Methods for forming vascular components include providing a composite sacrificial body comprising a first sacrificial material having an outer surface and a second sacrificial material applied to at least a portion of the outer surface, molding a solid substrate around the composite sacrificial body, removing the first sacrificial material by deflagration such that at least a portion of the second sacrificial material remains in the same orientation relative to the substrate as originally molded, and subsequently removing the second sacrificial material by a non-deflagration process to form a vascular component. The second sacrificial material can include a phase change material, a syntactic foam including hollow beads bound together with a polymeric binder or a sintered aggregation of hollow beads, a polymeric foam, a water-soluble resin, or an aerogel. The non-deflagration process can include mechanical pulverization, contacting the second sacrificial material with a solvent or chemical etching agent.

A method is provided for treating the outer surfaces of a plurality of glass bubbles. That method includes loading a plurality of glass bubbles into a processing vessel having a roughened lining and displacing the processing vessel so that the plurality of glass bubbles move against the roughened lining to thereby roughen the outer surfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the glass bubbles are subjected to air plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the glass bubbles.

A method is provided for treating the outer surfaces of a plurality of glass bubbles. That method includes loading a plurality of glass bubbles into a processing vessel having a roughened lining and displacing the processing vessel so that the plurality of glass bubbles move against the roughened lining to thereby roughen the outer surfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the glass bubbles are subjected to air plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the glass bubbles.

An improved shock absorbing, light-weight, thermally insulative orthotic pad designed for use in a “pad and boot” assembly for hoofed livestock. The pad is comprised of a mixture of small particles incorporated and encased in elastomeric materials. The particles have a lower density than the elastomeric materials and possess better thermally insulative properties. The pad is preferably elliptically shaped when viewed from the top or bottom, may be wedge-shaped when viewed from the side, and may include a triangular projection designed to contact a horse's frog and/or a front projection designed to cushion an animal's toe. The pad may also have side clips and toe bumper.

The invention relates to a structured body and a method for its preparation, whereby the structured body is produced of at least one powdery starting material by application of heat and/or pressure, and has several layers, whereby the starting material consists predominantly of thermoplastic basic material, and whereby the density of at least two layers of the structured body differ from each other, and whereby at least one layer of lower density contains hollow microspheres.

A decklid (12) for an automobile (10) has an integral aerofoil (24) providing an aero duct (26) between the aerofoil (24) and an upper face section (16) of the decklid (12), the aerofoil (24) being produced hollow using a mandrel (106) to consolidate workpiece material (133) of the (aerofoil 24) inside a void (132) within mould parts (102), (104), the method and apparatus providing the decklid (12) with smoothly merging and continuous A surfaces, as well as smoothly merging B surfaces.

A decklid (12) for an automobile (10) has an integral aerofoil (24) providing an aero duct (26) between the aerofoil (24) and an upper face section (16) of the decklid (12), the aerofoil (24) being produced hollow using a mandrel (106) to consolidate workpiece material (133) of the (aerofoil 24) inside a void (132) within mould parts (102), (104), the method and apparatus providing the decklid (12) with smoothly merging and continuous A surfaces, as well as smoothly merging B surfaces.

An insulating structure for an appliance includes an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein an insulating cavity is defined therebetween. A plurality of hollow nano-spheres are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each of the hollow nano-spheres includes a diameter in the range of from approximately 50 nanometers to approximately 1000 nanometers and has a wall that defines the internal space, and wherein the wall of each hollow nano-sphere has a thickness that is in a range of from approximately 0.5 nanometers to approximately 100 nanometers. A fill material is disposed in the insulating cavity and wherein the fill material is disposed in the space defined between the plurality of hollow nano-spheres, and wherein the fill material includes at least one of powdered silica, granulated silica, other silica material, aerogel and insulating gas.

An insulating structure for an appliance includes an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein an insulating cavity is defined therebetween. A plurality of hollow nano-spheres are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each of the hollow nano-spheres includes a diameter in the range of from approximately 50 nanometers to approximately 1000 nanometers and has a wall that defines the internal space, and wherein the wall of each hollow nano-sphere has a thickness that is in a range of from approximately 0.5 nanometers to approximately 100 nanometers. A fill material is disposed in the insulating cavity and wherein the fill material is disposed in the space defined between the plurality of hollow nano-spheres, and wherein the fill material includes at least one of powdered silica, granulated silica, other silica material, aerogel and insulating gas.

Curable compositions are provided comprising (i) at least one epoxy resin as specified (ii) an epoxide hardener system comprising (a) a carboxylic acid anhydride, (b) a first amine having a melting point from about 30 C to about 100 C and containing at least one primary amine group; and (c) a second amine having a melting point of from about 50 C to about 180 C and having at least one primary amine group, wherein the first and second amines are selected such that they have a difference in melting points of at least 10 C and wherein the first and second amines are contained in minor amounts by weight as compared to the carboxylic acid anhydride; and (iii) a filler as specified. Also provided are compositions obtainable by curing the curable composition, the use of the curable composition for filling of voids in honeycomb structures and processes for filing voids in honeycomb structures.