Abstract: A viewing device comprising a media having a lineal pattern of alternating transparent and non-transparent regions printed thereon, wherein the non-transparent regions comprise edges having an Edge Roughness greater than about 2 micrometers.

Abstract: An article of manufacture including a graphite sheet having a texturized surface. The article of manufacture comprises, in one embodiment, about 90 to 99 percent vermicular graphite and about 1 to 10 percent of a filler (e.g., talc or mica). The article of manufacture may also include an insert in the form of a sheet of, for example, stainless steel, polyester film, or fiberglass fabric. Also, a method including combining an article having a surface texture with a graphite sheet, and imparting the surface texture to a surface of the graphite sheet.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member, which is used for a tandem color image forming device, is formed in an endless belt shape, and includes a polyimide resin as a main component. The planarity of the intermediate transfer member is less than or equal to 5 mm. Also, a method of fabricating the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A sporting goods article with a coating on a surface of the article for abrasion resistance and/or a high gloss appearance. The outer layer of the surface is a polymer, wood, metal, non-polymeric ink, non-polymeric colorant, non-polymeric dye, or a combination thereof The coating is a cured ceramer composition. The cured ceramer composition, in its simplest embodiment, is derived from a composition including inorganic oxide particles and a curable organic matrix, with the curable organic matrix including at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one organofunctional silane monomer coupling agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet of crystallizable material, having opposed first and second surfaces, the sheet comprising: (a) a plurality of crystalline regions located in the first surface; and (b) an amorphous matrix surrounding and separating the crystalline regions from one another. The present invention also provides a method of making a flexible, cut resistant, and abrasion resistant sheet material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sheet of crystallizable amorphous material having opposed first and second surfaces; (b) crystallizing discrete regions of the first surface of the sheet of material, the discrete regions being separated from one another by a continuous amorphous matrix.

Abstract: A blackout and thermal drapery and drapery lining and method therefor having a metalized film which is capable of providing a barrier to light, heat and cold in an environmentally and ecologically sound way.

Abstract: A decorative film for use in plastics molding, the decorative film being a laminate film prepared by outwardly and successively laminating a polyolefin film layer, a primer layer, optionally a topcoating layer and a releasable layer, the primer layer being a coating film formed from an isocyanate-curing type resin composition containing (A) a hydroxyl group-containing resin having a hydroxyl number of 30 to 200 KOH mg/g on an average and a weight average molecular weight of 1000 to 80000, (B) a polyolefin based resin and (C) a (blocked) polyisocyanate compound in such mixing amounts that a number of the isocyanate group in the component (C) is in the range of 0.1 to 0.9 per one hydroxyl group in the component (A) and that the component (B) is in the range of 1 to 90% by weight based on a total weight of the components (A), (B) and (C), and having a static glass transition temperature of 20 to 70° C., an elongation of 10% or more and a tensile strength of 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a relatively soft, largely planar, though three-dimensional product, obtainable by means of an embossing tool for converting a relatively soft, planar starting product as a result of embossing to the extent that an embossing pattern exists which comprises a plurality of “hinged parallelograms” that are limited by lines of compressed material such that when tractive forces are applied, this hinged parallelogram structure behaves like a pantograph and a secondary bulk is superimposed as a result of a stretching process on the primary bulk produced by the embossing.

Abstract: The flexible, weatherable decorative sheet material provided by the present invention comprises a thermoformable decorative paint film having an inner surface and a weatherable, low gloss outer surface suitable for forming an exterior finish for a part, such as an automobile body part. The sheet material further includes an extensible mask layer releasably adhered to the outer surface of the paint film to form a protective film overlying the paint film. The mask layer comprises a film-forming polymer component and a particulate filler, such as silica, dispersed in the polymer component. A method of constructing the decorative sheet material, a method of controlling the gloss appearance of a paint film, and a composite shaped part including the decorative sheet material are also provided.

Abstract: Adherent plastic notes, using static charged or conventional adhesive materials as the adherent mechanism, are provided which are more durable and smear-proof than conventional paper notes such as “post-its”. Holders and/or dispensers are also provided for convenient use of the plastic notes.

