A retrofitted window is disclosed which includes a substantially transparent aerogel film laminated on a glass windowpane, the aerogel film being embedded with randomly dispersed nanoparticles of vanadium dioxide (VO.sub.2) core and silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) shell, wherein the vanadium dioxide (VO.sub.2) core transitions between an insulator phase and a metal phase at a predetermined phase-transition temperature, and a volume fraction of the nanoparticles in the aerogel film is approximately between 0.001% and 0.05%.

A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.

Methods of using an integrated scraper-sponge having a scraper layer with and edge and fixed between the first and second sponge and/or abrasive layers. The scraper sponge is wetted and applied to a surface that is contaminated. The scraper-sponge is moved about the contaminated surface or dabbed onto the surface. The wet sponge portion loosens residue while the scraper edge scrapes residue from the surface as the scraper is moved about the contaminated surface.

Described herein are methods and systems for forming composite stringer assemblies or, more specifically, for shaping composite charges while forming these stringer assemblies. A system comprises a bladder, having a bladder core, and a bladder skin. The bladder core is formed from foam. The bladder skin is formed from an elastic material and encloses the bladder core. When a composite stringer assembly is formed, the bladder is positioned over a charge base. The charge base later becomes a stringer base, such as a fuselage section or a wing skin. A charge hat is then positioned over the bladder and is conformed to the bladder. A combination of the bladder skin and the bladder core provides support during this forming operation and later while the stringer assembly is cured. In some examples, the bladder core is collapsible for the removal of the bladder from the cavity of the stringer assembly.

Disclosed herein are plaster boards having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and a first edge and an opposing second edge that bound the first surface and the second surface. The first surface includes a first section and a second section, the first section being raised compared to the second section, the second section abutting the second edge. The second surface includes a first section and a second section that are separated by a boundary between the first edge and the second edge. The first section of the second surface is substantially parallel to the first section of the first surface. The second section of the second surface slopes toward the first surface from the boundary toward the second edge. Methods for making the plaster boards involve forming wet plaster material and drying the wet plaster material such that the wet plaster material hardens into a plasterboard.

The present invention relates to a cleaning implement that includes a melamine-formaldehyde foam. The melamine-formaldehyde foam includes from about 0.1 to about 5 weight % of at least one linear polymer with a number average molecular weight M.sub.n in the range from 500 to 10,000 g/mol. Additionally the present invention encompasses processes for making and methods for cleaning hard surfaces with a cleaning implement according to the present invention.

A periocular dressing includes a base layer composed of a nonwoven material; a top layer having a composition bound to a polyurethane film, the composition including a hydrogel with a percentage by weight of bacitracin, the top layer to come into contact with a user's skin; and a removable membrane secured over the top layer and to be removed; the polyurethane film of the top layer is adhesively secured to the base layer; and the top layer promotes vasoconstriction and antibacterial properties.

Disclosed herein are plaster boards having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and a first edge and an opposing second edge that bound the first surface and the second surface. The first surface includes a first section and a second section, the first section being raised compared to the second section, the second section abutting the second edge. The second surface includes a first section and a second section that are separated by a boundary between the first edge and the second edge. The first section of the second surface is substantially parallel to the first section of the first surface. The second section of the second surface slopes toward the first surface from the boundary toward the second edge. Methods for making the plaster boards involve forming wet plaster material and drying the wet plaster material such that the wet plaster material hardens into a plasterboard.

A biodegradable, thermally insulated mailer and cooler, and method of making them, are disclosed. The thermally insulated packaging material are made from laminated starch foam and bio-plastic film. The lamination can be performed by heat bonding, without the use of an adhesive bonding agent, to produce biodegradable packaging materials that can pass ASTM and other certifications for home compostability and marine environment safety.

A method for dielectrically heating foamable composition to foam and set the composition is described. In particular, radio frequency (RF) heating is used to heat the foamable composition to provide insulation in the manufacture of an article.