Abstract: A composition to be used for the manufacture of transparent, gelfree films, comprising: a) at least 65 wt % of a styrenic block copolymer, having a molecular structure according to the formula S—(I/B)—S (1) or [S—(I/B)]n X (2), wherein each S independently is a polymer block of predominantly styrene and (I/B) is a substantially random polymer block of predominantly isoprene and butadiene, wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and wherein X is the residue of a coupling agent, wherein said styrenic block copolymer having a poly(styrene) content in the range of from 28 to 31% by weight, having poly(styrene) blocks S of a true molecular weight in the range of from 10,000 to 15,000, having a true molecular weight of the complete block copolymer in the range of from 110,000 to 160,000 and wherein the diblock S—(I/B) optionally occurs in a content of at most 20 mol %, b) from 5 to 25 wt % of a second thermoplastic resin, c) from 1 to 10 wt % of a plasticizing oil, the sum of the percentages of the comp

Abstract: Bicomponent fibers having a sheath-core morphology where the sheath is a thermoplastic polymer and the core is an elastomeric compound are made which can be continuously extruded from the melt at high production rates. The elastomeric compound comprises a coupled, selectively hydrogenated block copolymer having high flow. The block copolymer has at least one polystyrene block of molecular weight from 5,000 to 7,000 and at least one polydiene block of molecular weight from 20,000 to 70,000 and having a high vinyl content of 60 mol % or greater. The bicomponent fibers are useful for the manufacture of articles such as woven fabrics, spunbond non-woven fabrics or filters, staple fibers, yarns and bonded, carded webs. The bicomponent fibers can be made using a process comprising coextrusion of the thermoplastic polymer and elastomeric compound to produce fibers at greater than 800 mpm and having a denier from 0.1 to 50 g/9000 m.

Abstract: Protective film in the form of a tape or sheet comprising a substrate layer and a pressure sensitive adhesive composition.

Abstract: A polymeric viscosity index improver that includes a hydrogenated block copolymer having at least one controlled distribution block copolymer having a minimized crystallinity is provided. An oil composition including at least a base oil and the aforementioned viscosity index improver is also provided. A polymeric concentrate including the aforementioned viscosity index improver is further provided.

Abstract: A process for preparing compatible, selectively hydrogenated block copolymer-modified bituminous compositions comprising blowing a mixture of the block copolymer and bitumen with an oxidizing gas at temperatures of at least 375° C. for at least 75 minutes. The modifying polymer is a selectively hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer and no blowing catalyst is required. Stable bituminous compositions comprising 6 to 25 parts by weight of block copolymer per 100 parts of asphalt are also provided as well as their application as roofing shingles.

Abstract: Provided herein are propylene polymers which are capable of being used as thermoplastic polyolefins just as they emerge from the reactor system described, without further compounding of components which substantially modify the physical properties of the polymers, as such compounding is required of polymers of the prior art. Polymers according to the invention unexpectedly possess both low temperature ductility and high flexural modulus, which properties were related in inverse proportion to one another in the polymers of the prior art.

Abstract: A ball game device comprising a body 10 adapted to receive a hand 24 and a wrist 25 of a user 26, the body 10 presenting two hitting surfaces 14 for hitting a ball 20. The body 10 comprises two panels 12 with a cavity 22 therebetween for receiving the hand 24 and wrist 25 through an opening 23. The device may also be supplied in kit form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyester or copolyester composition containing a substituted cyclic anhydride, having a carboxyl end group of greater or equal to 25 mmol/kg. The present invention also concerns a method of making such a polyester or copolyester by late injection of the substituted cyclic anhydride at the end of polycondensation, or alternatively adding the substituted cyclic anhydride to the preform injection molding machine, prior to stretch blow molding a container.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for lighting include a lighting fixture having a first electrical system including a first set of electrical components operable by a first power source located remotely from the lighting fixture. A first light-emitting device is mountable to the housing and energizable through the first electrical system during periods of predetermined levels of light. A second electrical system including a second set of electrical components is operable by a second power source located locally with respect to the lighting fixture. A second light-emitting device is mountable to the housing and automatically energized through the second electrical system during predetermined levels of power from the alternating current power source. And, the first set of electrical components are distinct from and independent of the second set of electrical components. Methods of lighting and reducing energy costs through incorporating the lighting device are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blend of 15-97 weight percent electret fibers and 3-85 percent by weight dissimilar non-electret fibers using dry laid blending technique. The electret fibers incorporate 0.05 to 30 weight percent charge control agents. Optionally, at least about 3 to about 50 weight percent of said blend is bicomponent fibers having a low melting component to bond the blend into a unitary nonwoven structure. The blend is bonded to form nonwoven webs that are used in making filter fabric and particularly air filter fabric.

Abstract: A polyester with a carbon black content of up to 20% by weight, based on the polyester, is condensed, after transesterification of DMT with diol, or after esterification of terephthalic acid with diol, with the aid of a titanium-based catalyst. The carbon black is added in the form of a carbon black dispersion together with the polycondensation catalyst to the transesterification product or esterification product. The carbon black dispersion comprises gas black or furnace black and a dispersing agent, and these are dispersed in diol. The diameter of the carbon black particles is below that of carbon black particles in a polyester using an antimony compound as catalyst.

