Methods of marking plastic-based products and marked plastic-based products are provided. Some methods include irradiating the product to alter the functionalization of the plastic. In general, the present disclosure features methods of marking substrates, e.g., substrates including plastics, such as plastic-based products, such as polymer banknotes. Such plastics can be rigid or flexible, e.g., elastomeric. Such plastics can be thermoplastic or thermosets. In some cases, the products are marked by irradiating plastic-based materials, e.g., sheet materials, under conditions that alter characteristics of the irradiated plastic.

Three-dimensional polymeric article (100) having first (101) and second (102) opposed major surfaces, a base body (103) having a first dimension, a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension, and a thickness, wherein the thickness is orthogonal to the first and second dimensions, wherein the base body (103) comprises a plurality of alternating, adjacent first (107) and second (108) polymeric regions along the first dimension, wherein the second dimensions of the first (107) and second (108) regions extend at least partially across the second dimensions, wherein the first regions (107) have a first crosslink density, wherein the second regions (108) have a second crosslink density, wherein the second crosslink density of the second regions (108) are less than the first crosslink density of the first regions (107), wherein the first and second regions extend perpendicularly in two directions from a central plane (115) in the base body (103) parallel to the first and second dimensions of the polymeric article (100), and wherein the second regions (108) extend in each of said two directions further than does the first regions (107). Embodiments of the three-dimensional polymeric article described herein are useful for providing a dual sided, textured wrapping film such that greater grip is realized both on an item wrapped by the film and the wrapped item itself.

Methods of making oxidation and wear resistant polymeric materials using peroxide cross-linking and high temperature melting process are disclosed. A multiple step procedure for enabling the manufacturing of such material without size limitations is also disclosed.

A physically crosslinked, closed cell continuous multilayer foam structure comprising at least one polypropylene/polyethylene coextruded foam layer is obtained. The multilayer foam structure is obtained by coextruding a multilayer structure comprising at least one foam composition layer, irradiating the coextruded structure with ionizing radiation, and continuously foaming the irradiated structure.

A method for forming a preform for a thermoplastic retention device is provided. The method includes providing a thermoplastic base material and blending the base material with one or more chemical agents to form a polymer blend. The chemical agents are configured to modify a polymer chain of the base material when the polymer blend is exposed to radiation. The method further includes forming the polymer blend into a filament sized for a three-dimensional printing platform and printing a preform shape from the filament using the three-dimensional printing platform. After the printed preform is hardened, the method includes exposing the printed preform shape to radiation sufficient to cause a reaction between the one or more chemical agents and the base material.

The invention provides a process for producing a modified molded article capable of providing a diaphragm that is less likely to generate particles. The process for producing a modified molded article includes: molding modified polytetrafluoroethylene containing a tetrafluoroethylene unit and a modifying monomer unit based on a modifying monomer copolymerizable with tetrafluoroethylene to provide a molded article; and irradiating the molded article with not lower than 30 kGy but lower than 70 kGy of radiation at 270 C. to 310 C. to provide a modified molded article.

Method of making a golf ball comprising: providing a subassembly and a thermoset polymer composition; partially curing the thermoset polymer composition and elongating same while in a partial cure state; forming a layer about the subassembly comprising the thermoset polymer composition; and further curing the thermoset polymer composition. A moldable thermoset polymer composition may be elongated while in state of partial cure. The thermoset polymer composition may be stepwise elongated by: stretching a thermoset polymer composition in at least one plane while in partial cure state and before forming into first and second half shells; forming the thermoset polymer composition into first and second half shells and elongating the thermoset polymer composition in three dimensions while in the partial cure state and before mating the first and second half shells about the subassembly; and mating the first and second half shells about the subassembly and forming a stepwise-elongated thermoset layer.

Additive manufacturing fiber composites comprise a bundle of elongate fibers and a matrix material that holds or encompasses the elongate fibers of the additive manufacturing fiber tow. The matrix material includes an energy-emissive dopant that emits a curing energy in response to receiving an activating energy. The curing energy effects curing of the solidifiable matrix material so that it solidifies to a rigid or semi-rigid matrix material. Methods of additively manufacturing an article include dispensing an additive manufacturing fiber tow, a solidifiable matrix material, and an energy-emissive dopant to form a solidifiable composite, and applying the activating energy to the energy-emissive dopant to activate the energy-emissive dopant to emit the curing energy. Systems to additively manufacturing an article may be configured to employ such additive manufacturing fiber composites and/or methods.

A hydrophilic laminate, including: a substrate made of a resin; and a hydrophilic resin layer on the substrate made of a resin, wherein the hydrophilic resin layer comprises micro convex portions or micro concave portions in a surface thereof, and wherein a pure water contact angle of the surface of the hydrophilic resin layer is less than 40.

A medical device comprising a structure formed of polyvinyl alcohol.