Abstract: A plurality of polymer slides, each having a polymer part with a first polymer surface portion uncoated and a second surface portion coated with a metal. The first and second surface portions each have different surface coating properties and have respective first and second specified degrees of hydrophobicity which are different from each other. A hydrophobic small molecule is located in the polymer part of each polymer slide, and the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer are essentially inert to one another. Adjacent polymer slides are arranged in a manner that the first polymer surface of one slide faces a metal coated second surface portion of another slide. The hydrophobic small molecule evaporates from said first polymer surface portion of the polymer part of one polymer slide onto the adjacent metal coated second surface portion of another polymer slide.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer part comprising the following steps: (a) incorporating a hydrophobic small molecule into the polymer before, during or after manufacture of the polymer part, the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer being essentially inert to one another; and (b) annealing the polymer part to induce migration of the hydrophobic small molecules to a surface of the polymer part to provide that surface with a specified degree of hydrophobicity defined by the combination of the polymer and the hydrophobic small molecule; is described. Polymer parts made according to the method are also described.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a device with a planar electrode structure, the method comprising: (a) forming a microfluidic channel on a substrate; (b) applying a primer layer to at least part of the microfluidic channel, (c) applying a conductive liquid to the microfluidic channel, the conductive liquid comprising electrically conductive particles dispersed in a carrier medium, the carrier medium including a solvent; (d) allowing the conductive liquid to flow throughout the microfluidic channel by capillary action to form the planar electrode structure; and (e) evaporating the solvent from the carrier medium, is described. Devices obtainable using the method and their applications are also described.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer part comprising the following steps: (a) incorporating a hydrophobic small molecule into the polymer before, during or after manufacture of the polymer part, the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer being essentially inert to one another; and (b) annealing the polymer part to induce migration of the hydrophobic small molecules to a surface of the polymer part to provide that surface with a specified degree of hydrophobicity defined by the combination of the polymer and the hydrophobic small molecule; is described. Polymer parts made according to the method are also described.

Abstract: A structured substrate is described which is suitable for forming and hosting a crystal array, as well as associated methods for making and using such a structured substrate. The structured substrate is made by injection molding and has on one side a combination of macro- and micro-structured features. Each macro-structured feature comprises an edge that forms a perimeter around an enclosed area containing a large number of the micro-structured features. When a droplet of a solution containing molecules of interest and a solvent is deposited onto one of the enclosed areas such that it extends somewhat beyond the perimeter, the droplet slowly dries and shrinks through evaporation of the solvent, during which the edge acts to seed crystallization of the molecules, and the micro-structured features act to direct crystal growth from the seed into the enclosed area. The crystal thus forms over the whole of the enclosed area in a shape that conforms to the perimeter.

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising: a substrate having a microfluidic channel, an electrically conductive feature comprising an electrically conductive layer arranged on a primer layer and positioned with reference to the microfluidic channel, wherein the primer layer comprises: (i) an organic polymer selected from the group consisting of: (a) a homopolymer or copolymer including a vinyl lactam repeating unit, (b) a cellulose ether; (c) polyvinyl alcohol; and (d) unmodified or modified gelatin; and (ii) a porous particulate material, the organic polymer being dispersed in the porous particulate material, is provided. Methods for manufacturing the microfluidic devices and their use in a number of applications are also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a device with a planar electrode structure, the method comprising: (a) forming a microfluidic channel on a substrate; (b) applying a primer layer to at least part of the microfluidic channel, (c) applying a conductive liquid to the microfluidic channel, the conductive liquid comprising electrically conductive particles dispersed in a carrier medium, the carrier medium including a solvent; (d) allowing the conductive liquid to flow throughout the microfluidic channel by capillary action to form the planar electrode structure; and (e) evaporating the solvent from the carrier medium, is described. Devices obtainable using the method and their applications are also described.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer part comprising the following steps: (a) incorporating a hydrophobic small molecule into the polymer before, during or after manufacture of the polymer part, the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer being essentially inert to one another; and (b) annealing the polymer part to induce migration of the hydrophobic small molecules to a surface of the polymer part to provide that surface with a specified degree of hydrophobicity defined by the combination of the polymer and the hydrophobic small molecule; is described. Polymer parts made according to the method are also described.

Abstract: A structured substrate is described which is suitable for forming and hosting a crystal array, as well as associated methods for making and using such a structured substrate. The structured substrate is made by injection molding and has on one side a combination of macro- and micro-structured features. Each macro-structured feature comprises an edge that forms a perimeter around an enclosed area containing a large number of the micro-structured features. When a droplet of a solution containing molecules of interest and a solvent is deposited onto one of the enclosed areas such that it extends somewhat beyond the perimeter, the droplet slowly dries and shrinks through evaporation of the solvent, during which the edge acts to seed crystallization of the molecules, and the micro-structured features act to direct crystal growth from the seed into the enclosed area. The crystal thus forms over the whole of the enclosed area in a shape that conforms to the perimeter.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable system comprises an organic-inorganic compound with a metal and an organic unit having a organic photopolymerizable subunit capable of undergoing a polymerization, a support matrix compound being polymer or capable of forming a polymer upon polymerization, and a photoinitiator system adapted to initiate the polymerization of the photopolymerizable subunits. The molecules of the organic-inorganic compound are distributed on a molecular level in the photopolymerizable system.

