Electromagnetic processing line

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a film, the method having the steps creating a cast film having a polymer component, a monomer component, a nanoparticle component, a magnetic-filler component, or a combination thereof; shearing the cast film; aligning a cast-film component by applying an electric field to the cast film; aligning a cast-film component by applying a magnetic field to the cast film; curing or polymerizing a cast-film component; annealing the cast film; and evaporating solvent from the cast film.

1 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of
 shearing the cast film.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cast film is created by casting a solution having a polymer component, a monomer component, a nanoparticle component, a magnetic-filler component, or a combination thereof onto a substrate, the cast film is sheared by contacting a surface of the cast film with a surface of a shearing belt, the cast film components are cured or polymerized by applying ultraviolet radiation to the cast film, the cast film is annealed by applying oscillating thermal radiation to the cast film; and, the solvent is evaporated from the cast film by applying thermal radiation, air flow, or a combination thereof to the cast film. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the concentration of the magnetic-filler component in the solution ranges from about 0.01 weight percent to about 20 weight percent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the concentration of the monomer component in the solution ranges from about 1 weight percent to about 100 weight percent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solution viscosity ranges from about 5 cP to about 50,000 cP. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is Mylar, aluminum, or stainless steel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solution is cast onto the substrate in a thickness ranging from about 4 microns to about 2540 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cast film is sheared to a thickness ranging from about 1 micron to about 500 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electric field is applied to the cast film in an amount ranging from about 1 t KV/cm o about 25 KV/cm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is applied to the cast film at an intensity of at least about 1 Tesla. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a cast-film component is cured or polymerized by applying ultraviolet radiation to the cast film. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ultraviolet radiation is applied to the cast film at a wavelength ranging from about 150 nanometers to about 400 nanometers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the relatively highest temperatures of the oscillating thermal radiation range from about 50° C. to about 250° C. and the lowest temperatures of the oscillating thermal gradient range from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method steps are performed in a single pass through an apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a film, the method comprising the following steps:
 (1) creating a cast film having a polymer component, a monomer component, a nanoparticle component, a magnetic-filler component, or a combination thereof;   (2) aligning the cast-film component by a step selected from the group consisting of (a) applying an electric field to the cast film, (b) applying a magnetic field to the cast film, and both applying an electric field and applying a magnetic field to the cast film;   (3) curing or polymerizing a cast-film component;   (4) annealing the cast film; and   (5) evaporating solvent from the cast film.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method steps are performed in a single pass through an apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a film, the method comprising the steps:
 (i) creating a cast film having a polymer component, a monomer component, a nanoparticle component, a magnetic-filler component, or a combination thereof;   (ii) shearing the cast film;   (iii) annealing the cast film; and   (iv) evaporating solvent from the cast film.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step:
 aligning a cast-film component by applying an electric field to the cast film.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step:
 aligning a cast-film component by applying a magnetic field to the cast film.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step:
 curing or polymerizing a cast-film component.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cast film is created by casting a solution having a polymer component, a monomer component, a nanoparticle component, a magnetic-filler component, or a combination thereof onto a substrate, the cast film is sheared by contacting a surface of the cast film with a belt substrate, the cast film is annealed by applying oscillating thermal radiation to the cast film; and the solvent is evaporated from the cast film by applying thermal radiation, air flow, or a combination thereof to the cast film. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cast film is created by casting a solution having a polymer component, a monomer component, a nanoparticle component, a magnetic-filler component, or a combination thereof onto a substrate, the cast film is sheared by contacting a surface of the cast film with a belt substrate, the cast-film components are cured or polymerized by applying ultraviolet radiation to the cast film, the cast film is annealed by applying oscillating thermal radiation to the cast film; and the solvent is evaporated from the cast film by applying thermal radiation, air flow, or a combination thereof to the cast film. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of aligning the cast-film component includes both
 aligning the cast-film component by applying an electric field to the cast film and   aligning the cast-film component by applying a magnetic field to the cast film.   
     
     
         24 - 35 . (canceled)