A lens comprises an internal cavity structure formed by dissolution of a soluble insert material. The internal soluble material may dissolve through a body of a lens such as a contact lens in order to form the cavity within the contact lens. The cavity within the lens can be shaped in many ways, and corresponds to the shape of the dissolved material, such that many internal cavity shapes can be readily fabricated within the contact lens. The insert can be placed in a mold with a pre-polymer material, and the pre-polymer material cured with the insert placed in the mold to form the lens body. The polymerized polymer may comprise a low expansion polymer in order to inhibit expansion of the lens when hydrated. The polymer may comprise a hydrogel when hydrated. The soft contact lens material comprises a sufficient amount of cross-linking to provide structure to the lens and shape the cavity.

A plastic film is produced by blending a polymer with particles encapsulating an oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide. Optionally, an oxodegradable and/or oxo biodegradable additive that promotes degradation of the polymer in the presence of oxygen may be blended into the plastic film. The presence of the oxidizing agent within the plastic film ensures degradation of an article of manufacture, e.g., a plastic bag, when it is disposed of in an anaerobic environment, such as a landfill. In some embodiments, the particles are microcapsules and/or nanocapsules each having a polymer shell encapsulating a core that includes the oxidizing agent. In some embodiments, the particles are microparticles and/or nanoparticles each having a matrix in which the oxidizing agent is encapsulated.

Food and beverage containers and non-food contact packaging peanuts are made of foamed polystyrene (PS) containing 0.5% to 15% by weight of the photoaccelerant, such as for example benzophenone. This additive greatly accelerates the photodegradation of this novel packaging for a specialized use: the abatement of litter comprising single-serving containers and packaging peanuts disposed of on land and in water. Conditions controlling the distribution of the photoaccelerant in and the formation of the polystyrene foam are critical to the rate of the photodegradation of this packaging in the environment.

A lens comprises an internal cavity structure formed by dissolution of a soluble insert material. The internal soluble material may dissolve through a body of a lens such as a contact lens in order to form the cavity within the contact lens. The cavity within the lens can be shaped in many ways, and corresponds to the shape of the dissolved material, such that many internal cavity shapes can be readily fabricated within the contact lens. The insert can be placed in a mold with a pre-polymer material, and the pre-polymer material cured with the insert placed in the mold to form the lens body. The polymerized polymer may comprise a low expansion polymer in order to inhibit expansion of the lens when hydrated. The polymer may comprise a hydrogel when hydrated. The soft contact lens material comprises a sufficient amount of cross-linking to provide structure to the lens and shape the cavity.

A plastic film is produced by blending a polymer with particles encapsulating an oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide. Optionally, an oxodegradable and/or oxo biodegradable additive that promotes degradation of the polymer in the presence of oxygen may be blended into the plastic film. The presence of the oxidizing agent within the plastic film ensures degradation of an article of manufacture, e.g., a plastic bag, when it is disposed of in an anaerobic environment, such as a landfill. In some embodiments, the particles are microcapsules and/or nanocapsules each having a polymer shell encapsulating a core that includes the oxidizing agent. In some embodiments, the particles are microparticles and/or nanoparticles each having a matrix in which the oxidizing agent is encapsulated.

The disclosure describes a thermoforming machine, which can include a horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine, and a mold, wherein the mold contains a plurality of pocket forming cavities in a 2-dimensional array. These cavities can each be defined by side walls and a base, and each cavity can be surrounded by a planar surface of the mold on all sides. Further, the cavities can be positioned in the array so as to provide a plurality of continuous strips of uninterrupted planar surface of the mold from a leading to a trailing edge of the mold. These cavities can have rounded bottom corners, formed where the side walls meet the base, and rounded edges, formed where side walls meet an upper surface of the mold. The thermoforming machine can be further configured to be able to draw a web of water-soluble film down into the cavities.

A lens comprises an internal cavity structure formed by dissolution of a soluble insert material. The internal soluble material may dissolve through a body of a lens such as a contact lens in order to form the cavity within the contact lens. The cavity within the lens can be shaped in many ways, and corresponds to the shape of the dissolved material, such that many internal cavity shapes can be readily fabricated within the contact lens. The insert can be placed in a mold with a pre-polymer material, and the pre-polymer material cured with the insert placed in the mold to form the lens body. The polymerized polymer may comprise a low expansion polymer in order to inhibit expansion of the lens when hydrated. The polymer may comprise a hydrogel when hydrated. The soft contact lens material comprises a sufficient amount of cross-linking to provide structure to the lens and shape the cavity.

The present invention relates to a light-activated resin composition comprising a multi-functional acrylate or methacrylate monomer, a cyclic monomer comprising a cleavable or pre-cleavable group and a photo-initiator. It also relates to a degradable polymer, a degradable 3D-printed article, and to a process for preparing such polymer and article. It further relates to the use of a monomer comprising a thionolactone or sulfide cyclic methacrylate for preparing a degradable 3D-printed article.

Provided herein are surgical implants and methods of manufacturing the implants. The surgical implant includes an outer body made of a polymer, at least one internal strut coupled to the outer body, where the internal strut has a smaller diameter than the outer body, and ceramic granules deposited on the surface of the internal strut. Methods of manufacturing a surgical implant generally include injecting a molten mixture containing a polymer and ceramic particles into a mold. The mold defines a negative space for forming the implant. As the molten mixture flows through the negative space, the mold constricts the flow at the internal strut, causing the ceramic granules to deposit on the surface of the internal strut. The mixture is then cooled to form the implant, with the ceramic granules at least partially exposed on its surface.

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention fabricate objects using investment molding techniques. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an object includes: fabricating a subassembly including a plurality of volumes; where each volume is defined by the homogenous presence or absence of a material; where fabricating the subassembly includes using an additive manufacturing process; where at least one of the plurality of volumes defines a shape that is to exist in the object to be fabricated; where at least a first of the plurality of volumes includes a first dissolvable material; dissolving the first dissolvable material; where the dissolution of the first dissolvable material does not dissolve at least one other material within the subassembly; forming at least one cavity within the subassembly; and introducing an additive material into the at least one cavity.