Abstract: A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal.

Abstract: A continuous method for the in-situ polymerization of plastic in an elastomeric material in a form suitable for reinforcing the elastomeric material is provided. The method comprises feeding elastomer and a monomer or monomer precursor of a reinforcing material into a mixing device, mixing the elastomer and the monomer or monomer precursor vigorously, initiating polymerization, and causing the monomers to continue to polymerize until the polymer solidifies when the melting point of the polymer produced exceeds the mixing temperature of the elastomer, terminating polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified rubber composition comprising:(a) an uncured diene rubber selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene-styrene rubber, nitrile rubber and carboxylated nitrile rubber;(b) from about 1 to 100 phr of a polymeric blend containing(i) from about 10 to 35 weight percent of at least one nylon,(ii) from about 65 to 90 weight percent of at least one polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polypropylene modified with ethylene, and ethylene/propylene copolymers, and(iii) from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of an anhydride modified polyolefin containing from 0.2 to 9% by weight of chemically combined anhydride; and(c) at least one dithio diacid having the formula HOOC--A--S--S--A--COOH wherein A represents an alkylene group containing from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method of mixing micro and macro fibers into a polymer matrix and products made thereby are provided. In the illustrated method, a micro reinforcing polymer is mixed with an elastomeric base polymer and preformed macro fibers are added thereto. In one embodiment, the micro reinforcing polymer forms micro fibers in a resulting elastomeric matrix which is interspersed with macro fibers. A base polymer matrix interspersed with micro reinforcing polymer and macro fibers made according to the invention can be used in reinforced elastomeric products such as tires.