Abstract: Cylindrical devices (frits) are prepared by embedding aminoalkyl- or mercaptoalkyl-modified Controlled Pore Glass (CPG) in high-density polyethylene. Methods and devices pertaining to their use in the synthesis of nucleic acids are described. A reusable synthesis column or a reusable 96-chamber synthesis plate have been designed to hold one to 96 of the said frits that are inserted reproducibly into the synthesis chambers with a frit insertor. A short gas surpressure is required to drive entry of chemical reagents into the said frit. Reagents are retained into the frit until a second, longer surpressure is applied to drain the said reagents.

Abstract: A method of making a fuser roller comprising: providing a fuser roller an outer layer comprising a fluorothermoplastic polymer; and annealing the outer surface of the outer layer through contact the outer layer by means of heat and pressure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hollow plastic product. The method includes the steps of forming a reinforce member in a desired shape having a defined welding surface formed with a first hole by injection molding; forming a hollow main body by blow molding using said reinforce member as an insert, thereby having said reinforce member integrally formed with said hollow main body and having a portion of said hollow main body extended into said first hole in the shape of a mesa when blow-molded; thermally welding a top end surface of a connector pipe to said welding surface and also to a top surface of said mesa shaped portion; and forming a second hole in said top surface of said mesa shaped portion to be aligned with said second hole, thereby forming a fluidic communication passage between an interior of said hollow main body and an interior of said connector pipe.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a thermoplastic resin film that can suppress the occurrence of color nonuniformity in the produced thermoplastic resin film even when the film is incorporated into liquid crystal display devices and exposed to high temperature and high humidity over time. Heat treatment is conducted for the thermoplastic resin film at a temperature of Tg?30° C. or higher and Tg+20° C. or lower, Tg representing the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin, for 10 seconds to 600 seconds while conveying the thermoplastic resin film at a tension of 2 N/cm2 to 120 N/cm2.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously polishing the inner and outer surfaces of an unpolished polymeric stent using a heat process. The unpolished stent can be mounted, for example, on a “spiral-mandrel,” a tubular helical structure with gaps in between a series of coils of the structure. Heat from a heat source can then applied to the spiral-mandrel at a range between the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of the polymer of the stent.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell involves forming a tubular anode comprising an electrolyte substance and an oxide of an electrochemically active metallic substance without a distinct pore forming substance, sintering the tubular anode, forming an electrolyte onto the sintered anode, forming a cathode onto the electrolyte, and after forming the electrolyte and the cathode, reducing the oxide of the electrochemically active substance in the sintered anode to form pores in the anode.

Abstract: The method first provides a tubular outer member, a tubular inner member, and a head cap. Then, the inner member is threaded into the outer member and sealed inside by the head cap. The assembly is then placed in a mold, heated, and pressurized into a baseball bat. Due to its dual-layered structure, the baseball bat is capable of delivering superior performance and shock absorption. A material different from that of the outer and inner members could be further stuffed between the outer and inner members.

Abstract: A method comprising disposing an active device comprising a shape memory polymer upon a first surface; wherein the active device is operative to change at least one physical attribute in response to a thermal activation signal; activating the active device with a thermal activation signal to substantially decrease its modulus, contacting and compressing the active device with a second surface, and cooling the device to set a compressed geometry. In another embodiment, a method comprising disposing an active device comprising a shape memory polymer in a gap between two opposing surfaces; wherein the active device is operative to exhibit a memorized shape in response to a thermal activation signal; activating the active device with a thermal activation signal to increase a dimension of the active device; filling the gap between the opposing surfaces, and cooling the device to set a new gap filling dimension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing hydrophobic hollow natural fibres, in particular vegetable hollow natural fibres and more particularly kapok fibres, to form material, and to a material obtainable by such a method. The invention furthermore relates to “the use of such a?naterial as absorption medium for apolar substances and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A monofilament obtained by smelt-spinning and stretching of a vinylidene fluoride resin is subjected to a high-temperature relaxation treatment for an extremely short period of 0.05-0.5 sec. within a high-temperature heating oil bath at a temperature of 140-175° C., thereby producing a vinylidene fluoride resin monofilament, which comprises a vinylidene fluoride resin having an inherent viscosity of at least 1.40 dl/g, and has a knot strength (JIS L1013) of at least 600 MPa and excellent anti-twist property represented by a twist index of at least 0.90 when measured after the monofilament being subjected to application for 1 minute of a tensile load equal to approximately 50% of a maximum tensile load (JIS K7113), removal of the load, and standing for 3 hours.

