Abstract: A process for applying a thermoplastic coating to a substrate wherein the gases and other volatiles in a boundary layer between the substrate and the coating are evacuated using a high volume, high velocity air stream which traverses the surface of the substrate to be coated (functioning as an air knife) such that, when the coating is applied, gases/volatiles do not disrupt the coating while:the coating cools and solidifies. The effect of the air knife may be enhanced by heating the substrate and/or by applying a solvent to the substrate. The air knife also cools down the boundary layer of the substrate so that, as the thermoplastic coating is applied, this cooled-down and gas-evacuated boundary layer provides a measure of insulation between the coating and any gases/volatiles which have not been evacuated from the substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a plated plastic article, which requires no chemical etching and can ensure high quality of plating without addition of a large amount of any inorganic filler in order to form a physically rough surface for an effective plating adhesion. After molding thermoplastic materials having a shear strength of 50 MPa or more, the surfaces of the molded articles are subjected to liquid honing treatment with an aluminum abrasive so that the surface roughness Rz (average roughness of ten points) is 10 &mgr;m or more, and subsequently addition of catalyst, activation treatment, and electroless plating are carried out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an interior fitment for motor vehicles, the interior fitment having on its facing side a wood molding which is provided with a coating. In order to impart a substantially natural impression to the interior fitment, the invention proposes applying to the wood molding a coating material based on vegetable-oil-modified resins and natural vegetable oils, with the addition to the coating material of ceramic microparticles. Likewise proposed is an interior fitment produced preferably by this method.

Abstract: A coated molding comprising a molding of a thermoplastic resin composition including a thermoplastic resin and an epoxidized diene based block copolymer, and a coating layer formed on a surface of the molding, the thermoplastic resin composition including a thermoplastic resin and an epoxidized diene based block copolymer obtained by epoxidizing a diene based block copolymer or a partially hydrogentated diene based block copolymer, wherein prior to epoxidizing, the diene based block copolymer or partially hydrogenated diene based block copolymer consists of a polymer block consisting of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon compound, and a polymer block consisting of a conjugate diene compound or a partially hydrogenated conjugate diene compound. The thus obtained coating layer is thereby firmly adhered to a molding of the thermoplastic resin composition.

Abstract: A monomer useful in the formulation of a radiation curable coatable composition comprises (a) polyfunctional isocyanurate having at least three terminal reactive groups reacted with (b) hydroxyalkyl acrylate and (c) tertiary amine alcohol in a molar ratio of a:b:c of about 1:1-2.5:0.5-2, wherein b+c is at least 3 and no greater than the total number of terminal reactive groups of (a). The monomer is included in a radiation curable coatable composition suitable for use as a floor finish and in a floor finishing system comprising the foregoing coatable composition with a primer. A method for the treatment of a substrate using the floor finish and the floor finishing system is also described.

Abstract: Process for coating the surface of plastics comprising absorbing the vapor one or more internal reagent(s) in the plastic to be coated, and contacting one or more external reagent(s) with the surface of the plastic, wherein an immobilized coating is formed by a chemical reaction between the internal reagent(s) and the external reagent(s). The internal reagent(s) is(are) selected from substances which do not react with the plastic and the internal reagent(s) diffuse out of the plastic during contacting, wherein the coating is formed at the boundary layer of the plastic towards which the internal reagent(s) and the external reagent(s) diffuse.

Abstract: A method for at least locally providing an article coated with an organic coating with a layer of readily deformable sealing material (so-called compound), which involves a layer of an intermediate of the compound being applied to the coating layer, after which the article is temporarily kept at an elevated temperature in order to form the compound from its intermediate, wherein the coating layer of the article comprises a polyethylene terephthalate and the compound is chosen from the group consisting of urethanes, amides, mixtures thereof and heteropolymers thereof, and in that the free surface of the coating layer prior to the application of the intermediate of the compound, at least at the location where this intermediate is applied, is briefly subjected to a processing operation from the group of equivalent processing operations comprising a flame treatment in the course of which the coating layer does not melt.

