A heating device includes a holder, a receiver, a heating unit, a vertical mover, and circuitry. The holder holds a heating target object. The receiver removably holds the holder. The heating unit heats the heating target object. The vertical mover moves at least one of the receiver and the heating unit vertically relative to each other, between a non-contact heating position and a contact heating position. The circuitry causes the vertical mover to move the at least one of the receiver and the heating unit to the non-contact position, causes the heating unit to heat the heating target object in a non-contact state, causes the vertical mover to move the at least one of the receiver and the heating unit to the contact heating position, and causes the heating unit to heat the heating target object in a contact state.

A heating device includes a holder, a receiver, a heating unit, a vertical mover, and circuitry. The holder holds a heating target object. The receiver removably holds the holder. The heating unit heats the heating target object. The vertical mover moves at least one of the receiver and the heating unit vertically relative to each other, between a non-contact heating position and a contact heating position. The circuitry causes the vertical mover to move the at least one of the receiver and the heating unit to the non-contact position, causes the heating unit to heat the heating target object in a non-contact state, causes the vertical mover to move the at least one of the receiver and the heating unit to the contact heating position, and causes the heating unit to heat the heating target object in a contact state.

An occupant support for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seat back. At least one of the seat bottom and the seat back includes an integrated article-drying system configured to dry articles.

An occupant support for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seat back. At least one of the seat bottom and the seat back includes an integrated article-drying system configured to dry articles.

Disclosed are methods for critical point drying a composite material. After exposing the composite material to a supercritical fluid, the composite material dries as the supercritical fluid evaporates with reduced pressure. The composite materials are useful as chromatographic separation media.

A method of manufacturing ceramic tape includes a step of directing a tape of partially-sintered ceramic into a furnace. The tape is partially-sintered such that grains of the ceramic are fused to one another yet the tape still includes at least 10% porosity by volume, where the porosity refers to volume of the tape unoccupied by the ceramic. The method further includes steps of conveying the tape through the furnace and further sintering the tape as the tape is conveyed through the furnace. The porosity of the tape decreases during the further sintering step.

A method of manufacturing ceramic tape includes a step of directing a tape of partially-sintered ceramic into a furnace. The tape is partially-sintered such that grains of the ceramic are fused to one another yet the tape still includes at least 10% porosity by volume, where the porosity refers to volume of the tape unoccupied by the ceramic. The method further includes steps of conveying the tape through the furnace and further sintering the tape as the tape is conveyed through the furnace. The porosity of the tape decreases during the further sintering step.

A method of manufacturing ceramic tape includes a step of directing a tape of partially-sintered ceramic into a furnace. The tape is partially-sintered such that grains of the ceramic are fused to one another yet the tape still includes at least 10% porosity by volume, where the porosity refers to volume of the tape unoccupied by the ceramic. The method further includes steps of conveying the tape through the furnace and further sintering the tape as the tape is conveyed through the furnace. The porosity of the tape decreases during the further sintering step.

A method of manufacturing ceramic tape includes a step of directing a tape of partially-sintered ceramic into a furnace. The tape is partially-sintered such that grains of the ceramic are fused to one another yet the tape still includes at least 10% porosity by volume, where the porosity refers to volume of the tape unoccupied by the ceramic. The method further includes steps of conveying the tape through the furnace and further sintering the tape as the tape is conveyed through the furnace. The porosity of the tape decreases during the further sintering step.

A method of sterilizing a material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a solution comprising peroxyacetic acid into a hot gaseous stream to produce a peroxyacetic acid vapor; and (b) contacting such peroxyacetic acid vapor with the material to be sterilized.