Abstract: The present invention is a process and apparatus for conserving loss of heat while forming and crystallizing polymer particles in a liquid. The cooling liquid quenches the polymer during particle molding to facilitate shaping. The cooling liquid cools the polymer particles not below a temperature that allows adequate crystallization to occur. Cooling liquid is quickly switched with a warming liquid, so the temperature of the polymer is in the crystallization range and the heat of crystallization self-heats the polymer to a higher temperature.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film having a water vapor permeability at 40° C. and 90% RH of from 100 to 400 g/(m2·day), of which the water vapor permeability change after kept at 60° C. and 95% RH for 1000 hours is from ?100 g/(m2·day) to 10 g/(m2·day). This film is an excellent optical compensatory film.

Abstract: There is provided a thermoplastic resin film having a retardation close to 0 nm, in particular, a thermoplastic resin film having a retardation close to 0 nm, thereby showing a small optical anisotropy, and a method for producing the same. The method for producing a thermoplastic resin film includes a step of heat treating a thermoplastic resin film 16 at a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin Tg° C. or higher and Tg+50° C. or lower for 10 seconds or longer and 600 seconds or shorter while conveying the thermoplastic resin film at a tension of 2 N/cm2 or higher and 50 N/cm2 or lower, whereby the thermoplastic resin film 16 has an in-plane retardation (Re) and a retardation in the thickness direction (Rth) close to 0 nm, respectively.

Abstract: A microporous polymeric membrane having excellent properties for use as a battery separator is provided. The membrane is produced by heat-setting the microporous polymeric membrane in at least a first stage and a final stage, the first stage being upstream of the final stage and the temperature of the first stage being at least 15° C. cooler than the temperature of the final stage.

Abstract: A solid state foaming process permits the use of up to 100% recycled pre- and post-consumer polymer for the manufacture of foamed polymer material and thermoformed foamed polymer articles. The process enables the optional formation of integral unfoamed skins of controllable depth and crystallinity on foamed polymeric materials suitable for a wide variety of applications. Because this process does not alter the underlying chemistry of the material all scrap from the manufacturing process may be reused without additive to form new foamed polymeric materials and articles.

Abstract: A cellulous acylate film in which X-ray diffractive intensity satisfies the following Formulae (I) to (V) and in which a half-value width of the peak at 2?2 is 2.8° or less as observed in the sectional view in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the film: 0.60?Ici/Ico ??Formula (I) Iam=I1+{(I3?I1)/(2?3?2?1)}×(2?2?2?1) ??Formula (II) Ic=I2?Iam ??Formula (III) Ici=Ic11/Ic12 ??Formula (IV) Ico={(Ic21/Ic22)+(Ic31/Ic32)}/2.

Abstract: A bumper for protecting a contact point of a surface from engagement with an object and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The bumper includes a shell having first and second ends, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a passageway through the shell between the first and second ends. A resilient material is positioned in the passageway and extends between the first end and the second end of the shell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a cleaning implement suitable for hard surface cleaning comprising heat-compressing a melamine foam at about 250° C. to about 300° C., for about 1 minute to below about 3 minutes.

Abstract: There is provided in the present invention a material for transfer of a substance in a liquid, which can trap/remove an objective substance contained in drainage water, waste water or a liquid at a limited area, and also can readily retrieve the polymer after trapping the objective substance from the liquid. The present invention relates to the material for transfer of a substance in a liquid containing a polymer blend comprising an amine-based polymer and a hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described which allow medical devices containing shape memory polymers to be stored and/or transported without temperature control. Temperature control can be used to inhibit activation of shape memory polymers. Embodiments of methods described herein include activating shape memory polymers while within packaging which inhibits shape change due to activation. Packaging systems are also described herein.

Abstract: The present invention is a process and apparatus for conserving loss of heat while forming and crystallizing polymer particles in a liquid. The cooling liquid quenches the polymer during particle molding to facilitate shaping. The cooling liquid cools the polymer particles not below a temperature that allows adequate crystallization to occur. Cooling liquid is quickly switched with a warming liquid, so the temperature of the polymer is in the crystallization range and the heat of crystallization self-heats the polymer to a higher temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for making a molded plastic article having a stretched and crystallized neck finish. In one embodiment, a series of platforms are carried by a conveying apparatus for transporting a series of molded plastic articles along a predetermined path of travel through one or more treatment stations. At a finish widening station, the molded article, having a relatively wide and thin-walled blow-molded body portion, and a relatively narrow and thick-walled unexpanded neck finish portion, is positioned to enable insertion of a mandrel into an open top aperture of the finish portion to widen the finish. The mandrel may include a lower heated tapered portion for expanding the finish, and an upper cooled body portion on which the expanded finish may be cooled. The article may then be sent to a finish crystallizing station having a heating device that heats the widened finish portion for a time and temperature selected to crystallize at least a portion of the widened finish.

