Abstract: A thermoplastic polymeric composition having a xanthene or xanthenes-based compound as a plasticizer, a method to modify the thermoplastic polymeric materials to increase their relative plasticity while maintaining good strength or “toughness” characteristics, and various articles of manufacture that can be made using the polymer composition are described.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a stretched film of an addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds favorable for use in manufacturing steps of electric insulating parts and optical parts that exhibits excellent film stability, does not suffer from coloration and has a low linear expansion coefficient. [Means for Solving Problems] A stretched film of an addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds produced by stretching a film of the addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds and having a linear expansion coefficient of at most 50 ppm/° C. The draw ratio is preferably from 1.2 times to 10 times. The stretched film is preferably a non-crosslinked film. A method for producing the stretched film comprises stretching a film of the addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds at least in one direction in an inert gas atmosphere within a temperature range of the glass transition temperature (Tg) thereof ±50° C.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polymeric composition including a xanthene or xanthenes-based compound as a plasticizer, a method to modify the thermoplastic polymeric materials to increase their relative plasticity, and various articles of manufacture that can be made using the polymer composition are described.

Abstract: A method of orienting microphase-separated domains is disclosed, comprising applying a composition comprising an orientation control component, and a block copolymer assembly component comprising a block copolymer having at least two microphase-separated domains in which the orientation control component is substantially immiscible with the block copolymer assembly component upon forming a film; and forming a compositionally vertically segregated film on the surface of the substrate from the composition. The orientation control component and block copolymer segregate during film forming to form the compositionally vertically-segregated film on the surface of a substrate, where the orientation control component is enriched adjacent to the surface of the compositionally segregated film adjacent to the surface of the substrate, and the block copolymer assembly is enriched at an air-surface interface.

Abstract: The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to develop a polyester resin container that can be retort-processed at a temperature in the range of above 120° C. to about 130° C. The object of this invention is to provide a polyester resin container, which is capable of improving the productivity and quality of retort foods, and a molding process thereof. The process of this invention is a double blow molding process, which comprises a primary blow molding step in which a preform is biaxially drawn and blow molded into a primary intermediate product, a thermally shrink-molding step in which the primary intermediate product is heated and forcibly shrink-molded into a secondary intermediate product, and a secondary blow molding step for blow molding the secondary intermediate product into a container, wherein the process is characterized in that a mold temperature higher than 210° C. is used in the secondary blow molding step.

Abstract: Disclosed are oriented films comprising toughened poly(hydroxy-alkanoic acid) resin compositions comprising poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) and an impact modifier comprising an ethylene copolymer made from monomers (a) ethylene; (b) one or more olefins of the formula CH2?C(R3)CO2R4, where R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1-6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, and R4 is glycidyl; and optionally (c) one or more olefins of the formula CH2?C(R1)CO2R2, where R1 is hydrogen or an alkyl group with 2-8 carbon atoms and R2 is an alkyl group with 1-8 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, or butyl. The ethylene copolymer may further be made from carbon monoxide monomers. The compositions may further comprise one or more ethylene/acrylate and/or ethylene/vinyl ester polymers, ionomers, and cationic grafting agents. Also disclosed are packaging materials and containers comprising the oriented films.

Abstract: A method of orienting microphase-separated domains is disclosed, comprising applying a composition comprising an orientation control component, and a block copolymer assembly component comprising a block copolymer having at least two microphase-separated domains in which the orientation control component is substantially immiscible with the block copolymer assembly component upon forming a film; and forming a compositionally vertically segregated film on the surface of the substrate from the composition. The orientation control component and block copolymer segregate during film forming to form the compositionally vertically-segregated film on the surface of a substrate, where the orientation control component is enriched adjacent to the surface of the compositionally segregated film adjacent to the surface of the substrate, and the block copolymer assembly is enriched at an air-surface interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a retardation film of a polypropylene resin, the method comprising subjecting a film of a polypropylene resin to longitudinal stretching and transverse stretching which are performed sequentially, wherein the transverse stretching comprises the following steps, and a polypropylene resin retardation film which is obtained by such a method and has both a high axial retardation and a uniform retardation: a step of preheating the film at a preheating temperature which is equal to or higher than the melting point of the polypropylene resin; a step of stretching the preheated film in the transverse direction at a stretching temperature which is lower than the preheating temperature; and a step of heat setting the film stretched in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A finish on a hollow plastic preform or container includes a neck that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and is at least partially crystallized, and a finish ring externally secured over the neck. The neck preferably is of molded plastic construction, and preferably is stretched subsequent to molding but prior to external securement of the finish ring. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the preform or container has an integral body, and the neck is integrally molded with the body. The finish ring preferably has at least one external thread for securement of a closure to the container after molding.

