Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a high strength and high modulus elongated product comprising the steps of (a) making a composition comprising a semi-crystalline polymer and carbon nanotubes, (b) extruding said composition into an elongated product, and (c) stretching the product below the melting point of the polymer, wherein in step (a) the composition is a colloidal dispersion of nanotubes in a solution of the polymer. The advantages of the invention include production of elongated products, like fibers with higher tensile properties, especially strength, with a lower concentration of nanotubes than with a known method. The invention also concerns a high strength elongated product containing nanotubes obtainable by the method according to the invention, especially a polyolefin fiber containing nanotubes having a tensile strength of higher than 3.0 GPa.

Abstract: Fixing device comprising (I) a surgical cable (16) having a first and a second end and (II) at least a first (2) and a second (4) fixing plate having a first (6) resp. second (8) central hole and a first (10) resp. second (12) ring surrounding said first resp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of an isotropic polymeric network comprising multifunctional molecules with a functionality, n, of at least 5 by contacting in a solvent an amount of the multifunctional molecules with an amount of a coupling agent, whereby through supramolecular chemistry a bond between the multifunctional molecule and the coupling agent is formed. The invention furthermore relates to an isotropic polymeric network with a density lower than 1300 kg/m3 and a specific Young's modulus of at least 0.007 GPa.m3/kg, shaped articles hereof and the use of the isotropic polymeric network as construction material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of an isotropic polymeric network comprising multifunctional molecules with a functionality of at least 5 by reacting in a solvent the multifunctional molecules with a coupling agent, wherein the coupling agent is present in an amount which is sufficient to couple the multifunctional molecules to at least 5 other multifunctional molecules and wherein the sum, ?, of the amounts of the multifunctional molecules and coupling agent per unit of volume, in kg/m3, is at least equal to the value as given by expression (I) in which a=0.2 d=the diameter of the multifunctional molecule, including the length of the bonds to the middle of atoms of the coupling agent to which it is attached. L=the length of the coupling agent, measured between the middle of the atoms that are connected to the multifunctional molecule.

Abstract: Fixing device, comprising a surgical cable (22) having a first and a second free end and at least three fixing plates (2, 4, 6) positioned in a stack as a top plate (6), a middle plate (4) and a bottom plate (2), leaving a gap (24, 26) between two adjacent plates, each fixing plate having a ring (14, 16, 18) surrounding a central hole (8, 10, 12), the rings having an inner edge adjacent to the hole and an outer edge along a circumference of the fixing plate, wherein the holes in the stacked position at least partly overlap each other thus forming a central hole in the stack, and wherein at least one working end of the cable follows a specified continuous trajectory containing sections running through the hole, around the outer edges and underneath, over and between the rings of the plates.

Abstract: Artificial intervertebral disc, comprising a nucleus of flexible material with the shape of a flattened body, with a lower and an upper side connected by a lateral surface, having a rounded-preferably circular or ellipsoid-shape, around which at least substantially radially oriented windings of a traction-resistant fibre have been applied. The fibres have a tensile strength of at least 1 GPa and a modulus of at least 10 GPa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn comprising the steps of making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing a plurality of spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DRfluid; cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DRsolid, wherein in a draw ratio DRfluid=DRsp×DRag of at least 50 is applied, wherein DRsp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DRag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DRsp greater than 1 and DRag at least 1. The invention further relates to a spinplate having spinholes of specific geometry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.

Abstract: Bone fixing device comprising (I) a surgical cable having a first and a second end and (II) at least a first and a second fixing plate having a first resp. second central hole and a first resp. second ring surrounding said first resp. second hole, the circumference of each fixing plate forming an outer edge of its ring and an inner edge of its ring being adjacent to the hole it surrounds, the first fixing plate being in a stacked position on top of the second plate leaving a gap between the plates and the holes at least partly overlapping each other, wherein the cable ends follow a continuous trajectory running around and between the plates and through the holes in such way that by drawing the cable ends the cable is tensioned around the bone parts and fixate these.

