Abstract: There are disclosed curable elastomeric compositions comprising at least one reactive curable silicone pre-polymer capable of forming a silicone elastomer upon curing thereof, and a plurality of hydrophilic carbon black particles dispersed therein, as well as their corresponding cured products. Such compositions, once cured, can be used for the preparation of numerous articles of wide industrial applicability.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition comprising a water-insoluble thermoplastic compound capable of stimulating collagen synthesis (CSSC), the CSSC having a molecular weight of more than 0.6 kDa and being dispersed in a polar carrier as nano-elements having an average diameter of 200 nm or less and a viscosity of 107 mPa·s or less. The nano-elements of CSSC can be capable of stimulating the synthesis of skin proteins and/or enabling the delivery of active agents upon their application to a surface to be treated therewith. Methods for preparing the compositions and uses thereof are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

Abstract: A printing system is disclosed which comprises a writing module, and a member having an imaging surface configured to carry a polymer and movable relative to the writing module. The writing module is configured to direct onto the imaging surface a plurality of individually controllable light beams that are spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the imaging surface, incidence of a light beam on a spot on the imaging surface serving to soften or liquefy the polymer carried by the imaging surface at the spot. The polymer softened or liquefied at the spot can transfer to a substrate or serve as an adhesive on the imaging surface. The writing module comprises a plurality of integrated electronic modules each having an array of individually controllable light sources, each light source producing a respective one of the light beams.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising macroparticles of swelled polymer matrix, the macroparticles comprising a thermoplastic biodegradable polymer swelled with at least one non-aqueous polar swelling agent, the macroparticles further comprising a plurality of pigment particles dispersed and embedded therein. The pigment particles may provide a color and/or a radiation protective effect to the composition. Methods of preparation and uses of such compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for applying an electrical conductor to an electrically insulating substrate, which comprises providing a flexible membrane with a pattern of groove formed on a first surface thereof, and loading the grooves with a composition comprising conductive particles. The composition is, or may be made, electrically conductive. Once the membrane is loaded, the grooved first surface of the membrane is brought into contact with a front or/and back of the substrate. A pressure is then applied between the substrate and the membrane(s) so that the composition loaded to the grooves adheres to the substrate. The membrane(s) and the substrate are separated and the composition in the groove is left on the surface of the electrically insulating substrate. The electrically conductive particles in the composition are then sintered to form a pattern of electrical conductors on the substrate, the pattern corresponding to the pattern formed in the membrane(s).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mounting and cooling a circuit component having a plurality of contacts. The method comprises mounting the circuit component on a rigid substrate of a thermally conductive material having and electrically insulating regions with a circuit board arranged between the circuit component and the substrate. The circuit board, which carries conductive traces that terminate in contact pads, is secured to the substrate with at least some of the contact pads on the circuit board disposed on the side of the board facing the substrate, some of which being bonded to the substrate. To establish both an electrical and a thermal connection between the contacts of the circuit component and the contact pads bonded to the substrate, blind holes are formed in the base of the circuit board, each hole terminating at a respective one of the contact pads bonded to the substrate.

Abstract: A printing assembly is disclosed for thermal transfer printing onto a surface of a substrate. The assembly comprises at least one first printing system comprising a transfer member having opposite front and rear sides with an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of thermoplastic particles is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which energy is applied by a thermal print head, optionally via the rear side of the transfer member, to selected regions of the imaging surface to render particles coating the selected regions tacky, a transfer station at which the imaging surface of the transfer member and the substrate surface are pressed against each other to transfer to the substrate the particles that have been rendered tacky to form an adhesive image; and at least one more printing system downstream from the first system.