Abstract: An imprinting stamper which can transfer a microscopic pattern to a medium bearing a convex area or local projection, with high accuracy. A convexo-concave pattern is formed on a surface of the imprinting stamper. It includes a pattern layer having the convexo-concave pattern; and a stamper backside layer arranged on a backside of the pattern layer. Young's modulus of the pattern layer is 500 MPa to 10 GPa; and Young's modulus of the stamper backside layer is smaller than Young's modulus of the pattern layer.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell involves forming a tubular anode comprising an electrolyte substance and an oxide of an electrochemically active metallic substance without a distinct pore forming substance, sintering the tubular anode, forming an electrolyte onto the sintered anode, forming a cathode onto the electrolyte, and after forming the electrolyte and the cathode, reducing the oxide of the electrochemically active substance in the sintered anode to form pores in the anode.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a packaging and applicator device comprising: a body; a block of fluidizable substance that is stationary relative to the body while the substance is in the solid state, said block of substance projecting beyond the body to define at least one surface serving as an applicator surface; and a reshaper member for reshaping the applicator surface, said reshaper member being positionable on the body to co-operate therewith to define at least one cavity into which the substance can flow when fluidized by supplying heat, the substance retaining the shape of the cavity when it returns to the solid state after cooling.

Abstract: A two-nib crayon includes two crayon halves of different colors, each crayon half including a flat end and a nib end. The flat ends are fused together to form an integrated one-piece structure such that the respective nib ends are disposed in opposing relation. The two-nib crayon makes learning exercises using a color activity more fun.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular fabric sleeve having a backing made at least in part from a material having a lower melting point than material used for the pile of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve. The seamless, tubular fabric sleeve is placed onto a cylindrical member, and heat is applied to cause the material having the lower melting point in the backing be activated to cause the backing of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve to remain in a cylindrical configuration. The activated tubular knitted pile fabric may be finished into paint roller covers by combing and shearing the pile fabric to a desired length, beveling the edges of the paint roller covers, and vacuuming stray fibers from the paint roller covers.

Abstract: A method is provided for annealing a polymer for an orthopaedic implant by immersing the polymer in a liquid bath.

Abstract: A transparent, reinforced, composite polymeric fiber that has a polymeric body portion made from a first thermoplastic polymer that is transparent to visible light. The fiber includes polymeric reinforcement elements embedded within the polymeric body portion. The polymeric body portion extends between and about the polymeric reinforcement elements. Each polymeric reinforcement element is formed from a second thermoplastic polymer that is transparent to visible light. The peripheral portion and outer surface of the polymeric body portion defines a peripheral portion and outer surface, respectively, of the transparent, reinforced, composite polymeric fiber. A plurality of the fibers are formed into an array that is processed with a consolidation process to form a transparent, reinforced, composite structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gas, including: providing a columnar body including porous ceramic and having a wall portion and through holes partitioned by the wall portion, the through holes extending in a length direction of the columnar body, coating a sealing material including one or more organic components over a circumferential surface of the columnar body to form a sealing material layer; and heating the columnar body having the sealing material layer on the circumferential surface of the columnar body at a temperature sufficient to lower a total weight of the organic component with respect to a total weight of the honeycomb filter, V?.

Abstract: A process and a device for producing hollow bodies of plastic by stretch-blow molding heated parisons, in which the parisons are inspected before being heated and at least some of the defective parisons are heated and are not separated out until after being heated. This method and the respective device can be implemented at low cost and with low space requirements and it has only a minor negative effect on output of finished hollow bodies.

Abstract: A process for applying an interface coating includes the step of applying an interface coating material upon at least one surface of a fiber-based substrate. The interface coating material may be composed of a sizing agent, a ceramic powder and optionally at least one of the following agents: a dispersing agent, a deflocculating agent or a surface wetting agent.

Abstract: A method for making a bonded nonwoven fibrous web comprising extruding melt blown fibers of a polymeric material, collecting the melt blown fibers as an initial nonwoven fibrous web, annealing the initial nonwoven fibrous web with a controlled heating and cooling operation, and collecting the dimensionally stable bonded nonwoven fibrous web is described. The bonded nonwoven fibrous web shrinkage is typically less than 4 percent relative to the initial nonwoven fibrous web.

