Abstract: Coating compositions suitable for UV imprint lithographic applications are disclosed that include at least one vinyl ether crosslinker having at least two vinyl ether groups; at least one diluent comprising a monofunctional vinyl ether compound; and at least one photoacid generator soluble in a selected one or both of the at least one monofunctional ether compound and the at least one vinyl ether compound, wherein the at least one monofunctional ether compound and the at least one vinyl ether compound are free from fluorine and silicon substituents. Also disclosed are imprint processes.

Abstract: A high optical contrast pigment and colorful photosensitive composition employing the same are disclosed. The composition comprises a solvent, an alkali-soluble resin, reactive monomer, and a modified pigment which has low crystallization. The low crystallization degree means that the grain size variation R is not more 80%, wherein the grain size variation R is represented by a formula R=G1/G0×100%, G0 is the original grain size, and G1 is the grain size after modification.

Abstract: To provide a photocurable composition from which a cured product excellent in mold release characteristics and mechanical strength can be obtained, and a method for producing a molded product excellent in durability, with a fine pattern having a reverse pattern of a mold precisely transferred on its surface. A photocurable composition 20 comprising from 15 to 60 mass % of a compound (A) which is an aromatic compound having at least two rings or an alicyclic compound having at least two rings and which has two (meth)acryloyloxy groups, from 5 to 40 mass % of a compound (B) having a fluorine atom and having at least one carbon-carbon unsaturated double bond (excluding the compound (A)), from 10 to 55 mass % of a compound (C) having one (meth)acryloyloxy group (excluding the compound (B)) and from 1 to 12 mass % of a photopolymerization initiator (D) (provided that (A)+(B)+(C)+(D)=100 mass %) is used.

Abstract: A composite material and method of making and using the same is described. In particular a dental (and preferably photocurable) composite material, and the use of a composite material according to the invention as a dental material and a method for preparation of a composite material according to the invention. Also disclosed are novel radically polymerizable monomers comprising at least one polyalicyclic structure element and certain ethylenic structure elements, which are particularly suitable for use in a composite material according to the invention.

Abstract: A method of applying a surface decorative layer on a surface of an article by water pressure transfer in which transfer film 316 which has a print pattern 340 comprising a first area 312A having an ink layer and a second area 312B having no ink layer and has no whole surface pattern fixture layer formed thereon has an activating agent 320 applied onto the surface of the transfer film 316 to activate the ink and to collect a surplus portion of the activating agent in a convex form in the second area, and the water pressure transfer is performed while making a concave-convex reversal of the convex collection portions 320C of the activating agent in the second area 312B have a concave-convex reversal made on the surface of the article 10, the convex collection portions of the activating agent are shrunk and protruded when the print layer is hardened whereby a three-dimensional unevenness is imparted onto the surface of the article and the activating agent includes first photo-polymerization monomer of three or m

Abstract: A radiation curable composition comprising a curable compound, a photo-initiator and a co-initiator, characterized in that said co-initiator is a oligomer or polymer having a repeating unit, said repeating unit comprising at least two tertiary amines, and said polymer being prepared by the polycondensation of di- or oligofunctional Michael acceptors with mono- or oligofunctional aliphatic primary amines or with di- or oligofunctional aliphatic secondary amines or with a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Adamantane derivatives are provided including a phenolic hydroxyl group-containing adamantane derivative, a glycidyloxy group-containing adamantane derivative, and an adamantyl group-containing epoxy modified acrylate, which exhibit excellent transparency, light resistance, and heat resistance properties. Also provided are resin compositions containing the adamantane derivatives. Further provided are corresponding methods for producing the adamantane derivatives, as well as the resin compositions containing the same.

Abstract: A radiation curing composition suitable for building a three-dimensional object by a solid freeform method is disclosed. The composition includes one or more mono-functional monomers where a respective polymer has a Glass Transition Temperature higher than about 60° C., one or more di-functional oligomers where a respective polymer has a Glass Transition Temperature lower than about 40° C. and a filler that comprises particles having an average diameter of less than 100 nm. The functional groups of the components may include meth(acrylic) and the composition has a viscosity of about 50-500 cps at ambient temperature. Further, the concentration of the mono-functional monomer may be at least 30% by weight elative to the total weight of the composition and the concentration of the di-functional oligomer may be at least 20% by weight elative to the total weight of the composition.

