Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Membranes to form permanent and undistorted images, and methods of preparing such images from image-forming substances in receptive media are also provided.

Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials attached to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with other reflective layers. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Hydrophilic porous supporting structures loaded with an enzyme system which catalyzes a reaction of a substrate, oxygen, and if necessary, water or moisture to consume oxygen are also described for oxygen scavenging in packages containing oxygen sensitive products.

Abstract: A device for holding a sample to be spectroscopically analyzed in which the sample is retained within a defined area. The device includes a receiving medium on which the sample is held. When this receiving medium is mounted in a frame (an optional feature), it extends across an aperture in the frame. In/on the receiving medium is a sample confining region that keeps any sample placed on the receiving medium from migrating outside a defined area. By keeping the sample within a defined area, quantitative measurements of the sample can be obtained.

Abstract: A holographic sundial comprising a hologram made using a holographic recording apparatus including a light-sensitive recording medium, a three-dimensional model, in one or more parts, bearing a plurality of indicia over a range of angles corresponding to hour angles of the sun, illumination of the three-dimensional model such that light is incident on the light-sensitive recording medium from every angle of the three-dimensional model in a manner conformal to the represented hour angle, and a reference ray of light incident on the recording medium from one angular direction which defines the angular direction for viewing the recorded image. The hologram, under direct illumination by light from the sun, produces a continuously varying image which indicates the time of day.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous article is provided. The method includes: contacting a porous substrate with a first reactant that enters pores of the substrate; and contacting the porous substrate bearing the first reactant with a second reactant that is capable of reacting with the first reactant in an interfacial polymerization reaction; the amounts of first and second reactant being selected such that there occurs no, or substantially no, closing of pores of the substrate by the formed polymer. The invention also provides a porous article bearing a compound which is photochemically reactive and capable of undergoing a substantially non-reversible chemical transformation upon exposure to ultra-violet, visible or near infra-red irradiation. The photochemically reactive compound can be derivatized by irradiation and further reaction to provide a wide variety of useful membranes, for example, for microfiltration or for biochemical reactions and separations.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Articles in the form of membranes useful as residue barriers for electroplating devices, and separators for electrochemical cells are also described.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Articles in the form of membranes useful as drug delivery device components are also described.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Articles in the form of membranes useful as filters are also described.

Abstract: A sample holder for use in infrared spectrophotometric analysis. The holder comprises a microporous sheet and is particularly useful for analysis of solutions, colloids, small particle solids, flowable solids, solvents, and viscous fluids. The microporous sheet preferably has a low absorbance (high spectral transmittance) in infrared wavelengths. The sample holder is especially useful for the analysis of aqueous based samples. Also, a method for using such sample holders for infrared spectrophotometric analysis.

Abstract: Supports having azlactone-functional surfaces, adduct supports prepared from such azlactone-functional supports, and methods of preparing both are disclosed. Azlactone functionality is introduced to surfaces of a pre-existing support in a manner which retains useful physical and chemical characteristics of the pre-existing support. One method involves exposing surfaces with high energy radiation to generate free radical reaction sites on the surfaces and causing azlactone-functional moieties to react with the free radical reaction sites. Another method involves coating surfaces with azlactone monomers, crosslinking monomers, and optionally co-monomers and polymerizing the monomers to form a polymerized coating of azlactone-functionality on the surfaces. Another method involves dispersion polymerization of azlactone-functional moieties to produce azlactone-functional particles within pores and interstices of a pre-existing support.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Articles in the form of membranes useful as filters, residue barriers for electroplating devices, separators for electrochemical cells, and drug delivery device components are also described.

Abstract: Supports having azlactone-functional surfaces, adduct supports prepared from such azlactone-functional supports, and methods of preparing both are disclosed. Azlactone functionality is introduced to surfaces of a pre-existing support in a manner which retains useful physical and chemical characteristics of the pre-existing support. One method involves exposing surfaces with high energy radiation to generate free radical reaction sites on the surfaces and causing azlactone-functional moieties to react with the free radical reaction sites. Another method involves coating surfaces with azlactone monomers, crosslinking monomers, and optionally co-monomers and polymerizing the monomers to form a polymerized coating of azlactone-functionality on the surfaces. Another method involves dispersion polymerization of azlactone-functional moieties to produce azlactone-functional particles within pores and interstices of a pre-existing support.

Abstract: Poly (p-xylylidenes) having a high degree of polymerization in the form of films, foams or highly molecularly oriented films and fibers are chemically modified from insulators to conducting materials by exposure to either p- or n-type dopants. Poly (p-xylylidene) films are cast from aqueous solutions of a poly (p-xylene-.alpha.-dimethylsulfonium salt) polyelectrolyte. Processing of the films at elevated temperatures can yield both fibers and foams. Exposure of the poly (p-xylylidene) films, fibers or foams to p-type dopants result in an up to fifteen order of magnitude increase in conductivity, while n-type coping yields a nine order of magnitude increase. Doping of molecularly oriented films and fibers yields a highly anisotropic conductor with a greatly improved conductivity in the orientation direction.