Abstract: An applicator for spraying an elastomeric material comprises an applicator body having an internal bore and a fluid inlet for receiving a supply of the elastomeric material. A nozzle is coupled to the applicator body and has a discharge end with a spray outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet via a fluid passageway. A needle valve is slidably mounted within the internal bore for movement between a closed position for closing the fluid passageway, and an open position for opening the fluid passageway so as to spray the elastomeric material. An air cap is coupled to the applicator body adjacent the nozzle for providing an atomizing airflow and a fan control airflow. The needle valve has a tip portion shaped to extend through the nozzle so as to be substantially flush with the discharge end of the nozzle when the needle valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: A slickline cable comprises an axially extending strength member having a first diameter proximate an upper end and at least one smaller second diameter distal from the upper end. A coating material is adhered to at least a portion of the length of the strength member to form a substantially uniform outer diameter along the slickline cable. A method for making a slickline comprises forming an axially extending strength member having a first diameter proximate an upper end and at least one smaller second diameter distal from the upper end. A coating material is adhered to at least a portion of the length of the strength member to form a substantially uniform outer diameter along the slickline cable.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a mobile device accessory has a mobile device cover defining a mobile device receiving region, and a resilient material on the mobile device cover. The resilient material defines a plurality of peaks extending generally away from the mobile device receiving region. The plurality of peaks increase the surface area of the mobile device cover and provide shock absorption. The peaks are formed rising a robot. Other objects having such a resilient material, and methods of making and distributing such objects, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor element from a pattern formed body capable of attaining patterning efficiently with a high precision. The method includes a photoresist pattern formation step, a hydrophilicity imparting step and a photoresist pattern peeling step.

Abstract: Printable substrates including a base sheet, a tie coating on a first surface of the base sheet, and a printable coating on the tie coating are generally provided. The tie coating can generally include a first crosslinked material formed from a film-forming binder, a first crosslinkable polymeric binder, a first crosslinking agent, and a first crosslinking catalyst. The printable coating can generally include a plurality of inorganic microparticies and a second crosslinked material formed from a second crosslinkable polymeric binder, a second crosslinking agent, and a second crosslinking catalyst. Methods of forming an image on such printable substrates are also generally provided, along with methods for forming such printable substrates.

Abstract: A mold for forming a three-dimensional pattern, which can easily provide a three-dimensional surface shape to a molded article and minimize deformation, and a method for manufacturing an exterior material for a home appliance using the same are disclosed. The mold includes a mold section formed of a material, such as metal, Teflon, and rubber, and having a three-dimensional pattern on a molding surface thereof to provide a surface shape of a molded article; and a frame section formed of a material, such as glass or a metal honeycomb panel, and attached to an outer surface of the mold section to reinforce the mold section.

Abstract: Methods of producing layers of patterned graphene with smooth edges are provided. The methods comprise the steps of fabricating a layer of crystalline graphene on a surface, wherein the layer of crystalline graphene has a crystallographically disordered edge, and decreasing the crystallographic disorder of the edge of the layer of crystalline graphene by heating the layer of crystalline graphene on the surface at an elevated temperature in a catalytic environment comprising carbon-containing molecules.

Abstract: A device for printing a substrate web moved in a direction of transport past a printing unit includes a substrate web lifting device arranged opposite the at least one printing unit. The lifting device has a jacket surface opposite the printing unit. An air cushion unit forms an air cushion between the substrate web and the jacket surface of the substrate web lifting device, so that lifting of the substrate web is achieved. Printing can be accomplished by guiding the substrate web over the jacket surface. A region of the substrate web is lifted in a printing region by developing an air cushion between the substrate web and the jacket surface of the substrate web lifting device. The lifted region of the substrate web is printed.

Abstract: The present invention provides block copolymers comprising at least one covalent polymer block and at least one supramolecular polymer block, processes for their preparations and uses thereof.

Abstract: A system for creating a microencapsulate coating composition and the method of adding the scented microencapsulate coating to product packaging. The microencapsulate coating contains scented compounds that are encapsulated to create encapsulated particles. The encapsulant can be either water soluble or hydrophobic depending upon the intended application. The encapsulated particles are mixed with a binding agent, to create a scented microencapsulate coating. The scented microencapsulate coating is applied to packaging in areas that will be touched as the packaging is manipulated. The physical contact ruptures the microencapsulate coating and releases the scented compounds contained therein.

