Abstract: The invention relates to an article comprising ethoxylated alcohol wax intercalated in smectite clay. Embodiments of the invention comprise a sheet or an imaging member comprising an image layer and at least one layer comprising ethoxylated alcohol wax intercalated in smectite clay. The invention comprises a method of forming intercalated clay by providing smectite clay and combining the clay with ethoxylated alcohol wax and heating the mixture to above the softening point of the wax. The method further includes combining the intercalated clay with a polymer.

Abstract: Thermal printing provides an advantageous route to producing aircraft placards able to withstand the rigorous conditions existing on aircraft exteriors. A graphic is directly printed onto a substrate such as polyester, vinyl or polycarbonate. The placard is protected by a protective layer of a UV curable ink which contains acrylates and silicone. An optional promoter containing a diisocyante can be added to the protective layer. Ultraviolet radiation is used to cure the protective layer. The resulting thermally printed placard performs equally as well as silk screen printed placards while offering economic and environmental advantages.

Abstract: A wood sheathing panel, suitable for use in building construction, includes reinforcement strips of fiber reinforced polymer material incorporated into the panel. The reinforcement strips cover an area that is within the range of from about 5 to about 50 percent of the surface area of the panel. The reinforcement strips of fiber reinforced plastic material can be incorporated in the perimeter of the panel, or can be incorporated into the corners of the panel. The spacing of the intermittently incorporated reinforcement strips can generally coincide with a standard spacing of framing members so that when the wood sheathing panel is applied to a building frame, the reinforcement strips are generally aligned with framing members of the building. Preferably, the reinforcement strips are sufficient to provide an increased ductility over an equivalent unreinforced wood sheathing panel in an amount within the range of from about 75 percent to about 500 percent.

Abstract: A laminated disc composed of at least two supporting discs superposed upon another, each of the supporting discs having a thickness of 0.01 to 1 mm and being made of a vinyl alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer. This laminated disc is used as an optical disc including digital video disc (DVD).

Abstract: Injection-molding materials comprised of polycarbonate can be processed into optically isotropic films in a chill roll extrusion method. The optically isotropic films are used as covering films for protecting data carriers (CD-ROMS) from becoming scratched, or they are used as supporting materials for the information layer.

Abstract: An optical recording medium and a method for fabricating the same are provided, which enable overwriting at high density. The optical recording medium including a dielectric layer, a recording layer, and a reflecting layer on a substrate, is characterized in that an interface layer is formed on either at least one of lower and upper surfaces of the recording layer or one surface of the lower and upper surfaces of the dielectric layer, adjacent to the recording layer, at a predetermined thickness. Thus, jitter bump can be minimized, so that overwriting cyclicity of overwrite jitter can be improved.

Abstract: A polymeric printing member for use in a printing machine is provided. The polymeric printing member includes a substrate and a coating applied to the substrate. The coating is applied to the substrate by rotating the substrate about its longitudinal axis and applying the coating from an applicator to the substrate in a spiral pattern in a controlled amount so that substantially all the coating that exits the applicator adheres to said substrate.

Abstract: An encoder strip with dimensional stability and ink resistance properties. The encoder strip has a length, width, surface, thickness, and one or more markings per unit of length. A coating having a thickness between about 2 microns and about 4 microns and is distributed substantially uniformly over the surface of the element. The coating is configured on the element as substantially translucent to one or more light wavelengths and is adapted to: (1) form a membrane to substantially prevent ink absorption into the element or adsorption to the surface of the element; and (2) provide dimensional stability to the element resulting from interaction of temperature and humidity.