Abstract: A sample collection substrate of aerogel and/or xerogel materials bound to a support structure is used as a solid phase microextraction (SPME) device. The xerogels and aerogels may be organic or inorganic and doped with metals or other compounds to target specific chemical analytes. The support structure is typically formed of a glass fiber or a metal wire (stainless steel or kovar). The devices are made by applying gel solution to the support structures and drying the solution to form aerogel or xerogel. Aerogel particles may be attached to the wet layer before drying to increase sample collection surface area. These devices are robust, stable in fields of high radiation, and highly effective at collecting gas and liquid samples while maintaining superior mechanical and thermal stability during routine use. Aerogel SPME devices are advantageous for use in GC/MS analyses due to their lack of interfering background and tolerance of GC thermal cycling.

Abstract: A method of making algae-resistant shingles in which the algae-inhibiting material, usually a copper compound, is applied only to larger granules, instead of being applied to a full size range of granules. Use of the larger granules only, as algae-resistant granules, significantly increases the percentage of surface area of algae-resistant granules for releasing algae-inhibiting material and also reduces the material consumption of the algae-inhibiting material during production of the algae-resistant granules, thus substantially reducing cost.

Abstract: A method of creating an air barrier on both sides of an innerliner splice on the inside surface of a green tire when a bladder release lubricant is being applied thereto to prevent contamination of the splice. High pressure air is directed through air nozzles on both sides of the innerliner splice just prior to and during the application of the lubricant. A pressure sensor detects high or low air pressure during the creation of the air barriers to stop the spray of lubricant should either situation be detected.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording sheet comprising a substrate having thereon a porous layer formed by a process comprising the steps of: (a) coating on the substrate an aqueous coating composition containing a hydrophilic binder and inorganic particles to form the porous layer; (b) drying the porous layer over a period, wherein the period comprises at least a constant drying rate period and a falling drying rate period; and (c) incorporating a solution containing an additive into the porous layer after the completion of the constant drying rate period.

Abstract: A system for sealing an air duct by coating the interior of the duct with a material similar to the coating used for spray-on truck bed liners. A spray device applies the liner material to the interior surface of the ducts and the spray device is held in the center of the duct by retractable sets of wheels. The spray device is removably attached to a supply hose that provides liner material to the spray device from a storage tank via a supply pump. The supply hose is first fed through the duct, the spray head is attached to the supply hose and the liner material is sprayed onto the duct as the spray head is retracted through the duct. The system can be either computer or manually controlled and can optionally employ an electrostatic unit to put opposite electrical charges on the duct and the liner material.

Abstract: A new and improved process for printing a durable image prepared from sublimable inks on a substrate of natural or synthetic materials by first providing the substrate with a transparent polymeric top coating formed from an acrylic polyol or isocyanate resins or mixtures thereof and transferring onto the substrate the image formed from sublimable inks by sublimation.

Abstract: A method of detackifying an edge face of a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, the method including contacting an edge face of the roll of tape with a non-free radically curable composition including water and film-forming agent, and drying the composition.

Abstract: A thick-film sheet member producing method including: (a) a support-body preparing step of preparing a support body having a film formation surface provided by a particle layer constituted by high-melting-point particles which are held together with a resin and which have a melting point higher than a predetermined temperature; (b) a paste-film forming step of forming a paste film on the film formation surface, by applying a paste onto the film formation surface; and (c) a firing step of subjecting the support body on which the paste film has been formed, to a heat treatment effected at the predetermined temperature, so as to burn the resin included in the particle layer, whereby the high-melting-point particles become unbound from each other in absence of the resin that has been burned. The paste film is sintered in the firing step, whereby a thick film is formed of the sintered paste film.

Abstract: A kit and a process for using it to impart wood grain appearances are provided. According to the method, an opaque, pigmented, water-based paint/stain emulsion is applied to a wood-grain textured substrate and dried. Then, a pigmented, water-based graining coat water-based graining coat (most preferably a self-crosslinked urethane/acrylic) is applied sparingly, preferably by spraying from a small bottle, in an amount sufficient to color at least a majority of texture recesses in the substrate and drying. According to the kit aspect of the invention, the kit will comprise: an opaque, pigmented, water-based paint/stain emulsion; a pigmented, water-based graining coat emulsion, packaged in a spray bottle. Optionally, the kit can include a surface cleaner, a scraper, brush and/or cloth.

Abstract: A process for producing products in web form comprising at least two layers, in which a composition emerging from an applicator is applied as a layer to a substrate in web form which is guided on a transport means, said application taking place with application of electrostatic charges, and the substrate coated with the composition is electrostatically neutralized before departing the applicator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for implanting a piece of wood or wood composite to improve the electrostatic attraction thereupon. A method is provided for treating a lignocellulosic substrate such as medium density fiberboard (MDF). The method includes implanting a conductive material into the lignocellulosic substrate, pre-heating the implanted lignocellulosic substrate, coating the pre-heated implanted lignocellulosic substrate with a powder solution, and curing the powder coated substrate.