Abstract: Adhesive articles having surface-modified nanoparticles located on or near at least one surface of a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive are described. Methods of making such adhesive articles are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting silicon wafers in a horizontal transporting direction into a printing device has two transporting units, which each have a traversing device and a holding means thereon. At least two transporting units each with a holding means are provided, wherein the traversing devices of said units run next to each other along the transporting direction. The holding means are each formed and arranged in such a way that an unloaded holding means has space to pass by a holding means loaded with a silicon wafer. The traversing devices are rails and the holding means are carriages mounted thereon.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a molded product, which has a highly homogeneous thin film, at low cost by operating an injection molding machine and a film forming device at a high rate of operation is provided. A molded product formed by an injection molding machine is conveyed to a temporary stage by a first conveying device. The molded products corresponding to several times of an injection molding step are pooled on the temporary stage by the repetition of an injection molding step. A second conveying device collectively conveys all the molded products, which are pooled on the temporary stage, to a film forming device. Films are formed on the molded products by the film forming device, and the molded products are conveyed to the outside by a third conveying device. The injection molding step is continuously performed while a film forming step is performed.

Abstract: A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator device (400) comprising an active layer (410) having directly or indirectly a skin layer (420) on top that can be touched by when in use by a user. The configuration of the active layer (410) can controllably be changed in an extension direction (x, y), and the skin layer (420) comprises a plurality of elevations (E) and intermediate recesses (R). Due to its structure, the skin layer (420) does not hinder conformation changes of the active layer (410) in the extension direction, while it provides favorable tactile characteristics of the actuator device (400). The active layer (410) may particularly comprise an electroactive polymer (EAP). The skin layer (420) may be composed of a plurality of grains isolated from each other, or it may comprise a thin surface layer (421) that is stiffer than the active layer (410).

Abstract: A detector for detecting interfering light of diffracted light components diffracted by marks formed on first and second objects includes: an illumination optical system configured to form an intensity distribution including first and second poles which illuminate a first mark arranged on the first object and a second mark arranged on the second object; and a detection optical system configured to detect interfering light of light components diffracted by the first and second marks illuminated by the illumination optical system. The detection optical system detects interfering light of diffracted light components generated when light of the first pole is radiated on and diffracted by the first and second marks. The detection optical system does not detect diffracted light components generated when light of the second pole is radiated on and diffracted by the first and second marks.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating arrays of nanoscaled alternating lamellar or cylinders in a polymer matrix having improved long range order utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a radiation-curable ink composition for inkjet recording, the ink composition containing at least: a specific azo compound, a tautomer of the azo compound, a salt of the azo compound, a salt of the tautomer, a hydrate of the azo compound, a hydrate of the tautomer, or any combination thereof; a polymer dispersant; a cationic polymerizable compound; and a cationic polymerization initiator. The invention further provides an inkjet recording method including ejecting and curing the ink composition. The invention further provides a printed matter formed by the inkjet recording method.

Abstract: An image-recording composition contains absorbent particles; a curable material curable in response to ultraviolet radiation, an electron beam, or heat; and a viscocontroller that increases the viscosity of the image-recording composition with increasing temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to transfer block copolymers from water immiscible organic phase to aqueous phase using a phase transfer agent. At higher concentrations, micellar networks of the block copolymers were obtained in the aqueous solution that can be coated onto a variety of substrates. Block copolymer films showed very good antifouling properties. The phase transferred block copolymers can be used to synthesize encapsulated nanoparticle aggregates for biodiagnostic imaging applications. The phase transferred block copolymer micelles can be used to encapsulate active compounds. The invention has applications in drug delivery, crop protection, and medical device coating.

Abstract: A molded game ball and process for making the same. The game ball comprises a molded outer cover having a mold line that mimics the seam of a conventional game ball and a raised stitch pattern presented along said mold line. The game ball is made by forming an outer cover in a mold that has a pattern that is positioned to mimic the inverse of the pattern of a seam of a conventional game ball. Material is then injected into an interior volume enclosed by the outer cover to form an inner core that permanently bonds with the outer cover. The outer cover of the game ball has a stitch pattern that mimics the stitching and seam of a conventional stitched game ball.

Abstract: Recycling of laminate flooring based on a separation of the panels (1) into particles which are connected with a binder and formed to a new sheet shaped material. A building panel includes a surface layer and a wood fiber based core, and the wood fiber based core includes aluminium oxide particles.