Abstract: A directly embossable, coated polyethyleneterephthalate film including a dry, uniaxially oriented PET film, and a coating applied to the PET film, wherein the coating and the PET film have as a composite been transversely stretched, the film being coated from an aqueous solution at a thickness of about 0.1 &mgr;m-about 0.4 &mgr;m with a non-crosslinked polystyrene-acrylic emulsion and non-crosslinked polyester dispersion, the Tg of the coating resin being greater than about 20° C. and less than about 70° C.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a coating or doctoring blade comprising a band of steel or other form-stable material and a wear-resistant polymer coating applied on said band along a longitudinal edge section thereof subjected to wear, said process comprising the following steps: (a) providing continuous relative movement between said band and an application and treatment station; (b) continuously applying at said station a fast-curing polymer composition along said edge section; (c) allowing the applied composition to spread out so as to reach the very extreme of said edge section and then to cure to form an elastic and tacky-free coating; and, optionally (d) post-curing the coating at an increased temperature; as an alternative to such process there can be used a blade of double width compared to said first band and continuously supplying a fast-curing composition along a longitudinal central section of double width compared to said edge section and longitudinally cutting said second band along the middle

Abstract: The present invention provides a silicone coated fabric comprising a base woven fabric that is formed from a synthetic fiber weaving yarn that has a yarn size of from 100 to 270 dtex, and a weaving size expressed by a product calculated by multiplying the yarn size of a weaving yarn and a weave density (ends or picks/2.54 cm) of from 10,000 to 25,000 (dtex•ends (or picks)/2.54 cm) in both the warp direction and the weft direction, a silicone being applied to the woven fabric in an amount of from 5 to 25 g/m2, and having on one side a uniform silicone coating layer formeding part of the silicone mentioned above.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for impregnating a resiliently compressible, porous substrate with a material by: compressing the substrate through a calendering apparatus; contacting the compressed substrate with a fluid comprising the material; maintaining the calendered substrate in contact with the fluid while the calendered substrate expands, thereby impregnating the substrate with the material; and drying the impregnated substrate. Such impregnated substrates find particular application as gas diffusion layers for anodes and cathodes used in fuel cells.

Abstract: Styrene resin films having been imparted antistatic properties to both film surfaces and good adhesion properties of the films to envelope paper, and a process for producing the same. In these styrene resin films, the surface tension of the front surface of the film base differs from the surface tension of the back surface owing to a hydrophilic treatment and modifiers having almost the same compositions are applied onto the respective surfaces each in an adequate weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to colored compositions used as coatings for tires. The present invention relates to a tire having an outer rubber surface based at least in part on essentially unsaturated diene elastomers, which is covered with the colored coating. The coating comprises at least one layer in contact with the air and has a composition comprising a majority proportion of polyurethane produced from a polyol selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyethers, aliphatic polyesters, polyethers having a main chain that is semi-aromatic and polyesters having a main chain that is semi-aromatic, and flakes of aluminum in an amount of between 20 and 150 parts of flakes per hundred parts of dry polyurethane, phr, wherein the bond between the elastomer and the polyurethane being produced due to the polar functions. The present invention also relates to methods of producing the composition and the tire comprising the composition.

Abstract: A process for the deposition of a metal on surfaces of a shaped plastic body. A catalyst for metal deposition is incorporated into a shaped body. After removing material from a surface of the body and activating the catalyst with an acid, metal is deposited on the surface by an electroless metal deposition process.

Abstract: The invention concerns a composition comprising an inorganic coating and a core comprising at least a polyhydroxyl compound, the method for preparing this composition and it use.

Abstract: A solution for forming a graft substrate containing a graft initiator, a catalyst for activating the graft initiator, a polymerizable silicon softener, and at least one additional prepolymer, each of the softener and the prepolymer which includes a functional group for reaction with an activated site on the substrate for grafting thereto and water. The treated fiber exhibits excellent crockfastness, color fastness, and abrasion resistance, strength, and has a soft hand.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive metal layer on a non-conductive surface, including providing a non-conductive surface; contacting the non-conductive surface with an aqueous solution or mixture containing a stannous salt to form a sensitized surface; contacting the sensitized surface with an aqueous solution or mixture containing a silver salt having a pH in the range from about 5 to about 10 to form a catalyzed surface; and electroless plating the catalyzed surface by applying an electroless plating solution to the catalyzed surface.

Abstract: A solution for forming a graft substrate containing a graft initiator, a catalyst for activating the graft initiator, a polymerizable silicon softener, and at least one additional prepolymer, each of the softener and the prepolymer which includes a functional group for reaction with an activated site on the substrate for grafting thereto and water. The treated fiber exhibits excellent crockfastness, color fastness, and abrasion resistance, and has a soft hand.

