Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2) was used as an aid in fabricating polymer/polymer composites. Using a two-stage process, ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate (ECA) monomer was anionically polymerized within poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) substrates. The composite fabrication process involved first infusing triphenylphosphine (the initiator) into the substrate using SC CO2. In the second step, monomer was introduced (again using SC CO2) to the substrate. As the monomer absorbed into the initiator-containing substrate, it polymerized.

This research defined and evaluated mechanical properties of prototypes created using a plaster based three-dimensional printing (3DP) system commercialized by Z Corporation. 3DP is one of the fastest growing forms of rapid prototyping. Till date, there is little or no information available on material properties of infiltrants used in 3DP. This research work evaluated and documented some of the useful information for 3DP users by determining the effect of build position, build orientation and infiltration materials on the strength of prototypes.

The present invention relates to combinations of a building material and a bath fluid for methods for directly printing visual-aid models or elements, in particular, for the use in the office or at home. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the polymers obtained by the reaction of the building material and the bath fluid and to elements or models produced from the combinations according to the present invention. The use of the combinations according to the present invention in rapid prototyping methods enables the production of elements having varying mechanical properties.

This invention is directed to a method, a rubber skim stock and a product containing the skim stock having improved adhesion between a metal member and contiguous rubber skim stock. The invention lies in the discovery that improved rubber-to-metal adhesion can be obtained by adding to an otherwise conventional rubber skim stock composition appropriate amounts of a tetracarboxylic dianhydride.

A method wherein uncured urethane formulations are bonded to a cured rubber or synthetic rubber substrate in such a manner so as to provide greater bonding strenght than has been achieved previously in urethane formulation bonding to rubber or synthetic rubber.

A quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) employing a commercial glue (“SuperGlue®”) as electrolyte matrix was fabricated. The cyano groups of the cyanoacrylate can form a supramolecular complex with tetrapropylammonium cations. This immobilizes the cations and therefore might lead to a favored anionic charge transport necessary for a good performance of the iodide/triiodide electrolytic conductor. Obtaining energy conversion efficiencies of more than 4% under 100 mW/cm2 of simulated A.M.

US demand for medical and dental adhesives and sealants will rise 7.6 percent annually through 2011, driven by continuing new product development and increasing acceptance in surgical and consumer settings. Opportunities are expected for cyanoacrylate, polyethylene glycol and various plasma and protein types.

Chitosan–poly(ethylene glycol)–tyramine (CPT) hydrogels were rapidly formed in situ using horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide to explore their performance as efficient tissueadhesives. A poly(ethylene glycol) modified with tyramine was grafted onto a chitosan backbone to enhance the solubility of the chitosan and to crosslink into three-dimensional networks. The elastic modulus of the hydrogels could be controlled by changing the crosslinking conditions, and the mechanical strength influenced the tissue adhesiveness of the hydrogels.

Hierarchical biological materials such as bone, sea shells, and marine bioadhesives are providing inspiration for the assembly of synthetic molecules into complex structures. The adhesive system of marine mussels has been the focus of much attention in recent years. Several catechol-containing polymers are being developed to mimic the cross-linking of proteins containing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) used by shellfish for sticking to rocks. Many of these biomimetic polymer systems have been shown to form surface coatings or hydrogels; however, bulk adhesion is demonstrated less often.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for the biocompatible sterilization of materials, in particular, of medical devices and implants. Sterilization is achieved by deactivation of microorganisms through treatment of the material with a mixture of at least one microbiocidal additive and a high-pressure or supercritical fluid, for example, high-pressure carbon dioxide or supercritical carbon dioxide. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.