Abstract: A method for forming a tip for a carbon nanotube wire is introduced. The method includes the following steps. A carbon nanotube wire is provided. A laser beam irradiates the carbon nanotube wire until the carbon nanotube wire is broken off such that the carbon nanotube wire forms a taper-shaped tip. A scan power of the laser beam is in a range from about 1 watt to about 10 watts. A scan speed of the laser beam is equal to or less than 200 millimeters per second.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by heating the forming material in a state where the forming material is positioned on a forming surface of a forming mold to a temperature permitting deformation of the forming material to bring a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface. The heating is conducted by positioning the forming mold, on which the forming material has been positioned, beneath heat source(s) radiating radiant heat in a state where a plate-shaped member the outermost surface of which is comprised of a metal material is positioned above the upper surface of the forming material.

Abstract: An air filter including a plurality of air-pervious sheets of electret filtration material. The sheets are disposed in a parallel relationship to form a stack of sheets, and each of the sheets has a plurality of slits formed therein for subsequent expanding to form openings. The stack is connected together at opposing ends, such as by bonding. The sheets can be pleated by mounting in a frame. The frame has opposing ends to which the opposing ends of the stack are mounted. The filter media initially has no frame and is not pleated, but is in a flat pad form that is expanded to be installed into a frame. The frame is then mounted in an appliance, such as a room air filter. When the filter is inserted into the filter housing it is expanded and can take a pleated form.

Abstract: Methods for shaping tissue matrices are provided. The methods can be used to produce shaped tissue products that retain desired biologic properties without using chemical crosslinking agents.

Abstract: A molding machine for manufacturing an optical film includes a hopper, a first cylindrical roller, a second cylindrical roller, and an ultraviolet light source. The hopper defines a narrow outlet. The first cylindrical roller is rotatable around its central axis parallel to the narrow outlet. The second cylindrical roller is a transparent hollow structure rotatable around its second central axis. The first central axis is parallel to the second central axis at the same level. The first and second cylindrical rollers are located at two opposite sides of the narrow outlet and below the narrow outlet, and define a gap therebetween to feed the raw material. The ultraviolet light source is located in the second cylindrical roller. An emission direction of the ultraviolet light source is orientated toward a space between the narrow outlet and the second cylindrical roller.

Abstract: An apparatus (10, 10?) and a machine (100) for reforming a portion of a plastic package (50) using induction heating. The apparatus and machine comprise a frame (20) engaging the plastic package and a workpiece support (40) having an electrically conducting workpiece (44, 48, 102). An induction workhead (62) provides an alternating current power supply to an induction element (60, 104). The induction element is positioned proximate the workpiece of the workpiece support and heats the workpiece via induction. A mechanism (22) positions the plastic package proximate the heated workpiece so that the workpiece transfers heat to the portion of the plastic package thereby softening the portion. A forming die (30) supported on the frame engages the portion to reform the portion. Also provided is a process of using the apparatus and machine to reform a portion of a plastic package using induction heating.

Abstract: Silicon semiconductor wafers are produced by pulling a single crystal at a seed crystal from a melt heated in a crucible; supplying heat to the center of the crucible bottom with a heating power which, in the course of the growth of a cylindrical section of the single crystal, is increased at least once to not less than 2 kW and is then decreased again; and slicing semiconductor wafers from the pulled single crystal.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for fabricating a polymeric stent with improved fracture toughness including radial expansion of a polymer tube along its entire length at the same time and fabricating a stent from the expanded tube are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Catheters, balloons, and methods of manufacturing balloons for balloon catheters using lasers are disclosed. A catheter with a shaft sized for use with a 0.014 inch guide wire includes a polymeric balloon having a body portion with an inflated outer diameter of more than 6 millimeters. An inflatable balloon includes an inflated outer diameter to inner waist diameter ratio of 12.5 to 1. An inflatable polymeric balloon that has a body portion with two regions that have different molecular orientations is also provided. A method of processing an elongate polymeric material includes heating a portion of the polymeric material with a laser while longitudinally stretching the portion of the polymeric material. A method of manufacturing a balloon includes heating and longitudinally stretching a first and second portion of an elongate polymeric tube to form first and second end portion. The remaining body portion is radially expanded to form the balloon.

