A decorative element for the exterior of a vehicle includes a first component made of a first plastic and a second component made of a second plastic. The components are connected together, where the second component forms a translucent region, the first plastic can be galvanized, and the second plastic is made of silicone. A vehicle includes such a decorative element and a method is provided to produce the decorative element.

Implanted medical devices need a mechanism of immobilization to surrounding tissues, which minimizes tissue damage while providing reliable long-term anchoring. This disclosure relates to techniques for patterning arbitrarily shaped 3D objects and to patterned balloon devices having micro- or nano-patterning on an outer surface of an inflatable balloon. The external pattern can provide enhanced friction and anchoring in an aqueous environment. Examples of these types of patterns are hexagonal arrays inspired by tree frogs, corrugated patterns, and microneedle patterns. The patterned balloon devices can be disposed between an implant and surrounding tissues to facilitate anchoring of the implant.

Methods and compositions for additive manufacturing of silicone parts are provided. The methods can use SLA printing techniques to print silicone parts that exhibit excellent hardness, tear strength and elongation at break. The parts can be produced by using low dosages of radiation. In various embodiments, the silicone compositions include a mercapto-derivatized polysiloxane having two or more functional groups, an alkenyl-derivatized polysiloxane, and a photo-initiator.

A method for use in making an electrode assembly (20) comprises the steps of applying an electrode (24) on a first layer of material (22); laser welding a lead (23) to the electrode; applying an adhesive backfill (26) over the electrode and the lead; and applying a second layer of material (28) over the adhesive backfill and a portion of the first layer to prevent a leakage path between the electrode and the second layer.

Disclosed are functional materials for use in additive manufacturing (AM). The functional material can comprise an elastomeric composition (e.g., a silicone composite) for use in, for example, direct ink writing. The elastomeric composition can include and elastomeric resin, and a magnetic nanorod filler dispersed within the elastomeric resin. Nanorod characteristics (e.g., length, diameter, aspect ratio) can be selected to create 3D-printed constructs with desired mechanical properties along different axes. Furthermore, since nickel nanorods are ferromagnetic, the spatial distribution and orientation of nanorods within the continuous phase can be controlled with an external magnetic field. This level of control over the nanostructure of the material system offers another degree of freedom in the design of functional parts and components with anisotropic properties. Magnetic fields can be used to remotely sense compression of the constructs, or alternatively, control the stiffness of these.

A method for the production of an embossed polymer film, more specifically an oriented polyethylene (OPE) film. An embossed polymer polyethylene film obtained via the method and use of the embossed oriented polyethylene film in an anti-slip application such as in the rubber industry.

Provided is a cavity-containing polyester film that exhibits excellent lightness, film formability, concealing properties, and whiteness even in a case of mainly using a polyolefin resin (for example, polypropylene resin) as a cavity generating agent. The cavity-containing polyester film is a laminated body in which a first coating layer B1 that includes a polyester resin containing an inorganic pigment, a cavity-containing layer A that contains cavities inside, and a second coating layer B2 that includes a polyester resin containing an inorganic pigment are laminated in this order. This cavity-containing layer A includes a composition containing a polyester resin, a polyolefin resin, and a silicone resin. The apparent density of this cavity-containing polyester film is 0.80 g/cm.sup.3 or more and 1.20 g/cm.sup.3 or less. The inorganic pigment in the first coating layer B1 and second coating layer B2 is, for example, titanium oxide.

The present disclosure relates to a method for micropatterning on silicone-based elastomer, the method including forming an initiator at a position of the silicone-based elastomer having high optical transmittance and transparency, and moving a laser beam to induce chain pyrolysis, thereby forming micropatterns with high quality in a very short time.

A pacifier may include a frame and a mouth shield secured to the frame at least partially by an overmold. An interface between the mouth shield and the frame may be continuous. A method for making a pacifier may include securing a frame in a shield mold defining a mouth shield cavity. The method may further include introducing a curable precursor material into the shield mold. The method may further include overmolding at least a portion of the curable material across at least a portion of the frame in the mold. The method may further include allowing the curable material to cure in the mouth shield cavity into a mouth shield at least partially secured to the frame by an overmold. An interface between the mouth shield and the frame may be continuous.

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for fabricating a hybrid contact lens product having a lens insert embedded at a precisely controlled location within a lens body. A mold engagement and support base engages and retains a lens forming mold in a substantially fixed position. An insert placement and positioning device includes an insert pickup head with a contact face configured for releasable engagement of the lens insert and at least one suction opening in the contact face for applying suction to engage the insert on the contact face. A positioning housing interacts with the mold and/or the support base to provide precise locational positioning of the lens insert within the mold. A lens body forming material is delivered to the mold to encapsulate the lens insert.