Abstract: Provided is an acrylate having a high refractive index, which is represented by Chemical Formula (1) or (2), and a method for preparing the same. Since the acrylate has a refractive index, it may be widely applicable to components of display devices such as prism sheet and may be prepared simply, effectively and economically.

Abstract: Radiation curable compositions comprising at least one radiation curable oligomer obtained from the reaction of one or more carboxyl functional polyester (a) having a glass transition temperature TG and/or melting temperature Tm of less than 30° C., with (b1) one or more (meth)acrylated mono-epoxide, and/or (b2) one or more polyepoxide and one or more ?, ? unsaturated carboxylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to acrylic adhesive composition comprising a mixture of at least one polyol tri(meth)acrylate monomer and at least one polyalkylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate monomer for assembling elements made of plastic materials, like PMMA or SAN, or inorganic material, like glass or metals, employed for manufacturing of devices for the distribution or containment of biological substances, like proteins, enzymes, antibodies, antigens, DNA, and the like. The present invention also relates to devices for the distribution or containment of biological substances assembled with the above mentioned acrylic adhesive composition, and particularly thermal or piezoelectric ejecting devices, and biochip microarray, as well as to a method for assembling thereof.

Abstract: An optical element comprising: a first monomer polymerized while in the presence of a second monomer to form a first polymer intermixed with the second monomer, the first polymer having a spatially varying degree of cure that provides a predetermined refractive index profile; and the second monomer polymerized in the presence of the first polymer to form a second polymer intermixed with the first polymer, the second polymer stabilizing the refractive index profile.

Abstract: A monomeric formulation for creating self-propagating polymer optical waveguides and a system and a method of using the same. The monomeric formulation includes a plurality of unsaturated molecules, a molecule having a structure of R—X—H (e.g., X?O, S, N), and a photoinitiator. The monomeric formulation can further include a free radical inhibitor. The system includes a light source, a reservoir having a monomeric formulation and a patterning apparatus configured to guide a light beam from the light source into the monomeric formulation to form at least one self-propagating polymer waveguide.

Abstract: A process for producing a cured coating is provided that includes a step of forming on a substrate layer of a curable composition that includes at least one compound represented by Formula (I) and a step of curing the layer of the curable composition by irradiation with electron beam. In formula (I) , Q1 denoted a cyano group or a —COX2 group, X1 denoted a hydrogen atom, organic residue, or polymer chain bonded to carbon atom CA via a heteroatom, or a halogen atom, X2 denoted a hydrogen atom, organic residue, or polymer chain boned to the carbonyl group via a heteroatom, or a halogen atom, Ra and Rb independently denote a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, or an organic residue, and X1 and X2, Ra and Rb, and X1 and Ra or Rb may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure. There is also provided an electron beam-curable composition that includes a compound represented by Formula (I).

Abstract: A photocationically polymerizable adhesive composition and an optical member, the photocationically polymerizable adhesive composition including about 75 to about 99.8 parts by weight of a compound including one of aliphatic epoxy, alicyclic epoxy, oxetane, and vinyl ether compounds, about 0.1 to about 5 parts by weight of a titanate coupling agent, and about 0.1 to about 20 parts by weight of a photopolymerization initiator, wherein a sum of weights of the compound, the titanate coupling agent, and the photopolymerization initiator is 100 parts by weight.

Abstract: The invention provides a photo-curable composition that addresses degradation in dispersibility caused by the use of a pigment, and has good color tone and high light fastness. The photo-curable composition includes: a polymerizable compound; a polymerization initiator; and a dye represented by Formula (1): in which, A1, A2 and A3 each represent a monovalent group, and Z represents a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a monovalent group-bonded carbon atom, the dye represented by Formula (1) having two azo groups in a molecule thereof.

