Abstract: The invention concerns a hollow composite product comprising over 20% glass in the form of long fibres, the thickness of the product walls further ranging between 1 and 10 mm about. The invention also concerns a method for making said product, which consists in inserting in a mould (10) a preheated assembly (9) comprising in its core at least an inflatable pocket covered with at least a composite structure, the composite structure including at least a filler material in the form of long fibres and the preheated assembly including a material capable of creeping, and in inflating the inflatable pocket under pressure higher than 40 bars.

Abstract: A system and process for gas assisted plastic injection molding, particularly of hollow tubular components. The plastic material is injected into the mold cavity through an apex of a cone-shaped inlet configuration. After the molding pressure is held for a period of time, gas is injected into the plastic material and pressure is again held for a period of time, a valve member is opened allowing plastic to be expelled into a secondary cavity. The flow of the plastic and gas are controlled in an axial direction in order to prevent turbulence. The gas flow axially along the center of the tubular member allows the expulsion of plastic from the center uniformly along the length of the tube. In an alternative process, the gas is displaced axially into the barrel of the injection molding machine.

Abstract: Low polymer stress balloons are made by expanding a tube radially while allowing the ends of the tube to move axially in response to the radial expansion.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the manufacture of pipes of thermoplastics with transverse profile features comprises mold segment halves which are circulated by twos on a molding path. A conveying device of the type of a gantry crane is provided for recirculation of the mold segment halves. On a conveying bridge that bridges the molding path, provision is made for two conveying carriages, which are movable in opposite directions and cross-wise of the direction of production and which have mounted on them a downward conveying arm with a holding device for a respective mold segment half. Provided downstream of the downstream end of the molding path are parking positions for additional mold segment halves, those of which that are closest to the molding path being carriages which are movable out of the path of displacement of the conveying arms.

Abstract: A method and system for producing hollow rib structures for trim components and panels using gas assisted injection molding. Movable insert members are provided in the mold cavity, particularly at the ends of the structural rib members. After the plastic material is injected into the mold cavity, the plastic is packed in the mold, and the insert members are locked in position. Selectively activatable locking mechanisms are used to lock up the insert members. Thereafter, gas or another fluid is introduced into the rib members in order to provide hollow channels therein. Movement of the insert members provides a recess or groove for placement of the displaced resin from the rib members. The displaced resin material completes the formation of the molded plastic article.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing hollow bodies, in particular bottles and similar containers provided with an evacuation opening, of thermoplastic includes a lower machine part and a beamlike upper machine part. The lower machine part is equipped with at least two blow molds, each provided with a cavity. A number of blowing and calibration mandrels corresponding to the number of blow molds is disposed on the beamlike upper machine part disposed above the lower machine part. One blow mold is assigned to each blowing and calibration mandrel. The blowing and calibration mandrels can be axially fed jointly toward the blow molds and can be moved with their calibration region into an orifice of the cavity until an annular shoulder of the blowing and calibration mandrels comes into contact with a counterpart face on the associated blow mold. The blowing and calibration mandrels are retained axially freely movably, within predeterminable limits, in the upper machine part.

Abstract: A method of making a polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. According to the method, a sidewall-forming section of a preform is initially expanded, heated to contract and crystallize the same, and than reexpanded; a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and is expanded either before or after the heat treatment step.

Abstract: Process and device for the extrusion-moulding of hollow bodies made of a thermoplastic, comprising the extrusion of a tubular parison, its deposition via the use of a robot arm in a preforming device which takes it into a lower part of a mold in which the parison is blow-molded in order to produce the hollow body. Certain steps of the process may be carried out in parallel. This process and this device are very suitable for producing hollow bodies of complex three-dimensional geometry with a high productivity.

Abstract: Device and process for injection molding of molded parts made from plastic material having at least one cavity, which has means for injecting plastic melt into the cavity of an injection-molding die along a melt flow path and means for injecting a fluid into the still molten plastic material, wherein the means for injecting a fluid are designed in order to inject a liquid at preset pressure and preset quantity. Provision is made in that the means for injecting a liquid includes a first part element, which is arranged centrally and remote from the injection-molding die and supplies at least one injection-molding die, and includes at least one second part element, which is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the injection-molding die, and a third part element, which is arranged locally on the injection-molding die at least during injection of the liquid.

