Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal mold for replicating a component having a predetermined three-dimensional shape, the manufacturing method comprising: (a) fabricating a glass-based mold by using a moldable nanocomposite comprising an organic binder and glass particles dispersed therein, the glass-based mold having the predetermined three-dimensional shape; and (b) replicating the glass-based mold obtained in step (a) by melting a metal inside the glass-based mold or by melting a metal outside the glass-based mold and pouring it onto or into the glass-based mold, followed by cooling, or by pressing the glass-based mold into a malleable metal substrate, thereby obtaining the metal mold for replicating the component, the metal mold having the predetermined three-dimensional shape inverted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a moldable nanocomposite for producing a transparent article made of multicomponent fused silica glass, the moldable nanocomposite comprising: an organic binder; and a fused silica glass powder dispersed in the organic binder, the fused silica glass powder comprising fused silica glass particles having a diameter in the range from 5 nm to 500 nm, wherein the fused silica glass powder is pre-modified with a dopant and/or wherein at least one non-crystalline modifying agent is contained in the moldable nanocomposite and one or more dopant reagents selected from organoelement compounds, metal complexes and salts are contained in the moldable nanocomposite as the at least one non-crystalline modifying agent, and wherein the content of the fused silica glass powder in the moldable nanocomposite is at least 5 parts per volume based on 100 parts per volume of the organic binder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal mold for replicating a component having a predetermined three-dimensional shape, the manufacturing method comprising: (a) fabricating a glass-based mold by using a moldable nanocomposite comprising an organic binder and glass particles dispersed therein, the glass-based mold having the predetermined three-dimensional shape; and (b) replicating the glass-based mold obtained in step (a) by melting a metal inside the glass-based mold or by melting a metal outside the glass-based mold and pouring it onto or into the glass-based mold, followed by cooling, or by pressing the glass-based mold into a malleable metal substrate, thereby obtaining the metal mold for replicating the component, the metal mold having the predetermined three-dimensional shape inverted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for shifting a fluid within a fluid channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a moldable nanocomposite for producing a transparent article made of a ceramic material, the moldable nanocomposite according to the present invention comprising: an organic binder; a powder of the ceramic material dispersed in the organic binder, the powder comprising particles having a diameter in the range from 5 nm to 700 nm, and/or a precursor of the ceramic material dispersed in the organic binder, the precursor being at least one metal-containing compound; and a phase-forming agent dispersed in the organic binder, the phase-forming agent being solid or viscous at room temperature and forming an internal phase in the organic binder, wherein the combined content of the powder and the precursor of the ceramic material in the moldable nanocomposite is at least 5 parts per volume based on 100 parts per volume of the organic binder, and wherein the moldable nanocomposite does not contain any low viscosity solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly fluorinated nanostructured polymer foam as well as to its use as a super-repellent coating of substrates. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition and to a method for producing the highly fluorinated nanostructured polymer foam.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a transparent glass article is provided. The manufacturing method includes the following steps (a) to (f): in step (a), a nanocomposite is provided; in step (b), the nanocomposite is subjected to an external stimulus in order to render it remoldable; in step (c), the nanocomposite is remolded into a predetermined shape in order to obtain a primary structure; in step (d), the primary structure is debound in order to obtain a secondary structure having cavities formed therein; in step (e) which is optional, the cavities of the secondary structure are filled with at least one additive; and in step (f), the secondary structure is sintered to obtain the transparent glass article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly fluorinated nanostructured polymer foam as well as to its use as a super-repellent coating of substrates. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition and to a method for producing the highly fluorinated nanostructured polymer foam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition and a process for the production of a molding made of high-purity transparent quartz glass, by means of additive manufacturing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition and a process for the production of a molding made of high-purity transparent quartz glass, by means of additive manufacturing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly fluorinated nanostructured polymer foam as well as to its use as a super-repellent coating of substrates. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition and to a method for producing the highly fluorinated nanostructured polymer foam.

Abstract: A method for bistably actuating an actuator includes applying positive pressure in an actuator fluid supply that is fluidly connected to an actuator chamber by means of an actuator fluid supply connection, wherein a working positive pressure is generated in the actuator chamber, whereby an actuator element fluidly connected to the actuator chamber is brought from a resting position to an actuation position, pressure-tight sealing of the actuator fluid supply connection, so that the working positive pressure in the actuator chamber is maintained and the actuator element remains in the actuation position.