Abstract: A radiation curable solid ink composition comprising at least one curable wax that is curable by free radical polymerization; at least one monomer, oligomer, or prepolymer; at least one non-curable wax; at least one free-radical photoinitiator or photoinitiating moiety; and a colorant; wherein the components form a curable ink composition that is a solid at a first temperature of from about 20 to about 25° C.; and wherein the components form a liquid composition at a second temperature of greater than about 40° C.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to curable printing fluids are disclosed. One example embodiment provides a curable printing fluid composition for a thermal fluid ejection device, the composition comprising a curable liquid-phase monomer, a substantially nonaqueous volatile driver fluid capable of being vaporized by a thermal fluid ejection printhead, an initiator, a phosphate ester resistor protectant, and a colorant comprising a dye.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition, including: an epoxy resin (A) represented by Formula (1); an epoxy resin (B) having an epoxy equivalent of 220 or less and having twice or more epoxy groups in a molecule than epoxy groups of the epoxy resin (A); and a photocationic polymerization initiator (C), in which: the epoxy resins (A) and (B) constitute main components; and a weight of the epoxy resin (A) is 40% or more and a weight of the epoxy resin (B) is 30% or more with respect to a total weight of the epoxy resins (A) and (B): where: R represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a t-butyl group; n represents an integer of 0 or more and 4 or less; and m represents an integer of 1 or more and 3 or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical sheet which is used in a liquid crystal display. The optical sheet is not readily damaged by external impact, and thus is easy to handle and can reduce failure rate, leading to a decrease in production cost and an increase in production efficiency. Also, it can prevent a decrease in brightness.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for inducing reversible chain cleavage of polymer chains in a crosslinked polymeric material. Reversible cleavage of the polymer backbone is capable of relieving stress in the polymeric material as the bonds reform in a less stressed state. The invention also provides methods for making polymeric materials capable of reversible chain cleavage, materials made by the methods of the invention, and linear monomers containing reversible chain cleavage groups which are useful in the materials and methods of the invention.

Abstract: Polymeric fibers and methods of making the polymeric fibers are described. The polymeric fibers are crosslinked hydrogels or dried hydrogels that are prepared from a precursor composition that contains polymerizable material having an average number of ethylenically unsaturated groups per monomer molecule greater than 1.0. The polymeric fibers can contain an optional active agent.

Abstract: An ink composition is provided that includes (A) one type of compound (monomer (A)) selected from the group consisting of a difunctional (meth)acrylic acid ester or amide having an alkylene group of 6 to 12 carbons, and a difunctional vinyl ether having an alkylene group of 6 to 12 carbons, (B) a polymerization initiator, and (C) a colorant. There is also provided an inkjet recording method that includes a step (a) of discharging the ink composition onto a recording medium and a step (b) of irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation so as to cure the ink composition. Furthermore, a process for producing a lithographic printing plate is provided that includes a step (a?) of discharging the ink composition onto a hydrophilic support and a step (b?) of irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation so as to cure the ink composition, thus forming a hydrophobic image on the hydrophilic support by curing the ink composition.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cationic curable composition which has low viscosity, can be rapidly photo-cured even in the air, has good adhesion to a substrate such as glass or resin, and is excellent in glass cleaner resistance and water resistance; an ink jet ink, a gravure ink and a hard coating material which comprise the composition; and cured products thereof. A cationic curable composition comprising: (A) 1 to 100 parts by weight of a phenol derivative having 3 or more aromatic rings per molecule, wherein the aromatic ring has a structure in which some or all of hydrogen atoms of phenolic hydroxyl groups of the aromatic ring are substituted by polymerizable functional groups; (B) 1 to 500 parts by weight of a cationic polymerizable compound; and (C) 0.05 to 20 parts by weight of a photo- and/or thermo-cationic initiator is provided.

Abstract: To provide a curable composition, from which a cured film having a low dielectric constant can be obtained and which is excellent in providing embedding planarity at the time of film formation. A curable composition comprising a fluorinated polyarylene prepolymer (A) having a crosslinkable functional group, and a compound (B) having a molecular weight of from 140 to 5,000, having a crosslinkable functional group and having no fluorine atoms.

