Abstract: Compositions comprising a powder and an alkyl-phenyl silsesquioxane resin are disclosed. These compositions are particularly useful in a variety of personal or medical care compositions to enhance the durability and substantivity of powders after topical application.

Abstract: A system and method for carbonizing a liquid, such as tap water with CO2, are disclosed. The liquid is carbonized inside a pump housing, thereby obviating the need for a separate high-pressure carbonator tank and a separate feed pump. The pump housing has an inlet for receiving in combination the liquid and CO2 at a first pressure, and an outlet for transporting the liquid carbonized with CO2 from the pump housing into an outlet line at a second pressure higher than the first pressure. A constriction is disposed in the outlet line for producing said higher pressure with the pump. The system and method can be employed in closed-loop carbonizing systems in the beverage industry.

Abstract: A carburettor for a two stroke engine includes a flow duct comprising rich and lean flow passages (160, 150) in parallel, through which, in use, air flows in a flow direction and which are separated by substantially planar partition (130). At least one fuel jet (5) communicates with the rich passage (160) and the partition includes an aperture (140) towards which the fuel jet is directed. A substantially planar butterfly valve (120) is received in the aperture so as to be pivotable between a first position, in which the flow duct is substantially closed and the aperture is substantially open, and a second position, in which the flow duct is substantially open and the aperture is substantially closed.

Abstract: A heating tower apparatus for heating a liquid. The heating tower includes a frame assembly, liquid distribution assembly and a fill medium. The heating tower additionally includes a hood that extends from the frame assembly. A shroud is disposed within the hood and the hood provides an air flow outlet. The heating tower further includes a track connected to the frame assembly along with a first door connected to the track and a second door connected to the track. The first door moves along the track between the hood and a first air flow inlet while the second door moves along the track between the hood and a second air flow outlet. The heating tower also includes first and second winches that operate to move the first and second doors along the track.

Abstract: A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating and retaining a plurality of device-in-mold assemblies within a supercritical fluid chamber, wherein at least one of residual extraction or release occurs within the chamber. The apparatus can include a plurality of trays for receiving the plurality of device-in-mold assemblies, the trays being sufficiently spaced for non interfering transition of the device-in-mold assemblies from a molded state to a released state.

Abstract: The present invention includes without limitation a process for separating a hydrogel contact lens from at least one mold half selected from the group comprising the anterior half and the posterior half of a contact lens. The process comprising the step of contacting either the contact lens or the one half with a maximum of about 1000 ?l of a super-cooled fluid to create a temperature differential between the contact lens and the one half.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a process for extracting pre-polymer from a polymer lens. The process of one embodiment comprises the step of contacting the ophthalmic lens with a super-cooled solvent for a period of time sufficient to extract pre-polymer from the polymer lens.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process for cleaning a mold or mold half comprising contacting the mold or mold half with a super-cooled fluid under conditions effective to clean the mold or mold half.

Abstract: A method of fabricating plastic objects having an insert of Lenticular lens material integrally bonded or otherwise attached therein. In one embodiment, the method is used to fabricate a container, such as a conical cup, by first manufacturing or providing a sheet of Lenticular material comprising layers of lens material and optical ridges and grooves and an ink layer printed on the flat side of the lens material. To protect the ink from the heat of molten or moldable plastic during later plastic processing, a thermally protective substrate is attached or bonded to the ink layer by using adhesives to attach a plastic substrate or by coating the ink with coating materials that thermally protect the ink from high temperatures.

Abstract: A mold for molding an optical element, in particular using a reaction injection molding method (RIM). The mold comprises a generally circular shaped, mold cavity having a geometrical center and a main plane, a sprue base with a longitudinal axis and a feed connection that makes the sprue base communicate with a feed sill of the mold cavity, the longitudinal axis of the sprue base and the geometrical center of the mold cavity defining a mold symmetry plane orthogonal to the main plane of the mold cavity, which intersection with said main plane defines a mold main axis, characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the sprue base together with a line perpendicular to the main plane of the mold cavity forms an angle ranging from 0 to 30°, preferably from 0 to 15°. Methods of using the mold and objects made thereby are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides molds useful in the production of contact lenses having seamless edges and in which molds movement of one mold half in relation to the other mold half is decreased. These results are attained by providing mold halves with shoulder stops and seam-matching features.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for extracting pre-polymer from a polymer lens. The process comprises the step of contacting the lens with a super-cooled solvent for a period of time to increase the modulus of the contact lens. Thereafter the contact lens undergoes additional dry processing steps. By way of example, the dry processing steps include but are not limited to surface treatment, lens coating and polishing and/or edging of the contact lens.

