Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for etching carbon fibers, in particular carbon nanofibers and to the carbon nanofibres obtainable by this method, and the use thereof.

Abstract: Cellulose acetate fibers can be modified to have physical imperfections and then incorporated into cigarette filter plugs as filtering materials. Cellulose acetate fiber modification can be achieved by etching with a gas phase etchant or a liquid phase etchant comprising hydrogen peroxide. Modification of cellulose acetate fibers may be performed at various stages during the manufacture of cigarette filter plugs. Furthermore, cigarette filter plugs containing modified cellulose acetate fibers can also have spaced apart slits along the length of the cigarette filter plugs.

Abstract: A two-sided carbon nanostructure thermal interface material having a flexible polymer matrix; an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a first surface of the flexible polymer matrix; and an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a second surface of the flexible polymer matrix, wherein the first and second surfaces are opposite sides of the flexible polymer matrix.

Abstract: A method of forming a core for and forming a composite wiring board. The core has an electrically conductive coating on at least one face of a dielectric substrate. At least one opening is formed through the substrate extending from one face to the other and through each conductive coating. An electrically conductive material is dispensed in each of the openings extending through the conducting coating. At least a portion of the surface of the conductive coating on one face is removed to allow a nub of the conductive material to extend above the substrate face and any remaining conductive material to thereby form a core that can be electrically joined face-to-face with a second core member or other circuitized structure.

Abstract: An end portion of an optical fiber element 11 is dipped into an etchant to shape that portion of the fiber element immersed in said etchant into a coaxial reduced-diameter portion by etching while causing that portion of the fiber element where the etchant rising to a certain height above the level surface of the etchant due to surface tension into a conical tapered surface portion which is formed between the reduced-diameter portion and un-etched portion of the fiber element, and subsequently thereafter, the reduced-diameter portion is cut to have a very short length thereof remained.

Abstract: A method of fabricating microstructural components, microparts assemblies and microparts is disclosed. The method includes fabricating a unidirectional metal matrix composite made of materials selected to allow precise etching of different structural elements of the given composite without damage to each other. Cutting a composite to form slices or sections. Etching a matrix entirely out will produce wide assortment of microparts. Partial removal of matrix will form an array of microprotrusions protruding from a substrate. Etching out the microprotrusions cores will form hollow microprotrusions. The method of invention is suitable for fabricating of variety of microcomponents. For example: microneedles—a medical microdevice component having micron features, arrays of high strength micropins and micropunches, and precisely controlled unique microstructural surfaces.

Abstract: One method of the present invention relates to a method for enhancing adhesion of spraying metal to a ceramic model. The method is comprised of providing the ceramic model having a spray surface, and modifying at least a portion of the spray surface if the ceramic model to enhance adhesion of spray metal to the spray surface.

Abstract: Complex features and fine details are created in a carbon containing work piece by photolithography. A mask layer is deposited by evaporation onto the work piece. A desired pattern is created on the mask layer. The pattern is etched into the work piece and the remaining portion of the mask layer is dissolved.

Abstract: Method for making a mesh-and-plate surgical implant includes the steps of applying maskant to first and second faces of a metal sheet, selectively ablating the maskant on both faces, affixing a first tape to the first face to cover same and maskant thereon, but leaving an exposed portion for a screw hole, affixing a second tape to the second face to cover-same and maskant thereon, etching the first face screw hole portion to form a crater, removing the first tape, etching the crater and other exposed portions of the first face, removing the second tape, etching opposite the crater and other exposed portions of the second face to provide openings in communication with the crater, and other second face openings extending to the first face, and removing remaining maskant to provide the implant configured to include a pliable mesh portion and a rigid plate portion, and having a screw hole therein.