Abstract: A cylindrical embossment roll whose outer circumferential surface is formed with a micro-asperity pattern is prepared. A substrate is coated with a thin resin film. The substrate is held by a transfer stage, and a micro-asperity pattern is formed on the thin resin film by pressing the outer circumferential surface of the embossment roll against the thin resin film with a pressurizing mechanism while rolling the embossment roll on the thin resin film.

Abstract: PSAs and PSA constructions, such as self-adhesive labels, are provided, and exhibit good slittability and reduced adhesive build-up in printers, including laser printers. In one embodiment, a PSA has a storage modulus at 1000 radians/s and 25° C. of about 5×106 dyne/cm2 or higher and a creep at 90° C. of about 125 or less. In one embodiment, the PSA is the polymerization product of a plurality of acrylic and other monomers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a resin-impregnated endless belt structure having a texturized outer surface requires the use of a support structure, either a cylindrical mandrel or a pair of carrying rolls, having a texturized surface. An endless, permeable base structure is placed about the support structure, which is adapted to place the base structure under tension in a longitudinal direction. A polymeric resin material is dispensed onto the outside of the base structure on the support structure. The polymeric resin material totally impregnates the base structure and passes therethrough to coat the texturized surface of the support structure. A layer of polymeric resin material is also built up on the outside of the base structure. The polymeric resin material is then cured, and may be ground to provide the layer of polymeric resin material with a smooth, uniform surface, and the belt structure thus obtained is removed from the support structure.

Abstract: A toner carrier which carries a toner in the form of thin film on its surface, comes close to or comes into contact with the image-forming body so as to supply the toner to the surface of the image-forming body, thereby forming a visible image on the surface of the image-forming body, said toner carrier being characterized in that its conductive elastic layer has a coating layer thereon which is made of a material containing a resin with a glass transition point lower than 10° C. and has a dynamic elastic modulus (E′) of 107-109.8 dyn/cm2 and a loss tangent (tan &dgr;) smaller than 0.7. A toner carrier in which the electrically conductive elastic layer is formed from an elastic material having a tear strength greater than 10 kg/cm measured according to JIS K6252.

Abstract: A polymeric resin is disclosed in the form of beads or particles having a coating thereon which renders the resin blood compatible. The resin comprises divinylbenzene monomer which has a porosity, pore size, and surface area suitable for absorbtion of unhealthy components of blood, such as &bgr;-2-microglobulin.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article having a photoresponsive surface, said article comprising a substrate having photoionisable moieties capable of undergoing dimerization attached to at least a portion of a surface thereof, the proximity of said moieties to one another being such that irradiation with light of an appropriate wavelength results in dimerization of at least a portion of said moieties thereby altering the wettability of the surface. Methods of preparing a substrate having a photoresistive surface and methods for altering the wettability of a surface of a substrate are also included.

Abstract: Provided are carbon fiber composite materials which have a structure including a skeletal part and a matrix formed integrally around the skeletal part. The skeletal part is mainly composed of carbon fiber bundles and silicon carbide and metallic silicon formed in the carbon fiber bundles and/or on the outer surface of the carbon fiber bundles. The matrix is mainly composed of silicon carbide and metallic silicon. Alternatively, the carbon fiber composite materials have a structure including a skeletal part and a matrix formed integrally around the skeletal part and have a porosity of 0.5-5% and a two-peak type distribution of average pore diameter. The skeletal part is formed of carbon fibers and a carbon component other than the carbon fibers and/or silicon carbide, and the matrix being formed of silicon carbide at least 50% of which is of &bgr; type. These carbon fiber composite materials are suitable for the uses as aerospace materials.

Abstract: Polymeric articles, including membranes, with surfaces having a desired chemical functionality are created by surface segregation of a branched component blended with a compatible, matrix base component, the branched component having the desired chemical functionality. In particular, hydrophilic surfaces are created via surface segregation of a branched hydrophilic copolymer blended into a polymer matrix. The use of branched molecular architecture provides a thermodynamic mechanism for the segregation of the hydrophilic species to the surface and a means for achieving a high surface coverage of the hydrophilic moiety. The branched hydrophilic copolymer can be defined by a random copolymer including two or more methacrylate or acrylate monomers, at least one of which features a short hydrophilic side chain, such as a polyethylene glycol side chain. The branched hydrophilic copolymer is compatible, and well-entangled, with the acrylate polymer matrix.

