Abstract: Described are automated systems and methods for the handling and processing of items at material handling facility. The exemplary systems and methods can receive the items from various upstream processes and systems and can process and handle the items so that they can be provided to various downstream processes and systems. The exemplary systems and methods can provide modular systems and methods that can perform automated singulation, sortation, retrieval, and packing of items without any manual handling.

Abstract: An apparatus for searching laundry articles to detect foreign objects commingled with the laundry articles, and for removing one or more laundry articles with which at least one detected foreign object is commingled, the apparatus including a detector creating a magnetic field through which the laundry articles are conveyed by a conveyor, and a removal mechanism activated by a trigger signal from the detector for removing from the conveyor one or more of the laundry articles with which at least one detected foreign object is commingled, and leaving other laundry articles on the conveyor for continued conveyance and free from detected foreign objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a composite material comprising one or more layers that are able to bind and deactivate chemical and/or biological agents. The first layer comprises a porous polymer substrate and a nucleophilic organic polymer cross-linked on the surface or within the pores of the porous polymer substrate using a carbamate cross-linking agent, wherein the cross-linked nucleophilic polymer comprises functional groups operative to form a covalent bond with a chemical or biological agent. The composite material is used to manufacture items of protective apparel including chemical-biological protective suits.

Abstract: Polycarbonate compositions having an aromatic polycarbonate resin with 90% or greater fluoroalkylene carbonate end-groups are formed from a partially fluorinated alcohol or a partially fluorinated polymeric alcohol, and a bisphenol and a carbonate source using melt or interfacial polymerization methods. Copolymers and blends with a variety of other bisphenols and other thermoplastics are also described. The polycarbonate compositions show high water contact angles, fluorine enrichment on the surface layer of molded articles, and good flame retardant properties and are useful in a variety of applications including medical, automotive, telecommunication and weatherable applications.

Abstract: A poly(arylene ether) copolymer is formed by oxidative copolymerization of monomers including 2,6-dimethylphenol and a phenyl-substituted monohydric phenol having a particular structure. In some instances, the monomers also include 2-methylphenol and/or 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy)propane. The poly(arylene ether) copolymer is much more soluble than a homopolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol, and it can be dissolved at room temperature in a wide variety of solvents. The resulting solutions can be used to conveniently add the poly(arylene ether) copolymer to a thermoset composition.

Abstract: A composition containing a solvent and a soluble poly(arylene ether) copolymer is described. The poly(arylene ether) copolymer is the product of oxidative polymerization of monomers including a first monohydric phenol having identical substituents in the 2- and 6-positions, and a second monohydric phenol comprising ethylenic unsaturation and having different substituents in the 2- and 6-positions. The solvent may be a ketone, a dialkylamide, a dialkyl ether, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, an alkyl alkanoate, an alkyl cyanide, a dialkyl sulfoxides, or a mixture thereof. The poly(arylene ether) has a solubility in the composition of at least 10 grams per kilogram of composition at 25° C.

Abstract: A composition containing a solvent and a soluble poly(arylene ether) copolymer is described. The poly(arylene ether) copolymer is the product of oxidative polymerization of monomers including a first monohydric phenol having identical substituents in the 2- and 6-positions, and a second monohydric phenol having different substituents in the 2- and 6-positions. The monomers are free of ethylenic unsaturation. The solvent may be a ketone, a dialkylamide, a dialkyl ether, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, an alkyl alkanoate, an alkyl cyanide, a dialkyl sulfoxide, or a mixture thereof. The poly(arylene ether) has a solubility in the composition of at least 10 grams per kilogram of composition at 25° C.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer articles. In one embodiment, a ?th inch thick bar formed from the thermoplastic composition has a B-Y ratio of less than or equal to about 1.75. This article, which has a dimension that is greater than or equal to 1.5 cm, comprises the thermoplastic composition which comprises a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer, wherein the copolymer comprises repeating diorganosiloxane units of formula (1): wherein each R is, independently, a C1-13 monovalent organic group; and E has an average value of 20 to 35.

Abstract: A polycarbonate such as aliphatic/aromatic polycarbonate comprises repeating structural carbonate units of the formula (H-1): in which Rh is a radical having the formula (H-2): wherein each of R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23, R24, R25, R26, R27, and R28 is independently a hydrogen, a C1-C6 alkyl group, or a halogen substituted C1-C6 alkyl group. The polycarbonate, and a thermoplastic composition thereof, have improved thermal stability, cost-effectiveness, and exhibit improved manufacturability such as, for example, minimum cyclic carbonate formation and minimum amine acceptor requirement.

Abstract: A method for preparing an aromatic chloroformate comprising, introducing a mixture of at least one aromatic hydroxyl compound, phosgene, at least one solvent, and at least one organic base into a flow reactor to obtain a unidirectionally flowing reaction mixture. The unidirectionally flowing reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 60° C. to produce a single product stream comprising an aromatic chloroformate.

Abstract: Polycarbonate compositions having an aromatic polycarbonate resin with 90% or greater fluoroalkylene carbonate end-groups are formed from a partially fluorinated alcohol or a partially fluorinated polymeric alcohol, and a bisphenol and a carbonate source using melt or interfacial polymerization methods. Copolymers and blends with a variety of other bisphenols and other thermoplastics are also described. The polycarbonate compositions show high water contact angles, fluorine enrichment on the surface layer of molded articles, and good flame retardant properties and are useful in a variety of applications including medical, automotive, telecommunication and weatherable applications.

Abstract: A method for preparing an aliphatic chloroformate comprising, introducing a mixture of at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound, phosgene, at least one solvent, and optionally at least one organic base into a flow reactor to obtain a unidirectional flowing reaction mixture. The at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound comprises at least one aliphatic hydroxyl group. The unidirectional flowing reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 60° C. to produce a single product stream comprising an aliphatic chloroformate.