Abstract: A page-wide inkjet print head is formed by assembling individual glass fiber tube sections, which are then sintered together drawn to thin or neck the diameter of the orifices, slicing the glass tube sections and depositing individual semiconductor control circuits in or approximate to the top of the glass tube sections. Ink reservoirs can supply water based ink that flows through the glass tube sections but which is held in place by capillary action. Ink is ejected by heating a semiconductor resistive element deposited into one open end of the tube section so as to cause the ink to be ejected onto a print medium.

Abstract: Compositions, systems and methods are described for condensed phase conversion and growth of nanorods and other materials. A composition includes a plurality of nanorods that define a local volume, said local volume including a fraction, said plurality of nanorods within at least said fraction of said local volume interrelated to define (a) a substantially random distribution of intersection angles between said plurality of nanorods and (b) a localized packing density greater than 50% of a theoretical maximum packing density, which does not account for any voids within said plurality of nanorods. A method includes providing a condensed phase matrix material; and activating the condensed phase matrix material to produce a plurality of nanorods by condensed phase conversion growth. The compositions are very strong.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for replenishing adhesion promoting baths from an unstable state without discarding the bath. Methods of adhesion promoting substrates, such as printed wiring boards, using the replenished baths are also disclosed.

Abstract: Simplified continuous processes are disclosed for converting standard woven or nonwoven fabric into reflectorized fabric in a continuous fashion and in bulk quantities. These processes are easily capable of achieving reflectivities of well over 100 cd/(lux·m2). In the processes, an extended length of fabric is provided such as by unwinding an input roll of fabric to be reflectorized, and the fabric is passed through a station that applies a coating of binder material to the fabric. The fabric then passes through a station where aluminum-coated beads are applied to the coating of binder material. An etching station removes exposed portions of the aluminum coating from the beads after the binder material is allowed to substantially solidify. End-use materials other than fabrics but suitable for enhancing personal conspicuity can be reflectorized in the same way.

Abstract: A method for producing stable atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasmas using RF excitation and the use of said plasmas for modifying the surface layer of materials. The plasma generated by this process and its surface modification capability depend on the type of gases used and their chemical reactivity. These plasmas can be used for a variety of applications, including etching of organic material from the surface layer of inorganic substrates, as an environmentally benign alternative to industrial cleaning operations which currently employ solvents and degreasers, as a method of stripping paint from surfaces, for the surface modification of composites prior to adhesive bonding operations, for use as a localized etcher of electronic boards and assemblies and in microelectronic fabrication, and for the sterilization of tools used in medical applications.

Abstract: A method for producing stable atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasmas using RF excitation and the use of said plasmas for modifying the surface layer of materials. The plasma generated by this process and its surface modification capability depend on the type of gases used and their chemical reactivity. These plasmas can be used for a variety of applications, including etching of organic material from the surface layer of inorganic substrates, as an environmentally benign alternative to industrial cleaning operations which currently employ solvents and degreasers, as a method of stripping paint from surfaces, for the surface modification of composites prior to adhesive bonding operations, for use as a localized etcher of electronic boards and assemblies and in microelectronic fabrication, and for the sterilization of tools used in medical applications.

Abstract: Polyimide is used with a semiconductor wafer with a number of dies with circuitry formed thereon. A layer of polyimide is formed on the semiconductor wafer. The wafer is inspected to determine whether the layer of polyimide was formed in a desired pattern. Based on the results of the inspection, the layer of polyimide is removed. A layer of polyimide is removed from a semiconductor substrate with circuitry formed thereon. The semiconductor substrate is provided in a container with a solvent. Energy is introduced to the substrate from a frequency-based energy source. A rinse agent is applied to the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a process which assures a large etching selectivity for resist mask or interlayer insulating film and excellent anisotropy and results in lesser particle contamination and after-corrosion by mainly constituting, with a decomposition byproduct of resist mask, a side wall protection film material which is indispensable for anisotropic etching in the plasma etching of an Al-based metal and by enhancing ion impact resistance and radical attack resistance through reinforcement of film quality to obtain sufficient side wall protection film even when an amount of deposition of the side wall protection film is reduced.