Abstract: A defect-free hydrogen separation membrane includes a metal thin membrane. The metal thin membrane includes a first metal layer composed of palladium on a porous support without substantial penetration into surface pores of the porous support and a second metal layer on the first metal layer. The second metal layer is a product of palladium deposition and closes defects being open on the surface of the first metal layer.

Abstract: A distribution manifold having a manifold and a removable cartridge with a plurality of needle tubes extending from the removable cartridge is disclosed. The distribution manifold can be used with a pre-metered coating system to apply coating material to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a surface treated medium in which a surface treatment solution is formed comprising a number of water soluble, multi-valent salts, a number of water dispersible, multi-valent salts, a binder that binds the water dispersible, multi-valent salts to a medium and to the elements within the surface treatment solution, and an organosilane, and the surface treatment solution is applied to a medium. A surface treatment solution comprises a number of water soluble, multi-valent, organic acid salts, a number of water dispersible, multi-valent, organic acid salts, a binder that binds the water dispersible, multi-valent, organic acid salts to a medium and to the elements within the surface treatment solution, and an organosilane.

Abstract: A surface that is at least hydrophobic that is formed from a mixture that comprises a sol-gel that comprises an alkoxosilane precursor having a general formula of R?xSi(OR)4-x or (RO)3SiR?Si(OR)3, wherein R and R? are the same or different and comprise hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, a substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl, a substituted or unsubstituted or multiple ring aryl group, or a combination thereof, and R? is a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenylene, a substituted or unsubstituted alkynylene, a substituted or unsubstituted or multiple ring arylene group, or a combination thereof, and x is 1 or 2. Also, the surface has a topography that decreases a contact area between the surface and a water droplet thereon.

Abstract: A heater for a phase change memory may be formed by depositing a first material into a trench such that the material is thicker on the side wall than on the bottom of the trench. In one embodiment, because the trench side walls are of a different material than the bottom, differential deposition occurs. Then a heater material is deposited thereover. The heater material may react with the first material at the bottom of the trench to make Ohmic contact with an underlying metal layer. As a result, a vertical heater may be formed which is capable of making a small area contact with an overlying chalcogenide material.

Abstract: An acoustic damping article includes a substrate, wherein the substrate has a surface area S. The acoustic composition further includes a polymer resin. The polymer resin coats partially the surface area with a set of areas. The ratio of the coated areas over the surface area S is less than 1 and the polymer resin coverage is not greater than about 500 g/m2.

Abstract: A coating head is constructed of a solvent feed mechanism connected to a forward side in a direction of movement of a coating solution feed mechanism, and a gas jet mechanism connected to a rearward side in the direction of movement. While moving the coating head relative to a substrate, a solvent is supplied onto the substrate from the solvent feed mechanism, then a coating solution is supplied onto a film of the solvent from the coating solution feed mechanism, and finally a gas is jetted to an uneven surface of the coating solution from the gas jet mechanism to smooth a thin film surface of the coating solution.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an inorganic-nano structure composite, a method for manufacturing a cabon nanotube composite by using the same, and a carbon nanotube composite manufactured by the same are provided. The method for manufacturing the inorganic-nano structure composite comprises a step of doping pentavalent elements on the nanostructure; and a step of growing the inorganic material from the doping points of the pentavalent elements by dipping the nanostructure on which the pentavalent elements are doped into a precursor solution of the inorganic material, and according to the present invention the pentavalent elements such as nitrogen are doped on the nanostructure and is utilized as the crystallization point of the inorganic material, instead of forming the separate coating layer to the organic-based nanostructure, or binding the binding group to the surface.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a viscous material includes a motion system for controlling movement of a dispensing tip within a dispensing region and delivering a viscous material at a controlled flow rate in coordination with the dispensing tip movement in order to deliver a predetermined amount of the viscous material to predetermined positions within the dispensing region. A dispensing tip in fluid communication with a pump for use with the system includes outer and inner housings and outlet holes within a space between them. A contact element within the inner housing is capable of contacting a suitable surface for dispensing viscous material. In some embodiments, a face of the outer housing located a fixed distance from an apex of the contact element maintains a uniform thickness during dispensing. A method of using the system includes controlling the movement of the dispensing tip and the flow rate of the viscous material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for continuous coating with a rotational die in which coating materials flow in a radial direction. The linear speed of a substrate in need of coating is identical to the tangential speed of the surface of the rotational die so that the coating material, which flows in a radial direction of the rotational die, flows onto the substrate perpendicularly. Therefore, the ingredients of coating materials overlap one another (or stand vertically as a layer), and the vertical sequence of the coating material is ensured. This method and apparatus can be used to make organic electronic devices, organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic devices. Particularly, this method and apparatus can be used in bulk-hetero-junction of mixed coating of P-type and N-type semiconductors.

