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.

The present disclosure provides an adhesive precursor composition, comprising a polyfunctional acrylate oligomer, a reactive diluent including an acrylate monomer; a photoinitiator, and heat-expandable microspheres which are capable of expanding above an expansion initiation temperature, T.sub.i, wherein the adhesive precursor composition is a liquid at temperature, T.sub.a, wherein T.sub.a is less than T.sub.i, and the reaction product of the adhesive precursor composition is a heat-expandable temporary adhesive having a maximum value of tan ? at a temperature, T.sub.tan ? max, wherein T.sub.tan ? max is less than T.sub.i. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a heat-expandable temporary adhesive including the reaction product of an adhesive precursor composition according to any one of the adhesive precursor compositions of the present disclosure.

An antistatic polyester film includes a self-supporting polyester substrate film bearing on at least one surface thereof an antistatic layer including a) one or more antistatic polymers comprising repeat units according to formula (I) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently H or CH.sub.3, R.sup.3 is an alkylene group having a carbon number in a range from 2 to 10, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently a saturated hydrocarbon group having a carbon number in a range from 1 to 5, R.sup.6 is an alkylene group having a carbon number in a range from 2 to 5, n is an integer in a range from 0 to 40, m is an integer in a range from 1 to 40, and Y is a halogen ion, nitrate ion, sulfate ion, alkylsulfate ion, sulfonate ion, alkylsulfonate ion or dihydrogen phosphate ion; b) one or more nonpolymeric cationic antistatic agents; and c) one or more crosslinkers. ##STR00001##

To make membranes, a plurality of membrane substrates are each wetted with a curable liquid mixture, arranged in a stack such that every pair of substrates are separated by at least one film, and moved simultaneously through a common curing region. Each wetted substrate sheet may be sandwiched between two films. After curing, the stack comprises two or more membranes with each pair of membranes separated by a film. An apparatus for making membranes comprises at least two substrate feeding devices, at least one film feeding device, one or more chemical wetting devices, a curing region, optionally, a stack separating region, and, optionally, a membrane binding or fusing region. Membrane production rate may be increased while the curing energy required per unit area of membrane is decreased. The method can make, for example, ion exchange membranes.

A biocompatible structure includes one or more base structures for regeneration of different tissues. Each base structure includes alternately stacked polymer layers and spacer layers. The polymer layer includes a polymer and tissue forming nanoparticles. The polymer includes polyurethane. The tissue forming nanoparticles includes hydroxypatites (HAP) nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, or nanofibers. The spacer layer includes bone particles, polymeric nanoparticles, or nanofibers. The weight percentage of tissue forming nanoparticles to the polymer in the polymer layer in one base structure is different from that in the other base structures. A method of producing the biocompatible structure includes forming multiple base structures stacked together, coating the stacked multiple base structures, and plasma treating the coated structure.

The packaging material includes a heat-resistant resin layer 2 as an outer side layer, a heat-fusible resin layer 3 as an inner side layer, and a metal foil layer 4 arranged between these layers. The heat-resistant resin layer 2 is made of a heat-resistant resin film having a hot water shrinkage rate of 1.5% to 12% and the heat-resistant resin layer 2 and the metal foil layer 4 are adhered via an outer side adhesive layer 5. The adhesive layer 5 is formed by an urethane adhesive agent containing a polyol, a polyfunctional isocyanate compound, and an aliphatic compound containing a plurality of functional groups capable of reacting with an isocyanate group in one molecule. With this, a packaging material can be provided in which excellent formability can be secured and delamination can be sufficiently suppressed without causing pinholes, etc., even when deep depth drawing is performed.

The invention relates to slit absorbent articles and the use of slits in absorbent materials to provide improved liquid intake rate, flexibility and softness compared to the unmodified material. The absorbent material, including superabsorbent materials, are particularly useful as absorbent cores in disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinent products, sanitary napkins and the like.

A sensing fabric includes a first conductive textile layer, a second conductive textile layer, and an elastic layer. The elastic layer is disposed between the first conductive textile layer and the second conductive textile layer, and at least a cavity is defined by the elastic layer, the first conductive textile layer, and the second conductive textile layer. The first conductive textile layer may be electrically connected to the second conductive textile layer by deforming the cavity, and the volume of the cavity is reduced during the deformation of the cavity. The cavity includes at least a through hole and the through hole is not disposed between the adjacent cavities, and the cavity may be exposed to an environment through the through hole. The sensing fabric is light-weight, durable, robust, and able to pass the standard laundering test.

The invention provides a lightweight layered product for use in a digital printing process wherein the layered product consists essentially of: a reinforcing base layer having a support; and a printing layer suitable for receiving a print design;
and a method of preparing a printed layered product which method comprises the following steps: Providing a lightweight layered product according to the invention; Winding the lightweight layered product on to a roll; Loading the roll into a printing machine; Applying a decorative layer having a print design to the printing layer of the lightweight layered product; and Winding the printed layered product on to a roll for transfer to a production line; the layered product and method allow the incorporation of digital printing techniques into an industrial production line for the preparation of a surface-covering material without the need for heavy duty lifting and rolling equipment.