3D printable ink compositions for forming objects, films and coatings are provided. Also provided are methods of printing the ink compositions and methods for making the ink compositions. The ink compositions include an elastic polymer binder and may have high loadings of solid particles.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles dispersed in at least a portion of a polymer matrix comprising first polymer material and a sacrificial material, the sacrificial material being removable from the polymer matrix to define a plurality of pores in the polymer matrix. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer matrix. The sacrificial material may comprise a second polymer material. The compositions may define a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer and introducing porosity therein.

A method of detecting faults and ensuring integrity of membranes having magnetically functionalized particles, including moving a magnetometer over the membrane to measure at least one magnetic property, mapping the location of the measured properties, identifying anomalies among measured properties including the location of such anomalies, and repairing the membrane at the location where anomalies are identified.

An insulation device for a receiving area of a household appliance includes an insulation element made of a viscoelastic polyurethane foam for acoustically insulating the receiving area, and a stiffening element stiffening the insulation element and firmly connected to the insulation element.

Low-density thermoplastic expandable microspheres are disclosed. Various low-density structures, in particular, sandwich panels, based on foam prepared from the low-density microspheres, are also disclosed. Process of preparing low-density polymeric microspheres, per se, and the corresponding low-density structures, based on the microsphere foam, are also disclosed.

A soundproof material includes rubber sponge having a specific gravity of 0.2 or less, which is formed by extrusion molding and a subsequent crosslinking and foaming of a rubber composition using a microwave heating device. The rubber composition includes at least raw material rubber, a crosslinking agent, a foaming agent, and carbon black. The soundproof material has a rectangular cross-sectional outer shape, has at least two hollow parts inside formed by a lateral partition wall extending in a left-right lateral direction and at least two hollow parts formed by a vertical partition wall extending in a vertical direction. The method includes adding carbon nanotubes to the rubber composition.

The direct-current cable includes a conductive portion; and an insulating layer covering an outer periphery of the conductive portion, the insulating layer containing cross-linked base resin and inorganic filler, the base resin containing polyethylene, a BET specific surface area of the inorganic filler being greater than or equal to 5 m.sup.2/g and less than or equal to 150 m.sup.2/g, and a mean volume diameter of the inorganic filler being less than or equal to 1.0 μm, the mass ratio of the inorganic filler with respect to the base resin being greater than or equal to 0.001 and less than or equal to 0.05, and the cross-linked base resin being cross-linked by a cross-linking agent containing organic peroxide.

An inventive transfer roller (1) is made of a foam formed from an electrically conductive rubber composition containing an electrically conductive rubber, a crosslinking component, and a foaming agent including OBSH and 0.25 to 2.5 parts by mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate based on 1 part by mass of OBSH, and has an Asker-C hardness of not lower than 25 degrees and not higher than 35 degrees and an average foam cell diameter of not greater than 120 μm. Therefore, the transfer roller is flexible with a lower rubber hardness, and has smaller foam cell diameters. An inventive production method includes the steps of: forming the electrically conductive rubber composition into a tubular body; and maintaining the tubular body at a temperature of not lower than 120° C. and not higher than 140° C. to foam the rubber by a single-stage foaming process.

A fastener for improved electrical contact with a composite structure and improved distribution of electric current to the composite structure. The fastener includes an elongated shaft having a first end with a head portion, a second end with a threaded portion, and a shaft body therebetween. At least one feed channel extends from an opening at the threaded portion, through the shaft body, and terminates proximal to the head portion. The shaft body radially expands upon pressure injection of a resin filler into the feed channel, when the fastener is installed in a corresponding fastener hole formed in the composite structure. Upon radially expanding, the outer surface of the shaft body makes contact with an inner hole surface of the corresponding fastener hole, resulting in the fastener providing electrical contact with the composite structure and providing distribution of electric current.

The present invention relates to an odor control material consisting of a water-insoluble particulate odor control agent and a thermoplastic water-soluble carrier matrix encapsulating the odor control agent. The carrier matrix dissolves when in contact with an aqueous solution, such as urine and the odor control material is obtained by means of thermoforming. The invention relates also to a method for the preparation of the odor control material and the use of the odor control material in absorbent products. The present odor control material minimizes dusting problems caused by particulate odor control agents in production processes.