Abstract: A method and composition for providing a colored high performance wear surface for floor coverings is disclosed. Specifically, the floor covering includes a substrate and a high performance layer comprising a radiation cured pigmented composition. The exposed surface of the floor covering has a stain resistance of less than about 150 Delta E units. A pigmented high performance wear layer can be added in register with a printed design on the substrate or in register with an embossed texture of the substrate. Additionally, a high performance topcoat wear layer may be added. The pigmented high performance layer may include a nacreous pigment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a continuous manufacturing method which consists in producing a blank (E) by extrusion, bringing said blank to a temperature for molecular orientation, passing said blank around a radial expansion mandrel (12); gauging and cooling while subjecting the blank to axial traction. The radial expansion produced on the mandrel (12) is partial so that the internal diameter (B) of the blank (E), when it leaves the mandrel, is less than the nominal internal diameter (D) of the finished tube; performing an additional radial expansion of the blank, up to its nominal diameter, by internal fluid pressure. In permanent operating conditions, the inner surface of the blank (E) is no longer in contact with the mandrel (12).

Abstract: A method and system for producing hollow rib structures for trim components and panels using gas-assisted plastic injection molding. Movable and floating core members are provided in the mold cavity, particularly adjacent structural rib members. After the plastic material is injected into the mold cavity, the plastic is packed in the mold. The moveable core members are then moved creating a void or opening in the mold cavity. Thereafter, gas or another fluid is introduced into the rib members to provide hollow channels in them. The fluent plastic material in the rib member is displaced into the voids forming integral portions of the completed plastic article.

Abstract: A method of forming a container (10) from bi-axially orientable plastics material and having an integral handle formed from a stem (15); said method comprising: (a) forming a preform (26, 36) having a neck portion and an expandable portion (12) below the neck portion (11), said neck portion including a locating ring (14) above the expandable portion and a solid stem (15) of orientable thermoplastics material projecting from or near the neck portion or immediately below it and moulded integrally therewith, and (b) performing a blow moulding operation on said preform to expand the expandable portion to form the body of the container. Also disclosed is a container (10) manufactured from a two stage injection stretch blow moulding process, said container including a graspable handle affixed at at least a first point to said container so as to form an enclosed area between the handle and the container and through which the fingers of a human hand may be passed.

Abstract: A dilatation balloon and catheter for insertion into a bodily conduit. The catheter (10) includes shaft (12) and a dilatation balloon (24) at the distal end of the shaft. The balloon is inflated via a central lumen (14) in the shaft for delivery of a fluid inflation media. The balloon is fabricated from a combination of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), preferably an engineering thermoplastic elastomer (ETE), with a non-compliant structural polymeric material. The combination may be a blend of the non-compliant structural polymer and the TPE. Alternatively, the combination may be a layered balloon having, for example, a non-compliant structural polymer inner layer and a soft, abrasion resistant, elastomeric outer layer. Methods for fabricating the balloon from the combination of a TPE and a non-compliant structural polymer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A container made without employing a mold release agent, comprised of halogenated polymeric material provides an extended shelf-life for 1,1-disubstituted ethylene adhesive monomer compositions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container for containing an oxygen sensitive products from a heated plastic by blow molding the plastic with a compressed gas that is inert to the oxygen sensitive product. The heated plastic may contain an oxygen barrier layer or an oxygen scavenging component. The gas is also inert to the oxygen scavenging component, if it is present. An exemplary compressed gas is nitrogen gas. The blow molding may be extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding or stretch blow molding. The plastic may be, for example, a polyolefin, a nylon, or a polyester.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing hollow plastic articles, encompassing the following steps: a) producing a tubular plastic parison on a blow molding plant or coextrusion blow molding plant b) cutting open the extruded or coextruded plastic parison to give at least one semifinished open-surface product c) thermoforming the resultant semifinished open-surface product to give half-shells d) welding the thermoformed half-shells to give a hollow article.

Abstract: Shuttle blow molding apparatus having an extruder for substantially continuously extruding a thermoplastic material in tubular form at a moldable temperature downwardly along a vertical axis. A first finite length of the thermoplastic material is grasped by a first mold set, which then moves outwardly and downwardly with respect to the extruder to provide clearance for a second mold set to move to a position to grasp a second finite length of the extruded thermoplastic tube. The first mold set is then moved horizontally away to permit the finite length of thermoplastic tube therein to be blown into a hollow article, and thereafter removed from the first mold set at a second position of the first mold set.

Abstract: A method and system for producing hollow rib structures for trim components and panels using gas assisted injection molding. Spring biased movable insert members are provided in the mold cavity, particularly at the ends of the structural rib members. After the plastic material is injected into the mold cavity, gas is introduced into the rib members in order to provide hollow channels therein. The displaced resin material forces the insert members to the full cavity positions and completes the formation of the molded plastic article.

Abstract: A method and system for producing thin walled plastic products with hollow rib members using gas-assisted plastic injection molding. The mold is allowed to open a predetermined distance as the gas is injected into the plastic material in the mold cavity. A plurality of post members, such as ejector pins, are located on a biased ejector frame and maintain their positions relative to the mold cavity in order to form solid portions or areas in the molded part.