Abstract: An LuAP scintillation detector and a method for improving the light output and uniformity of an LuAP scintillator crystal is provided, wherein the method includes disposing the scintillator crystal in a predetermined environment at a threshold temperature to generate an initial scintillator crystal, annealing the initial scintillator crystal in the predetermined environment at the threshold temperature to create an annealed scintillator crystal and cooling the annealed scintillator crystal in the predetermined environment to a final temperature.

Abstract: A method of producing a green form for use in manufacturing a composite, ceramic ion transport membrane is provided in which first and second ceramic powder mixtures are used to produce first and second layers of the green form. The first and second ceramic powder mixtures have ceramic particles and a pore former. After formation of each of the first and second layers or after formation of the second layer, heat is applied to burn out the binder and form pores. This heating is completed prior to application of a dense layer to prevent production of defects within the dense layer. The dense layer contains an ion transport material. Defects are also prevented by grading particle size from the first layer to the dense layer. This allows the second intermediate layer to fill in larger pores of the first layer and to present a smooth surface to the dense layer. Additionally, the second ceramic powder mixture contains in part material used in forming the dense layer for thermal expansion compatibility purposes.

Abstract: Method for fabricating a structure in the form of a plate, and structure in the form of a plate, in particular formed from silicon, including at least one substrate, a superstrate and at least one intermediate layer interposed between the substrate and the superstrate, in which the intermediate layer comprises at least one base material having distributed therein atoms or molecules termed extrinsic atoms or molecules which differ from the atoms or molecules of the base material, and in which a heat treatment is applied to said plate so that, in the temperature range of said heat treatment, the intermediate layer is plastically deformable and the presence of the selected extrinsic atoms or molecules in the selected base material causes the irreversible formation of micro-bubbles or micro-cavities in the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A method for producing bottle-type containers made of a synthetic resin, e.g., polyethylene-terephthalate resin, includes a heat treatment step for heating and crystallizing a neck portion of a perform corresponding to a neck portion of a container. In a first stage of the heat treatment step, the neck portion of the perform is temporarily heated to a temperature below a melting point of the synthetic resin, e.g., approximately 200° C. to 230° C. in the case of polyethylene terephthalate resin. In a subsequent second stage, the neck portion is maintained at a temperature within a range in which crystallization of the synthetic resin is promoted, e.g. approximately 170° C. to 195° C. in the case of polyethylene terephthalate resin.

Abstract: Process for the production of plastic blister packs, the top portion of which (PVAL) is subjected to thermal treatment in a furnace, and the apparatus for producing it is of the horizontal type.

Abstract: A method for removing supports from a three-dimensional objected formed by selective deposition modeling. The three-dimensional object is formed from a curable phase change material and the supports are formed from a non-curable phase change material. The curable phase change material contains between about 5% to about 25% of a non-reactive wax in order to achieve the desired phase change characteristics of the material. When removing the supports with heat, discoloration undesirably occurs in the three-dimensional object as the non-reactive wax migrates within the object. The method prevents wax migration by cooling the object slowly past the freezing point of the build material such that a temperature differential no greater than about 5° C. is present within the object. With the preferred build material having a freezing point of about 49.5° C., this is achieved by lowering the temperature between about 62° C. to about 52° C.

Abstract: Crystallizable polyester compositions containing an aliphatic polyamide crystallization nucleator exhibit controllable and adjustable crystallization rates upon cooling from the melt and are thermoformable in melt to mold processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous drawing of fibers in the form of coiled fiber loops (e.g., polygonal or serpentine loops). The successive fiber loops are continuously laid on receiving ends of a plurality of conveyer-drawing members (CDM) [e.g., rotating threaded spindles (54) or circulating endless chains (80) and (108)] disposed about a central axis and diverged from this axis. Coiled fiber loops are conveyed along the central axis and simultaneously drawn by enlarging a circumference of the fiber loops by the CDM. The leading fiber loops are continuously taken off at delivery ends of the CDM and conveyed from the drawing apparatus at an outlet speed. Heat chambers (11) and (148) envelop at least the most part of CDM. The process can operate at low drawing speed and long drawing time typical for lab-scale experiments and equal or higher outlet speed and throughput typical for commercial drawing processes.

