Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and articles useful in sealing fasteners, including seal caps and in particular translucent or transparent seals or seal caps. In some embodiments, a seal cap which is optically translucent and optionally visibly transparent contains an uncured sealant, which is optionally optically translucent or visibly transparent, and is applied to a fastener. In some embodiments, the sealant is cured by application of actinic radiation to the sealant through the seal cap. In another aspect, a protected fastener construction is provided comprising: q) a fastener; r) a seal cap; and s) a cured sealant; wherein the sealant is optically translucent and optionally visibly transparent.

Abstract: Methods for producing an at least partially cured layer by applying a layer including a (meth)acrylate-functional siloxane to a surface of a substrate, and irradiating the layer in a substantially inert atmosphere with a short wavelength polychromatic ultraviolet light source having a peak intensity at a wavelength of from about 160 nanometers to about 240 nanometers to at least partially cure the layer. Optionally, the layer is at a curing temperature greater than 25° C. In some embodiments, the layer has a thickness of about 0.1 micrometers to about 1 micrometer. In certain embodiments, the layer is substantially free of a photoinitiator and/or an organic solvent. In some particular embodiments, irradiating the layer with a short wavelength polychromatic ultraviolet light source takes place in an inert atmosphere including no greater than 50 ppm oxygen. The substantially cured layer may be a release layer or a low adhesion backsize (LAB).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides rewettable asymmetric membranes and methods of forming rewettable asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for forming rewettable asymmetric membranes having a copolymer and a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate.

Abstract: Methods for producing an at least partially cured layer by applying a layer including a (meth)acrylate-functional siloxane to a surface of a substrate, and irradiating the layer in a substantially inert atmosphere with a short wavelength polychromatic ultraviolet light source having a peak intensity at a wavelength of from about 160 nanometers to about 240 nanometers to at least partially cure the layer. Optionally, the layer is at a curing temperature greater than 25° C. In some embodiments, the layer has a thickness of about 0.1 micrometers to about 1 micrometer. In certain embodiments, the layer is substantially free of a photoinitiator and/or an organic solvent. In some particular embodiments, irradiating the layer with a short wavelength polychromatic ultraviolet light source takes place in an inert atmosphere including no greater than 50 ppm oxygen. The substantially cured layer may be a release layer or a low adhesion backsize (LAB).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and articles useful in sealing fasteners, including seal caps and in particular translucent or transparent seals or seal caps. In some embodiments, a seal cap which is optically translucent and optionally visibly transparent contains an uncured sealant, which is optionally optically translucent or visibly transparent, and is applied to a fastener. In some embodiments, the sealant is cured by application of actinic radiation to the sealant through the seal cap. In another aspect, a protected fastener construction is provided comprising: q) a fastener; r) a seal cap; and s) a cured sealant; wherein the sealant is optically translucent and optionally visibly transparent.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and articles useful in sealing fasteners, including seal caps and methods of their use, and in particular light weight seal caps having higher dielectric breakdown strength, lower weight, and/or lower wall thickness. In some embodiments, the seal caps according to the present invention are made of a material having a dielectric breakdown strength of greater than 1.0 kV/mm, in some embodiments greater than 15.0 kV/mm, and in some embodiments greater than 50.0 kV/mm. In some embodiments, the seal caps according to the present invention are thin-walled, having an average wall thickness of less than 1.5 mm and in some embodiments less than less than 0.5 mm In some embodiments, the seal cap comprises a polyurethane polymer, a polythioether polymer, a polysulfide polymer, a fluorinated thermoplastic polymer, a THV polymer, a fluorinated thermoset polymer, an engineering thermoplastic, and/or a PEEK polymer.

Abstract: Certain polythioether polymers are presented, as well as compositions which are radiation curable to polythioether polymers and seals and sealants comprising same. The compositions radiation curable to polythioether polymers include those comprising: a) at least one dithiol monomer; b) at least one diene monomer; c) at least one polyyne monomer comprising at least two ethyne groups; and d) at least one photoinitiator. In some embodiments, the polyyne monomer is a diyne monomer. In some embodiments, the composition also comprises at least one epoxy resin. In another aspect, the compositions radiation curable to polythioether polymers include those comprising: f) at least one thiol terminated polythioether polymer; g) at least one diyne monomer; and h) at least one photoinitiator. In some embodiments the thiol terminated polythioether polymer comprises pendent hydroxide groups.

Abstract: Certain polythioether polymers are presented, as well as compositions which are radiation curable to polythioether polymers and seals and sealants comprising same. The compositions radiation curable to polythioether polymers include those comprising: a) at least one dithiol monomer; b) at least one diene monomer; c) at least one multifunctional monomer having at least three ethenyl groups; and d) at least one photoinitiator. In another aspect, the compositions radiation curable to polythioether polymers include those comprising: f) at least one dithiol monomer; g) at least one diene monomer; h) at least one multifunctional monomer having at least three thiol groups; and i) at least one photoinitiator. In another aspect, the compositions radiation curable to poly-thioether polymers include those comprising: k) at least one thiol terminated polythioether polymer; l) at least one multifunctional monomer having at least three ethenyl groups; and m) at least one photoinitiator.

