There is a need for methods that can produce piezoelectric composites having suitable physical characteristics and also optimized electrical stimulatory proper-ties. The present application provides piezo-electric composites, including tissue-stimu-lating composites, as well as methods of making such composites, that meet these needs. In embodiments, methods of making a spinal implant are provided. The methods suitably comprise preparing a thermoset, thermoplastic or thermoset/thermoplastic, or copolymer polymerizable matrix, dispersing a plurality of piezoelectric particles in the polymerizable matrix to generate dispersion, shaping the dispersion, inducing an electric polarization in the piezoelectric particles in the shaped dispersion, wherein at least 40% of the piezoelectric particles form chains.

A method for reducing the resistivity of a thermoplastic film containing carbon nanotubes includes connecting an electric power supply to the thermoplastic film containing carbon nanotubes and passing electric current through the thermoplastic film containing carbon nanotubes to heat the thermoplastic film to an elevated temperature and align carbon nanotubes within the thermoplastic film. The thermoplastic film is solid at room temperature.

Provided is a semiaromatic polyamide fil having an average linear expansion coefficient in the width direction, measured under conditions of 20 to 125? C., of ?90 to 0 ppm/? C.

A method for preparing a compact of resin compound comprising the following steps (a) to (c): (a) a preparation step of mounting a sheet-shaped or block-shaped compact of resin compound including a resin composition, which contains a filler having magnetic anisotropy and is solidified by curing or by being advanced to a B-stage, on a transportation unit which is movable in the horizontal direction, and covering at least a top surface of the compact of resin compound with a cover material; (b) a step of applying a magnetic field to the compact of resin compound obtained in the step (a) with a bulk superconductor magnet having a central magnetic flux density of 1 T or more; and (c) a step of moving the compact of resin compound in the horizontal direction and scanning it while applying vibrations to the compact of resin compound mounted on a region of a central part of the bulk superconductor magnet under application of a magnetic field.

A method of making a mechanical fastening strip and a reticulated mechanical fastening strip are disclosed. The method includes providing a backing having upstanding posts; providing interrupted slits through the backing, the interrupted slits being interrupted by at least one intact bridging region; spreading the slit backing to provide multiple strands separated from each other between at least some of the bridging regions to provide at least one opening; and fixing the multiple strands of the backing in a spread configuration. The reticulated mechanical fastening strip includes multiple strands of a backing attached to each other at bridging regions in the backing and separated from each other between the bridging regions to provide openings. Upstanding posts on each of the multiple strands have bases attached to the backing, and each of the multiple strands has a width that is greater than that of the bases of its attached upstanding posts.

Magnetic nanocomposites are disclosed with aligned, rod-shaped, rare-earth-free and Pt-free metal domains in a rigid, non-metallic matrix. In some variations, the invention provides a magnetic nanocomposite comprising metallic nanorods dispersed within a continuous and rigid non-metallic matrix. The nanorods have an average nanorod length-to-width ratio of at least 2. The nanorods are alignable and may be aligned in one axial direction with magnetic or mechanical forces. Some variations provide a method of forming a magnetic nanocomposite, comprising: dispersing metal oxide nanorods into a hardenable non-metallic material; thermally or chemically reducing the metal oxide nanorods to form magnetic metallic nanorods; aligning nanorods in one axial direction within the hardenable non-metallic material; and hardening the non-metallic material to form a continuous and rigid non-metallic matrix containing the metallic nanorods.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for making thermoplastic resin materials and composite resin systems and materials made from the thermoplastic resins, by seeding one melted thermoplastic material with a second thermoplastic material in a crystalline state that comprises an amount of ferromagnetic material.

In an example, a method of forming a composite material includes embedding a plurality of conductive-magnetic particles in a matrix material. The method also includes applying, using a magnetic device, a magnetic field to the plurality of conductive-magnetic particles in the matrix material to move the plurality of conductive-magnetic particles into an alignment in which a longitudinal axis of each conductive-magnetic particle is parallel to a direction of the magnetic field. The method further includes, while applying the magnetic field, curing the matrix material to a hardened state in which the alignment of the plurality of conductive-magnetic particles is fixed in the matrix material.

Absorbable polyester fibers, braids, and surgical meshes with prolonged strength retention have been developed. These devices are preferably derived from biocompatible copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate. These devices provide a wider range of in vivo strength retention properties than are currently available, and could offer additional benefits such as anti-adhesion properties, reduced risks of infection or other post-operative problems resulting from absorption and eventual elimination of the device, and competitive cost. The devices may also be particularly suitable for use in pediatric populations where their absorption should not hinder growth, and provide in all patient populations wound healing with long-term mechanical stability. The devices may additionally be combined with autologous, allogenic and/or xenogenic tissues to provide implants with improved mechanical, biological and handling properties.

A centralizer can be produced from a process comprising forming a plurality of composite bow spring from a fiber and a resin, curing the composite bow springs in a desired shape to form a plurality of cured bow springs, disposing a first portion of a resin-wetted fiber about a cylindrical mandrel to form a plurality of collars, disposing the plurality of cured bow springs onto the mandrel with the bow spring ends in contact with the first portion of resin-wetted fiber, disposing a second portion of the resin-wetted fiber about the cylindrical mandrel, curing the collars to form a cured centralizer, and pressing the mandrel out of the cured centralizer.