Abstract: A highly white and highly moisture absorptive and desorptive fibrous structure where a moisture absorptive and desorptive synthetic fiber having a saturated index of moisture absorption of 10% by weight or more at 20° C. and 65% RH is blended, characterised in that, degree of whiteness of said fibrous structure in terms of indication method described in JIS Z 8729 is that L* is 90 or more, a* is within a range of ±2 and b* is within a range of ±10 and durability of whiteness degree against washing after washing for ten times is class 3-4 or higher.

Abstract: The present invention is a process and apparatus for conserving loss of heat while forming and crystallizing polymer particles in a liquid. The cooling liquid quenches the polymer during particle molding to facilitate shaping. The cooling liquid cools the polymer particles not below a temperature that allows adequate crystallization to occur. Cooling liquid is quickly switched with a warming liquid, so the temperature of the polymer is in the crystallization range and the heat of crystallization self-heats the polymer to a higher temperature.

Abstract: A method of preparing a plasticised particulate polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composition is provided, comprising: mixing, in a mixer, at a mixer speed and for a time sufficient that the mixture attains a temperature of at least 50° C.: particulate PVA resin in an amount from 80% to 90% by weight of the mixture; and plasticiser in an amount from 10% to 20% by weight of the mixture, wherein at least a portion of the plasticiser is water; monitoring the apparent viscosity of the mixture during mixing and continuing mixing until the apparent viscosity of the mixture has peaked to a maximum and dropped off to a substantially constant level, thereby to obtain a plasticised particulate mixture having a moisture content in the range from 7% to 14%; preferably adding an anti-caking agent in an amount from 0.05% to 0.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for repairing and removing scratches from an optically-read disc, e. g., compact discs (often called “CD's” or “DVD's” such that when refurbished, an optical reader, which uses a laser to read digital information stored on the disc, can read the digital information on the disc without the optical distortion caused by a scratch and like surface imperfection.

Abstract: A method of preparing an ion-conducting material, for example membrane, having reduced sensitivity to water includes a step of treating an ion-conducting polymeric material (especially a sulphonated polyaryletherketone and/or sulphone) which has at least some crystallinity or which is crystallizable with a means to increase its crystallinity. The ion-conducting material prepared may be used in a Membrane Electrode Assembly of a fuel cell.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for manufacturing transparent mirrored spheroidal mini-balls for solar energy and related applications such as optical switches. For these applications it is imperative to provide accurate specular reflection from the mirror. Various means are described for maintaining the desired mirror flatness and avoiding warping, buckling, etc. of the mirror surface during manufacture. The mini-balls are in the size range of 4 microns (4×10?6 m) to 10 centimeters (10?1 m), and are transparent in at least one hemisphere. They preferably have a reflecting mid-plane mirror, though they can also be mirrored on a flat top of the ball.

Abstract: A process for making a fluid processing module is provided wherein a plurality of filtration elements is alternated with a fluid porous layer to form a stack. The filtration elements comprise a membrane sheet having a thermoplastic element bonded to a portion of an edge of the membrane. An opening is provided either through the membrane or through the thermoplastic element. A portion of the thermoplastic element extends into the opening and can be sealed to an adjacent positioned thermoplastic element to seal the porous sheet positioned between adjacently positioned membranes from fluid communication with the opening. Sealing can be effected by extending a heating element through the opening of the stack to effect simultaneous sealing of a plurality of thermoplastic elements.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a support member having a flat surface adapted to receive and support a seam region of a flexible belt comprising thermoplastic polymer material having a predetermined glass transition temperature, a heatable member having a smooth heatable flat surface for compressing at least a portion of the seam region of a flexible belt placed on the smooth flat surface of the support member to heat the portion to at least the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic polymer material, the smooth surface of the heatable member having a profile which is parallel to the smooth flat surface of the support member, and wherein the heatable flat surface comprises a low surface energy or abhesive material.

Abstract: In stereolithographic apparatus and method, a mask is formed on a light-transmissible member (glass plate) on the basis of stereolithographic data for one layer of photohardenable resin; photohardenable resin of one layer is successively supplied to form an unhardened resin layer of photohardenable resin; if necessary, a film having light transmission is attached onto the unhardened resin layer so as to cover the unhardened resin layer in close contact with the unhardened resin layer; the light-transmissible member having the mask on or above the film; the unhardened resin layer is plane-exposed to light through the mask to harden the photohardenable resin of the unhardened resin layer; and the light-transmissible member and the film are evacuated from the hardened photohardenable resin layer after the exposure by the exposure means, thereby obtaining a desired three-dimensional object through stereolithography. As the photohardenable resin may be used having a melting temperature ranging from 5 to 90° C.