Abstract: A method of forming a carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite articles includes the steps of: (a) selecting carbon fiber bundles that have a sizing material that is soluble in a selected dispersing fluid; (b) mixing the selected carbon bundles and other blend components in a dispersing fluid so as to debundle the carbon fibers and to produce a slurry of blend components in which the individual carbon fibers are substantially randomly oriented and uniformly distributed throughout; and (c) removing the dispersing fluid either prior to or during the process of forming of the solids of the slurry into a carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite article having individual carbon fibers substantially randomly oriented and uniformly distributed throughout.

Abstract: A composite material having a high thermal conductivity and a small thermal expansion coefficient, which is obtained by impregnating a porous graphitized extrudate with a metal; the composite material having such anisotropy that the thermal conductivity and the thermal expansion coefficient are 250 W/mK or more and less than 4×10?6/K, respectively, in an extrusion direction; and that the thermal conductivity and the thermal expansion coefficient are 150 W/mK or more and 10×10?6 or less, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the extrusion direction.

Abstract: Porous carbon fibers, whose active centers are formed by pores that are filled at least in part by carbon and/or metal and/or metal carbide, obtainable by carbonization of organic or inorganic polymers, the use thereof for the adsorption or separation of gaseous substances, in particular of CO2, and also a method for the production thereof. First, a spinning mixture containing polyacrylonitrile-based polymer A and an organic or metallo-organic polymer B is produced. Next, the spinning mixture is spun to form mixed fibers of polymer A and polymer B. The mixed fiber is stabilized by oxidation. This is followed by carbonization or graphitization of the mixed fiber under non-oxidizing conditions in such a way that the polymer B forms a carbon and/or metal and/or metal carbide residue of at least 22 wt %, the residue forming active centers.

Abstract: A process uses ground wood charcoal having a particle size of not more than 40 ?m as a starting material for producing dense, compact, homogeneous and isotropic ceramic bodies containing a high content of silicon carbide and a geometric density of at least 2.80 g/cm3. A homogeneous mixture is formed from the ground wood charcoal and a carbonizable binder for forming the ceramic bodies.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods for processing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin into highly desirable product forms that fill the needs of the fluoropolymer industry. The subject invention concerns methods for making a multi-directional planar oriented PTFE resin structure. PTFE produced by methods of the present invention will challenge or exceed the capabilities of melt processable resins and accomplish many of the goals not previously realized by the fluoropolymer industry. The subject invention also concerns methods for preparing PTFE resin primary colloidal particles. The subject invention also concerns the PTFE primary colloidal particles produced by the methods and products utilizing the particles.

Abstract: A resin-molded component such as a loudspeaker diaphragm, in which rigidity is enhanced while light weight and high specific modulus of elasticity are maintained, is formed by applying carbon dioxide gas with a predetermined pressure to a thermoplastic resin in which crystallization is facilitated in the resin flowing direction to fill a mold. After the resin is filled, injection molding is performed by somewhat moving the mold to form five layers of: oriented minute-foaming layers, having approximately cylindrical foams, the length of which is twice the diameter thereof in the resin flowing direction in the mold, an unfoamed core layer positioned between both the foaming layers, and unfoamed skin layers formed on the front and rear surfaces.

Abstract: A component for an interior of a vehicle and a method of assembly. The method includes the steps of inserting an added article into a vacuum mold, aligning a skin with the vacuum mold; and applying a vacuum force to the vacuum mold so that the skin is drawn to substantially envelope the added article to retain it with the skin. The skin and the added article cooperate to define a show surface that is substantially uninterrupted along a transition area between the skin and the added article.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a resin composite formed product for easily producing a resin composite formed product at a high precision by easy forming. The method is for producing a resin composite formed product (31, 31?) with a plate-like or prescribed three-dimensional shape by using a composite material (30, 30?, 30?) obtained by bonding a filler-like, powder-like, granular, flaky, or bulky raw material with a binder resin, crushing the composite material, arranging the crushed fragments of the composite material on a plane or a prescribed three-dimensional face, softening or melting the binder resin under pressurizing condition, and curing the binder resin. Wood pieces or a hydrated metal compound may be used as the composite material. A biodegradable resin may be used as the binder resin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for underwater pelletizing and subsequent drying of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers and other high temperature crystallizing polymeric materials to crystallize the polymer pellets without subsequent heating. High velocity air or other inert gas is injected into the water and pellet slurry line to the dryer near the pelletizer exit. The slurry line has a substantially straight component, and air is preferably injected at the end of the straight component nearest the pelletizer exit and in a direction substantially coincident with the axis of the straight component. The air injection significantly increases the speed of the pellets into and out of the dryer such that the PET polymer pellets leave the dryer above at least 135° C., and preferably above 145° C., to self-initiate crystallization.

