Abstract: Polymeric beads and methods of making the polymeric beads are described. The polymeric beads are crosslinked hydrogels or dried hydrogels. The polymeric beads are formed from droplets of a precursor composition that are exposed to radiation. The droplets are totally surrounded by a gas phase. The precursor composition contains a polar solvent and a polymerizable material miscible in the polar solvent. The polymerizable material has an average number of ethylenically unsaturated groups per monomer molecule equal to at least 1.2.

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

Abstract: A microstructured antimicrobial film, an antimicrobial film assembly, a method of protecting a surface from microbial contamination, and a method of making a microstructured antimicrobial film. The microstructured antimicrobial film can include a substrate having a first side that includes a first major surface, a plurality of microstructured wells defined in the first side of the substrate, and an antimicrobial material positioned within at least some of the plurality of wells. Each of the plurality of wells can be at least partially defined by a base that is spaced a distance from the first major surface of the substrate. The antimicrobial material can be positioned, such that an upper surface of the antimicrobial material is spaced a distance from the first major surface of the substrate. The antimicrobial film assembly can include a roll or a stack of microstructured antimicrobial films.

Abstract: Articles are provided for the detection of cells in a sample. The articles include a release element. The release element comprises an encapsulating agent and a cell extractant. The release element controls the release of the cell extractant into a liquid mixture containing the sample. Methods of use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming a color shifting film on a support, the film comprising a reflective stack disposed adjacent to the support and an image is disclosed. The reflective stack comprises an at least partially transparent spacer layer comprising a substituted acrylamide polymer disposed between a partially reflective first layer and a reflective second layer. The acrylamide layer has a thickness sufficient to produce an interference color.

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: Articles (610) are provided for the detection of cells in a sample. The articles include a hydrogel (640) comprising a cell extractant. Methods of use are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polymeric fibers and methods of making the polymeric fibers are described. The polymeric fibers are crosslinked hydrogels or dried hydrogels that are prepared from a precursor composition that contains polymerizable material having an average number of ethylenically unsaturated groups per monomer molecule greater than 1.0. The polymeric fibers can contain an optional active agent.

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: The present disclosure provides methods for forming asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for applying a polymerizable species to a porous substrate for forming a coated porous substrate. The coated porous substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet radiation source having a peak emission wavelength less than 340 nm to polymerize the polymerizable species forming a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate so that the concentration of polymerized material is greater at the first major surface than at the second major surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic material on a receptor that includes the steps of: placing a donor element proximate a receptor, wherein the donor element includes a donor substrate and a thermal transfer layer, wherein the thermal transfer layer includes a catalytic material, and wherein the thermal transfer layer of the donor element is placed proximate the surface of the receptor; thermally transferring at least a portion of the thermal transfer layer from the donor element to the receptor; and electrolessly depositing a metallic material on the receptor by growth of the metallic material on the catalytic material.

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: 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: 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 microstructured antimicrobial film, an antimicrobial film assembly, a method of protecting a surface from microbial contamination, and a method of making a microstructured antimicrobial film. The microstructured antimicrobial film can include a substrate having a first side that includes a first major surface, a plurality of microstructured wells defined in the first side of the substrate, and an antimicrobial material positioned within at least some of the plurality of wells. Each of the plurality of wells can be at least partially defined by a base that is spaced a distance from the first major surface of the substrate. The antimicrobial material can be positioned, such that an upper surface of the antimicrobial material is spaced a distance from the first major surface of the substrate. The antimicrobial film assembly can include a roll or a stack of microstructured antimicrobial films.

Abstract: Radiation curable thermal transfer elements including a substrate and a light-to-heat conversion layer overlaying the substrate, and processes to make the thermal transfer elements. The light-to-heat conversion layer is derived from a radiation curable material capable of being cured by exposure to radiation at a curing wavelength and an imaging radiation absorber material not substantially increasing radiation absorbance at the curing wavelength. The radiation curable transfer elements can be used in processes for making organic microelectronic devices.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic material on a receptor that includes the steps of: placing a donor element proximate a receptor, wherein the donor element includes a donor substrate and a thermal transfer layer, wherein the thermal transfer layer includes a catalytic material, and wherein the thermal transfer layer of the donor element is placed proximate the surface of the receptor; thermally transferring at least a portion of the thermal transfer layer from the donor element to the receptor; and electrolessly depositing a metallic material on the receptor by growth of the metallic material on the catalytic material.

Abstract: Polymeric beads and methods of making the polymeric beads are described. The polymeric beads are crosslinked hydrogels or dried hydrogels. The polymeric beads are formed from droplets of a precursor composition that are exposed to radiation. The droplets are totally surrounded by a gas phase. The precursor composition contains a polar solvent and a polymerizable material miscible in the polar solvent. The polymerizable material has an average number of ethylenically unsaturated groups per monomer molecule equal to at least 1.2.