Abstract: A low-specular-reflectance surface, includes a coating on a surface, wherein the coating includes a plurality of substantially spherical particles having a multimodal particle size distribution, wherein the particles protrude from a top surface of the coating to provide substantially spherical caps. The multimodal particle size distribution has two or more modes, each mode having a peak defining an associated mode particle size, wherein the distribution function includes a first mode having a first peak corresponding to a first particle size and a second mode having a second peak corresponding to a second particle size. A ratio of the second particle size to the first particle size is between 1.7-4.0. A smallest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 1.0 microns, and a largest of the mode particle sizes is greater than or equal to 3.0 microns.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique aluminum-containing substrate and one or more radiation-sensitive imageable layers. The aluminum-containing substrate is prepared by three separate and sequential anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (Ti) of 500-1,500 nm and a multiplicity of inner pores having an average inner pore diameter (Di) larger than 0 and <15 nm. A formed middle aluminum oxide layer has a dry thickness (Tm) of 60-300 nm and a multiplicity of middle pores of average middle pore diameter (Dm) of 15-60 nm, arranged over the inner aluminum oxide layer. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer pores having an average outer pore diameter (Do) of 5-35 nm and an average dry thickness (To) of 30-150 nm, arranged over the middle aluminum oxide layer. Dm is larger than Do that is larger than Di.

Abstract: An electrode film includes a first electrode pattern having a first set of parallel conductive electrodes and a second electrode pattern having a second set of parallel conductive electrodes disposed on a first surface of a transparent film, wherein elements of the first electrode pattern do not cross over elements of the second electrode pattern. A third electrode pattern having a third set of parallel conductive electrodes is disposed on a second surface of the transparent film, wherein the first, second and third sets of parallel conductive electrodes are arranged in an interlaced pattern. The electrode patterns are configured to be connected to respective power sources of electrical power supplying respective waveforms to generate a time-varying electric field pattern above a surface of the electrode film.

Abstract: A method for correcting in-track position errors in a digital printing system having a linear printhead includes printing a test target including a plurality of alignment marks. A data processing system is used to automatically analyze a captured image of the printed test target to determine a measured in-track position for each of the alignment marks. The measured in-track positions for the alignment marks are compared to reference positions to determine measured in-track position errors. An in-track position correction function is determined responsive to the measured in-track position errors, wherein the in-track position correction function specifies in-track position corrections to be applied as a function of cross-track position. A corrected digital image is determined by resampling an input digital image responsive to the in-track position correction function.

Abstract: A coated yarn has a yarn core and a coating disposed coaxially on the yarn core. This coating contains: (i) porous particles present in an amount of at least 4 weight % and up to and including 20 weight %, each porous particle comprising a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores dispersed within the continuous polymeric phase, having a mode particle size of 2-50 ?m and up to and including 50 ?m; (ii) a film-forming binder material having a Tg of less than or equal to 25° C., which is present in an amount of 40-90 weight %; and (iii) an inorganic filler material having a value of less than 5 on the MOHS scale of mineral hardness, which inorganic filler material is present in an amount of 4 weight % and up to and including 30 weight %.

Abstract: A light-blocking article is designed to be lightweight but effective to block most incident actinic radiation and can be designed into fabrics, curtains, and other materials. Such an article has an opacifying layer that is capable of blocking predetermined electromagnetic radiation. The article contains (a) porous particles comprising a continuous polymeric binder and pores within the continuous polymeric binder, the porous particles having a glass transition temperature of at least 25° C. and a mode particle size of at least 2 ?m and up to and including 50 ?m. The article also contains an opacifying colorant that absorbs the predetermined electromagnetic radiation (such as within 400 nm to 700 nm), in an amount of at least 0.001 weight % based on the total dry weight of the opacifying layer, and a matrix polymer in which the porous particles and opacifying colorant are dispersed.

Abstract: An inking system for use in transferring ink to a gravure printing surface in a gravure printing system includes a gravure cylinder r having a printing zone located between first and second recessed bearing contact zones. A radius of the recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the printing zone by at least 0.100 inches. An ink tray includes a floor and first and second end walls. Bearings are mounted outside of the end walls which engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the gravure cylinder. Upper edges of the end walls extend into the recessed bearing contact zones.