Abstract: A solution for forming a graft substrate containing a graft initiator, a catalyst for activating the graft initiator, a polymerizable silicon softener, and at least one additional prepolymer, each of the softener and the prepolymer which includes a functional group for reaction with an activated site on the substrate for grafting thereto and water. The treated fiber exhibits excellent crockfastness, color fastness, and abrasion resistance, and has a soft hand.

Abstract: A method of modifying surfaces of a device, for example, a medical device, is disclosed. The method includes modifying a surface of a device by providing a device, exposing the device to a reactive gas and plasma energy to create a plasma deposited surface on the device, and quenching the device with the reactive gas. The device exhibits changes in its surface properties thereby making it more desirable for an intended use.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method of making a polymer compound material by coating an inorganic material on the surface of a polymer. The method provided by the present invention comprises the step of spraying a high volatile solvent to a chipped polymeric matrix to slightly dissolve the surface of the matrix, and the step of adding inorganic material powders to let the powders be coated on the surface of the matrix layer by layer so as to form the polymer compound material.

Abstract: To provide a polyester hollow molded product which eliminates the possibility of contaminating its contents, retains excellent transparency after it is used repeatedly by recycling and can be re-used with a substantially unscratched surface. The polyester hollow molded product has a polyester coating layer on the exterior surface and the coating layer can be removed with hot water or alkaline aqueous solution.

Abstract: A fabric paint delivery system includes a container storing fabric paint under nitrogen pressure, the container having an opening for discharge of the paint therethrough; a valve operative for receiving the paint from the opening; a trigger assembly having a nozzle operative for discharging the paint received from the container through the valve, the trigger assembly having a trigger for opening and closing the valve to selectively discharge the paint from an opening of the nozzle as a mist in a spray cone; wherein the trigger is operable by pulling the trigger towards the container using one's index finger for opening the valve and for closing the valve by releasing the trigger.

Abstract: In a device for forming magnetic film which deposits magnetic material on a substrate 12, a device is provided which, before the magnetic film is formed in a magnetic film-forming chamber 11, cleans one or both of the film-forming face and reverse face of the substrate 12 in a cleaning processing chamber 13. The cleaning mechanism carries out cleaning by placing a substrate on a horseshoe-shaped insulator substrate-holding part 51 which moves up and down, and emission of gas from the reverse face of the substrate and the like is brought about by generating Ar plasma between the upper periphery of the substrate, the substrate and a lower insulator 61 of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for depositing a parylene polymer barrier coating on a polymeric substrate for improving the chemical resistance of the substrate. The method comprises the steps of thoroughly treating a surface portion of the substrate to remove any contaminants, depositing at least one layer of parylene polymer on the contaminant-free surface portion via chemical vapor deposition, and then annealing each of the at least one layer of parylene polymer for a sufficient time. The present invention also relates to a composition for a barrier coating on a polymeric substrate comprising at least one layer of parylene polymer bonded to the surface of the polymeric substrate. The substrate can be a silicone rubber keypad.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating a material surface, comprising the steps of: (a) covalently binding a compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated double bond to the material surface; (b) polymerizing a monomer comprising a reactive or crosslinkable group on the surface and thereby providing a primary polymer coating comprising reactive or crosslinkable groups, (c) in case of a monomer comprising a reactive group in step (b) reacting the reactive groups of the primary coating with a further compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated double bond and graft-polymerizing a hydrophilic monomer and optionally a co-monomer having a crosslinkable group onto the primary coating obtained according to step (b) and (d) in case of crosslinkable groups being present in step (b) or (c) initiating crosslinking of said groups.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic film suitable for ultra-high density perpendicular recording, and a process for producing the film. The process generally entails forming a film of ferromagnetic material on a surface of a substrate, such that the film is characterized by perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and comprises a plurality of magnetic domains defined by domain walls perpendicular to a major surface of the film. The ferromagnetic film is formed to have a linear strain defect for the purpose of smoothing and stabilizing the domain walls during subsequent magnetization reversal of the ferromagnetic material. Such smoothing and stabilizing serves to control temporal magnetic noise due to motion of magnetic domains, arrest domain wall motion (reducing velocity) when the film is subjected to the magnetic reversal fields, and controls spatial magnetic noise due to domain wall jaggedness.