Abstract: A composition usable as a moisture absorbent for an organic electroluminescence device. A photocurable hygroscopic composition comprising (a) a moisture-reactive organic metal compound, (b) a (meth)acrylate, (c) a carboxyl group-containing polymerizable monomer, and (d) a photopolymerization initiator. The proportion of the moisture-reactive organic metal compound (a) is from 5 to 70 wt % based on the entire composition, and the proportion of the carboxyl group-containing polymerizable monomer (c) is from 0.1 to 50 mol % based on the moisture-reactive organic metal compound (a).

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers encapsulated within a matrix material, where the optical fiber coating(s) and the matrix material(s), and optionally any ink layers thereon, are characterized by compatible chemical and/or physical properties, whereby the fiber coating and matrix and any ink layers therebetween can be reliably stripped from the optical fibers to afford a suitable strip cleanliness. Novel ink formulations that can be used in the making of such fiber optic ribbons, methods of making such ribbons, and their use are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, which includes irradiating a photopolymerizable acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition layer provided between two films with an active energy beam to polymerize the photopolymerizable acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition layer, in which the polymerization is performed while a layer of a composition for preventing polymerization inhibition which is curable with an active energy beam in the atmosphere is provided on a side surface of the photopolymerizable acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition layer. According to the process for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the present invention, owing to the construction as discussed above, it is possible to reuse a film.

Abstract: The present invention provides visible light curing systems, methods for reducing health risks to individuals exposed to radiation curing systems, methods for bonding substrates and visible light curing compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new (meth)acrylate compositions, their preparation and their use in ultraviolet light curable applications such as coatings, inks and adhesives.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition which is excellent in flame resistance, resolution and flexibility, and substantially free from deposition of components thereof to prevent contamination of a product. The photosensitive resin composition comprises: (A) a cyclic phosphazene compound represented by the following general formula (1): wherein at least one of the Rs is an organic group having the urethane(meth)acrylate structure represented by the following general formula (2) and n is a positive number of 2 to 5: wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; (B) a carboxyl-containing linear polymer obtained by polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated compound through addition polymerization; (C) an epoxy resin; (D) an ethylenically unsaturated group-containing polymerizable compound; and (E) a photopolymerization initiator; wherein the cyclic phosphazene compound (A) is present in a proportion of 5 to 30 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink set including: an ink composition including a pigment, polymer particles having an ethylene oxide chain in a side chain of the polymer, and a water-soluble polymerizable compound that has an ethylene oxide chain and that is polymerized by active energy rays; and a treating liquid including an aggregating agent that aggregates ingredients in the ink composition.

Abstract: An active energy ray-curable ink composition, which contains a compound having, in its molecule, an oxetane ring and at least one selected from a dioxolane ring, a dioxane ring, and a dioxepane ring; an ink composition, which contains a cationically-polymerizable compound having, in its molecule, both an oxetane ring and a bicycloorthoester ring; an inkjet ink, which contains the active energy ray-curable ink composition or the ink composition; and an image-forming method and a recorded material, using the inkjet ink; an oxetane compound of a specific structure.

Abstract: The invention features dental compositions comprising at least one hybrid monomer that comprises a cyclic allylic sulfide moiety attached to a (meth)acryloyl moiety. These two functional moieties are typically joined either directly to each via a chemical bond or through some chemical structure or spacer molecule. The composition may optionally contain additional polymerizable compounds, such as ethylenically unsaturated compounds, that are typically used in dental compositions.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition, including: an epoxy resin (A) represented by Formula (1); an epoxy resin (B) having an epoxy equivalent of 220 or less and having twice or more epoxy groups in a molecule than epoxy groups of the epoxy resin (A); and a photocationic polymerization initiator (C), in which: the epoxy resins (A) and (B) constitute main components; and a weight of the epoxy resin (A) is 40% or more and a weight of the epoxy resin (B) is 30% or more with respect to a total weight of the epoxy resins (A) and (B): where: R represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a t-butyl group; n represents an integer of 0 or more and 4 or less; and m represents an integer of 1 or more and 3 or less.