Abstract: A photosensitive reducible silver ion-containing composition can be used to provide electrically-conductive silver metal in thin films or patterns. This composition comprises: a) a non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complex represented by the following formula (I): (Ag+)a(L)b(P)c??(I) wherein L represents an ?-oxy carboxylate; P represents an oxime compound; a is 1 or 2; b is 1 or 2; and c is 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that when a is 1, b is 1, and when a is 2, b is 2; b) a photosensitizer that can either reduce the reducible silver ion or oxidize the ?-oxy carboxylate; and c) a solvent medium comprising at least one non-hydroxylic solvent. Electrically-conductive silver can be provided by photochemical conversion of the reducible silver ions in the complex.

Abstract: A product article is prepared from a precursor article that has a substrate and a photosensitive thin film or a photosensitive thin film pattern on a supporting side. The product article have an electrically-conductive silver metal-containing film or thin film patterns, each of which contains electrically-conductive metallicsilver obtained by reduction of silver ions in the precursor article, an ?-oxy carboxylate, an oxime compound, and a photosensitizer that can either reduce reducible silver ions or oxidize the ?-oxy carboxylate.

Abstract: A negative-working infrared radiation-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor can be imaged and developed on-press to provide a lithographic printing plate. Such precursor has an initiator composition that contains compound A of Structure (I) and one or more compounds collectively as compound B of Structure (II) or Structure (III): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently alkyl groups each having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; at least one of R3 and R4 is different from R1 or R2; the difference of total number of carbon atoms in R1 and R2 and the total number of carbon atoms in R3 and R4 is 0, 1, or 2; the difference of total number of carbon atoms in R1 and R2 and the total number of carbon atoms in R5 and R6 is 0, 1, or 2; and X1, X2 and X3 are the same or different anions.

Abstract: A foamed, opacifying element is prepared to have a light-blocking value (LBV) of at least 4. A method is carried out in a specific order with a unique series of steps including: providing a unique foamable aqueous composition; aerating that foamable aqueous composition to a foam density of at least 0.1-0.5 g/cm3; disposing the foamed aqueous composition onto a surface of a porous substrate; drying the foamed aqueous composition without substantial curing of the binder material therein, to provide a dry foamed composition on the surface, without substantial curing; densifying the dry foamed composition to provide a dry opacifying layer in a foamed, opacifying element; and curing the dry opacifying layer in the foamed, opacifying element.

Abstract: An opacifying article has a (i) fabric having a face side and a back side and an (ii) opacifying element having a substrate that has first and second opposing surfaces; and a dry opacifying layer that has an inner surface and an outer surface. The dry opacifying layer is disposed with its inner surface in contact with the first opposing surface of the substrate. The dry opacifying layer has (a) 40-90 weight % of porous particles, each having a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores dispersed within the continuous polymeric phase. The porous particles have a mode particle size of 2-50 ?m and a porosity of 20-70 volume %. The dry opacifying layer also contains (b) 10-60 weight % of a binder material. The (ii) opacifying element is laminated to the back side of the fabric to provide the opacifying article.

Abstract: An inkjet-printed article has an ink receptive medium with a substrate and an aqueous-based ink-receptive layer disposed thereon. The aqueous-based ink-receptive layer includes: (a) a water-soluble salt of a multivalent metal cation at 0.6-49 weight %; (b) one or both of a polyvinyl alcohol and a polyvinyl amine (or a copolymer derived from a vinyl alcohol and a vinyl amine) at 0.5-30 weight %; and optionally, (c) a crosslinking agent or (d) silica particles. The article also has an inkjet-printed image disposed on the aqueous-based ink-receptive layer, provided from one or more aqueous pigment-based inks, each of which has a) an anionically-stabilized pigment colorant; b) one or more water-miscible humectants at a total amount of 1-20 weight %, each of which has a carbon atom to oxygen atom ratio of at least 1.0:1.0 and only two hydroxy groups.