Abstract: A film laminate is disclosed and comprises a biaxially oriented polyester film and another film laminated onto the polyester film, where the polyester film comprises a base layer at least 80% by weight of which is composed of a thermoplastic polyester, at least one cover layer and a metallic or ceramic layer located on the cover layer, where the cover layer is composed of a polymer or of a copolymer or of a mixture of polymers which comprises at least 40% by weight of ethylene 2,6-naphthalate units, up to 40% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units and, if desired, up to 60% by weight of units of other aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic diols and/or carboxylic acids, with the proviso that the Tg2 value of the polyester film is greater than the Tg2 value of the base layer but smaller than the Tg2 value of the cover layer.

Abstract: A technique for improving the adhesive force between a biodegradable base film and a rubbery adhesive layer. An adhesive tape is obtained by rubbing the surface of a biodegradable film 9 by a means of rubbing 7 and then applying solution of ingredients of adhesive layer thereonto, thus forming an adhesive layer. The adhesion force between the base film and the adhesive layer is improved by the rubbing treatment. When the solution of ingredients of adhesive layer is an aqueous system, it is also possible that solution of ingredients of primer layer containing an organic compound as a solvent is applied onto the rubbed surface to thereby form a primer layer followed by the formation of the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer may contain fillers, coloring agents, age resistors, etc. so long as the biodegradability is not deteriorated thereby. It is preferable that a separate film to be bonded to the surface of the adhesive layer is also a biodegradable one.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a wicket conveyor for conveying a series of wickets through pre-curing, curing and post-curing sections of a curing system. The wicket conveyor forms a continuous loop, having a straight upper track portion, a straight lower track portion and a pair of curved end portions of track that adjoin each end of the straight upper and lower track potions. Each wicket is attached to the wicket conveyor track such that the plane of the wicket is oriented at a predetermined angle. B wicket picks up a horizontally oriented sheet and carries it toward the pre-curing section. The wicket and substrate sheet are reoriented in response to the contour of the conveyor, into a near vertical planar orientation. While in the near vertical orientation, liquid coatings on the surface of the sheet substrate move down the substrate sheet in “sheet flow,” thereby leaving a smooth coating surface prior to curing.

Abstract: An article having a non-thrombogenic surface and a process for making the article are disclosed. The article is formed by (i) coating a polymeric substrate with a crosslinked chemical combination of a polymer having at least two amino substituted side chains, a crosslinking agent containing at least two crosslinking functional groups which react with amino groups on the polymer, and a linking agent containing a first functional group which reacts with a third functional group of the crosslinking agent, and (ii) contacting the coating on the substrate with an antithrombogenic agent which covalently bonds to a second functional group of the linking agent. In one example embodiment, the polymer is a polyamide having amino substituted alkyl chains on one side of the polyamide backbone, the crosslinking agent is a phosphine having the general formula (A)3P wherein A is hydroxyalkyl, the linking agent is a polyhydrazide and the antithrombogenic agent is heparin.

Abstract: A metal-coated aromatic polyimide film having high peel strength between the polyimide film and the metal coat can be advantageously prepared by the steps of treating an aromatic polyimide film composed of a polyimide substrate layer of aromatic polyimide having biphenyltetracarboxylic acid units in its molecular structure coated with a polyimide surface layer of aromatic polyimide having bendable bondings in its molecular structure, with electric discharge under reduced pressure, to produce protrusions connected with each other in the form of network of chain on the surface layer, and placing plural metal films on the surface layer having the protrusions.

Abstract: A method for preparing a plastic surface for printing with a toner comprising: forming a layer of an aqueous mixture comprising a first material and a second material on the surface, wherein the first material has an affinity for the plastic and the second material has an affinity for the first material and the toner, and drying the layer.

Abstract: The present methods provide an amorphous, conformal, protective, abrasion-resistant, lubricious fluoropolymer coating on to a polymer substrate via a gas plasma deposition method. The coating method, according to one embodiment of the method, involves generating a gas plasma by introducing a mixture of a fluorinated gas monomer and a hydrocarbon gas into an energetic ion field, such as an ion beam or the field produced by a radio-frequency source. The fluorinated gas monomer is selected from the group consisting of CF.sub.4, C.sub.2 F.sub.4, C.sub.2 F.sub.6, CF.sub.3.sub.2CO, CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 and mixtures of the foregoing. The hydrocarbon gas is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 H.sub.2, C.sub.2 H.sub.4, C.sub.2 H.sub.6, and H.sub.2 and mixtures of the foregoing. The polymer substrate is exposed to the foregoing gas plasma for sufficient time to achieve the desired coating thickness.