Abstract: Artificial intervertebral disc, comprising a nucleus of flexible material with the shape of a flattened body, with a lower and an upper side connected by a lateral surface, having a rounded-preferably circular or ellipsoid-shape, around which at least substantially radially oriented windings of a traction-resistant fibre have been applied. The fibres have a tensile strength of at least 1 GPa and a modulus of at least 10 GPa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a high strength and high modulus elongated product comprising the steps of (a) making a composition comprising a semi-crystalline polymer and carbon nanotubes, (b) extruding said composition into an elongated product, and (c) stretching the product below the melting point of the polymer, wherein in step (a) the composition is a colloidal dispersion of nanotubes in a solution of the polymer. The advantages of the invention include production of elongated products, like fibres with higher tensile properties, especially strength, with a lower concentration of nanotubes than with a known method. The invention also concerns a high strength elongated product containing nanotubes obtainable by the method according to the invention, especially a polyolefin fibre containing nanotubes having a tensile strength of higher than 3.0 GPa.

Abstract: Method for tying together objects, in particular for fixing bone parts by a surgical cable comprising the steps of laying the surgical cable, having two end parts, around at least part of the objects to be tied together, in particular the bone parts to be fixed, exerting a force on the end parts bringing the cable under a tension required for the fixing of the bone parts and locking the tensioned cable against the influence of forces acting counter to the exerted force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microphone that includes a housing and a diaphragm and backplate located with the housing. The housing has a sound port for receiving the sound. The diaphragm undergoes movement relative to the backplate, which it opposes, in response to the incoming sound. The backplate has a charged layer with a first surface that is exposed to the diaphragm and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backplate further includes a conductor for transmitting a signal from the backplate to electronics in the housing. The conductor faces the second surface of the charged layer. To minimize the charge degradation created by contact with or infiltration of foreign materials, the first surface, the second surface, or both surfaces of the charged layer includes a protective layer thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer composition containing a semi-crystalline or glass-forming polymer in a rigid phase and, as impact modifier therein, a rubbery polymer. The polymer composition according to the invention is characterized in that it has no morphological inhomogeneities with a diameter larger than 40, preferably 20 micrometer as visible on a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) picture of the surface of fracture of a test bar broken in a fatigue test. As a result, the elongation at break, the fatigue resistance and the total useful service life of an object manufactured from this composition are much higher.

Abstract: In a process for increasing the elongation at break of moldings made from thermoplastic molding compositions comprising, based on the total of the amounts of components A and B and, where appropriate, C and/or D, the entirety of which gives 100% by weight,

Abstract: Disclosed is a fabric of thermoplastic fibers and continuous reinforcing fibers in which the shrinkage of the thermoplastic fibers is minimal, thus providing a product well-suited for processing as a thermoplastic composite prepreg. The thermoplastic fibers have a melting point lower than that of the reinforcing fibers, and are preheated at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 15.degree. C. below the melting point of the thermoplastic material before being processed to form the fabric.Fabrics of thermoplastic fibers and reinforcing fibers according to the present invention can be used in applications where sheets of fabrics must be drapeable, so that when subjected to cold forming they conform to the mold for the thermoforming process. Fabrics according to the present invention are especially useful in applications where the use of high-grade, fiber-reinforced plastics is advantageous.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laminate composed of two, three, four or more aluminum-containing metal sheets. The metal sheets, which may for instance be of an aluminum alloy, are bonded together by means of adhesive layers. In the adhesive layers, which are of a thermohardening material, there are embedded poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide threads. These threads are provided in the form of yarns made up of endless filaments and lie in a practically straight line in the adhesive which substantially consists of a thermohardening material. The adhesive layers contain the threads in an amount of 20 to 80% by weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laminate composed of two, three, four or more metal sheets. The metal sheets, which may for instance be of an aluminum alloy, are bonded together by means of adhesive layers. In the adhesive layers there are embedded poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide or carbon threads having a high modulus of elasticity. In the unloaded state of the laminate in its entirety there is a compressive stress in the range of 0 to 200 or 300 N/mm.sup.2 in each metal sheet and a tensile stress in each layer with threads. The material according to the invention is in the first place meant for use in the field of aircraft or spacecraft engineering. However, it also may with advantage find application in various other fields of engineering where high demands are made on static, dynamic fatigue properties and damage tolerance.