Abstract: A receiver element for use in a thermal imaging process, wherein a surface of a pigment-image receiving layer of the receiver element has a roughness, and the surface is brought into contact with a thermally imageable element, wherein the pigment-image receiving layer provided on the receiver element has an average roughness (Ra) of less than about 1&mgr; and has surface irregularities having a plurality of peaks, at least about 50 of the peaks having a height of at least about 200 nm and a diameter of about 100 pixels over a surface area of about 458&mgr; by about 602&mgr;. These roughened receiver elements substantially reduce the micro-dropouts.

Abstract: A polyolefin-coated support material is characterized by a high gloss and a low pit level with a high production rate due to its production with a chill roll having an electrolytically structured surface with a standard deviation of the roughness Rz of 0.050 &mgr;m to 0.120 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A process for processing a thermoplastic, which includes, in succession, the following steps: (1) a molten semicrystalline thermoplastic extrudate is cooled to a temperature T1 which is greater than the crystallization temperature (Tc) of the thermoplastic and is less than Tf+5° C., Tf denoting the melting point of the thermoplastic; (2) next, the extrudate is drawn in the molten state; (3) next, the extrudate is relaxed, at a temperature T3 which is between Tc and Tf, for a duration at least equal to the average relaxation time (&tgr;3) of the thermoplastic at the relaxation temperature, and after the drawing; (4) next, the extrudate is quenched to a temperature T4 which is less than Tc.

Abstract: A cast film comprises a layer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed substantially syndiotactic propylene polymer. Optionally, the cast film has on at least one side an outer skin layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium, comprising a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic metal thin film having micro-size projections on surface thereof and formed by vacuum film forming method and provided at least on one side of a nonmagnetic substrate, a carbon protective layer and a lubricant provided on said magnetic layer, a central axis of a diamond indenter of trilateral pyramid having a tip sharp angle of 90° and a radius of curvature at tip of 35-50 nm being directed perpendicularly to the surface of the nonmagnetic substrate, pressure is applied on the carbon protective layer, and a load obtained when indentation depth of the indenter is 10-25 nm is divided by projection area of indenter contactor, and the quotient, i.e. micro-hardness, is within the range of 10-30 GPa.

Abstract: An excellent low temperature heat sealing property is imparted to a surface of a non-perfluoro fluorine-containing resin molded article having F/C of not more than 1.8. A non-perfluoro fluorine-containing resin molded article having a surface layer portion having a low temperature heat sealing property on at least a part of the surface layer thereof; said surface layer portion having a low temperature heat-sealing property has a ratio F/C of the number of fluorine atoms to the number of carbon atoms of 0.2≦F/C≦0.9 and a ratio O/C of the number of oxygen atoms to the number of carbon atoms of 0.09≦O/C≦0.40, and a remaining portion of the surface layer has a ratio F/C of the number of fluorine atoms to the number of carbon atoms which is larger than that of the surface layer portion having a low temperature heat-sealing property and is 0.8≦F/C≦1.8.

Abstract: Cured coatings having particles at a surface region of the cured coating are provided. Also provided are multi-component composite coatings which include a cured basecoat deposited from a pigmented coating composition and a cured topcoat deposited from a topcoating composition. The multi-component composite coatings of the invention provide highly scratch resistant color-plus-clearcoatings capable of retaining scratch resistance after weathering.

Abstract: High areal storage density, patterned magnetic media comprising a patterned plurality of at least partially crystalline, ferromagnetic particles or grains are provided by means of a simple, economical process wherein a non-magnetic substrate is provided with a layer of an amorphous, paramagnetic or anti-paramagnetic material comprising at least one component, e.g., a metal element, which is ferromagnetic when in at least partially crystalline form, and at least partially crystallizing the at least one component at selected areas of the amorphous layer to form a spaced-apart pattern of at least partially crystallized, ferromagnetic particles or grains of the at least one component, the particles or grains being spaced apart and surrounded by a matrix of the amorphous material. Embodiments include utilizing a focussed or scanned laser source and an amorphous Ni—P layer for forming ferromagnetic Ni particles or grains.

