Abstract: Apparatus and methods for preparing foundry sand mixes, using a pre-mix tank to pre-mix water and particulate bond material to make a water/bond slurry, then feeding the slurry to a mullor or other foundry sand mixer. The slurry is received in the mullor/mixer, mixed with return sand, and then discharged for use in making foundry molds. Preferably, the particulate bond material is added to the pre-mix tank as a falling stream of such particles, and a disperse spray of water is projected onto the particles with sufficient gentleness to not deleteriously distract the particles from their downward path.

Abstract: A flushable personal care article contains a backing or barrier layer comprising a water degradable polyolefin-containing film having greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of unmodified poly(ethylene oxide). The polyolefin is modified by grafting thereto a monomer selected from 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate in an amount ranging between about 0.1 weight percent and about 30 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymer blend. The polyolefin-containing film, when immersed in water for about 30 seconds, loses at least 10% in two or more of the tensile properties: percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus when compared to the dry or pre-immersion values.

Abstract: The invention provides a water degradable modified polyolefin-modified poly(ethylene oxide-containing film having greater than about 55 weight percent of a modified polyolefin and less than about 45 weight percent of a modified poly(ethylene oxide). The polyolefin and poly(ethylene oxide) polymers are modified by having grafted thereto from about 0.1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of a monomer selected from 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate. The modified polyolefin-modified poly(etheylene oxide)-containing film of the invention, when immersed in water for about 30 seconds, loses at least 10% in two or more of the tensile properties: percent strain-to-break, peak stress, energy-to-break and modulus when compared to the dry or pre-immersion values.