Abstract: Provided is a method for disposing a component on a substrate (100), the method comprising steps of: a step (a) of preparing the substrate (100), a first liquid, and a component-dispersing liquid; a step (b) of applying the first liquid to the substrate (100) along the +X direction continuously to dispose the first liquid on hydrophilic lines (112) and hydrophilic body regions (111) along the +X direction alternately; a step (c) of bringing the component-dispersing liquid in contact with the first liquid disposed on the hydrophilic region (111); and a step (d) of removing the first liquid and the second liquid from the substrate (100) to dispose the component on the hydrophilic region (111).

Abstract: The invention relates to a component, which has a layer applied by gas dynamic cold spray, said layer having at, least one layer section or a reinforcing element, the material and orientation of which are selected according to a load line, and to a method for producing such a component by gas dynamic cold spray.

Abstract: A method for meniscus processing a substrate is provided. The method initiates with generating a meniscus spanning at least a length of the substrate. A pre-wetting liquid or vapor is dispensed. A substrate is moved through the dispensed pre-wetting liquid or vapor and the meniscus. The dispensed pre-wetting vapor condenses a pre-wetting liquid over a region of the substrate adjacent to a region of the substrate where the meniscus is generated. The pre-wetting liquid is deposited without substantially generating surface flow of the pre-wetting liquid on the substrate, and the pre-wetting liquid prevents the leading edge of the meniscus from contacting a dry surface region of the substrate.

Abstract: A microfluidic valve system is disclosed that includes a matrix, a hydrophilic acceptor region a hydrophilic transfer region, and a hydrophobic gap between the acceptor region and the transfer region.

Abstract: A self-assemblable polymer is disclosed, having first and second molecular configurations with the first molecular configuration has a higher Flory Huggins parameter for the self-assemblable polymer than the second molecular configuration, and the self-assemblable polymer is configurable from the first molecular configuration to the second molecular configuration, from the second molecular configuration to the first molecular configuration, or both, by the application of a stimulus. The polymer is of use in a method for providing an ordered, periodically patterned layer of the polymer on a substrate, by ordering and annealing the polymer in its second molecular configuration and setting the polymer when it is in the first molecular configuration.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microstructures arrays including openings and linear microchannels utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. In some embodiments, the films can be used as a template or mask to etch openings in an underlying material layer.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of applying a lubricant to a micromechanical device is provided. The method includes: positioning a dispensing portion of a lubricant liquid dispenser over a surface portion of a micromechanical device; and controlling the dispenser such that a single lubricant liquid droplet of a predefined volume is forced out of the dispensing portion and impinges onto the surface portion.

Abstract: A membrane, especially for application in a sensor, which membrane includes a biocidal effect. The membrane comprises one or more components of the group consisting of: silver nano particles encapsulated in amphiphilic, core, shell structures, antimicrobial silanes, polymers with an antimicrobial end group, polyquads with modified end groups, and biocidally acting block copolymers. The membrane is resistant against aggressive agents, for example, corrosive or oxidizing cleaning agents, in the case of sterilizing, in the case of autoclaving, in the case of thermal loading and/or in the case of mechanical loading.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern on the surface made of a hydrophobic macromolecular material of a substrate is provided, the method having a step of immersing at least said surface of the substrate in a solution that having at least 50% by volume of water and, optionally, one or more polar solvents having a dielectric constant greater than 30 and contains less than 0.0001 mol/L of dissolved gases and on source. The invention is particularly applicable in the electronics field.

