| 摘要 |
A method of manufacturing a flexible composite panel having a plurality of reservoirs connected by at least one capillary is disclosed. Thin, flexible composites that have a plurality of reservoirs interconnected by capillaries can be used to perform chemical reactions delayed by time, temperature, and sometimes other variables. One specific application of these composites is in condition-indicating labels, such as temperature or time elapsed indicators. A capillary assembly is formed by winding a flexible, deformable capillary base web partially around a rotating cylinder that has a plurality of recessed features (104) formed on it. The capillary base web is draw into the recessed features by vacuum (126) to form the capillaries in the capillary base web. The capillaries are then filled and a capillary barrier web is laminated over the capillary base web. A method is also provided for forming a flexible capillary assembly having a set of at least one filled capillary. Generally this method comprises winding a first flexible, deformable capillary base web partially around the surface of a rotating cylinder that has a plurality of sets of recessed features formed therein, each set corresponding to a set of capillaries. The recessed features underlying the capillary base web are selectively connected to a source of reduced pressure to draw the capillary base web into the recessed features and form a set of capillaries therein. The recessed features exposed to the atmosphere are selectively disconnected from the source of reduced pressure. A method is provided for manufacturing a flexible composite panel having a set of plurality of reservoirs connected by a set of at least one capillary. Generally, the method comprises forming a flexible capillary assembly, forming a flexible reservoir assembly then the capillary assembly can then be laminated over the reservoir assembly, with the capillary barrier web in contact with the reservoir web. |
