Abstract: Epoxy-based nonwoven webs are provided. The webs are formed by meltblowing a blend of an epoxy resin and a polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer. Whereas epoxy resins by themselves produce nonwoven webs which are brittle and glassy, epoxy/PCL blends have been found to produce webs which have good flexibility and elongation and are not glassy. If desired, once formed, the epoxy/PCL webs can be cured with, for example, an epoxy crosslinking agent to produce webs having enhanced solvent resistance properties.

Abstract: An ultrasonic rotary horn intended to be excited at a frequency of from about 18 to about 60 kHz, which horn is a shaped, solid metal object having a rotational axis and a radial surface terminated by a first end and a second end. The diameter of the horn can vary from about 4 cm to about 19 cm. The width of the horn at the radial surface is in the range of from about 0.6 cm to about 13 cm. The thickness of the horn at its rotational axis is from about 0.6 cm to about 15 cm and is independent of the width of the horn at the radial surface. The horn has a mass in the range of from about 0.06 kg to about 30 kg.

Abstract: An ultrasonic rotary horn for continuously bonding together two or more layers of thermoplastic materials such as woven and nonwoven fabrics and films. The horn is adapted to resonate in a manner such that: 1) the excited end moves substantially in phase with the movement of the source of excitation; 2) the opposing end, whether or not it is actively excited, moves substantially out of phase with the movement of the excited end; 3) the radial work-contacting surface of the horn also moves substantially out of phase with the movement of the excited end; and 4) the horn exhibits a single nodal point at its geometric center. The horn has a concave configuration which comprises a central, circular flat portion which is concentric with the rotational axis and a convex portion between the flat portion and the radial surface. The convex portion is a curved surface having axial symmetry and a curvilinear profile in cross-section through the rotational axis.

Abstract: A nonwoven wipe having improved grease release is provided which includes a meltblown polyolefin web having a basis weight of from about 17 to about 204 g/m.sup.2, in which:A. the meltblown polyolefin web has at or on the surfaces of the fibers thereof at least one additive having the general formula, ##STR1## in which: (1) R.sub.1 -R.sub.9 are independently selected monovalent C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl groups;(2) R.sub.10 is hydrogen or monovalent C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl group;(3) m represents an integer of from 1 to about 4;(4) n represents an integer of from 0 to about 3;(5) the sum of m and n is in the range of from 1 to about 4;(6) p represents an integer of from 0 to about 5;(7) x represents an integer of from 1 to about 10;(8) y represents an integer of from 0 to about 5;(9) the ratio of x to y is equal to or greater than 2;(10) the additive has a molecular weight of from about 350 to about 1,400; and(11) the additive is present in an amount of from about 0.

Abstract: Processing by melt extrusion a surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition to form a fiber or film having a differential, increasing concentration of an additive from the center of the fiber or film to the surface thereof, which differential, increasing concentration imparts to the surface of the fiber or film at least one desired characteristic which otherwise would not be present, which composition includes at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one defined additive. During formation of the fiber or film, the additive rapidly segregates in a controllable manner toward the newly-formed surface of the fiber or film, thereby resulting in a controllable differential concentration of the polymeric material, which concentration increases with increasing distance from the center of the fiber or film to its surface.

Abstract: A tampon applicator which is biodegradable and water-dispersible is provided. The applicator is formed by injection molding a modified poly(vinyl alcohol) which is self-plasticizing. In certain preferred embodiments, the modified poly(vinyl alcohol has the following structure: ##STR1## in which R is hydrogen or methyl, n is a number from 1-1,000, x is 50-99.9 mole percent, y is 0-50 mole percent, and z is 0.001-50 mole percent. Tampon applicators made from this material have been found to be rapidly dispersible in water, to support heavy fungal growth, and to have a commercially acceptable outer surface, i.e., a surface which is not sticky, slippery, or slimy prior to contact of the applicator with water.

Abstract: A method of cleaning melt-processing equipment which comprises processing in such equipment a thermoplastic composition which comprises at least one thermoplastic polyolefin and at least one siloxane-containing additive having at least two moieties, A and B, in which:(A) said additive is compatible with said polyolefin at melt extrusion temperatures but is incompatible at temperatures below melt extrusion temperatures, but each of moiety A and moiety B, if present as separate compounds, would be incompatible with said polyolefin at melt extrusion temperatures and at temperatures below melt extrusion temperatures;(B) moiety A contains at least one tetrasubstituted disiloxanylene group;(C) moiety B has at least one functional group which is a poly(oxyalkylene) moiety;(D) the molecular weight of said additive is in the range of from about 400 to about 16,000; and(E) said additive is present in said thermoplastic composition at a level of from about 3 to about 12 percent by weight, based on the weight of said the

Abstract: Germicidal compositions for direct application to human skin are provided. The compositions include an organic acid, e.g., malic acid, and an anionic surfactant, e.g., a sodium alpha-olefin sulfonate, as active ingredients, and can optionally include an alcohol, e.g., specially denatured ethyl alcohol, as an additional active ingredient. When formulated as soaps and lotions, the compositions have been found to produce more than a 2.0 log reduction in bacteria applied to skin.

Abstract: A superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising:(A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) diol soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and(B) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof;wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition suitable for processing by melt extrusion to form a fiber or film having a differential, increasing concentration of an additive from the center of the fiber or film to the surface thereof, which differential, increasing concentration imparts to the surface of the fiber or film at least one desired characteristic which otherwise would not be present, which composition includes at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one defined additive. During formation of the fiber or film, the additive rapidly segregates in a controllable manner toward the newly-formed surface of the fiber or film, thereby resulting in a controllable differential concentration of the polymeric material, which concentration increases with increasing distance from the center of the fiber or film to its surface. The weight ratio of the polymer to the additive is in the range of from about 1 to about 1,000.