Abstract: Compositions are provided that are radiation curable to polythioether polymers, which in some embodiments may be useful as sealants. In some embodiments, the composition comprises: a) at least one dithiol monomer; b) at least one diene monomer; c) at least one multifunctional monomer having at least three ethenyl groups; and d) at least one photoinitiator. In some embodiments, the composition comprises: f) at least one dithiol monomer; g) at least one diene monomer; h) at least one multifunctional monomer having at least three thiol groups; and i) at least one photoinitiator. In some embodiments, the composition comprises: k) at least one thiol terminated polythioether polymer; l) at least one multifunctional monomer having at least three ethenyl groups; and m) at least one photoinitiator.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes articles, such as medical articles, containing a substrate having disposed thereon a hydrophilic gel material (e.g., a shaped hydrophilic gel material or a coating of a hydrophilic gel material) and methods for making such articles. Methods are provided for making hydrophilic gel materials from a precursor composition that contains a polar solvent and a polymerizable material that is miscible with the polar solvent.

Abstract: A method for building three-dimensional articles using a thermal polymerization process in provided. The articles are built by using a composition that includes a thermally polymerizable composition, a thermal initiator, and a nonlinear light-to-heat conversion material such as a reverse saturable dye. The article is built by the sequential exposure of adjacent voxels with a laser beam. Microlens arrays can be used to expose more than one voxel at a time.

Abstract: Methods of making a (e.g. dilute) cleaning solution from a hydrogel cleaning concentrate, packages of hydrogel cleaning concentrate, and methods of making a hydrogel cleaning concentrate are described.

Abstract: An adhesive masking article for shielding a protected work surface from a coating applied to a surface adjacent the protected work surface includes a backing layer having first and second opposed major surfaces, and at least one edge, an adhesive on at least a portion of at least one of the first and second backing layer opposed major surfaces, and a barrier inducing treatment on at least an edge surface of the masking article to contact the coating when the coating contacts the edge of the backing layer, thereby causing a barrier to form along the edge of the masking article that impedes the migration of the coating past the edge of the masking article beneath the masking article.

Abstract: Methods of electron beam curing nonfunctional polysiloxanes blended with functional polysiloxanes are provided. The resulting release materials are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of modulating tackiness of a substrate bearing an adhesive. The method includes modulating the tackiness of a layer of adhesive by subjecting the layer of the adhesive to radiant output from a radiation source. At least a portion of the radiant output has a wavelength of less than 200 nanometers.

Abstract: Methods of reducing tack of edge faces of a roll of an adhesive coated substrate. The method includes reducing tack of the edge faces by subjecting the edge faces to a radiation source with radiant output at a wavelength of less than 200 nanometers.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods for making shaped polymeric materials. Methods are provided for making shaped polymeric materials from a precursor composition that contains a polar solvent and a polymerizable material that is miscible with the polar solvent. The precursor composition is at least partially polymerized in a mold.

Abstract: A transparent anti-reflective structured film comprising a structured film substrate having a structured face, with anti-reflective structures defining a structured surface. The structured face is anti-reflective to light, with at least a substantial portion of the structured surface comprising a glass-like surface. At least the anti-reflective structures comprise a cross-linked silicone elastomeric material, and the glass-like surface comprises an SiO2 stoichiometry. The glass-like surface is coated with a coating of at least one layer of agglomerates of silica nanoparticles, with the agglomerates comprising a three-dimensional porous network of silica nanoparticles, and the silica nanoparticles being bonded to adjacent silica nanoparticles. A light energy absorbing device comprising the transparent anti-reflective structured film disposed so as to be between a source of light energy and a light energy receiving face of a light absorber, when light energy is being absorbed by the light absorber.

Abstract: Methods of crossliiiking functional and nonfunctional silicones are described. The methods include exposing the silicones to ultraviolet radiation having a spectrum comprising at least one intensity peak below 240 nm in an inert atmosphere. Articles prepared by such methods, including release liners and adhesive articles are also described.

Abstract: A transparent anti-reflective structured film (10) comprising a structured film substrate (12) having a structured face (14), with anti-reflective structures, for example, in the form of prismatic riblets (16) defining a structured surface. The structured face is anti-reflective to light, with at least a substantial portion of the structured surface comprising a glass-like surface. At least the anti-reflective structures comprise a cross-linked silicone elastomeric material and the glass-like surface comprises an Si02 stoichiometry. A solar light energy absorbing device is disclosed, comprising the transparent anti-reflective structured film disposed so as to be between a source of light energy and a light energy receiving face of a light absorber, when light energy is being absorbed by the light absorber.