Abstract: A fabric substrate is prepared from woven coated yarns. Each coated yarn has a yarn core and a coating disposed coaxially on the yarn core. This coating contains: (i) porous particles in an amount of 4-20 weight %, each porous particle comprising a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores dispersed within the continuous polymeric phase, a mode particle size of 2-50 ?m; (ii) a film-forming binder material having a Tg of less than or equal to 25° C., in an amount of 40-90 weight %; and (iii) an inorganic filler material having a value of less than 5 on the MOHS scale of mineral hardness, which inorganic filler material is present in an amount of 4-30 weight %.

Abstract: A foamed, opacifying element useful as a light-blocking article has a substrate; an opacifying layer disposed on the substrate, and a functional composition disposed over the opacifying layer. The functional composition comprises: (i) glass particles such as hollow glass particles. The presence of the glass particles provides additional heat absorption for the foamed, opacifying elements that can be formed into light-blocking materials.

Abstract: Inkjet printed articles can be made by providing an inkjet receiving medium comprising a substrate and a topcoat layer, and inkjet printing an aqueous pigment-based ink onto the topcoat layer. The topcoat layer has: (a) one or more water-soluble salts of a multivalent metal cation; and (b) composite particles having a Rockwell Hardness of ?R90 and each of the composite particles comprising domains of a (i) first organic polymer and domains of a (ii) second organic polymer. The domains of the (ii) second organic polymer are dispersed within the domains of the (i) first organic polymer. The melting point of the (i) first organic polymer is lower than the melting point of the (ii) second organic polymer. The weight ratio of the (i) first organic polymer to the (ii) second organic polymer is chosen such that the (b) composite particles have a density of 1.0-1.5 g/ml.

Abstract: A modular thin film deposition system, includes a machine base, a deposition head for depositing a thin film of material onto a process surface of a substrate, a motion actuator including a fixed portion and a moveable portion, and one or more interchangeable substrate positioner modules adapted to mount on the moveable portion of the motion actuator. The interchangeable substrate positioner modules include kinematic mounting features that engage with corresponding kinematic mounting features on the moveable portion of the motion actuator. The motion actuator moves the interchangeable substrate positioner in a motion direction, thereby moving the substrate in an in-track direction in a plane parallel to the output face of the deposition head during deposition of the thin film of material onto the process surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A flexible inkjet printed article includes an ink receptive medium comprising a substrate and an aqueous-based ink-receptive layer. The aqueous-based ink-receptive layer has: (a) a water-soluble salt of a multivalent metal cation; (b) one or more of a polyvinyl alcohol and a polyvinyl amine (or a copolymer derived from a vinyl alcohol and a vinyl amine) at 0.5-30 weight %; and optionally, (c) a crosslinking agent or (d) silica particles. An inkjet-printed image is disposed on the ink-receptive layer, provided from one or more aqueous pigment-based inks, each having: a) one or more anionically-stabilized pigment colorants; b) one or more water-miscible humectants at 1-20 weight %, each of which has a carbon atom to oxygen atom ratio of at least 1.0:1.0 and only two hydroxy groups. A functional layer comprising an adhesive composition disposed on the inkjet-printed image; and a flexible polymeric film or paper adhered to the functional layer.

Abstract: A method for correcting cross-track position errors in a digital printing system having a linear printhead includes printing a test target including a plurality of alignment marks. A data processing system is used to automatically analyze a captured image of the printed test target to determine a measured position for each of the alignment marks. The measured positions for the alignment marks is compared to reference positions to determine measured cross-track position errors. A cross-track position correction function is determined responsive to the measured position errors, wherein the cross-track position correction function specifies cross-track position corrections to be applied as a function of cross-track position. A corrected digital image is determined by resampling the image lines of a digital image responsive to the cross-track position correction function.

Abstract: An aqueous composition is used to clad yarn cores to provide unique coated yarns. This aqueous composition contains: (i) porous particles present in an amount of at least 2 weight % and up to and including 10 weight %, each porous particle comprising a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores dispersed within the continuous polymeric phase, the porous particles having a mode particle size of 2-50 ?m; (ii) a film-forming binder material having a Tg of less than or equal to 25° C., that is present in an amount of 25-60 weight %; (iii) an inorganic filler material having a value of less than 5 on the MOHS scale of mineral hardness, in an amount of at least 2-15 weight %; and (iv) an aqueous medium in an amount of at least 35 weight % in which the film-forming binder material is soluble or dispersible.