Abstract: A process for the preparation of an ultra-high molecular weight ethylene homopolymer having a MFR21 of 0.01 g/10 min or less, said process comprising: (I) prepolymerising at least ethylene at a temperature of 0 to 90° C. in the presence of a heterogeneous Ziegler Natta catalyst to prepare an ethylene prepolymer having an Mw of 40,000 to 600,000 g/mol; and thereafter in the presence of the prepolymer and said catalyst; (II) polymerising ethylene at a temperature of 55° C. or less, such as 20 to 55° C., to prepare said UHMW ethylene homopolymer; wherein the UHMW ethylene homopolymer comprises up to 8 wt. % of said prepolymer.

Abstract: A reinforced thermoplastic composite pipe or pressure vessel may include an elongate tubular body that has an outer surface, and at least one reinforcement layer disposed on the outer surface of the elongate tubular body. The reinforcement layer may include one or more layers of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tape. The UHMWPE tape may be a composite that includes multiple UHMWPE film layers. A method of forming a reinforced thermoplastic composite pipe may include extruding an elongate tubular body having an outer surface, wrapping at least one reinforcement layer on the outer surface of the elongate tubular body, and positioning a cover layer as the outermost layer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an ultra-high molecular weight ethylene homopolymer having a MFR21 of 0.01 g/10 min or less, said process comprising: (I) prepolymerising at least ethylene at a temperature of 0 to 90° C. in the presence of a heterogeneous Ziegler Natta catalyst to prepare an ethylene prepolymer having an Mw of 40,000 to 600,000 g/mol; and thereafter in the presence of the prepolymer and said catalyst; (II) polymerising ethylene at a temperature of 55° C. or less, such as 20 to 55° C., to prepare said UHMW ethylene homopolymer; wherein the UHMW ethylene homopolymer comprises up to 8 wt.% of said prepolymer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an ultra-high molecular weight ethylene homopolymer having a MFR21 of 0.01 g/10 min or less, said process comprising: (I) prepolymerising at least ethylene at a temperature of 0 to 90° C. in the presence of a heterogeneous Ziegler Natta catalyst to prepare an ethylene prepolymer having an Mw of 40,000 to 600,000 g/mol; and thereafter in the presence of the prepolymer and said catalyst; (II) polymerising ethylene at a temperature of 55° C. or less, such as 20 to 55° C., to prepare said UHMW ethylene homopolymer; wherein the UHMW ethylene homopolymer comprises up to 8 wt. % of said prepolymer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an ultra-high molecular weight ethylene homopolymer having a MFR21 of 0.01 g/10 min or less, said process comprising: (I) prepolymerising at least ethylene at a temperature of 0 to 90° C. in the presence of a heterogeneous Ziegler Natta catalyst to prepare an ethylene prepolymer having an Mw of 40,000 to 600,000 g/mol; and thereafter in the presence of the prepolymer and said catalyst; (II) polymerising ethylene at a temperature of 55° C. or less, such as 20 to 55° C., to prepare said UHMW ethylene homopolymer; wherein the UHMW ethylene homopolymer comprises up to 8 wt. % of said prepolymer.

Abstract: The invention pertains pipe-like hollow article including ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tapes and a resin, whereby in the article the tapes are arranged to create the article, wherein the main extension direction of at least 10 wt % of the tapes in the article is in the range of 15 to ?15° with regard to the extension direction of the article and wherein the tapes have a 200/110 uniplanar orientation parameter of at least 3 and wherein the ratio of [length of the article] to [average inner cross sectional diameter of the article] is at least 5. Further aspects of the invention pertain to processes for manufacturing such an article and to sports equipment including said article.

Abstract: A method for controlling the physical state of an ultra-high molecular weight polymer to make the ultra-high molecular weight polymer suitable for further processing, and related polymers compositions methods and systems, wherein the method comprises combining a catalyst, monomers, and an additive, for a time and under condition to allow synthesis of a nascent polymer and co-crystallization of the nascent polymer with the additive.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to pipe-like hollow articles made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tapes and a thermoplastic and/or thermoplastic elastomer, whereby in the article, the tapes are wound to create the article, whereby the tapes have a tensile strength of greater than 1.5 GPa according to ASTM D882-00, a modulus of greater than 100 GPa according to ASTM D882-00, and a 200/110 uniplanar orientation parameter of at least 3, whereby the main extension direction of at least one tape in the article is in an angle of 20 to 100° with regard to the main extension direction of the article. Further aspects pertain to two processes for manufacturing such an article.

