A melting device includes a container capable of melting a material supplied in a free-flowing state and storing the material in a liquid state. The container includes a first storage section for storing the material in the free-flowing state, a second storage section for storing the material in the liquid state, and a dividing section provided between the first storage section and the second storage section and configured to hold back the material, when the material is in a non-molten or free-flowing state and to allow passage of the material from the first storage section into the second storage section, when the material is in a molten or liquid state.

The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin structure satisfying the following (1) and (2): (1) a content of inorganic particles in the structure is less than 0.8 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of a thermoplastic resin; and (2) an area ratio of the inorganic particles on at least one surface of the structure is 0.5% or more, the area ratio being defined by π/4×r.sup.2 N/S (r=d+3σ), in which the number of inorganic particles identified from image analysis of an SEM image of the surface of the structure is N number/μm.sup.2, an average circle-equivalent diameter of the particles is d μm, a standard deviation of the average circle-equivalent diameter is σ μm, and a visual field area is S μm.sup.2.

Methods for producing a stretch film are provided, including disposing one or more extruders in fluid communication with a stock of virgin resin; heating the virgin resin to a molten state; delivering the molten virgin resin to a die; and extruding the molten virgin resin through the die onto a casting roll, thereby creating a cast stretch film. Methods for delivering the molten virgin resin onto a casting roll of varying sizes and set temperatures; and of moving a resulting film onto a secondary chill roll of varying sizes and set temperatures, are also provided. Finally, methods for moving the film from either the casting roll or the secondary chill roll onto a slitting assembly, dividing the film using one more interior or exterior slits, and then capturing and gathering the trim waste but not reintroducing the trim waste back into the production process are also disclosed.

Methods for producing a stretch film are provided, including disposing one or more extruders in fluid communication with a stock of virgin resin; heating the virgin resin to a molten state; delivering the molten virgin resin to a die; and extruding the molten virgin resin through the die onto a casting roll, thereby creating a cast stretch film. Methods for delivering the molten virgin resin onto a casting roll of varying sizes and set temperatures; and of moving a resulting film onto a secondary chill roll of varying sizes and set temperatures, are also provided. Finally, methods for moving the film from either the casting roll or the secondary chill roll onto a slitting assembly, dividing the film using one more interior or exterior slits, and then capturing and gathering the trim waste but not reintroducing the trim waste back into the production process are also disclosed.

A method for manufacturing a composite structure in which a first member and a structure material as a second member are integrated, the method including: an arrangement step of arranging a structure precursor including a resin and reinforced fibers in a mold made of the first member; a heating step of heating the structure precursor to equal to or higher than a temperature at which a storage elastic modulus (G′) of the structure precursor is less than 1.2×10.sup.8 Pa; a shaping step of expanding the structure precursor by heating to form a structure material as a second member, and bringing the structure material into close contact with the first member to obtain a composite structure; and a cooling step of cooling the composite structure.

A method for manufacturing a composite structure in which a first member and a structure material as a second member are integrated, the method including: an arrangement step of arranging a structure precursor including a resin and reinforced fibers in a mold made of the first member; a heating step of heating the structure precursor to equal to or higher than a temperature at which a storage elastic modulus (G′) of the structure precursor is less than 1.2×10.sup.8 Pa; a shaping step of expanding the structure precursor by heating to form a structure material as a second member, and bringing the structure material into close contact with the first member to obtain a composite structure; and a cooling step of cooling the composite structure.

A transdermal drug delivery patch includes a flexible base layer, and a plurality of microneedles disposed at one surface of the base layer and including a biodegradable polymer and a drug. Each of a plurality of microneedles is formed as a star-shaped pyramid including a plurality of protrusions extending in a radial direction, and a concave shape is formed between two protrusions adjacent along a circumferential direction among a plurality of protrusions.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.

A method is provided for configuring fluid in a programable fluid array which includes applying a sequence of magnetic fields to a movable fluidic network component; which includes a magnetic object to produce a force on the component. In one arrangement the fluid array includes a plurality of pre-formed channels and at least one property of at least one of said pre-formed channels is changed by the movable fluidic network component in another arrangement the fluid array comprises an injection molding system where the programmable fluid array is used to improve the speed and accuracy of the injection molding process and/or to additionally modify the shape and form of a molded object. In this arrangement the fluidic network component follows a path through the mold cavity determined at least in part by a sequence of magnetic fields and exerts a force on molding material therein.

The present application describes a system for curing moldable material. The system comprises an energy source, a mold, and/or other components. The mold comprises internal mold surfaces forming a mold cavity. The mold is formed from one or more materials configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation emitted by the energy source. The mold has a hot zone and a cold zone. The hot zone and the cold zone have the one or more materials thereof comprising at least one different physical characteristic so that the hot zone and the cold zone absorb the electromagnetic radiation at different rates and/or in different amounts. The hot zone absorbs more electromagnetic radiation than, and/or electromagnetic radiation faster than, the cold zone.