Abstract: A method of coating a donor surface with a layer of thermoplastic particles, the method comprising: providing a supply of the thermoplastic particles suspended in a fluid, applying the fluid to the donor surface, in a manner to cause the particles suspended in the fluid to form a substantially continuous particle coating on the donor surface, causing fluid flow within an interior plenum of a housing over a portion of the donor surface partially disposed therein, the fluid flow being of sufficient magnitude to entrain particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface and insufficient to entrain particles that are in direct contact therewith; and extracting from the plenum fluid and particles which are not in not direct contact with the donor surface, so as to leave adhering to the donor surface a particle coating that is substantially only a single particle deep.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of coating textile fibers, the method comprising applying, on the external surface of textile fibers, a pre-treated oil-in-water emulsion comprising: (i) an aqueous phase containing water; and (ii) a pre-treated oil phase containing at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer that, subsequent to condensation curing optionally in presence of additional reactants, forms an amino-silicone coat. The pre-treated reactive oil phase includes at least one pre-treated reactant or pre-treated pre-polymer. An aqueous dispersion containing particles of a hydrophilic polymeric material is then applied to the amino-silicone coat, so as to form a polymeric layer thereon. At least one of the oil-in-water emulsion forming a first coat and of the aqueous dispersion forming a second coat may further contain a plurality of sub-micronic pigment particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: There are disclosed aqueous pigment dispersions containing dispersant-improving-agents, and methods of preparing and using the same.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing flakes of a first material, the method comprising: a) supporting two supply cylinders of the first material and a fatiguing rod assembly, that includes at least one textured fatiguing rod, so that each fatiguing rod is sandwiched between the two cylinders, each fatiguing rod having a diameter smaller than an initial diameter of the two supply cylinders and being made of a second harder material; b) urging the surfaces of the two supply cylinders into contact with each fatiguing rod; and c) causing the supply cylinders and the fatiguing rod(s) to rotate while making rolling line contact with one another; wherein the supply cylinders and each fatiguing rod are urged against one another with sufficiently high contact pressure to modify the surface of the supply cylinders by fatigue and result in separation of flakes from the surfaces of the cylinders.

Abstract: Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system includes a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for styling mammalian hair fibers, including providing body, straightening, relaxing, curling, or applying any other desired modification to the shape of the hair. The method comprises applying a hair styling composition comprising at least one thermally-curable acid-based monomer to the hair, allowing the monomers to penetrate within the hair and curing such monomers to internally form a polymer able to overcome the tendency of the hair to revert to its native shape. When curing is performed while the hair is in a desired modified shape, the resulting polymers may maintain the modified shape. Suitable compositions and kits allowing to prepare the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for styling mammalian hair fibers, including providing body, straightening, relaxing, curling, or applying any other desired modification to the shape of the hair. The method comprises applying a hair styling composition comprising at least one hair-penetrating phenol-based monomer to the hair, allowing the monomers to penetrate within the hair and curing such monomers to internally form a polymer able to overcome the tendency of the hair to revert to its native shape. When curing is performed while the hair is in a desired modified shape, the resulting polymers may maintain the modified shape. Suitable compositions and kits allowing to prepare the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for styling mammalian hair fibers, including providing body, straightening, relaxing, curling, or applying any other desired modification to the shape of the hair. The method comprises applying a hair styling composition comprising at least one thermally-curable polyol monomer to the hair, allowing the monomers to penetrate within the hair and curing such monomers to internally form a polymer able to overcome the tendency of the hair to revert to its native shape. When curing is performed while the hair is in a desired modified shape, the resulting polymers may maintain the modified shape. Suitable compositions and kits allowing to prepare the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for styling mammalian hair fibers, including providing body, straightening, relaxing, curling, or applying any other desired modification to the shape of the hair. The method comprises applying a hair styling composition comprising at least one thermally-curable epoxy monomer to the hair, allowing the monomers to penetrate within the hair and curing such monomers to internally form a polymer able to overcome the tendency of the hair to revert to its native shape. When curing is performed while the hair is in a desired modified shape, the resulting polymers may maintain the modified shape. Suitable compositions and kits allowing to prepare the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of coating textile fibers, the method comprising applying, on the external surface of textile fibers, a pre-treated oil-in-water emulsion comprising: (i) an aqueous phase containing water; and (ii) a pre-treated oil phase containing at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer that, subsequent to condensation curing optionally in presence of additional reactants, forms an amino-silicone coat. The pre-treated reactive oil phase includes at least one pre-treated reactant or pre-treated pre-polymer. An aqueous dispersion containing particles of a hydrophilic polymeric material is then applied to the amino-silicone coat, so as to form a polymeric layer thereon. At least one of the oil-in-water emulsion forming a first coat and of the aqueous dispersion forming a second coat may further contain a plurality of sub-micronic pigment particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.