Abstract: A multilayer polymeric film having dead bend characteristics which are substantially planar isotropic is a laminate of at least two layers of one or more polymeric films, in which:A. each polymeric film layer is highly oriented in one direction, such that each polymeric film layer has dead bend properties with respect to bending deformations substantially normal to the direction of orientation; andB. the direction of orientation of each polymeric film layer forms an angle of at least about 30 degrees with the direction of orientation of each adjacent polymeric film layer.A method for making the multilayer polymeric film having dead bend characteristics also is provided.

Abstract: A composite is prepared which includes a substantially water-insoluble particulate or fibrous support having a surface energy of at least about 19 dynes per cm to which nitrogen-fixing filamentous heterocystous blue-green algae are attached. The support does not have a deleterious effect on the viability of the attached algae, and is preferably polypropylene or cellulosic. Preparing the composite includes contacting the support with blue-green algae to permit the algae to attach to the support by means of heterocyst cells. The attached cells in a nitrogen-deficient environment, fix nitrogen at a rate substantially greater than unattached cells, and have agricultural applications.

Abstract: A stabilized surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition suitable for processing by melt extrusion to form a fiber or film having a differential, increasing concentration of a siloxane-containing primary additive from the center of the fiber or film to the surface thereof, which differential, increasing concentration imparts hydrophilicity to the surface of the fiber or film, which composition includes at least one thermoplastic polymer, at least one siloxane-containing primary additive, and at least one siloxane-containing stabilizing additive. During formation of the fiber or film, the primary additive rapidly segregates in a controllable manner toward the newly-formed surface of the fiber or film, thereby resulting in a controllable differential concentration of the primary additive, which concentration increases with increasing distance from the center of the fiber or film to its surface. The weight ratio of the polymer to the additive is in the range of from about 1 to about 1,000.

Abstract: A multilayer polymeric film having dead bend characteristics which are substantially planar isotropic is a laminate of at least two layers of one or more polymeric films, in which:A. each polymeric film layer is highly oriented in one direction, such that each polymeric film layer has dead bend properties with respect to bending deformations substantially normal to the direction or orientation; andB. the direction of orientation of each polymeric film layer forms an angle of at least about 30 degrees with the direction of orientation of each adjacent polymeric film layer.A method for making the multilayer polymeric film having dead bend characteristics also is provided.

Abstract: A multilayer structure is prepared containing immobilized nitrogen-fixing filamentous blue-green algal heterocyst cells. The cells are attached to a first layer which is a water-insoluble support having a surface energy of about 30 to about 115 dynes per cm. Second and third layers are adjacent and contiguous with first and second surfaces, respectively, of the first layer. At least one of the second and third layers is transparent to actinic radiation. The support may be cellulosic such as wood pulp. The immobilized cells fix nitrogen at a rate which is substantially greater than cells when not immobilized. The structure is useful as a nutrient source for agricultural purposes.

Abstract: A siloxane which contains at least one benzotriazolyl/tetraalkylpiperidyl group, which siloxane can be represented by the general formula, S-Z, in which S represents a siloxane moiety and Z represents a pendant benzotriazolyl/tetraalkylpiperidyl group attached by means of a divalent connecting group to a silicon atom.The compounds are useful as additives for the preparation of surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic compositions. The compositions, in turn, are useful for the preparation of fibers and films by melt extrusion, which fibers and films have enhanced stability to degradation by actinic radiation.

Abstract: A nonwoven web is prepared by the method of forming a nonwoven web from a composition composed of at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one defined siloxane-containing additive, which method involves the steps of (A) forming fibers by extruding a molten thermoplastic composition through a die; (B) drawing the fibers; (C) collecting the fibers on a moving foraminous surface as a web of entangled fibers; and (D) heating the web at a temperature of from about 27.degree. to about 95.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to cause additional additive to move to the surfaces of the fibers. The method of the present invention is particularly useful for the preparation of nonwoven webs, the fibers of which have at least one surface characteristic which is different from the surface characteristics of the polymer component of the thermoplastsic composition.

Abstract: A superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising:(A) from about 86 to about 98 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a poly(oxyethylene) diol soft segment having a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000; and(b) from about 2 to about 14 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a hard segment which has a melting point above ambient temperature and below the temperature at which decomposition of either the composition or the soft segment takes place, is essentially insoluble in water, and phase separates from the soft segment, said hard segment being selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, and combinations thereof;wherein the soft and hard segments are covalently bound together by means of urethane, amide, ester, or secondary urea linkages or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A breathable, multilayer, clothlike barrier especially suitable for use as an outer cover or baffle in such disposable absorbent articles as diapers, sanitary napkins, and incontinent pads, which barrier has at least three layers:A. a first layer which is a porous meltblown nonwoven web having a first side and a second side;B. a second layer joined to the first side of the first layer, which second layer is a continuous film of a poly(vinyl alcohol), in which:the film is not microporous in that it is substantially free of voids which connect the two surfaces of the film; andthe film has an average thickness of from about 3 to about 250 microns; andC.

Abstract: A stable, nonreactive, thermoplastic polymer blend comprising form about 10 to about 95 percent by weight of a superabsorbent, thermoplastic polymeric composition and from about 90 to about 5 percent by weight of at least one thermoplastic polymer.