Abstract: A process for the production of special effect base coat/clear coat two-layer coatings on substrates by application of a special effect base coat layer of a liquid special effect base coat onto the substrate in one or more successive spray passes, optional drying or curing of the special effect base coat layer, followed by application of a clear coat layer and curing of the clear coat layer, wherein, at least in the final spray pass, application of the special effect base coat proceeds by electrostatically-assisted high-speed rotary application using at least one high-speed rotary coating device comprising a high-speed rotary bell, wherein an electrode ring is rotatably positioned around the high-speed rotary bell and used for external electrostatic charging of the effect base coat spray mist and performs rotational movements about the common axis of rotation with the high-speed rotary bell.

Abstract: Glass/nanoparticle composites are provided which include a glass matrix with a high density of heterologous nanoparticles embedded therein adjacent the outer surfaces of the composite. Preferably, the glass matrix is formed of porous glass and the nanoparticles are yttrium-iron nanocrystals which exhibit the property of altering the polarization of incident electromagnetic radiation; the composites are thus suitable for use in electrooptical recording media. In practice, a glass matrix having suitable porosity is contacted with a colloidal dispersion containing amorphous yttrium-iron nanoparticles in order to embed the nanoparticles within the surface pores of the matrix. The treated glass matrix is then heated under time-temperature conditions to convert the amorphous nanoparticles into a crystalline state while also fusing the glass matrix pores.

Abstract: The inventions directed to a process for producing non-woven fabric materials in which nano- and/or microfibers are produced by an electrostatic spinning process from a polymer melt or a polymer solution and deposited to form a non-woven fabric. A carrier material in web form is arranged or is passed through between at least two spraying devices which are in the form of electrodes for producing an electrical field and each side of the carrier material is coated with the nano- and/or microfibers of opposite polarity, which are produced by means of the spraying devices.

Abstract: A exemplary method of depositing a coating on a substrate using a spray process is provided that may include selecting a desired dominant feature (62) for the coating and controlling the spray process (64, 68) to have at least one of an in-flight particle temperature distribution and an in-flight particle velocity distribution predicted to produce the dominant feature. One aspect allows for adjusting (64, 68) the at least one distribution to cause the distribution to shift from an in-flight Gaussian particle distribution to an in-flight non-Gaussian particle distribution. It may be determined whether the dominant feature for the coating is deposited within acceptable limits (66) and adjusting the at least one in-flight particle distribution (68) if the dominant feature for the coating is not deposited within acceptable limits. One aspect allows for depositing on the substrate a spray jet of particles having a bimodal distribution of particle temperature and a bimodal distribution of particle velocity.

Abstract: A metal oxide coating has a nanotextured surface defined by a plurality of capillary openings arranged in a pattern on the surface of the coating. Each of the capillary openings have a diameter defined by a previously present organic macromolecule. The metal oxide coating is formed by depositing a solution containing uniformly dispersed micelles composed of amphiphilic molecules on a metal, oxide, or plastic substrate. The micelles are self-arranging, in solution, as a result of mutually repulsive electrostatic forces on the surface of the micelles, and form a uniformly patterned organic template when the solution is deposited on the surface of the substrate. A metal oxide coating is then applied to the substrate, which forms a ceramic monolayer that is a negative image of the organic template. The organic template is then removed, thereby forming a metal oxide coating having a plurality of macromolecular-sized apertures formed therein.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of moving a liquid between a substrate extending in a first plane and a template extending in a second plane. More specifically, the method may include forming an oblique angle between the first plane and the second plane, reducing a distance between the substrate and the template such that the template is in contact with a portion of the liquid at a desired location, and creating a dispersion of the liquid away from the desired location.

Abstract: A method for coating a medical appliance includes suspending the medical appliance with a fluidizing gas flow and directing a coating onto an ultrasonic nozzle. The ultrasonic nozzle is directed towards the medical appliance. The method also includes vibrating the ultrasonic nozzle at a rate sufficient to atomize the coating. A device for coating a medical appliance includes a fluidizing gas source adapted to suspend the medical appliance in a suspension area and an ultrasonic nozzle directed at the suspension area and adapted to vibrate. The device also includes a coating source adapted to direct coating onto the ultrasonic nozzle. A medical appliance is provided which has a coating applied by the method.

Abstract: A process for imparting a simulated patina appearance to a copper substrate, and a substrate having that appearance. A colorant having the desired initial patina color tone is employed to produce a non-continuous layer of colorant on the surface of a copper substrate. The appearance of patination of the desired tone is created by interspersed spots of colorant with the remaining portion of the substrate being exposed for natural patination. The interspersed spots of colorant may be produced by screen printing, by spattering, as by spraying, or by mechanical removal of colorant after application to the substrate surface, or a combination. The colorant is preferably a paint and may be applied by non-uniform spraying on the substrate surface. Non-uniformity may be accomplished by varying the volume of colorant sprayed during the application process or by varying the relative movement of the spray and substrate.

Abstract: A shoe having a fabric outsole and method for manufacturing are disclosed. In described embodiments, a shoe outsole with a bottom surface wherein an adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole and a plurality of fibers are embedded within the adhesive. In the described method embodiment, once the adhesive is applied to the outsole, fibers are sifted down through an electrostatic field onto the adhesive. Once sufficient fibers have been embedded, the adhesive is cured and then cooled.