A multilayer composite is disclosed comprising a heat shrinkable polymer layer and a nanofiber layer. Methods of forming the composite and uses thereof are also described.

The present disclosure provides a dual layer heat shrink tube having: an inner polymeric layer with a thickness t.sub.1 and an outer diameter D.sub.1; and an outer, expanded polymeric layer with a thickness t.sub.2 and an outer diameter D.sub.2 obtained by expanding a polymer tube from D.sub.2 to D.sub.2 and t.sub.2 to t.sub.2 at a selected temperature so that D.sub.2-2 (t.sub.2)>D.sub.1, wherein a ring cut from a cross-section of the dual layer heat shrink tube, slit into a rectangle and gripped at cut ends by tension grips within a DMA, and subjected to a temperature sweep of 3? C./min at a frequency of 1 Hz from the onset of a melting endotherm of the inner polymeric layer to that of the outer, expanded polymeric layer is greater than 1? C. and less than 12? C. The disclosure further provides associated methods for preparing and using such tubes, as well as to products comprising such tubes.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional fluid cell having three-dimensional formability with a high degree of freedom. A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional fluid cell according to the invention is a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional fluid cell using a laminate which has at least two plastic substrates and a fluid layer and in which at least one plastic substrate is a heat-shrinkable film satisfying a heat shrinkage rate of 5% to 75%, including, in order: 1) an arrangement step of arranging one plastic substrate, the fluid layer, and the other plastic substrate in this lamination order; 2) a two-dimensional fluid cell producing step of producing a two-dimensional fluid cell by sealing the fluid layer; and 3) a three-dimensional processing step of three-dimensionally processing the two-dimensional fluid cell by heating.

A medical device, such as an electrophysiology catheter, has an elongate body including a wall. A reinforcing layer is encapsulated in the wall. The reinforcing layer includes one or more reinforcing fibers having glass cores and polymer cladding. In embodiments, the reinforcing fibers are non-magnetically-susceptible and non-electrically-conductive, facilitating the use of the medical device in connection with procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

A process for forming a sheet of thermoplastic material into a three-dimensional shape comprising at least one vertex, the process comprising the steps of (i) forming the sheet by means of a former having a profile such as to produce a first formed shape in the sheet, followed by (ii) positioning a male former within the first formed shape, the male former having a profile within the first formed shape comprising at least one vertex and (iii) raising the temperature of the first formed shape above that of forming in step (i), thereby causing the first formed shape to shrink back towards its original sheet form and thereby adopting the profile of the male former.

A decorated strip of coated, heat-shrinkable, plastic sheet material is placed in a spiral slot formed in a silicone rubber mold. The spiral slot is defined by a spiral wall having a uniform wall thickness. Upon heating in an oven, the material shrinks, forming a resiliently expansible arc-shaped band that can be worn as a bracelet or wristband.

An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal cell which realizes three-dimensional formability with a high degree of freedom, a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional structural liquid crystal cell which realizes three-dimensional formability with a high degree of freedom, and a three-dimensional structural liquid crystal cell precursor which is used in the manufacturing of the three-dimensional structural liquid crystal cell. A liquid crystal cell according to the invention includes at least two plastic substrates and a liquid crystal layer, and at least one of the plastic substrates is a heat-shrinkable film satisfying a heat shrinkage rate of 5% to 75%.

An automotive assembly line tool system and method utilizing a heat-shrinkable bumper disposed around a portion of an assembly line tool for absorbing kinetic energy between the portion of the tool and a work-piece on an assembly line. The bumper may be a chemically cross-linked polyolefin heat-shrinkable material having a shore D hardness of 42 or less after being heat-shrunk. The bumper may be a tubular bumper that has a continuous outer surface around its circumference and a heavy wall that is highly split-resistant. The bumper may have a life term of at least one year in an automotive assembly line environment. By protecting the tools and equipment, chips and scratches on a work-piece on the assembly line may be reduced.

A method of manufacturing a fluid impermeable rigid composite pipe (10) or hollow tube comprising the steps of:a. providing a supporting mandrel (15) that is shaped to define a bore of the pipe (10); b. laying onto the outer circumferential surface of the mandrel (10) one or more first tapes (11) made of a thermoplastic material thereby to create a first region (11) that is predominantly thermoplastic material adjacent the bore of the pipe (10); c. providing a plurality of tows (14) that comprise co-mingled reinforcing fibres and thermoplastic filaments; d. weaving a plurality of the tows (14) to form one or more circular braids (13) and laying down the one or more of the circular braids (13) on to the first layer (11): to form a second region (12); e. applying to the outer surface of the second region (12) a heat-shrinkable layer (13); f. heating the product of steps (b) to (e) on the mandrel (15) to a first temperature at which the thermoplastic materials of the one or more tapes 11 and the tows 14 melt and the heat-shrinkable layer 13 shrinks radially inwards to consolidate the melted thermoplastic material to form a thermoplastic matrix in which the reinforcing fibres are embedded and a fluid impermeable thermoplastic rich region (11) is formed at the bore of the pipe (10); and, g. allowing the pipe (10) to cool to form a self supporting pipe (10).

A web of material die cut into a general outline of a shoe upper or sock structure is disclosed. The web of material is either a multi-layer, three dimensional weave fabric material, or a single layer fabric material with a relatively smooth appearance. The fabric is then wrapped around a heat resistant mold and heat or steam is applied to shrink the fabric around the mold to form a flexible, form fitting, unitary piece. The shoe upper or sock structure is perfectly shaped to the mold and can also be made to custom fit other mold shapes as well.