Abstract: A photopolymerisable system comprises an organic-inorganic compound with a metal and an organic unit having a organic photopolymerisable subunit capable of undergoing a polymerisation, a support matrix compound being polymer or capable of forming a polymer upon polymerisation, and a photoinitiator system adapted to initiate the polymerisation of the photopolymerisable subunits. The molecules of the organic-inorganic compound are distributed on a molecular level in the photopolymerisable system.

Abstract: An ink jet recording media system is described which comprises at least one coating layer that comprises a zwitterionic copolymer or cooligomer, which copolymer or cooligomer comprises monomer units derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the zwitterionic monomers and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the hydroxy functional monomers and etherified hydroxy functional monomers. The media system exhibits fast dry times, excellent image quality, low levels of glycol smear, low color coalescence and excellent light fastness.

Abstract: An ink jet recording media system is described which comprises at least one coating layer that comprises a zwitterionic copolymer or cooligomer, which copolymer or cooligomer comprises monomer units derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the zwitterionic monomers and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the hydroxy functional monomers and etherified hydroxy functional monomers. The media system exhibits fast dry times, excellent image quality, low levels of glycol smear, low color coalescence and excellent light fastness.

Abstract: An ink jet recording media system is described which comprises at least one coating layer that comprises a zwitterionic copolymer or cooligomer, which copolymer or cooligomer comprises monomer units derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the zwitterionic monomers and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the hydroxy functional monomers and etherified hydroxy functional monomers. The media system exhibits fast dry times, excellent image quality, low levels of glycol smear, low color coalescence and excellent light fastness.

Abstract: Disclosed are ink jet recording media systems that comprise poly(vinyl alcohol)-co-poly(N-vinyl formamide) copolymers of the formula wherein m is 0-15 mole percent, n is 50 to 99 mole percent and x is 1 to 50 mole percent.

Abstract: This invention relates to strongly adhering coating compositions comprising at least one copolymer or cooligomer as an adhesion promoter, which copolymer or cooligomer comprises monomer units derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the acrylate and acrylamide monomers, at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the amine containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylenically unsaturated associative monomers and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the polyacrylates of polyols. The amine sites of the copolymers or cooligomers are at least partially neutralized with acid prior to film casting the coating formulation.

Abstract: An ink jet recording media system is described which comprises at least one coating layer that comprises a zwitterionic polymer or oligomer. The media system exhibits excellent light fastness as well as good dry time and good image-forming properties.

Abstract: An ink jet recording media system is described which comprises at least one coating layer that comprises a copolymer or cooligomer, which copolymer or cooligomer comprises monomer units derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the acrylate and acrylamide monomers, at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the amine containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of the polyacrylates of polyols. The copolymer or cooligomer is at least partially neutralized with acid. The media system exhibits excellent dye wash fastness, fast dry times, high gloss and excellent light fastness.

Abstract: Disclosed are ink jet recording media systems that comprise a poly(vinyl alcohol)-co-poly(N-vinyl formamide) copolymer of the formula, wherein n is between 0 and about 20 mole percent, m is between about 50 and about 97 mole percent, x is between 0 and about 20 mole percent, y is between 0 and about 20 mole percent, z is between 0 and about 2 mole percent and x+y is between about 3 and about 20 mole percent, R1 and R3 are independently H; 3-propionic add or C1-C6 alkyl ester thereof; or is 2-methyl-3-propionic acid or C1-C6 alkyl ester thereof, and R2 and R4 are independently H or C1-C6 alkyl.

Abstract: The invention relates to poly(vinylalcohol)-co-poly(vinylamine) copolymers represented as formula (I), where B is greater than or equal to 1, L is independently of each other a chemical linking group which is —NH—, —N?, >N?, >N++<, —O— or —CO—, COPOLYMER is derived from a prepolymer of the formula (II) where R1 and R3 are independently H; 3-propionic acid or C1-C6 alkyl ester thereof; or is 2-methyl-3-propionic acid or C1-C6 alkyl ester thereof, R2 and R4 are independently H or C1-C6 alkyl, x+y+z is between about 3 and about 50 mole percent and q, n and m together make up the remainder of the mole percent, the indices x, y, z, n, m—and q independently may be 0, if q is not 0, b may also be 0.