Abstract: Disclosed is a protective foamed patch for a biaxially heat shrinkable, thermoplastic vacuum bag for protecting the bag from puncture by sharp protruding bones in the bone-in cuts of meat which are vacuum packaged within the bags. The patch is made from multi-layer film and comprises a layer of foamed polymer. The patch is biaxially heat shrinkable and shrinks with the bag. A method of making the patch is also disclosed.

Abstract: An integral sound absorber and water deflector door panel positionable in space defined between an inner wall and a passenger compartment door panel of an automobile vehicle door assembly. The integral panel is composed of a first polymeric layer made of a water impervious polymeric film having an essentially constant thickness. The first polymeric layer has a first face adapted to contact the interiorly oriented face on the inner wall of the vehicle door assembly and remain in overlying parallel orientation thereto. A second polymeric layer is composed of a polymeric foam integrally connected to the second face of the first polymeric layer in continuous overlying relationship thereto. The second polymeric layer has an outer face opposed to the first polymeric layer which, preferably, has at least one region adapted to directly contact a portion of the exteriorly oriented face of the passenger compartment door panel.

Abstract: The invention provides gel-coated materials that provide enhanced flame-, physical- and chemical-resistance to the foamed materials. The gel coatings can be created with a sol-gel process. Such treated materials can be used, for example, in the manufacture of articles of clothing that are to be used in environments in which fire and exposure to acids, bases or other chemicals which tend to corrode foamed materials is a potential hazard.

Abstract: An opaque, oriented polymeric film structure comprises: (a) a core layer containing a thermoplastic polymeric matrix material which has a first surface and a second surface, the core layer having a plurality of voids, substantially all or all of the voids being free from a void-initiating particle and at least some of the voids being interconnected with an adjacent void in the polymeric matrix material, the number of voids not containing a void-initiating particle being sufficient to impart a significant degree of opacity to the film structure; and (b) at least one outer or skin layer containing a thermoplastic polymeric material and an effective amount of a nucleating agent to suppress cavitation in said at least one outer or skin layer. The film structure has a smooth surface and can be tailored to provide a controlled permeability, and is particularly suitable for food packaging.

Abstract: A method and device for the filtration and/or purification of fluids water or other solutions containing microbiological contaminants, such as fluids containing including bacteria and/or viruses, where the fluid water is passed through a purification material composed of apatite and absorption media in a fixed binder matrix.

Abstract: A process for making an opaque, oriented polymeric film structure and the resultant film structures. The process comprises preparing a melt containing a crystallizable polymeric matrix material at a temperature of at least above the melting point of the polymeric matrix material and thereafter forming the melt into a sheet containing molten polymeric matrix material. The sheet containing molten material is then cooled to form a sheet containing amorphous polymeric matrix material and crystallites of the polymeric matrix material. The sheet while containing the amorphous polymeric matrix material is then formed into a film by stretching the sheet in at least one direction so as to form voids adjacent to at least some of the crystallites and thereby impart opacity to the film.