Abstract: A process for producing a microparticulate hardening catalyst, comprising the steps of jetting a liquid composition containing epoxy resin hardening catalyst (A), monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated group (B) and photopolymerization initiator (C) through a minute nozzle into a gas so as to form microparticles; and while the microparticles are floating, irradiating the same with high-energy rays to thereby effect polymerization of the monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated group (B).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerization-curable composition for the preparation of biodegradable, biocompatible, cross-linked polymers on the basis of polyvinyl alcohol comprising: 5 to 100% by weight of (a) vinyl ester monomer(s) of one of the general formulas (I) to (III): wherein X is oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or phosphorus; n is 1 to 1000, at least 20% of the n being ?2; the R1 are selected from hydrogen; straight, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, n-valent hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, which optionally have heteroatoms and are optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from —OH, —COON, —CN, —CHO, and ?O, and n-valent radicals of biodegradable, biocompatible oligomers and polymers; m is an integer from 1 to 5; the R2 are selected from hydrogen, —OH, ?O, and the options listed for R1; and the R3 are selected from hydrogen, —OH, and the options listed for R1; 0 to 50% by weight of ethylenically unsaturated co-monomers; 0 to 10% by weight of (a)

Abstract: An ink used preferably in jet ink devices includes an ink vehicle, the ink vehicle being made up either (a) a first component curable by a first polymerization route and an associated photointiator, and a second component curable by a second polymerization route and as associated photoinitiator, wherein the second polymerization route is different from the first polymerization route, or (b) a component curable by a single polymerization route with a first and a second photoinitiator system in which the first system responds to longer wavelengths. An image may be formed by such inks by jetting onto a transfer member surface, curing the first component or partially curing the single component while upon the transfer member surface, transferring the ink to an image receiving surface, and completing curing. The first component is preferably curable via cationic polymerization and the second component is preferably curable via free radical polymerization.

Abstract: An energy ray-curable resin composition comprising (A) a (meth)acrylate having a molecular weight of from 500 to 5,000, of which the main chain backbone is at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polybutadiene, a polyisoprene and hydrogenated products thereof and which has at least one (meth)acryloyl group at an end of the main chain backbone or in a side chain, (B) a monofunctional (meth)acrylate having a C2-8 unsaturated hydrocarbon group via an ester bond, (C) a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate, (D) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (E) a photopolymerization initiator, and (F) an antioxidant which exhibits equally high adhesive strength to various objects to be bonded, has good heat and moisture resistance, excellent rigidity, low cure shrinkage and little adhesion strain is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printing ink set. The ink-jet ink set comprises a plurality of ink-jet inks, each ink being substantially free of water and volatile organic solvents, having a viscosity of 100 mPas or less at 25° C., and comprising at least one radiation-curable monomer, a photoinitiator, and a colorant, wherein the set includes a cyan ink, a magenta ink, a yellow ink, a black ink, and one or more of an orange ink, a green ink and a violet ink. The ink set may also include light CYMK inks. An eight ink set comprising cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange, green, violet and light magenta inks is also disclosed.

Abstract: A floor covering includes a wear layer including a resin and a photoinitiator in which the composition of the wear layer is curable by radiation having the strongest wavelength in the UVV range of 400 to 450 nm. The gloss of the wear layer can be controlled by controlling the amount of flatting agent in the composition applied to the surface, the amount of power applied to the surface coated with the composition or the temperature of the surface coated with the composition when the coated surface is subjected to the UVV radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental composition comprising a) halogenated aryl alkyl ether component (A) comprising at least 1 aryl alkyl ether moiety, at least 1 halogen atom attached to each aryl residue of the aryl alkyl ether moieties, at least 2 unsaturated moieties, b) Si—H functional component (B), c) initiator (C), d) optionally filler (D), and e) optionally component (E) selected from modifiers, dyes, pigments, thixotropic agents, flow improvers, polymeric thickness, surfactants, odorous substances, diluting agent(s) and flavourings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curable composition comprising a compound having a partial structure represented by the following formula (I) and a partial structure represented by the following formula (II): wherein in formula (I), A represents a group capable of forming a four- or more-membered bivalent alicyclic alkyl group with neighboring carbon atoms; and in formula (II), R1 represents an alkylene, a cycloalkylene, or an arylene group, and n represents an integer of 1 or more.