Abstract: There is provided a method of sealing and molding an optical device with resin by employing a die including a top piece, a bottom piece, an intermediate piece, and a mold release film pinched between the bottom and intermediate pieces, Thus, tensioned as prescribed to cover the bottom piece's cavity, when the bottom piece is heated, the mold release film expands and thus closely contacts the cavity's entire surface along the cavity's geometry so that the optical device can be sealed in transparent set resin shaped as desired.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing the absorption rate of peroxides into polymer particles used to fabricate electrical cable insulation. The method includes contacting the polymer particles with a peroxide compound and an additive under physical mixing conditions at a temperature that is above the melting point of the peroxide compound but below the softening point of the polymer particles for a period of time sufficient to allow the peroxide compound to absorb into the polymer particles. Preferably, the additive is squalane or another branched, hydrocarbon oil that substantially increases the rate at which the peroxide compound is absorbed into the polymer particles and improves the peroxide cure.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing oriented plastic tube is disclosed having the steps of extrusion (12) of a tube to an initial extruded diameter, temperature conditioning (18), diametrical expansion (20) and cooling (30), characterised by control of the circumferential draw ratio by the step of adjusting the diameter of the extruded tube to an adjusted diameter by means of a variable diameter calibrator (13) located between said extrusion and temperature conditioning steps. A process line for carrying out the invention is also disclosed. Further embodiments of the invention include adjustment of the extruded wall thickness and compensatory adjustment of the adjusted diameter so as to effect a change in final wall thickness with unchanged draw ratio, a process for changing final product diameter and a start-up procedure for the process.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a high strength low shrinkage polyester drawn yarn used as industrial yarns and a process or producing the same. The strength low shrinkage polyester drawn yarn has a thermal relaxation stress change ratio of 5 to 100% and a thermal relaxation stress area ratio of 50 to 140% on a thermal relaxation and shrinkage stress curve with a final temperature set to 170° C.

Abstract: A process for preparation of an optically anisotropic cellulose ester film which comprises steps of: stretching a cellulose ester film comprising a cellulose ester of a lower fatty acid; and keeping the film at a temperature of 90 to 150° C. for 5 seconds to 3 minutes to prepare the optically anisotropic cellulose ester film.

Abstract: A method for making a baseball bat includes the steps of preparing a solid bar made of silicone and having a tapered body with a first end and a second end provided with a diameter larger than that of the first end, wrapping a layer of composite fiber around the solid bar, placing the combination of the solid bar and the composite fiber layer into a mold, heating and pressurizing the combination of the solid bar and the composite fiber layer to expand the solid bar as well as the composite fiber layer, curing the combination of the solid bar and the composite fiber layer to allow the solid bar to return to its original dimension and removing the solid bar from the composite fiber layer and capping the composite fiber layer with a cover.

Abstract: A molding process for a variety of structures including sports boards is provided. The process includes steps of: creating a three dimensional CAD image of a product, routing the inside edge of the product in a product blank, routing the outside edge of the product in two cassette halves, routing the product blank, inserting closeout material into the routed areas, shaping the product blank, shaping the cassette halves, placing outer skin material for the product in one cassette half, placing inner skin material for the product in the second cassette half, inserting the shaped product blank in the cassette half, placing inner skin material over the shaped product blank, placing outer skin material over the inner skin material, placing the second cassette half over said outer skin material, thereby forming a cassette package, placing the cassette package between contoured molded jaws, shaping the cassette package, and curing the product.

Abstract: Vacuum infusion molding is performed by inserting a flexible bag over dry goods disposed in an open mold space of a rigid mold, and over a plurality of bases disposed on the dry goods, attaching a periphery of the bag to the mold, making a slit in the bag over a through-passage of one of the bases, pushing a fitting through the slit and into the one base to communicate the mold space with an area outside of the mold space, and applying a vacuum to the mold space through that fitting to draw the bag tightly against a surface of the dry goods. Prior to the making of the slit, the bag is affixed to the one base without tearing the bag. During the subsequent application of the vacuum, the bag is unsecured relative to the other bases to be able to move freely relative to those other bases under the action of the vacuum.