Abstract: A part painting method and apparatus in which dust, paint residue, and dripping excess paint are prevented from falling on a surface to be painted. A lens, as an example of a part to be painted, is covered with a mask body with a surface to be painted of the lens exposed through the mask body. The lens is positioned and fixed on the rear side of the mask body. The front side of the mask body, which functions as a masking surface with respect to spray paint from the paint gun, is arranged slanted downward with respect to vertical such that painting is performed with the mask body slanted at a predetermined angle so that excess paint dripping from the mask body does not drip onto the lens.

Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic material coated on a surface of a polymeric film comprising, in the running direction of the polymeric film, the steps of pressing a cleaning tape made of one of a non-woven fabric and a fabric impregnated with a cleaning agent against the surface of said polymeric film onto which said coating material is coated in order to wipe off foreign matter adhering to said surface of the polymeric film; drying the surface of the wiped polymeric film; and just after the drying step, coating a magnetic coating material onto a surface of a polymeric film while said polymeric film is running. An apparatus for the above method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The surface treatment for printing applications using water-based ink of the present invention comprises a surface pretreatment of the recording media prior to the deposition of the ink on the surface, wherein the pretreatment liquid is an aqueous and/or alcoholic solution or emulsion containing a polyvalent metal salt, and at least one of an organic swelling reagent and a coalescence reagent. The pretreatment liquid is applied with a rubbing motion in a thin layer of approximately 4 &mgr;m to the entire upper surface of the recording media. The swelling reagent and/or the coalescence reagent cause the upper 3-5, &mgr;m to swell and the polyvalent metal cations become embedded in the surface. After partial drying of the pretreated media, ink composition is deposited onto the surface to form an image. The ink solids precipitate in response to the embedded cations deposited in the pretreatment, and form interactions above and below the surface of the media to give a mechanically stable ink dot.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite wall with an open cell metal foam core layer bonded to an inner cladding layer and an outer cladding layer. The method involves: creating a core substrate of open cell gas permeable foam in a chosen shape; impregnating the open cell foam substrate with metal vapour and depositing a porous layer of metal on exposed internal and external surfaces of the substrate thereby forming the open cell metal foam core through metal vapour deposition; and forming the inner and outer cladding layers upon the metal foam core through spray application of metal or ceramic.

Abstract: Adhesion between a coating and a substrate may be improved by pre-treating the surface of the substrate with an aqueous detergent composition having a pH above 8 and comprising from 1 to 10% by weight phosphate and from 1 to 10% by weight silicate, before application of the coating.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a resin thin film of the present invention includes supplying a liquid resin material and a gas to a two-fluid nozzle by pressure; ejecting the resin material in the form of atomized particles toward a heating member by the two-fluid nozzle, thereby adhering the resin material to the heating member; or mixing a liquid resin material with a gas; ejecting the resin material in form of atomized particles toward a heating member that is provided under reduced pressure, thereby adhering the resin material to the heating member; and evaporating the resin material on the heating member to obtain the evaporated resin material. Thus, the present invention can provide a resin thin film having a uniform thickness stably with simple means at a low cost. The resin thin film obtained by the present invention can be used in a wide range, for example a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape, a wrapping material, and an electronic component.

Abstract: A process is provided that allows the production of multi-layer coatings in which one or more topcoats can be applied to a porous basecoat to produce a uniform and defect-free coating layer. Specifically, a process is provided in which a liquid is applied to the basecoat prior to topcoating such that the air in the basecoat is removed prior to topcoating. This process can occur in-line with a simple apparatus described herein. An added benefit of this method is that it also allows the possibility of adding functionality or performing chemistry to a basecoat after the basecoat is dried and before the topcoat is applied in a single process. For example, the wetting fluid may contain, but is not limited to, surfactants, pH modifiers, polymers, crosslinkers, pigments, and/or dye stabilizers.

