A flow sensor includes an auxiliary channel having an opening into which a fluid to be measured is taken; a sensor element that measures the flow of the fluid to be measured; a housing that accommodates electronic parts; and a resin cover. The flow sensor is configured such that junctions of the housing and the cover are formed in locations where first target weld portions, which are formed so that the circuit chamber is surrounded, face each other and second target weld portions, which are disposed for additional reinforcement of the joints, face each other on a bonding face of the housing and a bonding face of the cover with a step being provided. The positioning of the housing and the cover is determined, and the first target weld portions are welded to each other and second target weld portions are welded to each other by way of laser radiation.

The invention relates to the use of compounds of formulae (I) and/or (II) as colorless IR absorbers wherein M is Ni, Pd, Pt, Au, Ir, Fe, Zn, W, Cu, Mo, In, Mn, Co, Mg, V, Cr or Ti, X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are each independently of the others sulfur or oxygen, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently of the others hydrogen, NR.sub.7R.sub.8, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl wherein the alkylene chain is interrupted with oxygen, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, each independently of the other, being unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, a further IR absorber optionally being added to the compounds of formulae (I) and (II). The invention relates also to novel dithiolene compounds of formulae (I) and (II) wherein X.sub.1 is oxygen and X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are oxygen or sulfur. The invention relates furthermore to novel dithiolene compounds of formulae (I) and (II) wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.6 are NR.sub.7R.sub.8. ##STR00001##

The invention relates to the use of compounds of formulae (I) and/or (II) as colorless IR absorbers wherein M is Ni, Pd, Pt, Au, Ir, Fe, Zn, W, Cu, Mo, In, Mn, Co, Mg, V, Cr or Ti, X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are each independently of the others sulfur or oxygen, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently of the others hydrogen, NR.sub.7R.sub.8, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl wherein the alkylene chain is interrupted with oxygen, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, each independently of the other, being unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, a further IR absorber optionally being added to the compounds of formulae (I) and (II). The invention relates also to novel dithiolene compounds of formulae (I) and (II) wherein X.sub.1 is oxygen and X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are oxygen or sulfur. The invention relates furthermore to novel dithiolene compounds of formulae (I) and (II) wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.6 are NR.sub.7R.sub.8. ##STR00001##

A ribbon liquefier comprising an outer liquefier portion configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component, and a channel at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion, where the channel has dimensions that are configured to receive the ribbon filament, and where the ribbon liquefier is configured to melt the ribbon filament received in the channel to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow. The dimensions of the channel are further configured to conform the melt flow from an axially-asymmetric flow to a substantially axially-symmetric flow in an extrusion tip connected to the ribbon liquefier.

The present disclosure relates to an additive manufacturing (AM) method for making a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising a) the provision of providing a powdered polymer material (M) comprising at least one poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) polymer, and at least one poly(aryl ether sulfone) (PAES) polymer, b) the deposition of successive layers of the powdered polymer material; and c) the selective sintering of each layer prior to the deposition of the subsequent layer, wherein the powdered polymer material (M) is heated before step c) to a temperature Tp (° C.): Tp<Tg+40, wherein Tg (° C.) is the glass transition temperature of the PAES polymer, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) according to ASTM D3418.

Membranes and methods of making and using the membranes are described herein. The membranes can include a foamed polymeric support and a plurality of inorganic particles disposed within the foamed polymeric support. The foamed polymeric support can contain a hydrophilic polymer such as polyethersulfone. The plurality of inorganic particles can include hydrophilic particles such as zeolite particles. In certain embodiments, the membrane can be used in humidifiers, such as those used in fuel cell systems. In some aspects, the membrane can be used for separating a fluid mixture comprising water. The membranes described herein are stable for high temperature applications.

A three-dimensional model built with an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, and having a perimeter based on a contour tool path that defines an interior region of a layer of the three-dimensional model, where at least one of a start point and a stop point of the contour tool path is located within the interior region of the layer.

A two dimensional unitary preform sheet including a substrate and a fiber bundle arranged on the substrate and attached to the substrate by a plurality of stitches of a thread, which may be a thermoplastic thread. The two dimensional unitary preform sheet is configurable into a three dimensional preform. According to embodiments, the fiber bundle includes carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, or a combination thereof. According to embodiments, the two dimensional unitary preform sheet is cut in a pattern that is foldable into the three dimensional preform. A method for making a three dimensional preform is also provided, which includes forming a two dimensional unitary preform sheet and placing the two dimensional unitary preform in a press to bend the two dimensional unitary preform into the shape of the three dimensional preform.

In polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and electrolyzes, attaining and maintaining high membrane conductivity and durability is crucial for performance and efficiency. The use of low equivalent weight (EW) perfluorinated ionomers is one of the few options available to improve membrane conductivity. However, excessive dimensional changes of low EW ionomers upon application of wet/dry or freeze/thaw cycles yield catastrophic losses in membrane integrity. Incorporation of ionomers within porous, dimensionally-stable perforated polymer electrolyte membrane substrates provides improved PEM performance and longevity. The present invention provides novel methods using micromolds to fabricate the perforated polymer electrolyte membrane substrates. These novel methods using micromolds create uniform and well-defined pore structures. In addition, these novel methods using micromolds described herein may be used in batch or continuous processing.

Disclosed is a self-wetting porous membrane comprising an aromatic hydrophobic polymer such as polysulfone and a wetting agent comprising a copolymer of formula A-B or A-B-A, wherein A is a hydrophilic segment comprising a polymerized monomer of the formula (I): CH.sub.2═C(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2), wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as described herein, and B is an aromatic hydrophobic polymeric segment, wherein segments B and A are linked through an amidoalkylthio group. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a self-wetting membrane comprising casting a solution containing an aromatic hydrophobic polymer and the wetting agent, followed by subjecting the cast solution to phase inversion. The self-wetting porous membrane finds use in hemodialysis, microfiltration, and ultrafiltration.