The present invention relates to a polyimide precursor comprising a repeating unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein A is a tetravalent group having at least one aliphatic six membered ring and no aromatic ring in the chemical structure, and B is a divalent group having at least one amide bond and an aromatic ring in the chemical structure; or A is an aliphatic tetravalent group and B is a divalent group having at least one chemical structure represented by the following chemical formula (2) in the chemical structure: ##STR00002##
and X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are each independently hydrogen, a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a C.sub.3-9 alkylsilyl group.

Compositions including a combination of (meth)acryloyl-terminated monomers and oligomers prepared by co-reacting reactants having active hydrogen groups with an acrylating agent are disclosed. Polymerizates formed using the combinations of (meth)acryloyl-terminated monomers and oligomers exhibit a high hardness, excellent thermomechanical properties, and a high refractive index. The compositions can be used to fabricate optical components.

The present invention relates to a hydrogel comprising an oxidized alginate containing aldehyde groups, wherein the oxidized alginate is crosslinked with an imine type crosslinker. The hydrogel is particularly suitable as a bioink, i.e. for 3D printing of cell structures. The gels provide good printability and exhibit excellent viscoelasticity, shear thinning and self-healing characteristics.

In one aspect, inks for use with a three-dimensional printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, an ink described herein comprises up to about 90 wt. % monofunctional curable material, up to about 10 wt. % difunctional curable material, and up to about 10 wt. % liquid rubber, based on the total weight of the ink, wherein the liquid rubber comprises one or more curable moieties. In some cases, the liquid rubber comprises one or more ethylenically unsaturated moieties. For example, in some instances, the liquid rubber comprises a butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer.

A hitch step assembly comprises a first shot component injection molded from a first polymer compound with a high flexural modulus and a second shot component injection molded from a second polymer compound having a lower flexural modulus relative to the first shot compound. A post and a step body core are molded from the first polymer compound. A shell of the step body is molded from the second polymer compound and is overmolded onto the step body core. The shell forms a compression zone that attenuates rear impact forces the hitch step encounters, thus offering some protection against rear impacts. The hitch step assembly exhibits satisfactory resistance to deflection and torsional bending about a hitch receiver axis when a force is applied on the top surface of the hitch step near its lateral ends.

The present patent application relates to a method of manufacturing a multilayered composite film comprising a step of co-extruding at least three layers (a), (b) and (c), of which the layer (a) forms an outward surface of the composite film; the layer (c) forms a surface of the composite film facing or coming in contact with a good to be packaged; and the layer (b) is disposed between the layer (a) and the layer (c). Further, the method includes a step of biaxial orientation of the composite film thus co-extruded. Therein, the layer (a) contains or consists of a thermoplastic resin. The layer (b) contains or consists of a polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC) resin. The layer (c) contains or consists of a resin, preferably sealable, in particular heat-sealable resin. Therein, any crosslinking of the composite film by means of radioactive radiation, in particular by means of beta, gamma, X-ray and/or electron irradiation, is omitted during the manufacturing of the composite film and/or thereafter.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable polyester having shape followability and flexibility by elastic response and being able to suppress deterioration over time due to secondary crystallization. The present invention provides a stretchable polyester which is an aliphatic copolymer polyester containing two or more types of monomer units, wherein the stretchable polyester contains an α-form and an amorphous structure, and a degree of orientation determined by X-ray of the α-form is 50% or greater.

A polymerisable radiation-curable composition comprising:

(i) monomers, comprising at least (a) a first monomer having a TG (glass-transition point) of the homopolymer of said first monomer ≥120° C. and at least (b) a second monomer having a TG (glass-transition point) of the homopolymer of the second monomer ≤100° C., wherein at least one of the at least one first monomer or of the at least one second monomer has an alicyclic group, and
comprising (ii) at least one further component, comprising at least one photo-initiator for the UV and/or Vis spectral region or a photo-initiator system for the UV and/or Vis spectral region. Also disclosed is a blank in the form of a three-dimensional moulded body of a polymerised composition, in particular a radiation-cured composition, for producing 3D moulded bodies, dental prosthetic parts, orthopaedic appliances or dental pre-forms in a rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, or rapid tooling method.

An article of footwear has a tubular structure that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure has a tunnel, and a tensile strand runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand may cause the tubular structure to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.

Embodiments of the invention include a method and a device for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal by applying a desired pressure to extremities of a mammal. The device generally includes a pliant body element that is adapted to receive a portion of an extremity of the mammal therein, and then apply a pressure to a portion of the extremity when a pressure is provided to a region in which the extremity is positioned within the pliant body element. By evacuating the region in which the extremity is enclosed, a contact surface area between the extremity of a mammal and the pliant body element is increased, due to the external atmospheric pressure acting on the pliant body element against the skin of the extremity of the mammal. The application of pressure assures that sufficient contact and thermal heat transfer (heating or cooling) is provided to the extremity of the mammal.