Abstract: A coated substrate and methods of making and using coated substrates, wherein the coated substrate comprises a coating consisting essentially of a layered mineral, a thermoplastic polymeric substrate having pendant groups receptive to said layered mineral, and wherein said pendant groups are coordinated metal groups, or are groups which can be bonded to coordinating cations or anions, or pendant groups directly receptive said layered mineral. The coated substrate is less permeable to gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for producing charge-modified polyester comprising treating the polyester with at least one agent sufficient to cause hydrolysis of the polyester and a charge-modifier having one or more epoxy groups with a fixed formal charge, resulting in the formation of a bond between the one or more epoxy groups and the polyester. The polyester may be treated with the agent, which is presently preferred to be an alkaline, amine, or combination of both, and charge-modifier, which could have a positive or negative charge.

Abstract: Adhesion between a coating and an EPDM rubber membrane may be improved by pre-treating the surface of the EPDM rubber membrane with an aqueous detergent composition having a pH above 8 and comprising from 1 to 10% by weight phosphate and from 1 to 10% by weight silicate, before application of the mastic.

Abstract: It is found that by wetting coated media, such as film-based media (e.g., Mylar film) and resin-coated papers (e.g., photobase paper), with a dilute polymer solution or colloidal silica or colloidal alumina dispersion with small particle size, the dot size increases compared to the current default dot size when printed with pigment-based inks in a Hewlett-Packard CP-2500 or CP-3500 printer. No previous efforts are known to increase the dot size on coated porous media printed with pigment inks.

Abstract: An alignment treating agent for a liquid crystal cell, which comprises a polyimide resin of the formula (I): wherein R1 is a tetravalent organic group constituting a tetracarboxylic acid or its derivative, R2 is a bivalent organic group constituting a diamine, and m is a positive integer, provided that at least 10 mol % of R2 is a bivalent organic group selected from the group consisting of: wherein X is H, OH, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, an acyl group or a halogen atom, said polyimide resin being made insoluble in an organic solvent by coating a precursor solution of said polyimide resin on a substrate, followed by heating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of applying a powder coating to a substrate (5), in particular a temperature-sensitive substrate such as wood, wood-fiber material, plastic, rubber, cloth, paper or cardboard, wherein a thermoreactive powder is applied as a base layer (6) to the uncoated surface of the substrate (5), and wherein by means of infrared radiation with at least some components in the near and/or short-wave infrared region the powder is warmed throughout to the cross-linking temperature and cured, or is warmed throughout to the gelling temperature and in a subsequent processing step cross-linking is completed and the coating is cured. To generate the infrared radiation in particular halogen bulbs (7) are used in combination with a reflector (8) to reflect the emitted radiation towards the substrate. The halogen bulbs (7) are operated in such a way that the emitted radiation has a flux-density maximum in the near infrared.

Abstract: At least one of the following compounds is included on a surface layer of a print medium and in an inkjet ink formulation to be printed thereon: potassium iodide, sodium iodide, sodium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, and sodium thiocyanate. The addition of at least one of these compounds to both the print medium and the inkjet ink can improve light fastness on the order of eight to thirteen times or more on porous glossy media. These additives are particularly effective with water-soluble dyes, including such dyes as Reactive Black 31 (Pacified) (RB31), Direct Blue 199 (DB199), Magenta 377 (M377), and Direct Yellow 132 (DY132).

Abstract: The invention is a method for treating a worksurface of a workpiece to render it static dissipative under conditions of low relative humidity. Conditions are created that render the worksurface receptive to treatment with a electrostatic dissipative (ESD) agent. The receptive worksurface is contacted with an ESD agent. Finally, the conditions created to render the worksurface receptive are removed. One method for treating a worksurface of a workpiece to render it static dissipative under conditions of low relative humidity commences by contacting the worksurface with an aqueous bath comprising acid and poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate). The worksurface is removed from the bath and excess bath is washed away from the worksurface. The worksurface finally is dried. The preferred acid is HCl. Another method involves heating the worksurface to render it receptive followed by treating with heated worksurface with the ESD agent and subjecting the treated worksurface to pressure.

Abstract: At least one of the following compounds is applied as a re-wet solution to media: potassium iodide, sodium iodide, sodium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, and sodium thiocyanate. The addition of at least one of these compounds to the re-wet solution can improve light fastness on the order of eight to thirteen times or more on porous glossy media. These additives are particularly effective with water-soluble dyes, including dyes such as Reactive Black 31 (Pacified) (RB31), Direct Blue 199 (DB199), Magenta 377 (M377), and Direct Yellow 132 (DY132).