Abstract: A method and device for producing a battery electrode (5) by: pouring a powder mixture quantity (6a) into a cavity (2), laying an electrically conductive diverter (4) on powder mixture (6a), pouring a further quantity (6b) of same powder mixture (6) into same cavity (2), and compressing the two powder mixture quantities (6a, 6b). The device has a filling cavity (2) for powder mixture (6), at least one compression means (1) for compressing powder mixture (6), and support (7) and fixing means (8) for positioning and fixing an electrically conductive diverter (4). The diverter (4) is situated so that partial quantities (6a, 6b) of powder mixture (6) are located above and below diverter (4). The support means (7) and fixing means (8) are situated in such a way that a ratio of the partial quantities (6a, 6b) of powder mixture (6) above and below the diverter (4) remains essentially maintained.

Abstract: A composite material and a method of making a composite material that includes: a polyolefin; polyvinyl chloride and a compatibilizer, preferably a nanoclay. The polyolefins is preferably polypropylene or polyethylene. In a preferred embodiment, the composite material includes a polypropylene, a polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and a nanoclay. The nanoclay includes a quaternary ammonium salt based organic group and exfoliates when heated and is most preferably bentonite, smectite, hectorite, sepiolite or montmorillonite.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus including an injection manifold having a manifold melt channel, a mold plate having a mold bore, and a hot runner nozzle located in the mold bore and having a nozzle melt channel. A mold insert including a melt channel includes an upper end adjacent the nozzle, a first outer surface adjacent the upper end, and a lower portion including a second outer surface, wherein the second outer surface is in sealing contact with an inner surface of the mold plate. A mold gate insert retainer includes an inner surface surrounding the first outer surface of the mold gate insert and a threaded outer surface for mating with a threaded inner surface of the nozzle. The first outer surface of the mold gate insert and the inner surface of the mold gate insert retainer are non-threaded. A lower end surface of the mold gate insert may form a wall of the mold cavity and may be angled.

Abstract: A shut-off valve for preventing drool from an injection molding apparatus is provided in a melt channel of a sprue bushing. The shut-off valve includes a fixed member located in the melt channel and a reciprocating member coupled to the fixed member. The reciprocating member is biased toward an extended position in which an inlet of the sprue bushing is blocked thereby. The reciprocating member is movable from the extended position towards a retracted position in which the inlet of the sprue bushing is clear by the force of a melt stream entering the melt channel of the sprue bushing.

Abstract: Disclosed is, according to an embodiment, a molding machine has a clamp piston assembly that includes: (i) a body portion having a channel extending through the body portion, the channel including a pocket into which is mounted, in use, a first set of contact pads, the body portion being transmittable of a clamping force, and (ii) a clamp bushing being receptive of the clamping force from the body portion, the clamp bushing being lockably engagable with a tie bar, the clamp bushing having an external surface to which is mounted, in use, a second set of contact pads, the clamp bushing being locatable and rotatable within the pocket, the first set of contact pads and the second set of contact pads cooperate to define at least two fluid sealable chambers, and responsive to pressurization of fluid placed any one of the at least two fluid sealable, the clamp bushing is rotated so as to become lock engaged with the tie bar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a soap making split mold composed of a set of splits 1A and 1B adapted to be assembled together to form a molding cavity 1C. The split 1A has a larger surface area in its recess 11A defining part of the cavity 1C than the other split 1B does in its recess 11B defining the other part of the cavity 1C. The ratio of the surface area of the recess 11A of the split 1A to that of the recess 11B of the split 1B ranges from 52:48 to 66:34. Otherwise, the split 1A has a larger surface roughness Ra in its recess 11A defining part of the cavity than the other split 1B does in its recess 11B defining the other part of the cavity. The difference of the surface roughness Ra between the recess 11A and that of the recess 11B is 0.1 to 30 ?m.

Abstract: Methods of making foaming nozzles for use with trigger sprayers are provided. The methods include molding a nozzle having a nozzle body containing a spray head and coupled by a live hinge to a door having a portal with a screen in the portal. The door is folded on the live hinge so that the door covers the spray head, and then substantially permanently on the nozzle body with the door covering the spray head.

