This invention is directed to substrates and articles utilizing these substrates that provide improved performance of printable electronics on polymer substrates. In particular, the improved substrates relate to polymer films and electrical conductors printed on them. Application of a thin polymeric coating to the polymer film provides the improved performance of the printed conductors.

The invention is related to a method for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses with a stable lubricious hydrogel coating thereon providing a low surface friction. A method of the invention comprises forming a plasma-reactive hydrophilic polymer hybrid base coating having reactive functional groups on a silicone hydrogel contact lens and heating the silicone hydrogel contact lens with the hybrid base coating in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble and thermally crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material to form a stable lubricious hydrogel coating thereon.

Elastomeric components, such as a shoe outsole, are treated with a plasma application to clean and activate the elastomeric component. The application of plasma is controlled to achieve a sufficient surface composition change to enhance adhesion characteristics while not adversely physically deforming the elastomeric component. The plasma treatment is applied to increase carbonyl functional group concentrations within an altered region of the elastomeric component to within at least a range of 2%-15% of carbon atomic percentage composition. The cleaning and activation is controlled, in part, by ensuring a defined height offset range is maintained between the elastomeric component and the plasma source by a generated tool path. The elastomeric component may then be adhered, with an adhesive, to another component.

A method of enhancing hydrophilicity of a hydrophobic polymer material includes pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer material. The pre-treating includes treating the hydrophobic polymer material with a first atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a first atmosphere including carbon dioxide to obtain a pre-treated polymer material. The method includes treating the pre-treated polymer material with a second atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a second atmosphere in which an aerosol of an amine is introduced; the amine includes at least one hydrocarbon substituent. A substrate is provided that includes a hydrophobic polymer material having a modified interface. The modified interface includes amine functional groups grafted on the hydrophobic polymer material, the modified interface having a surface energy, which, measured after immersion in water at 20? C. for 3 days, differs from a surface energy of the hydrophobic polymer material by 20 mN/m or less.

A polymer substrate having deposited on its surface a reaction product of a precursor material obtained or obtainable by a method for preparation of polymer, and to the use of the polymer having improved antibacterial properties and/or antiviral properties or of the polymer having improved antibacterial properties and/or antiviral properties obtained or obtainable by the method for medical applications, antibiofouling applications, hygiene applications, food industry applications, industrial or computer related applications, consumer goods applications and appliances, public and public transport applications, underwater, water sanitation or seawater applications.

A method of enhancing hydrophilicity of a hydrophobic polymer material includes pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer material, comprising treating the hydrophobic polymer material with a first atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a first atmosphere. The first atmosphere includes ammonia to obtain a pre-treated polymer material. The method includes treating the pre-treated polymer material with a second atmospheric pressure plasma discharge in a second atmosphere in which an aerosol of a carboxylic acid is introduced. A substrate is provided as well, the substrate including a hydrophobic polymer material having a modified interface, wherein the modified interface includes carboxylic functional groups grafted on the hydrophobic polymer material, the modified interface having a contact angle with water, which, measured after immersion in water at 20? C. for 3 days, is at least 25? less than a contact angle with water of the hydrophobic polymer material.

In a laminate film 1 including a substrate 2, a polyurethane layer 3 formed on the substrate 2, and a metal vapor deposition layer 4 formed on the polyurethane layer 3, a coating liquid is applied on the substrate 2 and dried to produce the polyurethane layer 3. The coating liquid contains a water dispersible polyisocyanate and a polyurethane dispersion containing polyurethane resin produced by reaction of an isocyanate group-terminated prepolymer with a chain extender. The isocyanate group-terminated prepolymer is produced by reaction of a polyisocyanate component including xylylene diisocyanate and/or hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate and a polyol component including diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and an active hydrogen group-containing compound containing a hydrophilic group.

The present invention aims to provide a decorative sheet exhibiting excellent heat-insulating performance, weather-resistant contact, and design with muted colors, and a decorative member including the decorative sheet. The present invention provides a decorative sheet having a lightness value of 55 or less and including: a base sheet; a decorative layer; and a surface protective layer, wherein the decorative layer contains a composite oxide containing at least manganese and has a thickness of 0.7 to 13 m. The present invention also provides a decorative member including the decorative sheet.

Disclosed herein are conductive polymer electrodes and wiring elements for use as the conductive element in health monitoring applications, and more specifically to conductive polymer fabric electrodes or conductive polymer fabric wiring elements for use as the conductive element in pads for health monitoring applications and other wearable monitoring systems.

A process utilizing thermoplastic adhesives for surface mounting or laminating two or more substrate surfaces consisting of a combination of thermoplastic-polyimide (TPI) adhesive layers, one of which is B-staged or partially cured, and the other of which is C-Staged or fully cured, employed both as direct coatings and/or stand alone bondfilms, as well as their advantageous use in joining materials of mismatched Coefficients of Thermal Expansion (CTE).