In slot-die coating, shrinkage of a PVA film when heating after the application of a PVA solution onto an anchor layer formed on the outer surface of a preform for a plastic bottle is suppressed. A leveling agent such as a siloxane is added to the PVA solution.

A method of manufacturing a plastic stent according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first process of cleaning a surface of the stent including a plastic material to perform pretreatment, a second process of plasma-treating the pretreated surface of the stent, and a third process of introducing a hydrophilic functional group to the plasma-pretreated surface of the stent.

A method for pre-treating a catheter prior to using the catheter in a medical procedure, and a related apparatus, are provided. The method comprises exposing, in a plasma chamber positioned in a medical care center, and under sterile conditions, intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter to plasma. The plasma is electromagnetically-generated adjacently to the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces, thereby rendering, at least temporarily, the intraluminal surfaces and extraluminal surfaces of the catheter hydrophilic.

An embodiment includes a system comprising: a monolithic shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states; wherein the SMP foam includes: (a) polyurethane, (b) an inner half portion having inner reticulated cells defined by inner struts, (c) an outer half portion, having outer reticulated cells defined by outer struts, surrounding the inner portion in a plane that provides a cross-section of the SMP foam, (d) hydroxyl groups chemically bound to outer surfaces of both the inner and outer struts. Other embodiments are discussed herein.

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.

A system for treating a surface and applying adhesive to an already treated portion of the surface concurrently is presented. The system comprises surface treatment equipment, adhesive application equipment, and a common feed system. The surface treatment equipment is configured to treat the surface of an elongated member. The adhesive application equipment is configured to apply adhesive to the already treated portion of the surface. The common feed system feeds the elongated member beneath the surface treatment equipment and the adhesive application equipment concurrently.

A gas barrier laminate including a resin substrate, a first coating layer containing a carboxylic acid polymer; and a second coating layer containing a polyvalent metal compound and a resin, laminated in this order; a ratio of a thickness of the second coating layer to the first coating layer in the range of 1.0 or more and 4.0 or less; and the second coating layer satisfies at least one of the following: (condition 1) a haze of the second coating layer is 8% or less; (condition 2) a surface roughness Ra of the second coating layer is or less of the thickness of the second coating layer; and (condition 3) the number of concave portions having a diameter of 1.5 m or more per unit area on a surface of the second coating layer opposite to the first coating layer is 2/0.01 mm.sup.2 or less.

An embodiment includes a system comprising: a monolithic shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states; wherein the SMP foam includes: (a) polyurethane, (b) an inner half portion having inner reticulated cells defined by inner struts, (c) an outer half portion, having outer reticulated cells defined by outer struts, surrounding the inner portion in a plane that provides a cross-section of the SMP foam, (d) hydroxyl groups chemically bound to outer surfaces of both the inner and outer struts. Other embodiments are discussed herein.

A method for treating a polymer vessel, comprising treating a surface region of the vessel by exposing the surface region to a high-frequency plasma; and coating the surface region of the vessel with a lasting water-based edible coating. A vessel treated in accordance with the method. The method may include placing the vessel on a conveyor, a robotic arm or system to facilitate the movement of the vessel through the high-frequency plasma device. Including rotating the vessel to treat different parts thereof.

A UV/LED printing and finishing process is disclosed. The printing and finishing process improves the manner in which printing, permanent bonding, and finishing is performed on products containing low surface energy plastics, such as high-density polyethylene furniture. The process includes abrading a surface of the low surface energy plastic and then applying a corona or plasma treatment to the surface of the low surface energy plastic to increase the adhesion capabilities of the surface. Once the surface has been treater, the process may include printing a polymer ink onto the surface of the low surface energy plastic, such as by utilizing a UV/LED flatbed or hybrid printer. The process may also include curing the printed surface of the low surface energy plastic, and then finally applying a clear inorganic top coating onto the printed surface to protect the UV/LED cured polymer ink.