Abstract: A patterned magnetic recording disk has a magnetic recording layer patterned into discrete magnetic and nonmagnetic regions having substantially the same chemical composition. The nonmagnetic regions have a chemically-ordered L12 crystalline structure and the magnetic regions have a chemically-disordered crystalline structure. The chemically-ordered intermetallic compound FePt3, which is nonferromagnetic, is rendered ferromagnetic by ion irradiation. This FePt3 material can be patterned by irradiating local regions through a mask to create magnetic regions that serve as the magnetic bits. The ions pass through the openings in the mask and impact the chemically-ordered FePt3 in selected regions corresponding to the pattern of holes in the mask. The ions disrupt the ordering of the Fe and Pt atoms in the unit cell and transform the FePt3 into magnetic regions corresponding to the mask pattern, with the regions of the film not impacted by the ions retaining their chemically-ordered structure.

Abstract: A patterned magnetic recording disk has a magnetic recording layer patterned into discrete magnetic and nonmagnetic regions having substantially the same chemical composition. The magnetic regions have a chemically-ordered L12 crystalline structure and the nonmagnetic regions have a chemically-disordered crystalline structure. The chemically-ordered intermetallic compound CrPt3, which is ferromagnetic, is rendered paramagnetic by ion irradiation. This CrPt3 material is patterned by irradiating local regions through a mask to create nonmagnetic regions. The ions pass through the openings in the mask and impact the chemically-ordered CrPt3 in selected regions corresponding to the pattern of holes in the mask. The ions disrupt the ordering of the Cr and Pt atoms in the unit cell and transform the CrPt3 into paramagnetic regions corresponding to the mask pattern, with the regions of the film not impacted by the ions retaining their chemically-ordered structure.

Abstract: A porous polyester film having an apparent specific gravity of not more than 1.3, which comprises a polyester film having many voids (layer (A)) comprising a polyester and a thermoplastic resin incompatible with said polyester, and a polyester film having many fine voids (layer (B)) comprising a polyester and inorganic fine particles having an average particle size of not more than 1 &mgr;m, the two layers being bonded to each other, wherein the layer (B) has a porosity of not less than 20% by volume, and a thickness of 1-20 &mgr;m that is not more than 30% of the thickness of the porous film. Due to the present invention, a porous polyester film capable of providing an image-receiving sheet superior in surface smoothness, image density, and resistance to wrinkles can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconducting ceramic which possesses a dielectric strength of 800 V/mm or more and a specific resistance at room temperature of 100 &OHgr;·cm or less, the specific resistance at room temperature undergoing substantially no time-course change. The semiconducting ceramic is formed of a sintered semiconducting material containing barium titanate, wherein the average grain size of the semiconducting ceramic is about 1.0 &mgr;m or less and the relative spectral intensity ratio represented by BaCO3/BaO, which is determined by XPS at the surface of the ceramic, is 0.5 or less.

Abstract: In a wet friction material and a method therefor of the present invention, an excessive binder coating on the outermost surface layer of the friction material is removed or prevented while at least one of impregnation, drying and setting of a binder, and further the surface of the friction material is smoothed by means of heating, pressurizing and molding.

Abstract: Multilayer elastomer films (multilayer material) comprising at least one continuous layer, carrying an active chemical substance (such as corrosion inhibitors, lubricants or alternatively biocides for medical use), inserted between inert elastomer barrier layers, processes for the preparation and various applications of these films. The multilayer polymeric material comprises at least one layer A composed of a gel which is reversible or non-reversible, as a function of the temperature, and which carries at least one active chemical substance x, and at least two barrier layers E comprising a synthetic elastomer e, the said layers being held together by a polymeric bonding agent y incorporated in at least one of the said layers A or E and/or by an independent bonding layer Z comprising a polymer z and/or by a chemical or physical treatment of at least one of the said layers A or E.