Abstract: A method for transferring a first transfer fluid from a supply surface into a plurality of discrete supply compartments on a target surface which is configured such that the first transfer fluid has a tendency to adhere more easily to the supply compartments than to the substrate between the supply compartments includes providing a transfer surface which has a plurality of discrete transfer compartments, wherein each transfer compartment can be, independently of all the other transfer compartments, switched between a first wetting behavior with respect to the first transfer fluid and a second wetting behavior having a degree of wetting which is different from that of the first wetting behavior and setting all of the transfer compartments to the first wetting behavior. The method further includes configuring selected transfer compartments to the second wetting behavior by means of a first high-energy action.

Abstract: A method for bistably actuating an actuator includes applying positive pressure in an actuator fluid supply that is fluidly connected to an actuator chamber by means of an actuator fluid supply connection, wherein a working positive pressure is generated in the actuator chamber, whereby an actuator element fluidly connected to the actuator chamber is brought from a resting position to an actuation position, pressure-tight sealing of the actuator fluid supply connection, so that the working positive pressure in the actuator chamber is maintained and the actuator element remains in the actuation position.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for generating or depositing a stream of m>1 fluid segments, respectively separated by an intermediary medium which does not mix with the fluid segments. The arrangement includes a molded body having a channel for conducting the fluid stream, from which n?m first access lines and n second access lines branch off. The first and second access lines are configured so to be inserted into n wells. The lengths of the first access lines differ from the lengths of the second access lines, and respectively one first valve is arranged in the channel, between the branching location for each second access line and the branching location for each associated first access line, and wherein respectively a second valve is arranged in each second access line.

Abstract: A device for controlling a flow of fluids through n=2m microfluidic channels, m being a natural number>0 includes a substrate having the microfluidic channels therein. Each channel includes m contact points. A respective heating element corresponds to each contact point. Each of a plurality of m pairs of conductor paths corresponds to a respective contact point of each of the microfluidic channels. Each pair includes a first conductor path that is in contact with a respective first half of the heating elements that correspond to the respective contact points of each microfluidic channel and a second conductor path that is in contact with a respective second half of the heating elements that correspond to the respective contact points of each microfluidic channel. A respective control line corresponds to each of the m pairs of conductor paths, where each control line is operable to actuate the corresponding pair of conductor paths with a switching status TRUE or a switching status FALSE.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for generating or depositing a stream of m>1 fluid segments, respectively separated by an intermediary medium which does not mix with the fluid segments. The arrangement includes a molded body having a channel for conducting the fluid stream, from which n?m first access lines and n second access lines branch off. The first and second access lines are configured so to be inserted into n wells. The lengths of the first access lines differ from the lengths of the second access lines, and respectively one first valve is arranged in the channel, between the branching location for each second access line and the branching location for each associated first access line, and wherein respectively a second valve is arranged in each second access line.

Abstract: A device for controlling a flow of fluids through n=2m microfluidic channels, m being a natural number >0 includes a substrate having the microfluidic channels therein. Each channel includes m contact points. A respective heating element corresponds to each contact point. Each of a plurality of m pairs of conductor paths corresponds to a respective contact point of each of the microfluidic channels. Each pair includes a first conductor path that is in contact with a respective first half of the heating elements that correspond to the respective contact points of each microfluidic channel and a second conductor path that is in contact with a respective second half of the heating elements that correspond to the respective contact points of each microfluidic channel. A respective control line corresponds to each of the m pairs of conductor paths, where each control line is operable to actuate the corresponding pair of conductor paths with a switching status TRUE or a switching status FALSE.

Abstract: A device for creating a microfluidic channel structure includes two plates forming a chamber between the two plates. The chamber has at least one inlet for feeding a fluid into the chamber and at least one outlet for discharging the fluid out of the chamber. A cooling element is associated with at least one of the two plates for converting fluid disposed in the chamber into a solid. A plurality of heating elements is associated with at least a first of the two plates and distributed so as to provide, by a heating up of some of the heating elements so as to convert areas of the solid that are in a vicinity of the heating elements to the fluid, a channel structure leading from the at least one inlet through the chamber to the at least one outlet. The channel structure is configured to convey fluid flow.