Abstract: Synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene fibers, are mixed in a shrinkage compensating concrete to provide restraint in lieu of conventional steel reinforcement used in a shrinkage compensating concrete. While the synthetic fibers have a low elastic modulus and low strength, they act to restrain expansion of the concrete in the same way that conventional steel rebar does. In addition, only a small amount of the synthetic fibers are needed to restrain the expansion. As a result, shrinkage compensating concrete can be used in more varied applications, and can be provided more quickly, easily and inexpensively. Construction time requirements and expenses of concrete structures are correspondingly reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to release agent dispersions for the production of polyurethane moldings, substantially containing A) at least one agent having a release activity selected from the group consisting of soaps, oils, waxes and silicones; B) talc; C) a thickener, and D) an organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method and a system of patterning first and second opposed sides of a substrate. The method and system may employ a mold assembly and obtaining a desired spatial relationship between the first and second opposed sides of the substrate and the mold assembly. In a further embodiment, the method and system may employ a first and a second mold assembly.

Abstract: A method for polishing of a ceramic arc tube for use in a HID lamp in order to decrease surface scatter and increase in-line transmission of light through the arc tube. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, processes are described by which both the inner surface and outer surface of a ceramic arc tube may be polished concurrently. In one embodiment, the ceramic arc tube may be immersed in an abrasive slurry and impacted with the abrasive slurry through generation of a turbulence in the abrasive slurry, for example. In one embodiment, the turbulence may be generated by ultrasonic cavitation within the slurry or by a magnetically induced rotational flow within the slurry.

Abstract: Ceramic materials are found to be capable of superplastic forming at moderate temperatures with a high strain rate when the forming is performed in the presence of an electric current such as that produced by spark plasma sintering.

Abstract: A biocompatible material may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including intraluminal stents. Polymeric materials may be utilized to fabricate any of these devices, including stents. The stents may be balloon expandable or self-expanding. By preferential mechanical deformation of the polymer, the polymer chains may be oriented to achieve certain desirable performance characteristics.

Abstract: A biocompatible material may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including intraluminal stents. Polymeric materials may be utilized to fabricate any of these devices, including stents. The stents may be balloon expandable or self-expanding. By preferential mechanical deformation of the polymer, the polymer chains may be oriented to achieve certain desirable performance characteristics.

Abstract: A processing method for forming a first pattern on a substrate to which a resist is applied includes the steps of pressing an original having a second pattern that has a relief reverse to that of the first pattern, against the resist on the substrate, and irradiating light onto the resist via the original, wherein a size of a concave of the second pattern is greater than a size of a convex of the first pattern corresponding to the concave of the second pattern, and a size of a convex of the second pattern is smaller than a size of a concave of the first pattern corresponding to the convex of the second pattern.

Abstract: A method of laser sintering a thermoplastic composition to provide an article of manufacture having a plurality of sintered layers is disclosed. The thermoplastic composition has a relatively high melting point and a small particle size. The articles of manufacture have a high resolution and excellent durability and strength.

Abstract: A vacuum molding method for manufacturing a molded article that has a substrate material and a covering material may includes positioning the substrate material and the covering material between a first molding surface of a first die and a second molding surface of a second die, and closing the first and second dies. The die closing step comprises engaging at least a portion of the periphery of the second die with the first die with interleaving the covering material and the substrate material therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to manufacturing thermoplastic material containers (2) with a petaloid bottom (4) by drawing-blowing hot preforms (16) in a blowing mold that has a petaloid mold bottom (1) including radiating ridges (13) alternating with cavities (11) that are adapted to form the valleys (7) and the feet (5), respectively, of the container bottom; during drawing, heat losses are reduced in longitudinal zones (19) of the end part (20) of the preforms, extending over the bottom (18) and over an axial portion of their body (21), distributed over the periphery of the ends of the preforms facing respective cavities (11) of the mold bottom (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for keeping a tuyere passing through a metallurgical vessel free of a skull by intermittendly passing an oxygen-containing gas through the tuyere to dissolve the skull, wherein it is determined that an interval for passing said oxygen-containing gas through the tuyere needs to be started by detecting electromagnetic radiation emanating from a spot in the interior of the melt by means of a dual wavelength pyrometer and comparing the intensity of the pyrometer signals with the ratio of the pyrometer signals, and initiating said interval for passing said oxygen-containing gas through the tuyere, upon the condition that the combined intensity of the signals falls below a predetermined threshold value and that the ratio of the signals remains substantially constant.

Abstract: An impact pad for a bottom lining of a metallurgical vessel, such as a ladle. The impact pad reduces wear to side walls of the metallurgical vessel by controlling the flow of an incoming stream of molten metal to minimize splashing and turbulence. The impact pad includes a frame portion and a bottom wall portion. The frame portion and bottom wall portion define an interior cavity for receiving the stream of molten metal.