Abstract: A hybrid lead acid battery and porous carbon supercapacitor energy storage device is asymmetrically supercapacitive and comprises at least one lead electrode, at least two carbon-based electrodes, a separator, a casing, and an acid electrolyte. The lead electrode has a non-conductive sheet of porous material which envelops a lead based mass and lead-based current collector. Each carbon-based electrode is moderately conductive, having a sheet of highly conductive material between two sheets of electrically conductive shield material, and highly porous carbon adhered to the highly conductive material. The casing applies and maintains compression forces against the faces of the electrodes, and provides a void space in the interior of an assembled energy storage device.

Abstract: A prefabricated medical implant made of polymeric material having increased wear resistance without substantially changing its ductility and other physical properties is described. The implant is formed by a method including the steps of heating a sealed, packaged, prefabricated implant, having a reduced oxygen atmosphere, to an elevated temperature below its annealing point at a predetermined rate and held at that temperature for a predetermined time. After this time the packaged implant, while being maintained in a predetermined temperature range, is irradiated with a predetermined amount of gamma radiation. After irradiation, the implant is permitted to cool at a predetermined rate. Thermal conductive and thermal insulation containers are also provided for holding the packaged implants during the process.