A novel cutting-edge structure and method and apparatus for manufacturing the cutting-edge structure is provided. The cutting-edge structure is comprised of naturally derived or renewable material at greater than 50% by volume fraction. In one embodiment, the naturally derived material is a cellulose nanostructure such as a cellulose nanocrystal. The cellulose nanocrystal is processed using a base or mold structure to provide a cutting edge of any shape such as linear or circular edge structures. The process includes dual cure steps to produce an optimal cutting-edge structure without shrinkage. The formed cutting-edge structure can be utilized as a razor blade as it is formed with very sharp tip and edge suitable for cutting hair. The base structure can form one or more cutting-edge structures simultaneously.

Described herein are expandable foaming molds. The foaming molds described herein permit mold boundaries to expand along with the expanding polymer and thereby conform to the foaming dynamics of the polymer material. By modifying the temperature and pressure applied to the mold devices described herein, the properties of the resulting foamed polymer can be fine-tuned for specific applications.

Described herein are expandable foaming molds. The foaming molds described herein permit mold boundaries to expand along with the expanding polymer and thereby conform to the foaming dynamics of the polymer material. By modifying the temperature and pressure applied to the mold devices described herein, the properties of the resulting foamed polymer can be fine-tuned for specific applications.

A system and method for achieving a one component growable resin system includes a quantity of growable resin and a quantity of growth initiator. The quantity of growable resin is in a final solid state, and the quantity of growth initiator is in an inactive form. A usable initiator portion, that includes a plurality of resin molecules and is from the quantity of growth initiator, contacts a usable resin portion, from the quantity of growable resin. Being in an inactive form, the usable initiator portion is unable to cause resin growth by being physically inactive or by being physically separate from the usable resin portion. The usable initiator portion is activated to initiate a chemical reaction amongst the plurality of molecules. The chemical reaction results with growth in the usable resin portion by increasing the molecular weight of the usable resin portion.

A system and method for achieving a one component growable resin system includes a quantity of growable resin and a quantity of growth initiator. The quantity of growable resin is in a final solid state, and the quantity of growth initiator is in an inactive form. A usable initiator portion, that includes a plurality of resin molecules and is from the quantity of growth initiator, contacts a usable resin portion, from the quantity of growable resin. Being in an inactive form, the usable initiator portion is unable to cause resin growth by being physically inactive or by being physically separate from the usable resin portion. The usable initiator portion is activated to initiate a chemical reaction amongst the plurality of molecules. The chemical reaction results with growth in the usable resin portion by increasing the molecular weight of the usable resin portion.

A surfacing material that is mold-releasable and electrically conductive. This surfacing material can be co-cured with a curable composite substrate and can be in contact with a mold surface such that when the cured composite part is removed from the mold, the surfacing material is releasable from the mold with ease. The mold-releasable surfacing material can effectively eliminate the need for mold release agents and mold surface preparation.

A surfacing material that is mold-releasable and electrically conductive. This surfacing material can be co-cured with a curable composite substrate and can be in contact with a mold surface such that when the cured composite part is removed from the mold, the surfacing material is releasable from the mold with ease. The mold-releasable surfacing material can effectively eliminate the need for mold release agents and mold surface preparation.

A prism (1090) is configured from a dielectric medium and is used in analysis using surface plasmons. The prism (1090) is provided with an incidence surface (1170) on which excitation light from outside is incident, a reflection surface (1172) on which excitation light having entered the incidence surface (1170) is reflected, an emission surface (1174) from which excitation light reflected by the reflection surface (1172) is emitted, and an opposing surface (1175) opposing the reflection surface (1172). A gold film (1092) is formed on the reflection surface (1172). The opposing surface (1175) has a sink-mark surface (1200), and the sink-mark surface (1200) is a transparent surface.

A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, and a pressing member including a base body and an elastic layer formed on the base body. A plurality of pore portions connected to each other are provided in the elastic layer. In a case where a binary image is generated from a three-dimensional image of the elastic layer, a threshold value X μm corresponding to opening processing with which a number of pores derived from the pore portions takes a maximum value is obtained, and then pores derived from the pore portions in the elastic layer are extracted by performing opening processing with a threshold value of 2X μm, an average value of angles θ is 120° or larger and smaller than 150°.

A mold for casting a polymeric aircraft window panel includes a first mold half (12) having a first mold surface (24), and a second mold half (14) having a second mold surface (50). The first mold surface (24) and/or the second mold surface (50) have a shape conforming to a final shape for the major surfaces of the aircraft window panel. The first mold half (12) and/or the second mold half (14) can be formed of rolled, hydroformed, or stamped metal.