An apparatus (200) for smoothing a surface of an object (100). The apparatus includes a chamber (210), a reservoir (324) configured to hold a liquid (322), and a nebulizer assembly (212) configured to generate a mist (104) from the liquid into the chamber. The nebulizer assembly includes a mesh (732), a vibrating element (731), and a wick (736). The object is received in the chamber and the mist is configured to surround the object.

The present invention provides a process for modifying the surface of a polyvinyl alcohol film or fabric by applying heat and pressure to the film or fabric to increase the moisture on the surface which is held by the fabric and to coalesce the surface fibers and reduce the porosity of the surface.

Methods of making a wear and oxidation resistant medical implant are disclosed.

A lead-acid battery separator with ultralow resistivity results from high porosity, controlled pore (10) size distribution, and an ionic surfactant (14) with a long alkyl side chain (18) that is anchored to the polymer matrix (12) of a silica-filled polyethylene separator. The surfactant cannot be easily removed or washed away and thereby imparts sustained wettability to the separator. Controlling the number of, and volume occupied by, the pores (i.e., porosity) and pore size distribution of the separator contributes to a reduction in electrical (ionic) resistivity.

Impact-dissipating liners, helmets having an impact-dissipating liner, and methods of fabricating impact-dissipating liners are provided. The liners include a fluid impermeable enclosure having cavities with sidewalls and a fluid contained in the enclosure. The enclosure may have a central portion and lobes extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion and the lobes are adapted to conform to the shape of an internal surface of a helmet. The helmets may include bodies positioned within the cavities of the liner, where, under impact loading, contact between the bodies and the liner absorbs at least some of the energy of the impact loading. Aspects of the invention are particularly adapted for use for head protection, such as, helmets; however, aspects of the invention are also adaptable to provide impact-dissipation for any body or surface that would benefit from such protection.

A polymerizable liquid, or resin, useful for the production by additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object of polyurethane, polyurea, or a copolymer thereof, is described. The resin includes at least one of (i) a blocked or reactive blocked prepolymer, (ii) a blocked or reactive blocked diisocyanate, or (iii) a blocked or reactive blocked diisocyanate chain extender.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object facilitates the removal of support material from the object. The method includes moving the object to a position opposite a microwave radiator and operating the microwave radiator to change the phase of the support material from solid to liquid. A controller either monitors the expiration of a predetermined time period or a temperature of the object to determine when the microwave radiator operation is terminated. The microwave radiation does not damage the object because the support material has a dielectric loss factor that is greater than the dielectric loss factor of the object.

A flexible pipe body and methods of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method may include providing a tubular length of polymeric material for forming a polymeric layer of flexible pipe body; providing a strength layer radially outwards of the polymeric layer; and treating the polymeric layer with a non-ambient temperature and pressure.

A method for making a tough and compliant hydrogel. A precursor hydrogel is made of a first polymer selected to maintain high elasticity and a second polymer selected to dissipate mechanical energy. The precursor hydrogel is stretched to a multiple of its original length to form a pre-stretched hydrogel. The pre-stretched hydrogel is allowed to relax and is soaked in a biocompatible solvent to reach equilibrium swelling of the pre-stretched hydrogel whereby shear modulus of the hydrogel is reduced.

A system treats uneven surfaces of additive manufactured objects to improve the transparency and glossiness of the surfaces. The system operates a sprayer to apply fluid material used to form the uneven surface to the uneven surface to smooth the surface or the system operates an actuator to dip the additive manufactured object into a bath of fluid material that is the same as the material used to form the uneven surface to smooth the surface. A heater is provided to dry non-UV curable material applied to the uneven surface and a source of UV radiation is provided to cure UV curable material applied to the uneven surface.