A method of forming a polymer device including the steps (i) of depositing on a substrate a solution containing a polymer or oligomer and a crosslinking moiety, to form a layer, and, (ii) curing the layer formed in step (i) under conditions to form an insoluble crosslinked polymer, wherein the crosslinking moiety is present in step (i) in an amount in the range of from 0.05 mol % to 5 mol % based on the total number of moles or repeat units of the polymer or oligomer and the crosslinking moiety in the solution.

The invention relates to a polymerisable liquid crystal (LC) material, to optically biaxial films prepared thereof, to novel polymerisable compounds used therein and to the use of the material and films in optical devices like compensators and LC displays (LCDs).

The present invention relates to a multilayer article, wherein said multilayer article comprises: (i) a first layer comprising an acrylic resin; (ii) at least one translucent second layer comprising (a) an acrylic resin, optionally further comprising an impact modifier; (b) a rubber modified thermoplastic resin composition; (c) optionally a rheology modifier; and (d) a visual effects additive; (iii) a third layer comprising an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin; and (iv) an optional backing layer comprising either a thermosetting polymer substrate, optionally fiber-reinforced, or glass filled ABS resin.

The invention provides a planographic printing plate precursor including a photosensitive layer containing an infrared absorbent, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound, and a binder polymer, and a protective layer containing an inorganic layered compound, formed in this order on a surface of a hydrophilic aluminum support, wherein at least one of the photosensitive layer and the protective layer contains a phosphonium compound.

The present invention includes a co-polymer film which can be applied over a surface of an article to form a continuous surface that is more biocompatible and has a smoother surface morphology than an untreated article. In general the co-polymer film of the invention can be formed by providing a hydrophobic polymer block, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with functional -OH end groups and reacting the -OH ends with a conventional monomer or prepolymer of a film-forming polymer capable of reacting with -OH groups. Such reactions are exemplified, using as reactive PDMS a triblock copolymer of the polylactone-polysiloxane-polylactone (PL-PDMS-PL) type, or silicone polyesters. The -OH groups of the polylactone blocks can react with any of a variety of isocyanates in a suitable solvent to form a polymer having PDMS incorporated with its structure. The film can be applied to the surface of an article by any convenient means of coating the article with the reaction mixture in solvent, and allowing the solvent to evaporate.

The invention relates to an adhesive composition which is suitable for use on a shaped part of polyester, in particular a polyester film, and comprises a copolyester, optionally in combination with light-sensitive substances, fillers and pigments, whereby the copolyester additionally contains at least one copolymer of vinylidene chloride, preferably in a weight ratio of about 3:1 to 1:1. The adhesive composition can furthermore contain cellulose acyl esters, such as low molecular-weight cellulose acetobutyrate or cellulose propionate. Polybasic oxycarboxylic acids and levelling agents can also be present. The adhesive composition can be employed in mixtures with, for example, light-sensitive lacquer systems.

The present invention relates to polyester yarn which is characterized in that it is a multifilament yarn substantially comprising polytrimethylene terephthalate, and as well as the strength from the stress-strain curve being at least 3 cN/dtex and the Young's modulus being no more than 25 cN/dtex, the minimum value of the differential Young's modulus at 3-10% extension is no more than 10 cN/dtex and the elastic recovery following 10% elongation is at least 90%. Furthermore, said polyester yarn can be obtained by a method of producing polyester yarn which is characterized in that multifilament yarn obtained by the melt spinning of polymer substantially comprising polytrimethylene terephthalate of intrinsic viscosity Ä eta Ü at least 0.7 is hauled-off at a spinning rate of at least 2000 m/min and, without winding up, subjected to drawing and heat-treatment, after which it is continuously subjected to a relaxation heat treatment at a relaxation factor of 6 to 20% and wound up as a package. Moreover, the present invention also relates to a woven material of outstanding soft-stretchability which is characterized in that the aforesaid polyester yarn is used as the warp yarn and/or the weft yarn in the form of twisted yarn of twist coefficient 10,000 to 20,000. In this way, it is possible to produce yarn stably at a high yarn production rate without package tightening occurring, and, as well as there being little variation in properties in the fibre lengthwise direction, when made into fabric, said fabric stretches at low modulus so there is little sense of tightness, and it is possible to provide polyester yarn and woven materials with a soft handle.

The present invention relates to polyester yarn which is characterized in that it is a multifilament yarn substantially comprising polytrimethylene terephthalate, and as well as the strength from the stress-strain curve being at least 3 cN/dtex and the Young's modulus being no more than 25 cN/dtex, the minimum value of the differential Young's modulus at 3-10% extension is no more than 10 cN/dtex and the elastic recovery following 10% elongation is at least 90%. Furthermore, said polyester yarn can be obtained by a method of producing polyester yarn which is characterized in that multifilament yarn obtained by the melt spinning of polymer substantially comprising polytrimethylene terephthalate of intrinsic viscosity Ä eta Ü at least 0.7 is hauled-off at a spinning rate of at least 2000 m/min and, without winding up, subjected to drawing and heat-treatment, after which it is continuously subjected to a relaxation heat treatment at a relaxation factor of 6 to 20% and wound up as a package. Moreover, the present invention also relates to a woven material of outstanding soft-stretchability which is characterized in that the aforesaid polyester yarn is used as the warp yarn and/or the weft yarn in the form of twisted yarn of twist coefficient 10,000 to 20,000. In this way, it is possible to produce yarn stably at a high yarn production rate without package tightening occurring, and, as well as there being little variation in properties in the fibre lengthwise direction, when made into fabric, said fabric stretches at low modulus so there is little sense of tightness, and it is possible to provide polyester yarn and woven materials with a soft handle.

The invention relates to a method for coating a substrate with a layer of a material, such as a metal, in which a quantity of electrically conductive material is vaporized in a space with a low background pressure and energy is supplied to the material which is to be vaporized in order to vaporize this material. According to the invention, the material which is to be vaporized, while it is being vaporized, is kept floating, without support, in the space and is enclosed in an alternating electromagnetic field, the alternating electromagnetic field being generated with the aid of a high-frequency alternating current. The invention also relates to a device for coating a substrate and to a substrate.

The invention relates to a method for coating a substrate with a layer of a material, such as a metal, in which a quantity of electrically conductive material is vaporized in a space with a low background pressure and energy is supplied to the material which is to be vaporized in order to vaporize this material. According to the invention, the material which is to be vaporized, while it is being vaporized, is kept floating, without support, in the space and is enclosed in an alternating electromagnetic field, the alternating electromagnetic field being generated with the aid of a high-frequency alternating current. The invention also relates to a device for coating a substrate and to a substrate.