A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.

An improved protected graphics assembly according to the invention comprises the following sequential layers: optionally, at least one adhesive layer; at least one graphics layer; and at least one outwardly exposed polymer layer that is essentially free of low surface energy materials and has a gloss value of greater than 90 when tested according to ASTM D2457-03 at a 60-degree angle. The assembly is beneficially applied to a variety of articles and used in a variety of related methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a race car comprises a protected graphics assembly that comprises: optionally, at least one adhesive layer; at least one outwardly exposed polymer layer that is essentially free of low surface energy materials; and at least one graphics layer substantially protected from exterior exposure by the polymer layer.

An erosion resistant article such as rotor blades for helicopters and wind turbines having the leading edge surface protected from damage from high speed impingement of rain or sand with a protective coating formed from specific polyurethane or polyurea coating having a defined set of minimum physical properties where the protective coating can be applied as a liquid coating and cured in place or as a preformed complementary shaped covering to protect the leading edge against erosion damage in service.

The invention relates to an aqueous coating composition comprising a compound having reactive groups A, and a quaternary ammonium compound according to Formula I, II or III

##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl, alkenyl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl group having from 5 to 50 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.100 hydrocarbyl group, optionally containing heteroatoms; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are alkylene groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are H or C.sub.1-C.sub.100 hydrocarbyl group, optionally containing heteroatoms; R.sup.7 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.100 hydrocarbyl group, optionally containing heteroatoms; R.sup.8 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.100 hydrocarbyl group, optionally containing heteroatoms; R.sup.9 is H or a methyl group; Z is a substituent containing at least one reactive group B which is capable of reacting with the reactive group A; X.sup.− is an anion; y is 0 or 1; a is 0 or 1; and the sum of y and a is 1 or 2 and m is an integer from 1 to 30, preferably between 1 and 10, or between 2 and 6 n is an integer from 0-30, preferably between 1 and 10, or 2 and 6 T is a monomer unit; U is a monomer unit; V is a C.sub.1-C.sub.100 hydrocarbyl group, optionally containing hetero atoms; d is an integer between 1 and 5, preferably 1; e is an integer between 1 and 1000, preferably between 5 and 100; g is an integer between 1 and 100, preferably between 2 and 10; h is an integer between 1 and 5, preferably 2 or 3.

Adhering systems for magnetizable laminates to assist preventing delamination of magnetizable laminates exposed to direct sunlight; and, relating to preventing fouling of cutting blades during cutting of magnetizable laminates.

A multi-layer decorating element includes a base and a plurality of plates forming decorative elements. The base has a length between the first and second ends thereof and an increased width from the first end to the second end. The first end of the base is curved. The second end of the base is divided by a gap into two segments. The gap has a closed end and an open end. The open end is disposed at the second end of the base. The closed end has a smaller width than the open end. The plurality of plates includes a side with a hot melt glue layer and is hot pressed on a side of the base. The plurality of plates is disposed within peripheral edges of the base and includes a plurality of overlapped sections. The plurality of plates has different shapes.

In one aspect, composite construction materials are described herein. In some embodiments, a composite construction panel comprises a substrate layer, a cover layer separated from the substrate layer by one or more spacers, and at least one mat disposed between the substrate layer and the cover layer, wherein the mat comprises at least one phase change material disposed in at least one phase change region.

Urea (multi)-(meth)acrylate (multi)-silane precursor compounds, synthesized by reaction of (meth)acrylated materials having isocyanate functionality with aminosilane compounds, either neat or in a solvent, and optionally with a catalyst, such as a tin compound, to accelerate the reaction. Also described are articles including a substrate, a base (co)polymer layer on a major surface of the substrate, an oxide layer on the base (co)polymer layer; and a protective (co)polymer layer on the oxide layer, the protective (co)polymer layer including the reaction product of at least one urea (multi)-(meth)acrylate (multi)-silane precursor compound synthesized by reaction of (meth)acrylated materials having isocyanate functionality with aminosilane compounds. The substrate may be a (co)polymer film or an electronic device such as an organic light emitting device, electrophoretic light emitting device, liquid crystal display, thin film transistor, or combination thereof. Methods of making the urea (multi)-(meth)acrylate (multi)-silanes and their use in composite films and electronic devices are described.

Waterproof engineered floor and wall planks have a veneer layer bonded with a plastic composite core, and an underlayer, preferably an underlayer of cork.

The present invention provides polyurethanes including a reaction product of components including: (a) an isocyanate functional urethane prepolymer comprising a reaction product of components including: (i) about 1 equivalent of at least one polyisocyanate; and (ii) about 0.1 to about 0.5 equivalents of at least one diol having 2 to 18 carbon atoms; and (b) about 0.05 to about 0.9 equivalents of at least one branched polyol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups; and (c) up to about 0.9 equivalents of at least one polyol different from branched polyol (b) and having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the reaction product components are essentially free of polyester polyol and polyether polyol; compositions, coatings and articles made therefrom and methods of making the same.