Abstract: Provided is an actinic energy radiation curable ink-jet ink, an ink-jet recording method, and printed matter satisfying ink storage stability, ejection stability, weather resistance, flexibility, safety, odorless properties. An actinic energy radiation curable ink-jet ink comprises a cationically polymerizable compound and a photo-cationic polymerization initiator, wherein the cationically polymerizable compound comprises a vinyl ether group as a reactive group, the photo-cationic polymerization initiator is a photo acid generator, an amount of generation of protonic acid from the photo acid generator is 1×10?4 mol/L or less, and comprising a radical polymerization inhibitor; wherein the amount of generation of protonic acid is defined as a difference of a hydrogen ion concentration (mol/L) in dioxane solution between immediately after preparation and after refluxing when 0.02 mol/L of the photo acid generator in dioxane solution are refluxed 20 hours under atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actinic energy radiation curable ink-jet ink exhibiting excellent ink storage stability, nozzle ink repellency, and ejection stability, and also exhibiting excellent curability, anti-abrasion properties, solvent resistance, flexibility, weather resistance, and substrate adhesion properties even under various ambience factors and irradiation conditions, as well as an ink-jet recording method and printed matter using the same. In an actinic energy radiation curable ink-jet ink containing a cationically polymerizable compound and a photo-cationic polymerization initiator, an actinic energy radiation curable ink-jet ink wherein a cationically polymerizable compound having a vinyl ether group as a reactive group is contained at 50.0% by mass or more and the halogen ion content is 1.0 ?g/g of the ink-100 ?g/g of the ink.

Abstract: A photo curable ink composition set, comprising: an ink composition A that includes at least a color material, a polymerizable compound, and a radical polymerization photoinitiator; and an ink composition B that includes at least a radical polymerizable compound and does not include the color material and the radical polymerization photoinitiator, wherein the ink composition A and/or B includes a sensitizer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition including a perfluoropolyether derivative, a photosensitive polymer or a copolymer thereof, and a photocuring agent, a passivation layer, organic thin film transistor, and electronic device including the same, a method of forming the passivation layer and methods of fabricating the organic thin film transistor and electronic device. The organic thin film transistor may prevent or reduce oxygen and moisture from infiltrating thereinto, and thus may prevent or reduce the degradation of the performance thereof caused by ambient air, prevent or reduce the deterioration thereof, and may more easily be formed into a pattern, thereby exhibiting characteristics suitable for use in electronics.

Abstract: A method for making an optical element comprises polymerizing a first monomer to form a first polymer, the first polymer having a spatially varying degree of cure that provides a predetermined refractive index profile; and polymerizing a second monomer in the presence of the first polymer to form a second polymer intermixed with the first polymer, the second polymer stabilizing the first polymer and the refractive index profile.

Abstract: A curable printing fluid composition for a thermal fluid ejection device is disclosed, wherein the printing fluid composition comprises a curable liquid-phase monomer, a volatile driver fluid capable of being vaporized by a thermal fluid ejection printhead, and a resistor protectant.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a crosslinked organic polymer; wherein the composition has a coefficient of friction that is in a range of ±30% of a coefficient of friction for a composition comprising the same organic polymer that is not crosslinked; and wherein the composition has a lower K factor than a K factor of the composition comprising the same organic polymer that is not crosslinked; the coefficient of friction and the K factor being measured in a thrust washer apparatus as per ASTM D-3702, where the counter stationary surface in the thrust washer apparatus comprises carbon steel having a Rockwell C hardness of 18 to 22 and a 12 to 16 micro-inch surface finish.