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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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 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 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 article has a substrate and a pattern of a dry silver nanoparticle-containing composition comprising at least 20 weight % of one or more (a) polymers, that are cellulosic polymers; (d) silver nanoparticles having a mean particle size of 25-750 nm and present in an amount of 0.1-400 weight %, based on the total weight of the one or more (a) polymers; and (e) carbon black in an amount of 5-50 weight %, based on the total weight of the one or more (a) polymers. Such patterns can have multiple fine lines of any geometric arrangement. The article can have multiple patterns of this type, and each pattern can be electrolessly plated with a suitable metal such as copper to provide electrically-conductive product articles.

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.

Abstract: A method for correcting tone-level non-uniformities in a digital printing system includes printing a test target having a set of uniform test patches. The printed test target is automatically analyzed to determine tone-level errors as a function of cross-track position for each of the test patches. A tone-level correction function is determined and represented using a set of one-dimensional feature vectors which specifies tone-level corrections as a function of cross-track position and pixel value. Corrected image data is determined by using the tone-level correction function to determine a tone-level correction value for each image pixel responsive to the input pixel value and cross-track position of the image pixel. The corrected image data is printed using the digital printing system to provide a printed image with reduced tone-level errors.

Abstract: An inkjet receiving medium having enhanced surface properties has a substrate and a topcoat layer disposed thereon. 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 less than or equal to 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: An aqueous composition can be used for pre-treating a substrate prior to inkjet printing. This composition includes: (a) one or more water-soluble salts of a multivalent metal cation; and (b) composite particles having a Rockwell Hardness of less than or equal to 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. Moreover, 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 silver nanoparticle composite or a copper nanoparticle composite is formed in which the silver nanoparticle composite has silver nanoparticles, and both (a) one or more polymers and ascorbic acid adsorbed on the silver nanoparticles, wherein the (a) one or more polymers are selected from one or more of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate trimellitate, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose phthalate, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose. Copper nanoparticle composite are similarly formed in which both the (a) one or more polymers and ascorbic acid are adsorbed on the copper nanoparticles.

Abstract: A transparent antenna is fabricated by printing a pattern of catalytic ink onto a web of substrate in one or more conductive regions, wherein a geometry of the conductive regions defines an antenna pattern. A pattern of non-conductive ink is printed in registration onto the substrate in a fill pattern, wherein the fill pattern is an inverse of the antenna pattern within a defined region of interest. A conductive material is electrolessly plated onto the pattern of catalytic ink by transporting the web of substrate through a reservoir of plating solution to provide a corresponding pattern of conductive material, thereby providing the transparent antenna. An average optical transparency in the conductive regions and non-conductive regions is at least 50%, and the average optical transparency in the conductive regions differs from that of the non-conductive regions by no more than 10%.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique substrate and one or more radiation-sensitive imageable layers. The substrate is prepared by two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (Ti) of 650-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores having an average inner micropore diameter (Di) of ?15 nm. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer micropores having an average outer micropore diameter (Do) of 15-30 nm; an average dry thickness (To) of 130-650 nm; and a micropore density (Co) of 500-3,000 micropores/?m2. The ratio of Do to Di is greater than 1.1:1, and Do in nanometers and the outer aluminum oxide layer micropore density (Co) in micropores/?m2, are further defined by the outer aluminum oxide layer porosity (Po) according to the following equation: 0.3?Po?0.8 where Po is 3.14(Co)(Do2)/4,000,000.

Abstract: An inertial piezoelectric device has: A) piezoelectric capacitor having a substrate; 2) a dry piezoelectric layer comprising a piezoelectric material; 3) a first electrode arranged contiguously with one opposing surface of the dry PL; and 4) a second electrode arranged contiguously with a second opposing surface of the first dry PL. The first dry electrically-conductive layer consists essentially of: (a) an electrically-conductive material; and (b) particles having a Young's modulus that is different from the Young's modulus of the (a) electrically-conductive material by at least 10%. The device also has B) signal processing electronics in electrical communication with the piezoelectric capacitor; C) a means for converting all or a portion of an applied force to an inertial force that is transmitted to the first dry PL; and optionally D) a proof mass that is contiguous with at least one external surface of the piezoelectric capacitor.

Abstract: A low-specular-reflectance coating composition includes a binder, a solvent, and a plurality of substantially spherical particles having a multimodal particle size distribution. 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: A composite article is designed for use in various devices and to exhibit improved piezoelectric effects. The composite article has 1) a dry piezoelectric layer (first dry PL) comprising a piezoelectric material, and 2) a dry electrically-conductive layer arranged contiguously with an opposing surface of the first dry PL. The dry electrically-conductive layer essentially has (a) an electrically-conductive material; and (b) particles having a Young's modulus that is different from the Young's modulus of the (a) electrically-conductive material by at least 10%, and which (b) particles have a d50 of at least 500 nm and up to and including 500 ?m and a polydispersity coefficient that is less than or equal to 3. The weight ratio of the (b) particles to the (a) electrically-conductive material is at least 0.01:1 and up to and including 10:1.