A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.

A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.

A pulley contacting portion of a friction transmission belt is made of a rubber composition containing an EPDM mixture as a rubber component. The EPDM mixture as the rubber component includes a first EPDM with an ethylene content of 67% by mass or more and a second EPDM with an ethylene content of 57% by mass or less. A content of the second EPDM in the EPDM mixture is larger than a content of the first EPDM in the EPDM mixture. An average ethylene content of the EPDM mixture is 54% by mass or more and 59% by mass or less.

A non-black roofing membrane comprises an EPDM rubber; a non-black filler; a UV light stabilizer selected from the group consisting of NOR-HALS of the formula

##STR00001##

wherein R* is C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, OH-substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, optionally C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl-substituted C.sub.5-C.sub.12cycloalkyl, C.sub.7-C.sub.9phenylalkyl or O- or S-interrupted C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkyl, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.12alkyl, benzyl or C.sub.5-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl especially C.sub.6-C.sub.10alkyl or cyclohexyl; and a cure package. The resultant roofing membrane provides increased weathering resistance.

Materials and methods for mitigating passive intermodulation. A membrane for reducing passive intermodulation includes a first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer, and a continuous metal layer encapsulated between the first and second polymeric layers. A self-adhesive radio frequency barrier tape includes a waterproof polymeric top layer, a metal-containing layer adhered by an adhesive layer to the polymeric top layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to the metal-containing layer, and a release liner on a bottom surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. A method of mitigating passive intermodulation includes passing a probe over an area of interest, the probe being sensitive to an intermodulation frequency of interest, and identifying a suspected source of passive intermodulation when the amplitude of the probe output exceeds a threshold at the frequency of interest. The method further includes covering the suspected passive intermodulation source with a radio frequency barrier material.

Materials and methods for mitigating passive intermodulation. A membrane for reducing passive intermodulation includes a first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer, and a continuous metal layer encapsulated between the first and second polymeric layers. A self-adhesive radio frequency barrier tape includes a waterproof polymeric top layer, a metal-containing layer adhered by an adhesive layer to the polymeric top layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to the metal-containing layer, and a release liner on a bottom surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. A method of mitigating passive intermodulation includes passing a probe over an area of interest, the probe being sensitive to an intermodulation frequency of interest, and identifying a suspected source of passive intermodulation when the amplitude of the probe output exceeds a threshold at the frequency of interest. The method further includes covering the suspected passive intermodulation source with a radio frequency barrier material.

Materials and methods for mitigating passive intermodulation. A membrane for reducing passive intermodulation includes a first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer, and a continuous metal layer encapsulated between the first and second polymeric layers. A self-adhesive radio frequency barrier tape includes a waterproof polymeric top layer, a metal-containing layer adhered by an adhesive layer to the polymeric top layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to the metal-containing layer, and a release liner on a bottom surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. A method of mitigating passive intermodulation includes passing a probe over an area of interest, the probe being sensitive to an intermodulation frequency of interest, and identifying a suspected source of passive intermodulation when the amplitude of the probe output exceeds a threshold at the frequency of interest. The method further includes covering the suspected passive intermodulation source with a radio frequency barrier material.

A flame resistant hose assembly is disclosed. The hose assembly comprises a tubular inner layer and a flame resistant layer. The tubular inner layer has an interior radial surface and an exterior radial surface and defines a longitudinal axis. The flame resistant layer is disposed about and covers the exterior radial surface of the tubular inner layer. The flame resistant layer is formed N from a flame resistant material comprising a polymeric binder and expandable graphite in an amount of from about 5 to about 40 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the flame resistant material. The flame resistant layer expands when heated to a temperature of about 220 C. or greater and maintains a post-expansion coverage of the exterior radial surface of the tubular inner layer of greater than about 95%.

A non-black roofing membrane comprises an EPDM rubber; a non-black filler; a UV light stabilizer selected from the group consisting of NOR-HALS of the formula ##STR00001##
wherein R* is C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, OH-substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, optionally C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl-substituted C.sub.5-C.sub.12cycloalkyl, C.sub.7-C.sub.9phenylalkyl or O- or S-interrupted C.sub.2-C.sub.20alkyl, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.12alkyl, benzyl or C.sub.5-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl especially C.sub.6-C.sub.10alkyl or cyclohexyl; and a cure package. The resultant roofing membrane provides increased weathering resistance.

A method of making a sandwich-type composite panel having a cellulose-based core and a living hinge from a stack of material is provided. The stack includes first and second reinforced thermoplastic skins, first and second sheets of thermoplastic adhesive and a cellulose-based cellular core disposed between the sheets and the skins. A pressure is applied to the stack after heating the stack wherein the skins are bonded to the core by the sheets to form the composite panel. A portion of the composite panel is crushed at a predetermined location simultaneously with applying the pressure to locally compact and separate the cellular core at the predetermined location to form two side portions of the panel. The heated first skin stretches during the step of crushing while remaining intact between the two side portions. The skins bond together at the predetermined location to form the living hinge.