Abstract: A method of forming a fibrin hydrogel composition including providing one or more unitary masses of a fibrin hydrogel, dividing at least one of the unitary masses of the fibrin hydrogel into a multiplicity of smaller pieces of the fibrin hydrogel, and recombining at least a portion of the smaller pieces into a cohesive mass. Dividing at least one of the unitary masses of fibrin hydrogel into a multiplicity of smaller pieces may include shearing or cutting the unitary masses to form an aqueous dispersion of the fibrin hydrogel in an aqueous medium. The aqueous dispersion of fibrin hydrogel may be applied to a substrate on a roller or an endless belt, and is optionally overlaid by a scrim. The cohesive mass of fibrin hydrogel, which may be formed by removing at least a portion of the aqueous medium from the aqueous dispersion of the smaller pieces of the fibrin hydrogel, finds uses in wound dressing articles.

Abstract: A method of slide coating that includes providing a first fluid including at least one solvent and at least one polymer; providing a second fluid, including multi unit polymeric precursors; flowing the first fluid down a first slide surface, to create a first fluid layer on the first slide surface; flowing the second fluid down a second slide surface; coating the substrate with the first and second fluid by flowing the first fluid layer and the second fluid layer from the first slide surface to the substrate; moving the substrate; and curing the first fluid, the second fluid, or some combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of slide coating that includes providing a first fluid (55), wherein the first fluid includes multi unit polymeric precursors; flowing the first fluid down a first slide surface, the first slide surface being positioned adjacent a substrate; coating the substrate (18) with the first fluid by flowing the first fluid from the first slide surface (53) to the substrate to form a first coated layer; moving the substrate; and curing the first coated layer.

Abstract: A method of slide coating that includes providing a first fluid, wherein the first fluid includes at least one solvent, at least one single unit polymeric precursor or a combination thereof; providing a second fluid, wherein the second fluid includes multi unit polymeric precursors; flowing the first fluid down a first slide surface, to create a first fluid layer on the first slide surface, the first slide surface being positioned adjacent a substrate; flowing the second fluid down a second slide surface, the second slide surface positioned relative to the first slide surface such that the second fluid flows from the second slide surface to above the first slide surface onto the first fluid layer to create the second fluid layer on the first slide surface; coating the substrate with the first and second fluid by flowing the first fluid layer and the second fluid layer from the first slide surface to the substrate forming first and second coated layers; moving the substrate; and at least partially curing the f

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a moving web with a coating fluid. The coating die has at least one feed slot for supplying the coating fluid to the moving web and a front face demarked from the at least one feed slot by a die edge. A guide mechanism guides the moving web in a first direction past the coating die such that a coating bead is formed in a gap between the moving web and the die edge. The spraying system sprays a cleaning fluid on at least a portion of the front face of the slide coating die such that the coating bead forms a substantially linear static wetting line on the front face of the coating die.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating and drying coated substrates without introducing significant surface imperfections while running at higher web speeds than known drying methods. The substrate is preferably coated within the drying enclosure or the coating bead may form a closure at the entrance of the drying enclosure. The substrate is moved through a first drying enclosure along a first axis. The first drying enclosure is substantially isolated from an external environment. A first low velocity, substantially laminar flow field of a drying gas is directed across the front surface of the substrate. The first flow field is generally parallel to the front surface and generally perpendicular to the first axis to minimize the formation of surface imperfections during the evaporation of the coating solvent. The substrate may then be moved to subsequent drying enclosures through transition enclosures that minimize surface imperfections due to high velocity interaction between the adjacent drying enclosures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a moving web with a coating fluid. The coating die has at least one feed slot for supplying the coating fluid to the moving web and a front face demarked from the at least one feed slot by a die edge. A guide mechanism guides the moving web in a first direction past the coating die such that a coating bead is formed in a gap between the moving web and the die edge. The spraying system sprays a cleaning fluid on at least a portion of the front face of the slide coating die such that the coating bead forms a substantially linear static wetting line on the front face of the coating die.