Abstract: The invention relate to a process for forming a cured, partially cured or uncured thermosetting material, comprising: an irradiation step wherein the thermosetting material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation which to a significant extent is within the neat-infrared range in such a way that the temperature of the irradiated thermosetting material is brought to between 40° C. and 400° C., and a forming step wherein the irradiated thermosetting material is brought into a desired shape, whereby the forming step is executed during and/or subsequent to the irradiation step. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the said process and to a thermosetting material.

Abstract: A method for reshaping a nanostructure. The method includes applying a vector force to the nanostructure to obtain a desired shape and passing current through the nanostructure thereby reshaping the nanostructure to a reshaped geometry different from the initial shape. The nanostructure may additionally be cleaned.

Abstract: A golf practice mat including a surface pattern formed by thermally deforming and allowing setting of the deformed mat surface.

Abstract: A method of notching a brittle material includes forming a spot on a predetermined face of the brittle material by irradiating an area of the predetermined face with a light beam; and forming a notch in the brittle material by exfoliating a portion of the brittle material including the area from the brittle material by cooling a part of the brittle material including the area after the heating the brittle material, wherein a length of the area in an X direction of the predetermined face is smaller than a total length of the predetermined face in the X direction, and a length of the light beam spot in a Y direction of the predetermined face is equal to a total length of the predetermined face in the Y direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer.

Abstract: A medical device in which a part to be secondarily shaped comprises a molded silicone rubber article is subjected to heatless shaping by irradiation with electron-rays. The irradiation with electron-rays enables shaping and, furthermore, sterilization under some conditions. In a medical device comprising a part in which at least a silicone rubber is used and the mechanical properties of the silicone rubber preferentially appear, the shape of the above-described part upon molding is deformed with the use of a correcting member to a level exceeding the desired deformed shape and maintained in this state. Next, electron-ray irradiation is conducted in this state and then the correcting member is eliminated. Thus, the desired deformed shape intermediate between the shape upon the molding and the shape upon the electron-ray irradiation can be obtained.

Abstract: An improved method of imprint lithography involves using fluid-induced pressure from electric or magnetic fields to press a mold onto a substrate having a moldable surface. In essence, the method comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a moldable surface, providing a mold having a molding surface and pressing the molding surface and the moldable surface together by electric or magnetic fields to imprint the molding surface onto the moldable surface. The molding surface advantageously comprises a plurality of projecting features of nanoscale extent or separation, but the molding surface can also be a smooth planar surface, as for planarization. The improved method can be practiced without mechanical presses and without sealing the region between the mold and the substrate.

Abstract: An adhesive sheet (S) is expanded by expanding means (20) with a plate-like article (W) being mounted to a frame (F) after dicing of the plate-like article (W) to increase spacings between individual chips (T), an expanded state of the adhesive sheet (S) is maintained by expansion maintaining means (10), so that the plate-like article (W) is able to be conveyed together with the frame (F) with the spacings between the chips (T) being maintained, thereby preventing adjacent chips (T) from interfering with each other during the conveyance. This allows the plate-like article (W) after the dicing to be conveyed together with the frame (F) without edges of the adjacent chips (T) coming into contact with each other by vibration during the conveyance to cause chipping or microcracks in the edges.

Abstract: An adhesive sheet (S) is expanded by an expanding mechanism (20) with a plate-like article (W) being mounted to a frame (F) after dicing of the plate-like article (W) to increase spacings between individual chips (T), an expanded state of the adhesive sheet (S) is maintained by an expansion maintaining device (10), so that the plate-like article (W) is able to be conveyed together with the frame (F) with the spacings between the chips (T) being maintained, thereby preventing adjacent chips (T) from interfering with each other during the conveyance. This allows the plate-like article (W), after the dicing, to be conveyed together with the frame (F) without edges of the adjacent chips (T) coming into contact with each other by vibration during the conveyance, thereby avoiding the causing of chipping or microcracks in the edges.

Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystalline fiber is disclosed. A copolymer having a liquid crystalline side group and a crosslinking side group is crosslinked. A fiber of the crosslinking copolymer is drawn before the crosslinking reaction is complete.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for raising the surface tension of biaxially-stretched films made of thermoplastic polymers. According to the method, a film is first treated on a surface by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma before being stretched transversally or simultaneously across the width thereof, and the film is additional a subjected to a second treatment by means of a corona or flame after being stretched transversally or simultaneously, the second treatment being done on the same surface which has already been plasma-treated.

