A roll-to-roll manufacturing machine suitable for processing and producing polymer films that contain nanostructures, including but not limited to multifunctional polymer films. The machine applies a liquid polymer on a substrate to form a liquid polymer film, at least partially embeds nanostructures into the liquid polymer film, melt casts a layer of a molten polymer on the liquid polymer film to produce a thin polymer film, organizes the nanostructures in a thickness direction of the thin polymer film comprising applying an electric field to the thin polymer film, aligns the nanostructures in the thin polymer film by simultaneously subjecting the thin polymer film to heat and a field that aligns the nanostructures, and solidifies the thin polymer film to freeze the nanostructures along nanocolumns in a thickness direction of a solidified polymer film resulting therefrom.

A film casting apparatus includes a die which has a non-zero angled discharge direction relative to a horizontal plane. A chill roll is positioned downstream of the die. A film displacement device is positioned proximate to the chill roll and is configured to position the molten polymer on the chill roll and establish the thickness of the film. The non-zero discharge angle is of a predetermined magnitude to gravity assist delivery of the molten polymer to the chill roll. The chill roll is positioned to gravity support the polymer film along a first length of a first side of the polymer film. A first polishing roll is positioned downstream of the chill roll and engages and cools a second length of a second side of the polymer film which is opposite the first side. The first length is substantially equal to the second length.

A film casting apparatus includes a die which has a non-zero angled discharge direction relative to a horizontal plane. A chill roll is positioned downstream of the die. A film displacement device is positioned proximate to the chill roll and is configured to position the molten polymer on the chill roll and establish the thickness of the film. The non-zero discharge angle is of a predetermined magnitude to gravity assist delivery of the molten polymer to the chill roll. The chill roll is positioned to gravity support the polymer film along a first length of a first side of the polymer film. A first polishing roll is positioned downstream of the chill roll and engages and cools a second length of a second side of the polymer film which is opposite the first side. The first length is substantially equal to the second length.

Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.

Multiple processes for preparing porous articles are described. The porous articles can be in a wide array of shapes and configurations. The methods include providing a soluble material in particulate form and forming a packed region from the material. The methods also include contacting a flowable polymeric material with the packed region such that the polymeric material is disposed in voids in the packed region. The polymeric material is then at least partially solidified. The soluble material is then removed such as by solvent washing to thereby produce desired porous articles. Also described are systems for performing the various processes.

Multiple processes for preparing porous articles are described. The porous articles can be in a wide array of shapes and configurations. The methods include providing a soluble material in particulate form and forming a packed region from the material. The methods also include contacting a flowable polymeric material with the packed region such that the polymeric material is disposed in voids in the packed region. The polymeric material is then at least partially solidified. The soluble material is then removed such as by solvent washing to thereby produce desired porous articles. Also described are systems for performing the various processes.

Embodiments relate to a polyamide-imide film that secures excellent tensile toughness and elastic restoring force, and a process for preparing the same. The polyamide-imide film comprises a polyamide-imide polymer formed by polymerizing a diamine compound, a dianhydride compound, and a dicarbonyl compound, wherein the area value up to the yield point derived by the 0.2% off-set method on a stress-strain curve of the polyamide-imide film as measured using a universal testing machine (UTM) is 80 to 150 J/m.sup.2.

Embodiments relate to a polyamide-imide film that secures excellent tensile toughness and elastic restoring force, and a process for preparing the same. The polyamide-imide film comprises a polyamide-imide polymer formed by polymerizing a diamine compound, a dianhydride compound, and a dicarbonyl compound, wherein the area value up to the yield point derived by the 0.2% off-set method on a stress-strain curve of the polyamide-imide film as measured using a universal testing machine (UTM) is 80 to 150 J/m.sup.2.

A hollow-cylindrical device (1) having first and second openings (2, 3) for continuous production of a dental composite block. A curable composite material (4) and a temperature control unit (5) are provided. The composite material (4) is introduced into the device (1) through the first opening. The composite material (4) is cured by energy from the temperature control unit (5). An energy input occurs across a defined length of the substantially hollow-cylindrical device (1) and/or for a defined period of time. The composite material (4) is subsequently guided through the first opening (2) of the device (1). The composite material (4) is discharged from the second opening (3). In a first region along a portion of the length of the device, the device is either provided with an insulation or the flow-through device has a heat conductivity of 0.05 to 12 W/(m×K).

A hollow-cylindrical device (1) having first and second openings (2, 3) for continuous production of a dental composite block. A curable composite material (4) and a temperature control unit (5) are provided. The composite material (4) is introduced into the device (1) through the first opening. The composite material (4) is cured by energy from the temperature control unit (5). An energy input occurs across a defined length of the substantially hollow-cylindrical device (1) and/or for a defined period of time. The composite material (4) is subsequently guided through the first opening (2) of the device (1). The composite material (4) is discharged from the second opening (3). In a first region along a portion of the length of the device, the device is either provided with an insulation or the flow-through device has a heat conductivity of 0.05 to 12 W/(m×K).