Thin PTFE layers are described having little or no node and fibril microstructure and methods of manufacturing PTFE layers are disclosed that allow for controllable permeability and porosity of the layers. In some embodiments, the PTFE layers may act as a barrier layer in an endovascular graft or other medical device.

Described is a venting device including a flexible outer covering defining an outer surface and an inner surface, a set oc of helicoidal venting strips, and a set of helicoidal buffers. The outer covering has a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. Each venting strip is anchored to the inner surface and extends substantially between the first end and the second end and the set of venting strips is arranged substantially helicoidal and defines a set of helicoidal seams therebetween. The set of helicoidal buffers includes a buffer covering an inner opening of each seam of the set of helicoidal seams where eachbuffer is configured to shield the inner opening of the corresponding seam from penetration and each buffer is anchored to at least one of the outer covering and a neighbouring venting strip of the set of venting strips.

The present disclosure provides a composite material including a first thermoplastic adhesive layer made of a first thermoplastic resin, a second thermoplastic adhesive layer made of a second thermoplastic resin, and a core layer. The core layer has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is bonded to the first thermoplastic adhesive layer, and the second surface is bonded to the second thermoplastic adhesive layer. The core layer has a plurality of cavities, wherein each of the plurality of cavities has a pore diameter smaller than a thickness of the core layer. The first thermoplastic resin and the second thermoplastic resin are respectively adapted to be filled in a part of the plurality of cavities adjacent to the first surface of the core layer and a part of the plurality of cavities adjacent to the second surface of the core layer by heating.

Thin PTFE layers are described having little or no node and fibril microstructure and methods of manufacturing PTFE layers are disclosed that allow for controllable permeability and porosity of the layers. In some embodiments, the PTFE layers may act as a barrier layer in an endovascular graft or other medical device.

Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties. Various properties of such networks of polyurethane particles (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, thermal conductivity) may be tailored depending on which monomers are provided in the reaction.

Breathable medical circuit components and materials and methods for forming these components incorporate breathable foamed materials that are permeable to water vapor and substantially impermeable to liquid water and the bulk flow of gases. The materials and methods can be incorporated into a variety of components, including tubes, Y-connectors, catheter mounts, and patient interfaces and are suitable for use in a variety of medical circuits, including insufflation, anesthesia, and breathing circuits.

A plastic article is recited having a plastic shell including walls defining a cavity. Within the cavity is an in-situ foam core including expanded polymer beads. A layer of the expanded polymer beads includes a layer of distorted beads adjacent to the walls. The in-situ foam core has a thermal bond to the walls.

A formulation includes a polymeric material, a nucleating agent, a blowing, and a surface active agent. The formulation can be used to form a container.

A heat-insulating housing (21) includes: a wall body; and an open-cell resin body (4) of thermosetting resin with which a heat-insulating space formed by the wall body is filled by integral foaming, the open-cell resin body including: a plurality of cells (47); a cell film portion (42); a cell skeleton portion (43); a first through-hole (44) formed so as to extend through the cell film portion; and a second through-hole (45) formed so as to extend through the cell skeleton portion, wherein the plurality of cells communicate with one another through the first through-hole and the second through-hole.

The invention relates to multi-layer articles consisting of at least one layer of a foamed fluoropolymer. The article is formed by co-extrusion in which the foamed layer is coextruded as a foam, and not foamed in a secondary process. Preferably the fluoropolymer foam is a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), such as KYNAR PVDF from Arkema Inc. The article could be sized into a specific shape during the manufacturing process. Useful multi-layer articles of the invention include pipe, tube, sheet, profile, film, jacketing or any other multilayer foam-core articles are especially useful.