Abstract: A transparent heat-resistant resin optical materials having excellent heat resistance and dynamic characteristics, having negative birefringence and exhibiting a high refractive index and a high Abbe number, especially optical compensating members such as films, sheets and retardation films for LCD display element. The transparent heat-resistant resin optical material is made of a copolymer containing a specific olefin residue unit and a specific N-phenyl-substituted maleimide residue unit and having a weight average molecular weight, as reduced into standard polystyrene, of from 5×103 to 5×106, the transparent heat-resistant resin optical material exhibiting negative birefringence; and a retardation film having a relationship of three-dimensional refractive indexes of nz?ny>nx, nz>ny?nx, or nz>nx?ny.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a novel biaxially oriented film having a high diffraction of light, and flexibility. In particular, the invention disclosed provides a method for making an opaque impact copolymer film by stretching in two dimensions an impact polypropylene copolymer. The invention is disclosed to be useful for making a material particularly suitable for a variety of applications including labeling media, food packaging and laminates. Also disclosed is a multilayer film having a first impact polypropylene copolymer layer and a second layer of another polymer wherein the multilayer film has significantly reduced haze. Also disclosed is film produced with a filler that has increased porosity and flexibility.

Abstract: Polypropylene resin compositions are provided that are useful in the production of biaxially oriented polypropylene films (BOPPs). The resins of the present invention are blends of high crystalline (low solubles) polypropylene homopolymer and an ethylene/propylene random copolymer (RCP). These blends can be used to replace standard high solubles BOPP grade polypropylene homopolymers. In addition, the use of high crystalline polypropylene homopolymers in the blends imparts improved stiffness to the finished films while maintaining good processability of the blends.

Abstract: A high density polyethylene (HDPE) film is provided having high-biaxial orieniation. The film includes HDPE having a density of at least about 0.940, and a melt index of from about 0.5 to about 10. The film is stretched in the machine (longitudinal) direction to a degree of from about 5:1 to about 8:1, preferably from about 6:1 to about 7:1. The film is also stretched in the transverse (lateral) direction to a degree of from about 6:1 to about 15:1, preferably from about 9:1 to about 13:1. Preferably, the film has an orientation imbalance, with a higher degree of transverse orientation than machine orientation. Skin layers such as heat seal layers can be provided. Preferably, the film contains one or more layers of a casting promoter material employed to promote casting of a high gauge HDPE sheet subsequently high biaxially oriented to provide the film. The film can also be cavitated, or otherwise modified (e.g., corona-treated, coated, metallized, etc.) to provide films suitable for special applications.

Abstract: A multi-layered thermoplastic label comprising: a core layer comprising high density polyethylene (HDPE) wherein said core layer has a first side and a second side; a first skin layer comprising a thermoplastic material wherein said skin layer has a first side and a second side and the second side of the first skin layer is adjacent to the first side of the core layer; wherein said thermoplastic label is oriented in at least one direction.

Abstract: This invention discloses compositions that can be polymerized/crosslinked imagewise upon exposure to ionization radiation such as x-ray, electron beam, ion beam, and gamma-ray. This invention also discloses methods of use for these compositions for microfabrication of ceramics, for stereolithography, and for x-ray, e-beam, and ion-beam lithography which can be used for photoresists.

Abstract: A semicrystalline propylene polymer composition with good suitability for producing biaxially oriented films and prepared by polymerizing propylene, ethylene and/or C4-C18-1-alkenes, where at least 50 mol % of the monomer units present arise from the polymerization of propylene. Also described is the use of the semicrystalline propylene polymer composition for producing films, fibers or moldings, the films, fibers and moldings made from these compositions, biaxially stretched films made from the semicrystalline propylene polymer compositions, and also a method for characterizing the semicrystalline propylene polymer compositions.

Abstract: A process which entails providing a preform formulated of polymeric material formed to permit the introduction of a fluid under pressure into the preform, heating the preform to a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature of the polymeric material and below the melting temperature of the polymeric material, placing the heated preform into a substantially cylindrical mold with a polished seamless inside surface, introducing a fluid under pressure into the heated preform while maintaining the preform axially centered in the mold, thereby causing the preform to expand without contacting the mold surface, subsequently causing the preform to expand until it contacts the mold surface, heating the expanded preform to an appropriate heat setting temperature above the stretching temperature and below the melting temperature of the polymeric material while maintaining fluid pressure, and subsequently cooling the set preform, resulting in formation of a biaxially oriented seamless belt.

Abstract: Method of retarding age embrittlement of polyester comprising heat treating the polyester after preparation by cooling below 90.degree. C. and then heating at 90.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. within 24 hours of preparation, and a polyester composition in which ageing is substantially retarded compared to the non-heat treated polyester. The invention encompasses the polyester composition which has been subjected to the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an article from a sheet of PET material of thickness greater than 1 mm comprises heating the PET sheet to a preforming temperature of approximately 110.degree. C. by heaters, and then forming the sheet onto a heated vacuum mold. The sheet is retained in the mold by the vacuum and the surface of the sheet are maintained at a temperature of approximately 160.degree. C. by the mold and the heater, respectively, until the degree of crystallization of the sheet is in the order of 35%.

Abstract: A process for producing silica glass fibers comprising:a step of preparing a silica glass fiber spinning solution by adding a polymerization regulator to a silica sol solution obtained by the hydrolysis and condensation of a silicon alkoxide in the presence of an acid catalyst;a step of spinning the spinning solution into gel fibers by extruding the spinning solution from nozzles;a step of applying an oiling agent containing substantially no water or lower alcohol to the gel fibers;a step of forming a fiber cake by winding the oiled gel fibers on a tube or bobbin;a step of aging the gel fibers constituting the fiber cake;a step of sintering the gel fibers unwound from the fiber cake after the aging step, to form silica glass fibers.