Abstract: A method of making a patterned conductive textile is provided by depositing a conductive polymer film on the fabric to provide a resistivity of 1000 ohms per square or less, coating selected areas of the fabric with a protective film, to protect the conductive polymer from a chemical etching agent, to provide an oxygen barrier and to retain areas of high conductivity, applying a chemical etching agent to the fabric thereby degrading the conductive polymer film on areas of the fabric which have not been coated with the protective film and create areas of low conductivity and rinsing the fabric to remove any residual etching agent.

Abstract: A polymer substrate is plated with a metal, using metallic filler particles in the polymer as anchorage points for a layer of metal formed by an electroless plating operation. The polymer has a filler that includes non-metallic filler particles and metallic filler particles; the non-metallic filler particles contiguous to the polymer surface can be etched away, so as to expose metallic filler particles proximate to the etched surfaces. The exposed metallic filler particles serve as anchorage points for the electroless plate layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a water-repellent surface, including steps of preparing a mixture by mixing a curable liquid with a needle-like material, applying the mixture onto a surface of an object, curing a liquid of the applied mixture and forming an applied layer in which the needle-like material has been mixed on a base material of the cured liquid of the mixture, forming pits and projections of the needle-like material on a surface of the applied layer by etching the applied layer under a condition where an etching rate of the base material is larger than that of the needle-like material, and coating the surface of the applied layer with a water-repellent substance.

Abstract: A patterned conductive textile is provided by depositing a conductive polymer film on the fabric to provide a resistivity of 1000 ohms per square or less, coating selected areas of the fabric with a protective film, to protect the conductive polymer from a chemical etching agent, to provide an oxygen barrier and to retain areas of high conductivity, applying a chemical etching agent to the fabric thereby degrading the conductive polymer film on areas of the fabric which have not been coated with the protective film and create areas of low conductivity and rinsing the fabric to remove any residual etching agent.

Abstract: A production method for implanted hair articles including superfine fibers is disclosed in which the tension and nerve are strong, hair falling is eliminated, and a high grade appearance and flexibility are given. Composite fibers composed of fiber-forming polymers of a plurality of components having an identical or different solubilities for a chemical or solvent are processed into piles P, the piles P are subjected to hair implantation on a face of a base material 4 on which an adhesive for hair implantation is applied and are dried, subsequently a chemical reaction suppressing agent 5 for the above-mentioned chemical or solvent is coated on the hair implantation face of the base material 4, and thereafter the above-mentioned chemical or solvent is used to dissolve and treat components having larger solubilities of the piles P, or each of the components is subjected to a peeling treatment, whereby only portions other than roots of the above-mentioned piles P are divided into each of the polymers.

Abstract: A probe device is fabricated from a glass fiber segment by first isotropically etching only a portion of the diameter of only a bottom region thereof. Next, the bottom region is cleaved, to produce a cleaved bottom endface. Then the cleaved endface and a height of the sidewalls of the bottom region that is less than its total height are coated with a protective masking layer. The fiber segment is immersed in an isotropic etching solution, whereby its diameter is reduced. Finally, the masking layer is stripped off, and the bottom region is etched again until the (maximum) diameter of the cleaved endface is reduced to a desired value.

Abstract: An elongated fixture handle member is connected to a fixture body member with both members having interconnecting longitudinal central axial bores for the passage of an optical cable therethrough. The axial bore of the fixture body member, however, terminates in a shoulder stop for the outer end of a jacket of the optical cable covering both an optical fiber and a coating therefor, with an axial bore of reduced diameter continuing from the shoulder stop forward for a predetermined desired length to the outer end of the fixture body member. A subsequent insertion of the fixture body member including the above optical fiber elements into a chemical stripping solution results in a softening of the exposed external coating thereat which permits easy removal thereof from the optical fiber while leaving a desired length coated fiber intact within the fixture body member.