Abstract: A polyester filament nonwoven ply is suitable for roofing and roof-sealing webs and has a latent shrinkage force which counteracts drafting forces which may subsequently occur as the result of stresses or during thermal processing operations. The roofing webs thus remain dimensionally stable even when exposed to heat. The shrinkage force is obtained according to the claimed process by drafting the ply accordingly in a drafting mechanism arranged after a dryer.

Abstract: The retardation film of the present invention contains at least one of an epoxy resin cured product and an epoxy (meth)acrylate resin cured product. In the retardation film of the present invention, in-plane birefringence index thereof at a wavelength of 590 nm is preferably 0.001 or more and a birefringence index in a thickness direction thereof at a wavelength of 590 nm is preferably 0.001 or more.

Abstract: A medical device such as a stent having selected regions with different material properties than other regions is disclosed. Selection and modification of the regions may be based on facilitating a desired mechanical behavior and/or therapeutic prophylactic property of the device.

Abstract: The method for producing a porous film of the present invention includes producing a stretched film by stretching a resin sheet containing at least polyolefin, and then irradiating the stretched film with a vacuum ultraviolet ray. The separator for a non-aqueous electrolyte battery of the present invention is composed of the porous film obtained by the production method of the present invention. The non-aqueous electrolyte battery of the present invention is provided with the separator for a non-aqueous electrolyte battery of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for applying microwave techniques to embroidered surgical implants including using microwave technology in the process of acetate removal and using microwave technology in the process of drying implants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a two-step process for transferring a pattern from a template (1) to a target surface of a substrate, by creating an intermediate flexible polymer stamp (5) from the template in a primary step, and then using the polymer stamp to make an imprint in a radiation-sensitive moldable layer on the target surface in a secondary step. In the secondary step, the process steps of pressing the polymer stamp and the substrate against each other, UV exposure of the moldable layer through the polymer stamp, and postbaking of the radiated moldable layer, are all performed at a control constant temperature, in order to eliminate damages to the pattern created in the moldable layer caused by thermal expansion effects.

Abstract: A microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a polyethylene resin, and polypropylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 6×105 or more and a heat of fusion of 90 J/g or more (measured by a differential scanning calorimeter), a fraction having a molecular weight of 1.8×106 or more being 10% or more by mass of the polypropylene.

Abstract: Methods for producing a carbon nanotube (CNT)/metal composite cable including preparing a CNT/metal solution, dipping a metal tip into the dispersed CNT/metal solution, and withdrawing the metal tip from the dispersed CNT/metal solution while applying an electric field between the metal tip and the dispersed CNT/metal solution, and related devices and apparatus are provided.

Abstract: Catheters, balloons, and methods of manufacturing balloons for balloon catheters using lasers are disclosed. A catheter with a shaft sized for use with a 0.014 inch guide wire includes a polymeric balloon having a body portion with an inflated outer diameter of more than 6 millimeters. An inflatable balloon includes an inflated outer diameter to inner waist diameter ratio of 12.5 to 1. An inflatable polymeric balloon that has a body portion with two regions that have different molecular orientations is also provided. A method of processing an elongate polymeric material includes heating a portion of the polymeric material with a laser while longitudinally stretching the portion of the polymeric material. A method of manufacturing a balloon includes heating and longitudinally stretching a first and second portion of an elongate polymeric tube to form first and second end portion. The remaining body portion is radially expanded to form the balloon.

Abstract: A method of forming a workpiece (18) comprises: holding the workpiece adjacent a mould (20); using a laser (30) to heat at least a part of the workpiece to a temperature sufficient induce superplasticity; and applying a fluid pressure to the workpiece, so that it takes the shape of the mould. This has the advantage that the superplastic properties of the material can be used to form the workpiece precisely to the required shape, without needing to heat all of the processing chamber to the superplastic temperature. Before using the laser to heat the workpiece to its superplastic temperature, the laser can be used to heat the whole of the workpiece to a substantially uniform temperature to anneal it. Similarly, after using the laser to superplastically form the workpiece, the laser is used to heat the whole of the workpiece to a substantially uniform temperature to remove any residual stresses.

Abstract: A textured, layered mold-formed body is produced with a foil laminate in which a top foil of at most partially crosslinked polymer materials and a sub-foil containing a polymer foam material with a density between 35 and 120 grams per liter and a gel content of less than 80 percent are laminated together. The foil laminate is embossed with a texture and treated with electron beams to give the texture enough stability for a subsequent deep-drawing step in which the mold-formed body is produced.

