Abstract: A stabilized synthetic polyolefin pulp-cellulose blend is prepared by adding 0.1-1.0% by weight of an antioxidant (a hindered phenolic and/or phosphite antioxidant) to a solution of a polyolefin and solvent wherein the antioxidant is homogenously dispersed therein, forming the polyolefin into a polyolefin pulp, and then mixing the polyolefin pulp with from about 55 to about 90% by weight of a wood pulp to produce the blend. This blend with improved higher ignition temperature is used in the absorbent products industry as an absorbent core, when the blend is heated sufficiently to melt the polyolefin.

Abstract: A filament winding system includes a head that selects the number of tows to be within a winding band while winding and positioning the winding band directly on the mandrel according to contours of the mandrel. Half of the tows are conveyed in an upper portion of the head and the remaining half are conveyed in a lower portion of the head with both halves meeting at an applicating roller at the discharge end of the tows. The head includes cut and add assemblies wherein the individual tows are selectively cut and later can be added to the band.

Abstract: A container for storage of fruits or vegetables wherein the optimum environment, i.e., the optimum carbon dioxide to oxygen ratio, for the storage of said fruits or vegetable can be attained and maintained, thereby retarding maturation and spoilage thereof. The environment is controlled by providing a resin-coated nonwoven panel of limited carbon dioxide and oxygen permeability on an otherwise substantially impermeable container. The size of this panel is a function of its permeability, the amount and respiration rate of the contents, and the ratio of carbon dioxide of oxygen desired.

Abstract: An innerliner for tubeless tires is comprised of at least one non-elastomeric barrier layer such as poly(vinylidene chloride) or ethylene--vinyl alcohol copolymer film with each barrier layer sandwiched between two layers of an elastomeric material adhering to the rubber stock employed in the carcass of the tire. The innerliner has the advantage of imparting equal or better air retention properties to the tire with a substantial reduction in the thickness and weight relative to conventional halobutyl rubber innerliners.

Abstract: A segmented mandrel is adapted for use in fabricating large diameter, light weight articles (such as aircraft component structures) made of thermosetting composite materials by placing fiber on the external surface of the mandrel followed by autoclave curing of the composite materials. The segmented mandrel is composed of a center shaft extending lengthwise through the mandrel, four mandrel segments mating together along a seam between their respective adjacent edges, T-stiffeners for fastening the mandrel segments together, and bulkheads rigidly mounted around the shaft and connected to the stiffeners. This segmented mandrel is reusable, is easily assembled and disassembled, and has a system that creates a vacuum seal between mandrel sections while at the same time retains the functions of support and alignment of the mandrel segments carrying the parts being cured.

Abstract: A soft, flexible, microporous film is provided having high tensile strength and good air and water vapor transmission rates therethrough while being substantially impenetrable to liquid water. This film is prepared by stretching a casting of a composition of a polyolefin and high levels of CaCO.sub.3 or glass beads and calcium stearate in two directions from 1.5-7 times in each direction to produce a film having a Gurley porosity of from 0.1 to 85 seconds. This film is especially useful for disposable items such as feminine panty liners, diapers, bed sheets, and hospital gowns. When glass beads are substituted for the CaCO.sub.3, the film is useful for battery separators.

Abstract: A soft, flexible, microporous film is provided having high tensile strength and good air and water vapor transmission rates therethrough while being substantially impenetrable to liquid water. This film is prepared by stretching a casting of a composition of a polyolefin and high levels of CaCO.sub.3 or glass beads and calcium stearate in two directions from 1.5-7 times in each direction to produce a film having a Gurley porosity of from 0.1 to 85 seconds. This film is especially useful for disposable items such as feminine panty liners, diapers, bed sheets, and hospital gowns. When glass beads are substituted for the CaCO.sub.3, the film is useful for battery separators.

Abstract: Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber in the form of a filament bundle has a high Modulus and a high Tensile Strength in the Impregnated Strand Test respectively between about 42 million and 50 million psi and between about 600,000 and 900,000 psi, and Short Beam Shear Strength between about 15,000 and 19,000 psi in the Laminate Test; this PAN-based carbon fiber also has an electrolytically treated surface at 0.5 columbs per inch per approximate 12,000 filaments. The preparation of this PAN-based carbon fiber was accomplished by stretching during carbonization previously stretched and stabilized fine denier precursor while maintaining temperatures and heat up rates within certain ranges.

Abstract: A soft, flexible, microporous film is provided having high tensile strength and good air and water vapor transmission rates therethrough while being substantially impenetrable to liquid water. This film is prepared by stretching a casting of a composition of a polyolefin and high levels of CaCO.sub.3 or glass beads and calcium stearate in two directions from 1.5-7 times in each direction to produce a film having a Gurley porosity of from 0.1 to 85 seconds. This film is especially useful for disposable items such as feminine panty liners, diapers, bed sheets, and hospital gowns. When glass beads are substituted for the CaCO.sub.3, the film is useful for battery separators.

