	US 12,076,445 B2
	Materials that shrink in one dimension and expand in another dimension
Xuedong Song, Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/591,943.
Application 16/591,943 is a division of application No. 15/561,595, granted, now 10,632,223, previously published as PCT/US2015/052789, filed on Sep. 29, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0030479 A1, Jan. 30, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C08J 5/18 (2006.01); A61F 13/53 (2006.01); A61L 15/22 (2006.01); A61L 15/24 (2006.01); A61L 15/28 (2006.01); A61L 27/16 (2006.01); A61L 27/20 (2006.01); A61L 27/52 (2006.01); B29C 55/00 (2006.01); B29C 61/00 (2006.01); B29C 61/06 (2006.01); C08J 3/075 (2006.01); C08J 3/24 (2006.01)

CPC A61L 15/22 (2013.01) [A61F 13/53 (2013.01); A61L 15/24 (2013.01); A61L 15/28 (2013.01); A61L 27/16 (2013.01); A61L 27/20 (2013.01); A61L 27/52 (2013.01); B29C 55/005 (2013.01); B29C 61/003 (2013.01); C08J 3/075 (2013.01); C08J 3/243 (2013.01); C08J 5/18 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530437 (2013.01); B29C 61/0608 (2013.01); C08J 2333/26 (2013.01); C08J 2405/04 (2013.01)]

10 Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a substrate, the method comprising:

producing a double-network hydrogel including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, ionicly-bonded polymer;

elongating by force the double-network hydrogel in at least one direction;

dehydrating while still elongated the double-network hydrogel to form a substantially-dehydrated double-network polymer system; and

releasing the force to produce the substrate, wherein elongating and dehydrating captures a latent retractive force in the substrate.