Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by—providing a support structure comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) to—depositing and solidifying a molten thermoplastic polymer on the support structure to form a three-dimensional preform characterized in that the support structure consists of a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and at most 20% by weight of at least one plasticizer according to formula (I), (II) or (III): —R1-C(CH2—OH)3 (1); —[R1-C(CH2—OH)2CH2]2O (11); —(R1)C(CH2—OH)2CH2—O—CH2C(CH2—OH)C(R1)CH2—O—CH2 C(CH2—OH)2R1 (III). With R1=H, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CH2OH. The support structure can be dissolved to from the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a three-dimensional object includes a step of depositing and solidifying molten polyvinyl alcohol to form a support structure; and a step of depositing and solidifying a molten thermoplastic polymer on the support structure to form a three-dimensional preform. The support structure has a mixture of at least 50% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol and at most 50% by weight of at least one polymer of polyvinyl butyral, polylactid acid, ethylene-vinylalcohol-vinylacetate terpolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer, polycaprolactone, vinyl acetate-vinyl caprolactame copolymer, and polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of hydrolysis DH of 30-65%. The support structure can be dissolved to form the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: The invention is directed to synthetic food casings made from specific polyvinyl alcohol grades containing carbonyl groups, preferably in admixture with other polymers, as well as processes for using such synthetic food casings.

Abstract: A modulator assembly for modulating light comprising a first and a second electro-absorption modulator which each at least substantially only act on a polarization component of incident light; a light generating assembly for generating light which includes a first and a second polarization component; a first electro-absorption modulator for modulating the light generated by the light generating assembly, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator at least substantially only modulates the first polarization component of the light, so that the light exiting from the first electro-absorption modulator includes a modulated and an unmodulated polarization component; a polarization converter for changing the polarization direction of the light exiting from the first electro-absorption modulator.

Abstract: It is provided a method for producing a polarization converter The method comprising the following steps: producing a first converter element which has a base side, an upper side extending parallel to the base side, and a longitudinal side oriented obliquely at an angle ?1 to the base side or a curved longitudinal side; producing a second converter element which has a base side, an upper side extending parallel to the base side, and a longitudinal side oriented obliquely at an angle ?2 to the base side or a curved longitudinal side; arranging the first and the second converter element in series in such a way that the obliquely oriented or curved longitudinal sides point in opposite directions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by depositing and solidifying molten polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) to form a support structure depositing and solidifying a molten thermoplastic polymer on the support structure to form a three-dimensional preform dissolving the support structure to from the three-dimensional object characterized in that the polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) has an alkaline acetate content of less than 0.5 wght %.

Abstract: A device for determining a polarization state of an electromagnetic wave includes a power splitter that splits an electromagnetic input wave into at least three partial waves; and at least three polarization converters for changing the polarization state of the partial waves. One of the polarization converters is associated with one of the three partial waves. The device includes an output coupler to which the partial waves are supplied after passing through the respective polarization converter and which includes at least three outputs. The output coupler is configured and the polarization converters are arranged and configured such that output waves exiting from the outputs of the output coupler have an intensity that each is dependent on one of the Stokes parameters of the input wave.

Abstract: A device for determining a polarization state of an electromagnetic wave, includes a power splitter that splits an electromagnetic input wave into at least three partial waves; and at least three polarization converters for changing the polarization state of the partial waves. One of the polarization converters is associated with one of the three partial waves. The device includes an output coupler to which the partial waves are supplied after passing through the respective polarization converter and which includes at least three outputs. The output coupler is configured and the polarization converters are arranged and configured such that output waves exiting from the outputs of the output coupler have an intensity that each is dependent on one of the Stokes parameters of the input wave.

Abstract: A modulator assembly for modulating light comprising a first and a second electro-absorption modulator which each at least substantially only act on a polarization component of incident light; a light generating assembly for generating light which includes a first and a second polarization component; a first electro-absorption modulator for modulating the light generated by the light generating assembly, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator at least substantially only modulates the first polarization component of the light, so that the light exiting from the first electro-absorption modulator includes a modulated and an unmodulated polarization component; a polarization converter for changing the polarization direction of the light exiting from the first electro-absorption modulator.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by depositing and solidifying molten polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) to form a support structure depositing and solidifying a molten thermoplastic polymer on the support structure to form a three-dimensional preform dissolving the support structure to from the three-dimensional object characterized in that the polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) has an alkaline acetate content of less than 0.5 wght %.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a three-dimensional object includes a step of depositing and solidifying molten polyvinyl alcohol to form a support structure; and a step of depositing and solidifying a molten thermoplastic polymer on the support structure to form a three-dimensional preform. The support structure has a mixture of at least 50% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol and at most 50% by weight of at least one polymer of polyvinyl butyral, polylactid acid, ethylene-vinylalcohol-vinylacetate terpolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer, polycaprolactone, vinyl acetate-vinyl caprolactame copolymer, and polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of hydrolysis DH of 30-65%. The support structure can be dissolved to form the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by—providing a support structure comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) to—depositing and solidifying a molten thermoplastic polymer on the support structure to form a three-dimensional preform characterized in that the support structure consists of a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and at most 20% by weight of at least one plasticizer according to formula (I), (II) or (III): —R1-C(CH2—OH)3 (1); —[R1-C(CH2—OH)2CH2]2O (11); —(R1)C(CH2—OH)2CH2—O—CH2C(CH2—OH)C(R1)CH2—O—CH2 C(CH2—OH)2R1 (III). With R1=H, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CH2OH. The support structure can be dissolved to from the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: It is provided a method for producing a polarization converter The method comprising the following steps: producing a first converter element which has a base side, an upper side extending parallel to the base side, and a longitudinal side oriented obliquely at an angle ?1 to the base side or a curved longitudinal side; producing a second converter element which has a base side, an upper side extending parallel to the base side, and a longitudinal side oriented obliquely at an angle ?2 to the base side or a curved longitudinal side; arranging the first and the second converter element in series in such a way that the obliquely oriented or curved longitudinal sides point in opposite directions.