Abstract: An UHMWPE film having a tensile strength of at least 2.0 GPa, a tensile energy to break of at least 30 J/g, an Mw of at least 500 000 gram/mole, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6, and a film width of at least 5 mm. The film may be manufactured via a process which comprises subjecting a starting UHMWPE with a weight average molecular weight of at least 500 000 gram/mole, an elastic shear modulus determined directly after melting at 160° C. of at most 1.4 MPa, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6 to a compacting step and a stretching step under such conditions that at no point during the processing of the polymer its temperature is raised to a value above its melting point. The film may be used as starting material in any applications where high tensile strength and high energy to break are important. Suitable applications include ballistic applications, ropes, cables, nets, fabrics, and protective applications.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a polyethylene polymer characterized by the following properties: A number average molecular weight Mn of at least 2.0*105 g/mol, a weight average molecular weight of at least 2.0*106 g/mol, a Mw/Mn ratio of above 6, and a strain hardening slope of below 0.10 N/mm at 135° C. It has been found that a polymer with these properties have be converted through solid state processing into films and fibers with good properties. A solid state processing process, films and fibers, and their use are also claimed.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to pipe-like hollow articles made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tapes and a thermoplastic and/or thermoplastic elastomer, whereby in the article, the tapes are wound to create the article, whereby the tapes have a tensile strength of greater than 1.5 GPa according to ASTM D882-00, a modulus of greater than 100 GPa according to ASTM D822-00, and a 200/110 uniplanar orientation parameter of at least 3, whereby the main extension direction of at least one tape in the article is in an angle of 20 to 100° with regard to the main extension direction of the article. Further aspects pertain to two processes for manufacturing such an article.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a UHMWPE film having a tensile strength of at least 2.0 GPa, a tensile energy to break of at least 30 J/g, an Mw of at least 500 000 gram/mole, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6. The film may be manufactured via a process which comprises subjecting a starting UHMWPE with a weight average molecular weight of at least 500 000 gram/mole, an elastic shear modulus determined directly after melting at 160° C. of at most 0.9 MPa, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6 to a compacting step and a stretching step under such conditions that at no point during the processing of the polymer its temperature is raised to a value above its melting point. The film may be used as starting material in any applications where high tensile strength and high energy to break are important. Suitable applications include ballistic applications, ropes, cables, nets, fabrics, and protective applications.

Abstract: A method for controlling the physical state of an ultra-high molecular weight polymer to make the ultra-high molecular weight polymer suitable for further processing, and related polymers compositions methods and systems, wherein the method comprises combining a catalyst, monomers, and an additive, for a time and under condition to allow synthesis of a nascent polymer and co-crystallization of the nascent polymer with the additive.

Abstract: A method for controlling the physical state of an ultra-high molecular weight polymer to make the ultra-high molecular weight polymer suitable for further processing, and related polymers compositions methods and systems, wherein the method comprises combining a catalyst, monomers, and an additive, for a time and under condition to allow synthesis of a nascent polymer and co-crystallization of the nascent polymer with the additive.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant article includes a stack of sheets containing reinforcing linear tension members, the direction of the linear tension members within the stack being no unidirectionally, wherein some of the linear tension members are linear tension members comprising high molecular weight polyethylene and some of the linear tension members comprise aramid. A sheet and a consolidated sheet package contain the ballistic-resistant article, and a method of manufacturing produces the ballistic-resistant article.

Abstract: A compound or a combination of compounds for crystallization of poly-hydroxy-alkanoate (PHA), poly-lactic acid (PLA) or combinations thereof, wherein each of the compounds has a core motif with two oxalamide motifs, flanked by two arms, wherein the core motif has the formula: R—NH—C(O)—C(O)—NH—(CH2)n—NH—C(O)—C(O)—NH—R?, wherein n ranges from 1 to 10 and the arms R and R? are each independently chosen from: (i) H; (ii) an alkyl group with a total number of carbon atoms between 1 and 20; (iii) an aromatic ring; or (iv) an ester group, for example —X-Ester-Y, or —X-Ester-X-Ester-Y, wherein X is a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, Y is chosen from H, an alkyl group with a total number of carbon atoms ranging from 1 and 20 or an aromatic ring. Also described are processes for the crystallization of poly-hydroxy-alkanoate, poly-lactic acid, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant moulded article containing a compressed stack of sheets that contain high molecular weight polyethylene tapes. The direction of the polyethylene tapes within the compressed stack is not unidirectional. At least part of the tapes have a width of at least 2 mm, a thickness to width ratio of at least 10:1, and a density of at most 99% of the theoretical tape density. The moulded article is made of tapes that have a density below the theoretical density of the tapes.

Abstract: A method of and system for committing a transaction to a database. In one embodiment the method comprises initiating a database transaction; creating an electronic record that includes transaction data from the database transaction; executing a rule associated with the record to determine whether an electronic signature is required to connote review and/or approval of the electronic record, and requesting the electronic signature prior to committing the transaction to the database if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a polyethylene film and a process for manufacturing such film. The polyethylene film may have a ratio between the strength in a first direction in the film plane and the strength in a second direction in the film plane perpendicular to the first direction in the range of 0.1-10:1, the strength in at least one direction being at least 0.2 Gpa. The process for manufacturing a polyethylene film may have a starting UHMWPE polymer with an average molecular weight of at least 500,000 grams/mole, an elastic shear modulus determined directly after melting at 160° C. of at most 1.4 MPa, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6 to a solvent-free compacting process and a stretching process under such conditions that at no point during the process the temperature of the intermediate polymer film is raised to a value above its melting point.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a polyethylene polymer characterised by the following properties: A number average molecular weight Mn of at least 2.0*105 g/mol, a weight average molecular weight of at least 2.0*106 g/mol, a Mw/Mn ratio of above 6, and a strain hardening slope of below 0.10 N/mm at 135° C. It has been found that a polymer with these properties have be converted through solid state processing into films and fibers with good properties. A solid state processing process, films and fibers, and their use are also claimed.