Abstract:
A method of coating a substrate comprises immersing a surface portion of a substrate in a liquid or supercritical first phase. The first phase comprises carbon dioxide and a coating component such as a polymer. The substrate is then withdrawn from the first phase into a distinct second phase such as a gas atmosphere so that the coating component is deposited on said surface portion. The withdrawal step is followed by separating the carbon dioxide from the coating component (e.g., by evaporation, venting, heating, etc.) so that the coating component is retained as a coating layer formed on the surface portion. Apparatus for carrying out the method by free meniscus coating, or employing a metering element such as a knife, blade, or roll, are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A sensor and a method for determining the basis weight of a coating material containing CaCO.sub.3 on a substrate is described. The determined basis weight is insensitive to changes in the amount of substrate material underlying the coating. Signals from the sensor may be used in the control of a coating mechanism to provide a coating having a uniform basis weight.
Abstract:
The present invention includes novel barrier webs that have certain desirable physical qualities such as water resistance, increased durability, improved barrier qualities and the like. The present invention further comprises a barrier web comprising a web that has been treated with a curable shear thinned thixotropic polymer composition, the fabric being adapted to be substantially impermeable to liquids, permeable to gases and impermeable to microorganisms. The barrier webs of the present invention are either impermeable to all microorganisms or are impermeable to microorganisms of certain sizes. The present invention also includes fabrics that are capable of either selective binding certain microorganisms, particles or molecules depending upon what binding partners are incorporated into the polymer before application to the fabric.
Abstract:
An applicator implement applies liquid or pasty coating medium directly onto a moving layer of material, in particular paper or cardboard. The applicator implement includes a pre-metering device which extends along the width of the moving material layer. The pre-metering device is divided into a number of segments, each of which are in turn associated with at least one actuator that enables the segments to move with respect to the thickness of the material layer in order to shape a desired profile of the pre-metering device. The applicator implement further includes, following along the path of movement of the material layer, a finishing metering device which also extends along the width of the moving material layer, and which is divided into a number of segments, each of which are in turn associated with at least one actuator that enables the segments to move with respect to the thickness of the material layer in order to shape a desired profile of the finishing metering device. The widths of the segments of the pre-metering device and the finishing metering device are identical according to a first embodiment or first base model. According to a second embodiment or second base model, the widths of the segments of the pre-metering device and the finishing metering device are not identical.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods for the controlled placement of a curable, shear thinnable polymer composition into a porous web. The controlled placement is performed by applying tension to the porous web. The polymer composition is applied onto a surface of the web. The composition is shear thinned sufficiently to reduce its viscosity and selectively place it into the tensioned web to encapsulate at least some of the structural elements of the web, leaving most of the interstitial spaces of the porous web open. The invention also relates to methods for selectively placing the polymer composition in a substantially continuous region extending through the web so that the polymer composition fills the interstitial spaces and adheres adjacent structural elements in the region. In the areas in the web above and below the filled region, at least some of the structural elements are encapsulated and most of the interstitial spaces are open. The invention also relates to methods for the controlled placement of a polymer composition into a tensioned porous substrate having a matrix of open cells by applying a localized shear force to selectively distribute a curable, shear thinnable polymer composition within the substrate, at least partially individually lining the cell walls of at least some of the cells, and leaving most of the cells open.
Abstract:
An application unit for applying a liquid or pasty medium onto a surface moving past the application unit. This has particular application to direct or indirect application of such a medium to a paper or board web. A support beam and a front wall supported generally further from and a rear wall supported generally closer to the moving surface. The walls are spaced apart for defining a pasty medium supply gap between them and are oriented so that the supply gap generally directs the medium toward the surface. The front and rear walls can selectively receive releasable attachment of members for forming a liquid medium an application chamber, the chamber having a downstream end with a blade, an upstream end with a damming strip over which the excessive medium in the application chamber can overflow. Alternatively, a second set of attachable members may be attached to the walls for forming a free jet nozzle dosing gap that communicates with the supply gap for directing the medium to the surface. Therefore, the basic structural group remains unchanged and selectively it may be modified to either an application chamber or a free jet nozzle dosing gap. In an alternate embodiment, the elements defining the dosing gap themselves can receive the attachable elements for defining the application chamber. This enables rearranging the application unit either to define an application chamber or a free jet nozzle with replacement of fewer parts, and generally the parts that are toward the surface.
Abstract:
This invention describes a process and an apparatus for the raster-formed coating of web-shaped flexible flat articles (3) with hot-melt adhesives in a screen printing process by filling all perforations of a rotary screen printing stencil (1) by means of an outer blade (6) with a solution or dispersion of a paste (2), by placing the flat article (2) on the rotary screen printing stencil (1) and by subsequently additionally applying a paste (5) by means of an inner blade (4). On the finished product, paste (2) produces a plastic base layer which is not or only slightly capable of thermal activation and paste (5) produces a hot-melt adhesive top layer which is easily capable of being thermally activated. Following the drying and sintering of the double-layered printed flat article (8), it can be used as an attachable inlay material for items of clothing.
Abstract:
This invention relates to load adjustment systems for coater blades. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of an actuator assembly to control cross-direction (widthwise) coatweight profiles.
Abstract:
Products and methods for controlling the porosity and permeation of a web are provided using a curable thixotropic shear thinnable polymer composition that preferably encapsulates a plurality of fibers of the web and/or forms an internal layer within the web. Webs suitable for several different uses are featured, for example medical garments resistant to permeation by a virus or bacteria. The effective pore size of the web is controlled by regulating various factors such as the thickness of the polymer composition encapsulating the fibers and the thickness and placement of the internal polymer layer. Other factors include the polymer density, structure, and crosslinking orientation, as well as the diffusion, permeation and sorption of the polymer.
Abstract:
A method of and apparatus for applying coating liquid to a web of paper traveling over a web supporting surface at speeds of 3,000, 4,000 and more feet per minute to produce a coated web free of streaking and other imperfections comprises apparatus for and the sequential steps of distributing coating liquid in a turbulent state over the supported web through a limited application zone within a very short dwell time of the turbulent liquid on the web; subjecting the coating liquid on the supported web to an initial doctoring by means of a primary doctor blade biased under pressure against the coated web at the rear edge of the application zone to form on the web downstream from the zone a relatively quiescent layer of coating liquid having a wet film thickness sufficiently in excess of the final wet film thickness to accommodate a subsequent final wet film doctoring of the coating liquid on the web; and, at a location downstream and isolated from the application zone, subjecting the relatively quiescent layer of excess coating liquid on the supported web to a final doctoring by means of a final doctor blade biased under pressure against the coated web to remove the excess coating from the web and to level and smooth the coating retained on the web to final wet film thickness and smoothness. The method and apparatus of the present invention produces essentially a constant paper smoothness in relation to web speed at which it was coated and subsequently supercalandered, i.e., smoothness does not decrease at higher web speeds, and produces higher gloss with less decline in gloss at higher web speeds.