Abstract: An opening in a substrate is formed, e.g., using optical lithography, with the opening having sidewalls whose cross section is given by segments that are contoured and convex. The cross section of the opening may be given by overlapping circular regions, for example. The sidewalls adjoin at various points, where they define protrusions. A layer of polymer including a block copolymer is applied over the opening and the substrate, and allowed to self-assemble. Discrete, segregated domains form in the opening, which are removed to form holes, which can be transferred into the underlying substrate. The positions of these domains and their corresponding holes are directed to predetermined positions by the sidewalls and their associated protrusions. The distances separating these holes may be greater or less than what they would be if the block copolymer (and any additives) were to self-assemble in the absence of any sidewalls.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a profiled masking article and method of masking a substrate to be treated or painted that provides a feathered or soft edge between painted and unpainted areas. The masking article described herein may be used as a single strip, or as multiple strips, placed side by side, wherein a strip is removed between treatments of different types. This allows successive treatment layers to completely cover previous layers, thus avoiding defects resulting from exposed layers of material. In an embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a masking article comprising: at least one elongate body (12), said body (12) having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least two lateral surfaces, wherein at least a portion of said body comprises an adhesive material; and a generally planar top portion (14), connected to the body along at least one surface, said top portion (14) having a microstructured surface.

Abstract: Porous films with straight pores oriented normal to the plane of the films are produced through solution processing techniques. The production takes advantage of inorganic-surfactant or inorganic-polymer co-assembly and a patterned substrate. The patterned substrate, which is also produced via solution phase self-assembly, forces vertical orientation in a hexagonal cylinder system with no practical limits in substrate size or type. This provides a route to vertically oriented inorganic pores with a pitch ranging from 3 nm to over 15 nm and pore sizes ranging from 2 nm to over 12 nm. The size is tuned by choice the choice of organic templating agents and the deposition conditions. The pores can be produced with or without a capping layer which can be used to seal the nanopores.

Abstract: A substrate has a surface printed with an ink or coating composition with excellent adhesion and dry rub resistance, and very good oil and saline rub resistance (crock) properties using a multi-functional carbodiimide as a crosslinker for nonwoven substrates. The rub performance of the ink or coating printed on a nonwoven substrate has been found to be superior to that of a first Sun benchmark ink including pigments for four color printing. In another embodiment, a carbodiimide crosslinker such as multifunctional Carbodilite SV-02 is added to the compositions to further improve rub resistance (crock) and retain liquid characteristics post inoculation when compared to compositions using aziridine as a crosslinker. In a further embodiment, a thin polyolefin film exemplifying a backsheet of a hygiene product was printed with the same crosslinked ink or coating composition and compared with a second Sun benchmark set of inks.

Abstract: A variety of elastomeric-based microfluidic devices and methods for using and manufacturing such devices are provided. Certain of the devices have arrays of reaction sites to facilitate high throughput analyses. Some devices also include reaction sites located at the end of blind channels at which reagents have been previously deposited during manufacture. The reagents become suspended once sample is introduced into the reaction site. The devices can be utilized with a variety of heating devices and thus can be used in a variety of analyses requiring temperature control, including thermocycling applications such as nucleic acid amplification reactions, genotyping and gene expression analyses.

Abstract: A surface-coating material includes a double-bond-containing, OH-functional component A and a double-bond-containing, NCO-functional component B, having the following properties: Component A: solids fraction between 30% and 100% by weight, double-bond density between 2 eq/kg and 5 eq/kg (at a solids fraction of 100%), and OH content between 4% and 7% by weight, and Component B: solids fraction between 30% and 100% by weight, double-bond density between 1 eq/kg and 4 eq/kg (at a solids fraction of 100%), and NCO content of between 4% and 7% by weight.

Abstract: A composition for the etching treatment of a resin molded article. The composition is composed of an aqueous solution containing 20 to 1,200 g/l of an inorganic acid, 0.01 to 10 g/l of a manganese salt, and 1 to 200 g/l of at least one component selected from the group consisting of halogen oxoacids, halogen oxoacid salts, persulfate salts, and bismuthate salts. The etching composition of the invention is an etching solution capable of forming a plating film having a good adhesion to various resin molded articles made of ABS resins or the like, and can be used in place of chromic acid mixtures. The composition is highly safe so that the liquid waste is easily disposed of.

Abstract: Provided are an aqueous ink-jet ink and a method for forming an ink-jet image enabling to decrease bleed occurrence during high-speed printing and to realize highly detailed image quality. An aqueous ink-jet ink characterized by containing water, a pigment, an organic or inorganic amine salt, and a water-soluble resin having a higher pKa than an acid component formed by dissociation of the amine salt in an ink.