Abstract: A release liner providing more roll stability (i.e., the coils forming the roll are less likely to fall apart when the roll is held suspended along its outer circumferential edge) when used with double-sided tape having a heat activated adhesive (“HAA”) side and a pressure sensitive adhesive (“PSA”) side. The release liner includes a front liner side comprising a release layer in contact with, bonded to and readily removable from the PSA side and a back liner side comprising a roll stability layer. The roll stability layer comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate and contacts the HAA side when the adhesive tape assembly is formed into a roll.

Abstract: A laminated glass comprises a tempered first glass sheet, in which by breaking the glass sheet at one point, cracks spread spontaneously so that a crack-network is formed, and a second glass sheet. The second glass sheet has a lower strength than the first glass sheet, or such a thickness and a strength that the second glass sheet can be easily broken on the side of the first glass. Such a laminated glass can reduce the difficulty in escaping from the interior of an automobile sunk in water or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a superior recording sheet for ink jet printers which can completely satisfy property requirements such as light resistance of the printing images. The recording sheet for an ink jet printer includes a water-soluble divalent or greater metallic salt, so that properties such as light resistance are improved very effectively.

Abstract: Described is a material in web form in which at least a portion of its surface has been plasma-treated. The material in web form is selected from metallic materials in web form having a thickness of less than 100 &mgr;m and polymeric materials in web form. The plasma treatment of the material in web form involves treating homogeneously at least a portion of the surface of the material in web form with an atmospheric plasma, optionally in the presence of a process gas and/or a process aerosol. The atmospheric plasma is generated by an indirect plasmatron.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a security device, the method comprising providing a radiation curable material on a shrinkable substrate; imparting an optically variable effect structure on or into the radiation curable material; and curing the material so that it retains the optically variable effect structure.

Abstract: There is provided a lithographic plate material with which a lithographic plate is prepared by the hot-melt transfer recording method utilizing an ink ribbon. The lithographic plate material has an image-receptive layer for hot-melt transfer recording that has water retention property or can be imparted with water retention property on a support, and the image-receptive layer has surface roughness (JIS-B0601-1994) of 0.15 &mgr;m or more in terms of arithmetical mean deviation Ra and 1.00-3.00 &mgr;m in terms of 10-point height of irregularities Rz. It shows good transfer property for ink layer of ink ribbon and excellent fixation property for ink layer, and it enables production of a printing plate having excellent printing durability.

Abstract: There are provided an oxygen absorbable laminate comprising an internal layer, an oxygen absorbable layer and an external layer, in which at least one surface of the oxygen absorbable laminate is roughened and subjected to a water incorporation treatment; and a production method thereof. The oxygen absorbable laminate can effectively exert oxygen absorbability even when used for dried foods and the like.

Abstract: A surface treatment method for enhancing hydrophobicity of the surface of a film support is disclosed, comprising subjecting at least one side of the surface to a gas-discharge plasma treatment in a gas phase atmosphere comprising (a) an inert gas comprising argon or helium and (b) a reactive gas comprising a hydrocarbon gas or fluorinated hydrocarbon gas. There is also disclosed a photothermographic material by the use of the support having been subjected to the surface treatment.

Abstract: Provided is a recording medium comprising an ink-receiving layer provided on at least one face of a base material, wherein a surface of the ink-receiving has the maximum specular glossiness within a measurement angle range of from 20° to 60°.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyolefin film having more than one layer and made from a base layer and from at least one outer layer. The base layer include a fatty amide and the outer layer include at least 80% by weight of a linear olefin polymer. The film is suitable, for example, for producing a film laminate by melt extrusion of a polyethylene layer.

Abstract: A polymeric resin is disclosed in the form of beads or particles having a coating thereon which renders the resin blood compatible. The resin comprises divinylbenzene monomer which has a porosity, pore size, and surface area suitable for absorbtion of unhealthy components of blood, such as &bgr;-2-microglobulin.

