Polymeric based closed cell foams, such as shape memory polymer foams, contain bubbles. Making these bubbles continuous is called reticulation. Disclosed are embodiments of a device and method to controllably reticulate polymer-based closed cell foams by puncturing the membranes of these polymer-based closed cell foams.

A method of manufacturing an embossed hydrophobic covering element for construction or decoration for protecting the surface from humidity or inclement weather. This method includes preparing a mixture of water and at least one organic material in a tank in which the organic material is insoluble in water, stirring the mixture so as to disperse the organic material in suspension in water, molding the prepared and stored mixture by immersing a forming mold under vacuum inside the tank in order to form a molded element, drying and densifying the molded element under vacuum so as to obtained a dried and densified element, and fully impregnating the dried and densified element in the binder so as to form the hydrophobic covering element. The binder is of an organic material. The organic material originates from a sustainably renewable resource.

In an example of a method for three-dimensional (3D) printing, a polymeric build material is applied to form a build material layer. A fusing agent is selectively applied, based on a 3D object model, onto the build material layer to form a patterned portion. A hydrophobic agent is selectively applied, based on the 3D object model, onto at least a portion of the patterned portion. The hydrophobic agent includes a lipophilic phase discontinuously dispersed within an aqueous phase by a surfactant, wherein the lipophilic phase includes an organosilane having a central silicon atom coupled to a C6 to C24 aliphatic or alicyclic hydro-carbon and multiple hydrolyzable groups, wherein the organosilane is present in the hydrophobic agent at from about 1 wt % to about 20 wt %. The build material layer is exposed to energy to selectively coalesce the patterned portion and form a 3D object layer having a hydrophobic portion.

Proposed is a water-repellent film for an automobile side-view mirror and a press-forming apparatus of the same, and more specifically, a water-repellent film for an automobile side-view mirror and a forming apparatus of the water-repellent film which has good water repellency and can come into close contact with the side-view mirror. The water-repellent film includes: a substrate layer provided to adhere to the side-view mirror; an adhesive layer that is formed under the substrate layer and has adhesion such that the substrate layer adheres to the side-view mirror; and a coating layer that is laminated on the substrate layer.

A method for producing a plastic element provided with fine surface roughness is provided. In the method, etching of a surface of the plastic element is performed separately in a first step and in a second step, in the first step, fine roughness having a predetermined average value of pitch in the range from 0.05 to 1 micrometer is generated on the surface through reactive ion etching in an atmosphere of a first gas; and in the second step, an average value of depth of the fine roughness generated in the first step is adjusted to a predetermined value in the range from 0.15 to 1.5 micrometers while the predetermined average value of pitch is substantially maintained through reactive ion etching in an atmosphere of a second gas, reactivity to the plastic element of the second gas being lower than reactivity to the plastic element of the first gas.

The present disclosure relates to the use of occluding fluids, such as a high-density fluid (a “z-fluid”) or a low-density fluid (an “a-fluid”), to displace resin within a vat during 3D printing. Further, an a-fluid may act as a protective boundary for a 3D printing resin wherein the a-fluid sits on top of the printing resin. Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a process of assessing which regions of a computer-aided design (CAD) model take advantage of a buoying force supplied by the occluding fluid, such that fewer support structures are needed for printing a final CAD model compared to printing the CAD model without the occluding fluid.

Geometrically complex intravaginal rings, systems and methods of making the same are provided herein. Disclosed herein are geometrically complex intravaginal rings with tunable and enhanced drug release, which in some embodiments can be fabricated by 3D printing technologies. The disclosed IVRs include a ring structure comprising a plurality of unit cells or macroscopic and/or microscopic architecture, which can be tuned to control the loading capacity of an active compound within the IVR, the diffusion of an active compound from the IVR, the surface area of the IVR, and/or the mechanical properties of the IVR. The disclosed geometrically complex IVRs can provide superior control over drug loading and drug release compared to conventional IVRs fabricated by injection molding or hot-melt extrusion.

A bleach compatible mattress cover made of a non-woven polyolefin material and defining an interior cavity. The interior cavity configured to receive a mattress structure which may include a first and second support structure disposed in the interior cavity. In certain embodiments, the mattress cover has a Moisture Vapor Transfer Rate of greater than or equal 400 to less than 10,000, 7500 or more particularly less than 5000 grams per square meter per day and a hydrostatic head of 100 cm or greater and passes ASTM 1670 and ASTM 1671.

An ink includes a vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane polymer, a polydimethylsiloxane copolymer having a hydride component, wherein a hydride to a vinyl ratio (hydride:vinyl) is in a range of greater than 1:1 to about 4:1, a hydrophobic filler, a crosslinking agent, and a carbon dioxide-binding component. A method includes extruding an ink for forming a three-dimensional (3D) structure, the ink including a vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane polymer, a polydimethylsiloxane copolymer having a hydride component, wherein a hydride to a vinyl ratio (hydride:vinyl) is in a range of greater than 1:1 to about 4:1, a hydrophobic filler, a crosslinking agent, and a carbon dioxide-binding component. The method further includes curing the 3D structure for forming a silicone polymer product having the carbon dioxide-binding component.

A thermoformable nonwoven composite containing a nonwoven layer which contains a plurality of first staple fibers, a plurality of first binder fibers having a first melting point, and a plurality of second binder fibers having a second melting point, wherein the first staple fibers, first binder fibers, and second binder fibers intertwine and cross at crossover points. The difference first melting point and the second melting point differ by at least about 15° C., and at least 95% by weight of all of the fibers in the nonwoven layer are polyester. The thermoformable nonwoven composite also contains a first resin formulation containing a first resin. The first resin is located within the nonwoven and located in at least a portion of the crossover points. The first staple fibers, the first and second binder fibers, and the first resin all contain a polymer from the same chemical class.