There are provided a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional structure, and three-dimension formation composition, by each which a three-dimensional structure can be manufactured with high dimensional accuracy, and provided a three-dimensional structure manufactured with high dimensional accuracy. There is provided a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional structure, in which the three-dimensional structure is manufactured by laminating a layer, the method including: forming the layer using a three-dimension formation composition containing particles, a binding resin, and a water-based solvent; removing the water-based solvent from the layer by heating the layer; and applying a binding solution containing a binder to the layer, in which the binding resin has an ammonium salt of a carboxyl group as a functional group.

Described herein are starch-based materials, and formulations including such for use in directional alignment extrusion processes. The present compositions exhibit critical shear stress characteristics that allow extrusion at high shear rates and line speeds, without onset of melt flow instability. The present compositions provide sufficient melt strength to allow such compositions to be directionally oriented by stretching the heated polymer (e.g., the polymer melt) following initial extrusion, directionally aligning the molecular chains of the heated polymer blend in the machine-direction, the cross-direction, or both. In an embodiment, the starch-based material is blended with one or more thermoplastic materials having desired melt flow index value(s), which serves as a diluent, allowing the very viscous starch-based component to be processed under such conditions. The starch-based materials (and masterbatches thereof) may exhibit high molecular weight, high shear sensitivity, strain hardening behavior, and/or a very high critical shear stress (e.g., at least 125 kPa).

A mixture contains at least one amino-regulated polyether block amide (PEBA) and at least one poly(meth)acrylate selected from poly(meth)acrylimides, polyalkyl(meth)acrylates, and mixtures thereof. The mass ratio of PEBA to poly(meth)acrylate is 95:5 to 60:40. The polyalkyl(meth)acrylate contains 80% by weight to 99% by weight of methyl methacrylate (MMA) units and 1% by weight to 20% by weight of C1-C10-alkyl acrylate units, based on the total weight of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate. The mixture can be processed to give foamed mouldings. The mouldings can be used in footwear soles, stud material, insulation or insulating material, damping components, lightweight components, or in a sandwich structure.

Artificial cartilage materials for repair and replacement of cartilage (e.g., load-bearing, articular cartilage). The artificial cartilage materials described herein include triple-network hydrogels including a cross-linked fiber network (e.g., a bacterial cellulose nanofiber network) and a double-network hydrogel (e.g., a double-network hydrogel including polfacrylamide-methyl propyl sulfonic acid). The artificial cartilage may be coated onto or formed into an implant (e.g., plug). The artificial cartilage may include a surface macroporosity, e.g., 0.1-300 micrometers diameter. Also described herein are methods of forming and methods of using the triple-network hydrogel artificial cartilage materials.

Disclosed herein a self-healing, flexible, conductive compositions. The conductive compositions include conductive polymers and acidic polyacrylamides. The compositions are useful in a wide range of applications, including wearable electronics and sensors. The compositions may be prepared using environmentally friendly procedures.

The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.

This application relates to a thermo-gel polymer system useful for ophthalmic drug delivery. The thermo-gel comprises a polymer and chitosan, and the polymer comprises monomers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), acrylic acid (AA) and at least one hydrophobic monomer.

A stimulus-responsive carrier, a method for making and a method of using the same are disclosed. The stimulus-responsive carrier comprises a polymeric component comprising poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), a copolymer comprising units derived from N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylic acid (PNIPAM-AA), poly N-vinylpyrrolidone, a copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and hydroxymethylacrylamide (PNIPAM-HMAAm), a copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and allylamine (poly(NIPAAM-co-allylamine)), poly 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate, or any combination thereof; and a second component disposed within the polymeric component, the second component comprising a hydrogel, wherein the second component has a different composition than the polymeric component. The stimulus-responsive carrier is responsive to a stimulus comprising a temperature change, a pH change, application of a magnetic field, or any combination thereof.

Disclosed is a method for producing an electrolytic capacitor, the method including the steps of preparing an anode foil that includes a dielectric layer, a cathode foil, and a fiber structure; preparing a conductive polymer dispersion liquid that contains a conductive polymer component and a dispersion medium; producing a separator by applying the conductive polymer dispersion liquid to the fiber structure and then removing at least a portion of the dispersion medium; and producing a capacitor element by sequentially stacking the anode foil, the separator, and the cathode foil. The dispersion medium contains water. The fiber structure contains a synthetic fiber in an amount of 50 mass % or more. The fiber structure has a density of 0.2 g/cm.sup.3 or more and less than 0.45 g/cm.sup.3.

The present disclosure relates to a process for producing homogeneous solutions comprising dissolved polyacrylonitrile-based polymer, and a system suitable therefor. The homogeneous polymer solutions produced by the process described herein may be used for producing carbon fiber, typically carbon fiber used in manufacturing composite materials.