Abstract: To provide a spinal intervertebral disk replacement material for nucleus pulposus which is relatively superior in load resistance that causes smaller damage of the anulus fibrosus by insertion during operation, remains in the anulus fibrosus stably after operation, and also allows prevention of the damage of the vertebral body cartilage endplate and the anulus fibrosus surrounding the prosthetic portion by sliding, and a production method thereof. The present invention relates to a spinal intervertebral disk replacement material for nucleus pulposus, comprising a dry polyvinylalcohol gel having a percentage of saturated water content of 18 to 50 wt % that changes its shape at a shape deformation rate of 150 vol % or more by water absorption.

Abstract: Structurally strong composites are formed with shape memory polymer resins to create composites with shape memory properties. A system and method for using these composite structures to quickly manufacture composite products involves: 1) creating a preform composed of a shape memory polymer composite; 2) heating or otherwise activating the shape memory polymer; 3) using a mold to deform the composite material to a desired shape; 4) cooling or otherwise deactivating the shape memory polymer so that the composite structure retains the desired mold shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for calibrating an annular-shaped body which is made of thermoplastic or at least partially crystalline plastic material, to an annular-shaped body which is produced according to the method, and to an oscillating object which is used in the method. Also disclosed is an oscillating object which is used to stimulate oscillations and which is introduced into an annular-shaped body by means of axial forward motion. Localised warming of the annular-shaped body is performed until the glass transition temperature of the material thereof is exceeded by localised contact of the oscillating object with the annular-shaped body. A desired, economical internal measurement having high precision is produced when the calibration section of the oscillating body is immersed into the annular-shaped body.

Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus and method for non-contact collapsing of a porous material on a nonporous substrate.

Abstract: A thermoformed polypropylene article, or sheet for preparing such articles, is formed from a layer of substantially syndiotactic polypropylene and a thin outer layer of substantially isotactic polypropylene that is joined to the layer of syndiotactic polypropylene. At least one of the layers is a non-oriented layer. Two layers of isotactic polypropylene may be used with the layer of syndiotactic polypropylene, so that the syndiotactic polypropylene is sandwiched between the two layers of isotactic polypropylene. The use of the isotactic polypropylene enhances the processability of the syndiotactic polypropylene, which is oftentimes difficult to process because of its lower melting point and slow solidification rate. Because the sheet is comprised predominantly of syndiotactic polypropylene, utilizing only thin outer layers of isotactic polypropylene, it has better transparency and higher impact strength than those conventional articles formed entirely of isotactic polypropylene.

Abstract: A method for producing plastic moldings with a distinct grain/three-dimensional surface structure by grain-imparting negative thermoforming. The plastic molding is subjected to a preheating, and the molding is then pressed into/onto a negative mold that is formed with the negative of the three-dimensional surface structure to be applied. Those portions of the plastic molding that face away from the grain side are subjected to electron beam crosslinking before or during the preheating and the grain-imparting negative thermoforming.

Abstract: A process for shaping a body with elongate structures on its surface, bodies produced using the process, and to apparatuses having these bodies are provided. For this purpose, a preform is provided, at the surface, with structures which are elongate along one direction, the preform is heated at least in one region and the preform is drawn in the heated state until at least part of the preform has adopted a cross section which substantially corresponds to the desired cross-sectional shape or final cross-sectional shape. The preform is heated by means of radiation which has a spectral distribution which is such that at most half of the radiation power is absorbed during a single pass through the material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a percussion instrument has the steps of providing a first member into a liquid with the first member having a first diameter. The first member has a first end and a second end. The method also has the step of heating the liquid and stretching the first end of the first member into a second diameter. The method further has the steps of cooling the stretched first end and fitting a skin on the first end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of planarizing a substrate with a template spaced-apart from the substrate having a liquid disposed therebetween, the method including: contacting the liquid with the template forming a first shape therein; and impinging radiation upon the liquid causing a reduction in volume of the liquid, with the first shape compensating for the reduction in volume such that upon impinging the actinic radiation upon the liquid, the liquid forms a contoured layer having a substantially planar shape.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, features can be directly imprinted into the surface of a solid substrate. Specifically, a substrate is directly imprinted with a desired pattern by the steps of providing a mold having a molding surface to imprint the pattern, disposing the molding surface adjacent or against the substrate surface to be imprinted, and irradiating the substrate surface with radiation to soften or liquefy the surface. The molding surface is pressed into the softened or liquefied surface to directly imprint the substrate. The substrate can be any one of a wide variety of solid materials such as semiconductors, metals, or polymers. In a preferred embodiment the substrate is silicon, the laser is a UV laser, and the mold is transparent to the UV radiation to permit irradiation of the silicon workpiece through the transparent mold. Using this method, applicants have directly imprinted into silicon large area patterns with sub-10 nanometer resolution in sub-250 nanosecond processing time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shaping at least a portion of a medical balloon comprise a balloon shaping device capable of applying a radial inward force to at least a portion of the medical balloon and at least one vibratory device capable of applying vibratory energy to the at least a portion of the medical balloon.

