A gel material made of thermoplastic elastomers. The thermoplastic elastomers content in the gel material is very less. Even after the reduction of thermoplastic elastomers, the gel material has superior properties. The gel material of the disclosure is cost effective and has good strength. The present disclosure also relates to a cushioning material made of gel of thermoplastic elastomers. Furthermore, the present disclosure also relates to a process for making the gel and the cushioning material.

A composition for extrusion and deposition by a three-dimensional (3D) printer is provided. The composition comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), particulate matter having particles in the range of about 5 nm to about 10 μm in diameter, and a solvent. Uses of the composition for 3D printing microstructures, including multiwall plate devices, are also provided.

A method of anchoring a first object in a second object is described. The first object extends along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end and has a circumferential surface. The circumferential surface comprises at least one helical protrusion of a thermoplastic material. For anchoring, the first object is brought in contact with the second object, and mechanical vibration is coupled into the first object from a proximally facing coupling-in face thereof so as to drive the first object into the second object in a manner that the vibration and pressing cause the first object to be subject to a helical movement relative to the second object and cause thermoplastic material of the first object to become flowable and to penetrate into structures of the second object to yield, after resolidification, a positive fit connection with the second object.

A method of anchoring a first object in a second object is described. The first object extends along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end and has a circumferential surface. The circumferential surface comprises at least one helical protrusion of a thermoplastic material. For anchoring, the first object is brought in contact with the second object, and mechanical vibration is coupled into the first object from a proximally facing coupling-in face thereof so as to drive the first object into the second object in a manner that the vibration and pressing cause the first object to be subject to a helical movement relative to the second object and cause thermoplastic material of the first object to become flowable and to penetrate into structures of the second object to yield, after resolidification, a positive fit connection with the second object.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a heart valve, comprising: a step of injection moulding a first part (110) of the heart valve from a first block-copolymer, wherein the injection moulding is performed at a temperature below an order-disorder transition temperature of the block copolymer, such that a phase structure is present in the molten block-copolymer; a step of injection moulding a second part (114) of the heart valve from a second block-copolymer that is different to the first block-copolymer, by over-moulding over the first part (110) to form an over-moulded structure, wherein the injection moulding is performed at a temperature below order-disorder transition temperatures for the first and second block copolymers, such that a phase structure is present in the molten second block-copolymer and remains present in the first block-copolymer; and a step of cooling the over-moulded structure, without heating it above the order-disorder transition temperatures between the step of injection moulding the second part (114) and the step of cooling, so as to preserve an arrangement of the phase structures created during the steps of injection moulding and produce anisotropic physical properties in the second part (114). The invention also relates to the thus manufactured heart valve.

A bonded body is formed of a first member and a second member. The first member has a first base portion and a first welded portion which protrudes from the first base portion toward the second member side. The second member has a second base portion and a second welded portion which protrudes from the second base portion toward the first member side. In a first region of the joint portion, a first rib formed so as to project from the first base portion toward the second member side covers the first welded portion and the second welded portion from the side. In a second region different from the first region, a second rib formed so as to project from the second base portion toward the first member side covers the first welded portion and the second welded portion from the side.

A bonded body is formed of a first member and a second member. The first member has a first base portion and a first welded portion which protrudes from the first base portion toward the second member side. The second member has a second base portion and a second welded portion which protrudes from the second base portion toward the first member side. In a first region of the joint portion, a first rib formed so as to project from the first base portion toward the second member side covers the first welded portion and the second welded portion from the side. In a second region different from the first region, a second rib formed so as to project from the second base portion toward the first member side covers the first welded portion and the second welded portion from the side.

According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a method of reducing distortion in an additively manufactured part comprising forming a shrinking platform from a composite including metal particles embedded in a first matrix, forming shrinking supports from the composite, forming a part from the composite upon the shrinking platform and shrinking supports, forming an interior structure in at least one of the shrinking platform, the shrinking supports, and the part having a plurality of chambers with interconnections therebetween, forming from the shrinking platform, the sintering supports, and the part a portable assembly, and debinding the first matrix in the portable assembly to form a portable assembly in a brown state, wherein debinding the first matrix includes penetrating a fluid debinder into the interior structure of the at least one of the shrinking platform, the shrinking supports, and the part to debind the first matrix from within the interior structure.

There is provided a method for producing a metal-resin composite which includes a resin member and a metal member having a roughened surface in at least a portion of the surface thereof, the resin member being joined so as to be in contact with at least a portion of the roughened surface. The method includes a step of joining the resin member and the metal member by melting the resin member with the frictional heat generated in the surface of the metal member on its side opposite to the resin member in a state where the metal member and the resin member are superposed. The method includes making adjustment so that when the roughened surface is measured at arbitrary five points by using a confocal microscope according to ISO 25178, the developed area ratio (Sdr) is 5 or more in terms of number-average value.

There is provided a method for producing a metal-resin composite which includes a resin member and a metal member having a roughened surface in at least a portion of the surface thereof, the resin member being joined so as to be in contact with at least a portion of the roughened surface. The method includes a step of joining the resin member and the metal member by melting the resin member with the frictional heat generated in the surface of the metal member on its side opposite to the resin member in a state where the metal member and the resin member are superposed. The method includes making adjustment so that when the roughened surface is measured at arbitrary five points by using a confocal microscope according to ISO 25178, the developed area ratio (Sdr) is 5 or more in terms of number-average value.