A thermally expandable sheet includes: a first thermally expansive layer that is formed on one side of a base and contains a first thermally expandable material and a first binder, the first thermally expansive layer having a first ratio of the first thermally expandable material with respect to the first binder; and a second thermally expansive layer that is formed on the first thermally expansive layer and contains a second thermally expandable material and a second binder, the second thermally expansive layer having a second ratio of the second thermally expandable material with respect to the second binder, wherein the first ratio is lower than the second ratio.

A system for forming a structure on a print medium 1 includes: a print unit (print device) 10 for printing an electromagnetic wave-heat conversion layer for converting electromagnetic waves into heat, on a medium including an expansion layer that expands by heating; an expansion unit (expansion device) 20 aligned laterally with the print unit 10, for expanding the expansion layer by irradiating the medium with electromagnetic waves; and a top plate 30 covering the print unit 10 and the expansion unit 20 from above.

An unvulcanized liquid or solid silicone rubber containing a proportion of a filler material that expands at an increased temperature.

A method of molding a sole (6) in vulcanized foam rubber for footwear, includes preparing a rubber in the form of a strip, preformed and/or granules, mixing the rubber inside a loading and mixing chamber (10), and preparing a mold (4) for the molding of a footwear sole (6). The mold (4) defines a molding chamber (8) counter-shaped with respect to a footwear sole (6). The mixed material is conveyed inside the molding chamber (8) and molding the footwear sole (6) inside the molding chamber (8) and the footwear sole (6) is removed from the mold (4). The rubber includes a foaming agent able to generate an expansion of the material inside the molding chamber (8) during molding, so as to uniformly fill the molding chamber (8) with the foam rubber. The foam material is vulcanized inside the molding chamber (8).

A heating apparatus includes an emitter that emits light to a thermal expansion sheet that expands according to a heating amount absorbed, the light being converted into heat by the thermal expansion sheet; a relative mover that causes the thermal expansion sheet to move relative to the emitter in a predetermined direction or that causes the emitter to move relative to the thermal expansion sheet in the predetermined direction; and a controller that gradually changes an amount of the light emitted by the emitter according to a rise in temperature in the emitter, the rise in temperature being caused by the emission of light by the emitter, when the relative mover causes the thermal expansion sheet to move relative to the emitter in the predetermined direction or causes the emitter to move relative to the thermal expansion sheet in the predetermined direction while the light is being emitted by the emitter.

A method for making a colorant film providing eye care includes following steps of providing a plurality of microcapsules containing hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution; mixing a hydrophilic monomer, a cross-linking agent, and an initiator to form a mixture; mixing the microcapsules, the mixture, a pigment, and a solvent to form a colorant material; printing the colorant material into a mold; and heating or irradiating the colorant material in the mold to copolymerize the hydrophilic monomer, the initiator, and the cross-linking agent. A colorant film, and the manufacture of an ophthalmic lens are also provided.

An insulating structure for an appliance includes an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein an insulating cavity is defined therebetween. A plurality of hollow nano-spheres are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each of the hollow nano-spheres includes a diameter in the range of from approximately 50 nanometers to approximately 1000 nanometers and has a wall that defines the internal space, and wherein the wall of each hollow nano-sphere has a thickness that is in a range of from approximately 0.5 nanometers to approximately 100 nanometers. A fill material is disposed in the insulating cavity and wherein the fill material is disposed in the space defined between the plurality of hollow nano-spheres, and wherein the fill material includes at least one of powdered silica, granulated silica, other silica material, aerogel and insulating gas.

An insulating structure for an appliance includes an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein an insulating cavity is defined therebetween. A plurality of hollow nano-spheres are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each of the hollow nano-spheres includes a diameter in the range of from approximately 50 nanometers to approximately 1000 nanometers and has a wall that defines the internal space, and wherein the wall of each hollow nano-sphere has a thickness that is in a range of from approximately 0.5 nanometers to approximately 100 nanometers. A fill material is disposed in the insulating cavity and wherein the fill material is disposed in the space defined between the plurality of hollow nano-spheres, and wherein the fill material includes at least one of powdered silica, granulated silica, other silica material, aerogel and insulating gas.

Feedstocks for additive manufacturing are provided. The feedstock may include a matrix material, and one or more capsules disposed in the matrix material, wherein the one or more capsules are configured to be removable from a surface portion when the matrix material is solidified to form one or more cavities in the surface portion. Methods of depositing the feedstocks and objects formed from the feedstocks are also provided.

An insulating structure for an appliance includes an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein an insulating cavity is defined therebetween. A plurality of hollow nano-spheres are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each of the hollow nano-spheres includes a diameter in the range of from approximately 50 nanometers to approximately 1000 nanometers and has a wall that defines the internal space, and wherein the wall of each hollow nano-sphere has a thickness that is in a range of from approximately 0.5 nanometers to approximately 100 nanometers. A fill material is disposed in the insulating cavity and wherein the fill material is disposed in the space defined between the plurality of hollow nano-spheres, and wherein the fill material includes at least one of powdered silica, granulated silica, other silica material, aerogel and insulating gas.