A molded contact lens comprising a stiffer optic zone relative to the peripheral zone of the contact lens provides an optical element for correcting astigmatism without the need for or substantially minimizing the need for the correction of rotational misalignment. The higher elastic modulus optic zone vaults over the cornea thereby allowing a tear lens to form. The tear lens follows or assumes the shape of the back surface of the contact lens. The combination of the tear lens and the optical zone provide an optical element for correction of refractive error.

The instant invention relates to new film-forming compositions based on starchy material, comprising isosorbide. The instant invention also relates to products made from the film-forming compositions of the invention, in particular hard and soft capsules shells, and to methods for the manufacture of such products.

Disclosed herein are modified diene-containing (co)polymers, in particular, modified styrene-butadiene copolymer, which can be used as flame retardants for expandable polystyrene polymer compositions. In particular, disclosed is a modified diene-containing (co)polymer, a method for preparing it, and use as a flame retardant for expandable polystyrene. The modified diene-containing (co)polymer claimed in the invention is characterized by high thermostability, namely, a 5% weight loss temperature of at least 180° C., a molecular weight of at least 1500 g/mol and a halogen content of at least 35 wt. %; the content of tertiary and/or allyl halogenides is in the range from 0 to less than 1.5 wt. %, and also does not affect the polymerization process and the formation of polystyrene granules either, and allows to obtain polystyrene granules with a yellowness index of 2 to 6 units, comparable to the yellowness index of polystyrene granules containing HBCD (from 0 to 3 units).

There is provided a method for the production of a packaging material comprising a substrate and a gas barrier layer based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), said method comprising the steps of—applying a coating composition of said PVOH dissolved in a first solvent onto said substrate to form a coating—subjecting the coating to a first drying step to form a dried PVOH-based coating on said substrate, contacting the dried PVOH-based coating with a crosslinking solution comprising a crosslinking agent in a second solvent, to effect crosslinking of the PVOH-based coating, and—subsequent to the contact with the crosslinking solution, subjecting the PVOH-based coating to a second drying step, forming the PVOH-based barrier layer on said substrate, with the proviso that if the crosslinking solution comprises PVOH, the amount of PVOH added by the crosslinking solution is less than 20% (by weight), such as less than 10% (by weight), of the amount of PVOH added by the coating composition.

Methods and materials used for production of constructs having a porous open or semi-open celled structure. Constructs may include a porous matrix as a base and a biocompatible conformal coating thereon.

An orthodontic protection device that includes: an extruded base material having an uncured, uncross-linked silicone high consistency rubber base where the extruded base material has at least one dry, powdered hydrophilic polymeric substance mechanically or frictionally engaged with and dispersed on a surface of the extruded base material thereby forming a finger force malleable hydrophobic base material composite configured to be applied to a surface of a tooth, a surface of an orthodontic appliance or both a surface of a tooth and a surface of an orthodontic appliance using finger pressure within about eight seconds or less.

Methods and materials used for production of constructs having a porous open or semi-open celled structure. Constructs may include a porous matrix as a base and a biocompatible conformal coating thereon.

The invention is directed to methods of modifying metal oxide or hydroxylated polymer surfaces using compositions of water soluble polymers that adsorb onto such surfaces and that contain functional groups which directly modify such surfaces without further processing. In some embodiments, compositions used in such methods include water-soluble oxide-adsorbing polymers having water solubility in an indicated temperature range, an indicated concentration in the aqueous solution, and a molecular weight range, wherein each of the water-soluble oxide-adsorbing polymers comprises a linear copolymer comprising a first monomer having at least one hydrophilic moiety and a second monomer having at least one lipophilic moiety and wherein a first monomer: second monomer molecular ratio is at least 3:1.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a sheet for heat exchange elements, which has high water resistance, while also having excellent productivity by achieving excellent shape stability. The present invention is a sheet for heat exchange elements, which is provided with a laminate that is composed of at least a porous substrate and a resin layer, and which is configured such that the resin layer contains at least a urethane resin and a polyvinylpyrrolidone and/or a vinylpyrrolidone copolymer.

The invention relates to a material formed by a polymer substrate and a hydrogel based on vinyl-lactams and ionic methacrylates. The invention also relates to a method for producing this material and to the use thereof for cell culture and cell monolayer engineering, for preparing 3D scaffolds and manufacturing thermosensitive mechanical actuators.