Abstract: The invention provides a monolayered thermoplastic hot-melt adhesive film without a separating layer which can be rolled up and unrolled without the additional use of a separating layer and in which the polymer matrix of copolyamides and/or copolyesters contains an additive combination of 0.4 wt. % to 8.0 wt. % of a spacer and 0.05 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % of a separating and lubricating agent, and optionally up to 1 wt. % of other additives, each with respect to the total mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hard coat film used for various types of displays, wherein cracking and peeling of the hard coat layer is prevented, hardness reduction of the hard coat film is suppressed and the pencil hardness of the hard coat film is in the range of 4H-8H. The hard coat film includes a buffer layer (2) with a thickness of 3-50 &mgr;m, formed on at least one side of a plastic base film (1), which has a buffer function against deformation of the hard coat layer in response to deformation of the plastic base film (1), and a hard coat layer (3) with a thickness of 3-15 &mgr;m additionally formed over the buffer layer. The hard coat film (9) is designed so that the pencil hardness of the plastic base film (1), the pencil hardness of the buffer layer and the pencil hardness of the hard coat layer increase in that order.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-sensitive sheet for stencil printing comprising a laminate of a thermoplastic resin film and a porous support mainly composed of synthetic fibers, the sheet having a wet tensile strength in the machine direction of 200 gf/cm or higher, a KES bending rigidity B value in the machine or cross direction of 0.02 g·cm2/cm or higher, and a PPS smoothness determined when a film is pressed against the surface of the porous support of the sheet of 0.9 &mgr;m or higher; the sheet has an excellent runnability, occurrence of wrinkles on the sheet when it is wound around a drum of a stencil printing machine is efficiently prevented, and elongation of the sheet is repressed and occurrence of wrinkles on the sheet can be prevented even when a large number of paper sheets are printed, and thus printed paper sheets having sharp images excellent in reproducibility of a manuscript can be provided.

Abstract: A silicon nitride member, a method for manufacturing the silicon nitride member and a cutting tool are disclosed. A cutting tool 1 includes a substrate 3 formed through sintering of a silicon nitride material, and a hard film 5 composed of a plurality of hard-component layers. The cutting tool 1 is characterized in that: when the amount of a grain boundary phase as measured at a central portion (for example, the barycenter) of the substrate 3 is taken as 100% by volume, the amount of the grain boundary phase at a depth of 300 &mgr;m from the surface of the substrate 3 is 50% to 70% by volume; when the strength of the substrate 3 as measured before coating with the hard film 5 is taken as 100%, the hardness as measured after coating with the hard film 5 is 70% to 95%; and a change in weight of the substrate 3 associated with sintering is 1.5% to 3.5% by weight.

Abstract: A laminated polyester film excellent in scratch resistance is described, which has a surface elastic modulus of 5 GPa to 15 GPa on at least one side thereof.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a plastic film that is inapt to cause winding deviation, wrinkling and blocking even under a high-speed running condition. The invention provides a plastic film wherein at least 1,000 positive electrified patterns and at least 1,000 negatively electrified patterns each having an area of at most 10 mm2 and an arbitrary shape are distributed per 100 cm2 of the film, and a polypropylene film wherein the static friction coefficient &mgr;s between one surface of the film and another surface of the film is at least 0.2, and the dynamic friction coefficient &mgr;d therebetween is at least 0.08.

Abstract: In a formulation comprising titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst and an amphoteric metal oxide (alumina or the like) or a basic metal oxide (barium oxide, strontium oxide or the like) as a material having a base point, when a nitrogen oxide (nitrogen monoxide) comes into contact with or approaches titanium dioxide, upon exposed to light, the carbon monoxide is oxidized to nitrogen dioxide (gas) by hydroxy radicals as an active oxygen species produced by titanium dioxide. As is apparent from the molecular structure, nitrogen dioxide is an acidic gas, alumina is an amphoteric metal oxide, and barium oxide and strontium oxide are a basic metal oxide. The oxygen atom thereof serves as a base point to an acid gas. Therefore, nitrogen dioxide is attracted and chemically bonded to the oxygen atom, held on the metal oxide, and kept close to titanium dioxide as the photocatalyst.