Abstract: A transparent heat-resistant resin optical materials having excellent heat resistance and dynamic characteristics, having negative birefringence and exhibiting a high refractive index and a high Abbe number, especially optical compensating members such as films, sheets and retardation films for LCD display element. The transparent heat-resistant resin optical material is made of a copolymer containing a specific olefin residue unit and a specific N-phenyl-substituted maleimide residue unit and having a weight average molecular weight, as reduced into standard polystyrene, of from 5×103 to 5×106, the transparent heat-resistant resin optical material exhibiting negative birefringence; and a retardation film having a relationship of three-dimensional refractive indexes of nz?ny>nx, nz>ny?nx, or nz>nx?ny.

Abstract: A low crystallizability polypropylene sheet which has an average spherulite radius between 0.1 ?m and 4 ?m, an average number of spherulites of 600/mm2 or less in a sheet cross section, a solid density of 0.895 g/cm3 or less, a fusion enthalpy H of less than 90 J/g at the highest endothermic peak of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve, a degree of gloss of 90% or higher on at least one side and shows an exothermic peak of 1 J/g or higher at the low temperature side of said highest endothermic peak and a thickness of 50 ?m or more.

Abstract: A method of molding a composite structure of a polymeric preformed skin with tightly radiused features and a polymeric foam body is provided. The method includes providing a mold cavity having a first edge; placing the preformed skin in the mold cavity with a preformed first edge of the preformed skin adjacent to the first edge of the mold cavity; heating the preformed skin adjacent the first edge; exposing the first edge to a vacuum to reform the preformed skin first edge to be adjacent the mold cavity first edge and injecting a foam polymeric material into the mold.

Abstract: The present invention disclose a method for the orientation of a high density polyethylene (“HDPE”) film. The process of the invention comprises forming a HDPE-wax mixture by adding to a HDPE batch a normally solid hydrocarbon wax. The HDPE-wax mixture is subsequently stretched into a film at an orientation temperature below the film's melt temperature. The hydrocarbon wax is characterized by having a drop point equal to or lower than the melting point of the HDPE film. The present invention also provides a film made by the process of the invention and a master batch thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to windshield wiper system and method which utilizes a flexible member to account for compression loads in excess of a predetermined load, such as 30 percent, greater than a maximum load for the flexible member. The system utilizes a flexible pultruded composite material having a relatively low modulus of elasticity, yet relatively high elongation characteristics. The flexible arm bends to facilitate preventing damage to components in the wiper system when a compressive load applied to the flexible member is in excess of the predetermined load.

Abstract: A transfer device in which a material which transmits a laser beam LB is employed as an upper mold, and a photothermal conversion layer is formed thereon. A transfer film, at which a transfer material layer is formed, and a workpiece are superposed and pressured between the upper mold and a lower mold. During this pressuring, the laser beam is irradiated in accordance with a pattern of an organic electroluminescent light-emitting layer that is to be formed on the workpiece. Thus, the photothermal conversion layer is heated and the transfer material layer is softened. As a result, the transfer material layer is cleaved and detached from a temporary support, and a component in the transfer material layer that is to form the organic electroluminescent light-emitting layer is transferred to the workpiece. Accordingly, efficient transfer processing is enabled when a transfer material is transferred to a transfer object by a thermal imaging process.

Abstract: A process for forming an oriented orthopaedic implant prosthesis bearing, net-shape bearing, or near net-shape bearing includes the step of placing an irradiated UHMWPE preform or puck of a volume sufficient to accommodate the bearing in a compression mold and compression molding the irradiated preform. The molding is accomplished by applying heat and pressure to form the preform into a desired shape. The compression molding induces biaxial orientation in the formed bearing.