Abstract: A preblended additive composition and process for the preparation of polyester resins useful in the manufacture of plastic containers such as bottles is disclosed. The additive composition includes a cobalt-containing compound that is preblended with a phosphorous compound. The polyester resin, e.g., a PET resin, may be prepared by reacting ethylene glycol with dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) or terephthalic acid (TA) in an esterification reaction. The additive composition may be prepared by quickly dumping the phosphorus compound into the cobalt compound such as cobalt acetate, and the resulting composition is added to the reactor vessel before the polycondensation reaction. On the other hand, the additive composition may be prepared by slowly dumping the phosphorus compound into the cobalt compound over a period of at least 5 minutes. Such preblending substantially eliminates any yellow or blue color, or haze in the product article.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of heat-stable, antimony-free polyesters of neutral color and the products which can be prepared by this process A process for the preparation of heat-stable, antimony-free polyesters of neutral color by esterification of aromatic dicarboxylic acids or transesterification of lower aliphatic esters of aromatic dicarboxylic acids with aliphatic diols and subsequent polycondensation in which a possible transesterification is carried out in the presence of 20 to 120 ppm, based on the catalyst metal, of a transesterification catalyst, after the esterification or transesterification has ended, phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid and/or phosphonic acids or a derivative thereof are added to the esterification or transesterification batch as a completing agent in an amount which is 100% of the amount equivalent to the transesterification catalyst employed and up to 99% of the amount equivalent to the cobalt to be employed, up to 80 ppm of cobalt in the form of a cobalt compound are then adde

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for making a hybrid cord which may be used. The process combines and twists at least three yarns together where one of the yarns is different. The different yarn maybe of a different size (denier), or made from a different polymer, or both. The hybrid cord may be used in tires, hoses, v-belts, and conveyor belts, for example. The apparatus is a modified direct cabler machine in which at least two yarns from a creel are combined and twisted about a third yarn issuing from a spindle pot. It is contemplated that the different yarn is preferably one of the yarns on the creel. Various tensioners are employed to tightly wrap or twist the yarns together (generally at a rate of from about 5-12 turns per linear inch of the yarn issuing from the spindle pot), and to wind the cord on a bobbin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making a lower molecular weight polymer from a solid stated higher molecular weight feed stock chip. In particular, the molecular weight of an industrial resin or a bottle resin is reduced in a controlled manner by the introduction of ethylene glycol. If the industrial resin is to be employed for industrial fibers, the ethylene glycol may be added at the extruder for spinning the industrial fiber. On the other hand, should the high molecular weigh chip be used for bottle resin, the molecular weight may be reduced by the introduction of ethylene glycol at the extruder for injection molding of preforms of a lower molecular weight. The ethylene glycol/polymer ratio is determined by the reduction in molecular weight that is required. The preferred resin is polyester polymer or copolymer, and especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Abstract: To detect yarn defects such as protruding filaments, broken filaments, ringers, fuzzballs, stripbacks and the like, a yarn sheet 9 traveling in a plane is scanned by light beams from at least two light barriers 10, 11. When a yarn defect interrupts the light beam of a light barrier, a detector pulse is triggered, appropriately amplified and transformed and sent to evaluating means 22. Such a detector pulse is triggered each time a yarn defect passes through a light barrier, so that the travel time or time difference T1,2 between the trip times of a yarn defect through the two light barriers can be determined by the evaluating means. Since the yarn sheet 9 passes through the light barriers at a constant velocity v, the travel times for the various individual ends from one light barrier to the next will differ and therefore can be used to determine the distance S normal to the yarn traveling direction of the yarn defect to the point of intersection of the light beams of the two light barriers.

Abstract: A polyol composition containing a polyester polyol, at least 5 weight % of a compatibilizing agent, based on the weight of the polyol and compatibilizing agent, and a hydrocarbon blowing agent. The compatibilizing agent is one or a combination of a benzoate glycol adduct, a substituted benzoate glycol adduct, a naphthenate glycol adduct, a substituted naphthenate glycol adduct, a toluate glycol adduct, or a substituted toluate glycol adduct. The hydrocarbon blowing agent is selected from cyclopentane, isopentane, n-pentane, 2-chloropropane; 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a); 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa); and n-propylbromide, or mixtures thereof. The compatibilizing agent improves the miscibility of conventional polyester polyols with hydrocarbon blowing agents. The polyol composition can be reacted with a polyisocyanate to form a foam.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a binder fiber containing a metallocene catalyzed polyethylene (mPE) and an adhesion promoters. A web comprising the binder fiber and absorbent is also contemplated. The present invention also comprises a binder fiber containing polyolefin, an adhesion promoter, and an enhancement agent. The polyolefin may be polypropylene, high density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, or ultra low density polyethylene, manufactured with either Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts. A web comprising this binder fiber and absorbent is also contemplated. The adhesion promoter may be maleic anhydride grafted polyolefins, or ethylene-acrylic copolymers, or a combination of these. The enhancement agent may be one or more of titanium dioxide, talc, silica, alum, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, and magnesium oxide.

Abstract: A preblended additive composition and process for the preparation of polyester resins useful in the manufacture of plastic containers such as bottles is disclosed. The additive composition includes a cobalt-containing compound that is preblended with a phosphorous compound. The polyester resin, e.g., a PET resin, may be prepared by reacting ethylene glycol with dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) or terephthalic acid (TA) in an esterification reaction. The additive composition may be prepared by quickly dumping the phosphorus compound into the cobalt compound such as cobalt acetate, and the resulting composition is added to the reactor vessel before the polycondensation reaction. On the other hand, the additive composition may be prepared by slowly dumping the phosphorus compound into the cobalt compound over a period of at least 5 minutes. Such preblending substantially eliminates any yellow or blue color, or haze in the product article.

Abstract: An apparatus to increase the orifice density in a spinneret by using an elongate boss having a plurality of orifices. The apparatus is for spinning bicomponent sheath/core filaments. The apparatus includes a distributor plate, and spinneret and a shim position between the distributor plate and the spinneret. The spinneret includes a plurality of elongate bosses spaced apart by channels. Each boss having a plurality of orifices of which the distance between the orifices are restricted only by manufacturing tolerances.