Abstract: A face mask for filtering contaminants from the air. The face mask includes a harness for securing the mask over the nose and mouth of the wearer and a nonwoven fibrous layer attached to the harness. The nonwoven fibrous layer contains at least 40 weight percent thermally bonding fibers, where at least 10 weight percent of the fibers in the nonwoven fibrous layer are bicomponent fibers. The nonwoven fibrous layer is molded in a cup-shaped configuration and has a surface fuzz value of not less than 7.5 after being subjected to a surface fuzz abrasion test.

Abstract: A mixture is provided comprising (a) at least one of an elastomeric thermoplastic, a non-elastomeric thermoplastic, an elastomeric thermoset and mixtures thereof, excluding polydiorganosiloxane fluids and (b) a polymer having soft polydiorganosiloxane units, hard polyisocyanate residue units, optionally, soft and/or hard organic polyamine residue units and terminal groups. The hard polyisocyanate residue and the hard polyamine residue comprise less than 50% by weight of the polydiorganosiloxane urea containing component. The polyisocyanate residue is the polyisocyanate minus the —NCO groups and the polyamine residue is the polyamine minus the —NH2 groups. The polyisocyanate residue is connected to the polyamine residue by urea linkages. The terminal groups are non-functional groups or functional groups. The polydiorganosiloxane urea containing component may be reactive under free-radical or moisture curing conditions.

Abstract: Electret filter media comprising a nonwoven web of thermoplastic nonconductive microfibers having trapped charge, said charge provided by (1) subjecting the nonwoven web to a corona treatment, followed by (2) impingement of jets of water or a stream of water droplets on the web at a pressure sufficient to provide the web with filtration enhancing electret charge and (3) drying the web. This electret filter media may be used in a respiratory mask to provide extraordinarily good filtration properties.

Abstract: An adhesive tape construction is removable from one or more objects to which it is adhered and which is reusably separable within its construction so that an object can be separated from another and subsequently reconnected with one another. The adhesive tape construction can be used to bond the other opposed surfaces of objects, including rigid objects such as a picture frame to a wall, where no portion of the adhesive tape construction projects from between the objects, and which subsequently affords easy separation of the objects without damage to either of them. More specifically, the adhesive tape construction includes a stretch release adhesive tape structure combined with a reusable connector surface.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical suspension aerosol formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of a drug and HFC 134a, HFC 227, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with various light management films, including other reflective layers, turning films, brightness enhancement films, and polarizing films. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.

Abstract: A sterilization monitor includes a substrate and an monitor composition. The monitor composition contains a colorant and a halogen source and undergoes a distinct color change when exposed to a peracid. The sterilization monitor can be used to monitor a sterilization process involving a peracid. A sterilization monitoring device, including a sterilization monitor enclosed in a housing having a vapor permeable barrier, can also be used to monitor a sterilization process.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated optical fiber including the step of determining a desired temperature operating range of a coated optical fiber having at least one critical limit. The intercoating delamination stresses at the critical limit of said temperature range are determined. A zero-stress temperature region using the critical limit and the delamination stresses is then selected. An optical fiber is provided and the optical fiber is coated with a first polymer coating. The first polymer coating is exposed to a source of actinic radiation, wherein the source of actinic radiation generates heat. A second polymer coating including a photopolymerizable composition is applied to the optical fiber directly on the first polymer coating. The second polymer coating is cured, where at the time the second polymer coating is cured the first polymer coating is at the zero-stress temperature region.

Abstract: A stacking of battery laminate is prepared, each battery consisting of anode, polymer electrolyte, cathode films and possibly an insulating film, under conditions suitable to constitute a rigid monoblock assembly, in which the films are unitary with one another. The assembly obtained is thereafter cut in predetermined shape by using a mechanical device without macroscopic deformation of the films constituting the assembly and without inducing permanent short circuits. The battery which is obtained after cutting includes at least one end which appears as a uniform cut, the various films constituting the assembly having undergone no macroscopic deformation, the edges of the films of the anode including an electronically insulating passivation film.

Abstract: Microperforated polymeric films and sound absorbers using such films are provided. The microperforated polymeric films may be relatively thin and flexible and may further include holes having a narrowest diameter less than the film thickness and a widest diameter greater than the narrowest diameter. The microperforated polymeric films of a sound absorber may also have relatively large free span portions, which, in certain embodiments, may vibrate in response to incident sound waves.

Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with other reflective layers. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.

Abstract: A filtration media array is provided having at least one contoured polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a stack that has the contoured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the stack and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways may be defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the contours of the structured contoured film layers.

Abstract: An adhesive tape construction is removable from one or more objects to which it is adhered and which is reusably separable within its construction so that an object can be separated from another and subsequently reconnected with one another. The adhesive tape construction can be used to bond the other opposed surfaces of objects, including rigid objects such as a picture frame to a wall, where no portion of the adhesive tape construction projects from between the objects, and which subsequently affords easy separation of the objects without damage to either of them. More specifically, the adhesive tape construction includes a stretch release adhesive tape structure combined with a reusable connector surface.

Abstract: A rapid method of determining the efficacy of a sterilization cycle, and an indicator adapted to perform such method, comprising subjecting to the sterilization cycle a source of active enzyme having activity which correlates with the viability of a microorganism commonly used to monitor sterilization, and incubating the enzyme source, following the completion of the sterilization cycle, with an effective amount of a substrate system capable of reacting with any residual active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product.

Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal(i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.

Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transaction related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.

Abstract: The invention provides novel macromonomer and carboxyl functional polyurethanes having a high carboxyl content. The invention further provides dispersions, coatings and magnetic recording media comprising these polyurethanes, or blends or copolymers of these polyurethanes with quaternary ammonium compounds. The invention further provides novel dispersions, coatings and magnetic recording media comprising combinations of carboxyl functional polyurethanes having a high carboxyl content with quaternary ammonium polymers.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a lithium electrochemical generator including at least one composite electrode comprising an active material and a first and second solid electrolytes non-homogeneously distributed into the composite. The first solid electrolyte is of mineral nature, vitreous or partly vitreous, and is a specific conductor of lithium ions, and is preferably localized on the surface of the particles of active materials of the electrode. The second solid electrolyte is organic, comprises a dry or gelified polymer electrolyte conducting ions surrounding the dispersed solid phases and acts as a deformable binder, preferably elastomeritically, of the composite in contact also with the collector and the separator electrolyte of the generator.

Abstract: A passively compensated optical fiber includes an optical fiber and a support member attached to the optical fiber at a first attachment point and at a second attachment point. The distance between the first attachment point and the second attachment point increases with increasing temperature due to expansion of the support member.

Abstract: This invention is related to an adhesive composition which may be used to bond or seal tissue in vivo. The adhesive composition is readily formed from a two component mixture which includes a first part of a protein, preferably a serum albumin protein, in an aqueous buffer having a pH in the range of about 8.0-11.0 and a second part of a water-compatible or water-soluble bifunctional crosslinking agent. When the two parts of the mixture are combined, the mixture is initially a liquid which cures in vivo on the surface of tissue in less than about one minute to give a strong, flexible, pliant substantive composition which bonds to the tissue and is absorbed in about four to sixty days. The adhesive composition may be used either to bond tissue, to seal tissue or to prevent tissue adhesions caused by surgery.