent fibers, 0 to 70 dry weight percent of one or more fillers, and a liquid; and(c) removing the catalytic converter element from the mold. In a preferred embodiment the catalytic converter element is heated to a temperature from about 60.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. after step (c) and then said catalytic element is disposed in a housing. Analogous methods of making diesel particulate filters and high temperature rigid filters are also described.

Abstract: A device, comprising a switchable optical panel and means for switching the panel between a reflecting state and a transmitting state. The switchable optical panel includes a transparent optically active layer having a first and a second major surface, a first reflective polarizer disposed on the first major surface and a second reflective polarizer disposed on the second major surface. The optically active layer preferably comprises a liquid crystal device and the switching means preferably comprises a system of drying electronics for applying voltage across the liquid crystal device. The invention also includes a switchable window and a transflective optical display.