Abstract: A container comprising an uniaxially oriented, polyolefin film, which film is prepared by melt blending a mixture of a polyolefin, an inert filler, a processing aid such as calcium stearate, and optionally a stabilizer, maintaining the moisture level in the melt blend below 700 ppm, casting a film, and uniaxially stretching the film at least about 2 times its original casting dimensions in one direction until the film has a sufficient number of elongated, narrow shaped, microporous voids in order to create a CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 permeance in the range of 5,000 to 10,000,000 cc/100.sup.2 - atm - day. Such a film is used in a controlled atmosphere packaging container as a panel in a window for a controlled flow or flux of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 through its wall in an otherwise gas impermeable container.

Abstract: An electron beam irradiated release film is formed from a melt processible composition including a silicone component crosslinked by the reaction of a hydride-containing silicone and a silicone containing an unsaturated substituent within a polymeric thermoplastic matrix to form a silicone pseudo-interpenetrating polymer network. The crosslinking of the silicone component by reaction of the hydride and unsaturated substituents is inititated during thermoplastic melt-mixing and film forming of the component with the matrix. Coated films are preferably formed by coextrusion of a polymeric thermoplastic film and a crosslinkable mixture of the silicone components and a polymeric thermoplastic. Alternatively, extrusion coating of the mixture onto a preformed film may be used to form the coated films. Preferably, these films have a thickness of from 0.000005 to 0.2 inch. The film is electron beam irradiated with a dose of from about 50 rad to about 50 Mrad.

Abstract: A container capable of creating within it preselected CO.sub.2, O.sub.2, and moisture concentrations in the presence of respiring fresh fruit, vegetables, or flowers is constructed of a substantially gas-impermeable material having a gas-permeable panel that is substantially impermeable to moisture in one or more of its walls to provide a controlled flow of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 through its walls and a cellophane panel that is substantially impermeable to the flow of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 in one or more of its walls to provide a controlled flow of moisture through its walls. The gas-permeable panel is a uniaxially or biaxially oriented film where the size of the area it covers is a function of its permeance, the amount and respiration rate of the contents, and the desired steady-state oxygen concentration. The size of the cellophane panel is a function of its permeance to water vapor and the desired rate of removal of water vapor from the package.

Abstract: Metal adhesion to a polyolefin substrate is improved by subjecting the substrate to a plasma treatment with aliphatic hydrocarbon vapors.

Abstract: A uniaxially oriented, polyolefin film is prepared by melt blending a mixture of a polyolefin, an inert filler, a processing aid such as calcium stearate, and optionally a stabilizer, maintaining the moisture level in the melt blend below 700 ppm, casting a film, and uniaxially stretching the film at least about 2 times its original casting dimensions in one direction until the film has a sufficient number of elongated, narrow shaped, microporous voids in order to create a CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 permeance in the range of 5,000 to 10,000,000 cc/100.sup.2 -atm-day. Such a film is used in a controlled atmosphere packaging container as a panel in a window for a controlled flow or flux of CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 through its wall in an otherwise gas impermeable container.

Abstract: End connectors of filament wound tubes are disclosed. The end connector uses an upset region at an end of the filament wound tube as a base for mounting a threaded ring around the tube. The ring is threaded to a sleeve mounted also around this upset region. The sleeve threads to a coupling on the other side of the upset region. The coupling carries means for connecting the filament wound tube to another body. In forming the end connector, the sleeve and coupling are assembled about the upset region and the ring, assembled on the body of the filament wound tube on the other side of the upset, is threaded to the sleeve.

Abstract: A container providing controlled atmospheric storage of fresh fruits and vegetables to improve retention of product freshness by adjusting the carbon dioxide to oxygen ratio, for the storage of said fruits or vegetable can be attained and maintained, thereby retarding premature maturation and spoilage. The environment is controlled by providing a microporous membrane panel of limited carbon dioxide and oxygen permeability on an otherwise substantially impermeable container. The size of this area is a function of its permeability, the amount and respiration rate of the contents, and the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen desired.

Abstract: Plant material such as tobacco is protected during storage by enveloping the plant material in a thin film that is composed of a polymeric material and isopropyl-(E,E)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoate (hereinafter referred to as "methoprene"). Air moves within the envelope carrying methoprene that has migrated from the surface of the film to the surface of the plant material. The thin film is a biaxially oriented polyolefin that has a thickness of from 0.01 to 0.2 mm and has from about 100 to 20,000 ppm of said methoprene incorporated therein.

Abstract: A two stage intra-oral protective system is provided for protecting teeth, lips, and jaw from injury and/or for supporting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a relatively fixed (stable) position thereby stabilizing the TMJ during head contact activity and/or permit the components of a TMJ disorder to be realigned for proper healing. Stage one is a mandibular orthodontic repositioning appliance and stage two is a mouth guard providing maxillary and mandibular teeth seats whereby the two stages harmoniously work together for protection and/or healing of the TMJ.

Abstract: A hinge lock mechanism (a joint fastener) for lockingly joining at least two panels together at any angle comprising two arms. One of the arms has threads thereon and screws into a floating nut that is located in one of the panels and the other arm has a conical V shaped depression thereon that communicates with a clamping device that has a set screw thereon that is urged against the conical V shaped surface of the arm for tightening the panels together. This hinge lock mechanism forms a continuous edge at the junction of the two panels and cannot be seen from the desired side of the panels.