Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a thermoplastic-based building product having a front face with a length and a width, an opposing back face, opposing top and bottom edges each with a thickness. The building product comprises at least one thermoplastic-based support layer, and at least one reinforcing flexing layer having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of less than or equal to about 15 ppm/° C. over the temperature range of ?20° C. to 70° C. The at least one reinforcing flexing layer is at least partially embedded in the at least one thermoplastic-based support layer along a longitudinal axis of the building product.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a thermoplastic-based building product having a front face with a length and a width, an opposing back face, opposing top and bottom edges each with a thickness. The building product comprises at least one thermoplastic-based support layer, and at least one reinforcing flexing layer having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of less than or equal to about 15 ppm/° C. over the temperature range of ?20° C. to 70° C. The at least one reinforcing flexing layer is at least partially embedded in the at least one thermoplastic-based support layer along a longitudinal axis of the building product.

Abstract: A beneficiated fiber and composite including a fiber having a lumen with voids. A suspension including a bonding agent, chemical blowing agent, and catalyst is drawn into the lumen by a capillary action to beneficiate the fiber. The beneficiated fiber may be imbedded with a polymeric material to form the composite. The natural voids of the lumen are preserved by the suspension causing the fiber to maintain natural density and strength characteristics.

Abstract: A modified kneading element for a screw extruder, peripherally congruent, aligned, and contiguous with a cross-sectional profile of a modified conveying element, includes a central portion defining a root diameter having a shaft receiving bore defined therein; and at least one lobe extending radially from the central portion, each lobe having an outer periphery ridge and first and second lateral sidewalls, wherein one of the lateral sidewalls of each lobe is concave between the outer periphery ridge and the central portion. Kneading blocks including such kneading elements and screw extruders including such kneading blocks are also provided.

Abstract: A composition comprises a) from about 80 to 99.5 percent by weight of a functionalized film-forming polymer matrix; b) from about 0.5 to 20 percent by weight of an intrinsically conductive polymer dispersed in the matrix; wherein the functionalized film-forming matrix controls the electrical conductivity in the composition, within a range of less than 5 orders of magnitude from about 10.sup.5 to about 10.sup.10 ohm/square, and is selected from the group consisting of acyclic organic hydroxyl compounds, and acrylates and methacrylates, containing at least one functionality selected from the group consisting of urethanes, epoxies, glycols, hydroxyls, polyesters, ethoxylates and propoxylates. The present invention also provides processes for making a conductive coating or blend compositions.

Abstract: Conductive polymer sheathed polymeric particulate powders comprise a polymeric core powder; and from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of an intrinsically conductive polymer forming a sheath around the core powder. A method of providing corrosion protection to metal substrates comprises applying a conductive polymer sheathed polymeric particulate powder to a metal substrate to form a coating at least about 0.5 mils thick; wherein the conductive powder comprises a polymeric core powder; and from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of an intrinsically conductive polymer forming a sheath around the core powder, the resulting conductive polymer powder having a particle size greater than about 1 micron.

Abstract: A corrosion inhibiting paint composition comprises from about 1 to 20 parts by weight of a corrosion inhibiting additive mixture comprising 1 to 25 parts by weight of an organic sulfonic acid in a mixture of 75 to 99 parts by weight of butyrolactone; from about 10 to 99 parts by weight of film forming polymer; and from about 0 to 89 parts by weight of a liquid medium selected from the group consisting of water, organic solvents for the film forming polymer and mixtures thereof. Another corrosion inhibiting paint composition comprises from about 1 to 20 parts by weight of a corrosion inhibiting additive mixture comprising 1 to 25 parts by weight of an organic sulfonic acid in a mixture of 75 to 99 parts by weight of butyrolactone; from about 10 to 98.5 parts by weight of film forming polymer; from about 0.

Abstract: A polymer blend according to the invention of the type including an intrinsically conductive polymer disbursed in a matrix selected from thermoplastic polymers, monomers, polymerizable precursors and combinations thereof is improved by an amount of a non-polymeric polar additive having a boiling point greater than about 100.degree. C. at 760 mm pressure and greater than the processing temperature of the matrix polymer incorporated in the polymer blend, in an amount sufficient to impart an electrical conductivity to the blend which is greater than that of the blend without the non-polymeric polar additive. A blend according to the invention includes a matrix material selected from thermoplastic polymers, monomers and polymer precursors and combinations thereof, and an intrinsically conductive polymer and a non-polymeric highly polar additive, disbursed into a polymer blend and having a conductivity of greater than about 2.5 S/cm.

Abstract: A process for preparing a conductive polymer article comprises the steps of preparing a dispersible neutral intrinsically conductive polymer; dispersing the intrinsically conductive polymer in a thermoplastic polymer to form a blend; processing the blend into the shape of the desired article; and, contacting the processed article with a dopant solution capable of both swelling the thermoplastic polymer and doping the intrinsically conductive polymer. A process for preparing neutral polyaniline comprises the steps of neutralizing doped polyaniline with a sodium carbonate solution and washing the polyaniline with a polyethyleneglycol solution. A conductive polymer article comprises a blend of an intrinsically conductive polymer and a thermoplastic polymer which is subsequently doped. A conductive polymer blend according to the invention, includes polyaniline, or insulating thermoplastic material and carbon black.

Abstract: A conductive polymeric blend comprises an intrinsically conductive polymer, an insulating thermoplastic material and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an impact modifier, an ester-free plasticizer and an acidic surfactant. The thermoplastic material comprises a thermoplastic polymer. The conductive polymeric blend has a conductivity of greater than about 10.sup.-9 S/cm. A process for preparing conductive polymeric blends comprises the steps of forming a blend comprising an intrinsically conductive polymer, an insulating thermoplastic material and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an impact modifier, an ester-free plasticizer and an acidic surfactant. The thermoplastic material comprises a thermoplastic polymer. The conductive polymeric blend has a conductivity of from of greater than yabout 10.sup.-9 S/cm.

Abstract: A seal assembly for the rotor shafts of internal mixers and the like used in the compounding of rubber and plastic.

Abstract: A seal assembly for the rotor shafts of internal mixers and the like used in the compounding of rubber and plastic. The assembly (20, 100) comprises seal rotor (21) carried by the rotor shafts (15, 16) outside of the mixing chamber (14) of the mixer (10) and having a continuous circumferential portion (24) for the bi-directional movement of a viscous melt of flowing material, sleeve (22) non-rotatably carried by the housing (18) of the mixer concentrically disposed about the seal rotor, and retainer (23) rotatable with the rotor shaft and engageable with the seal rotor (21) so as to cause the seal rotor to rotate therewith, wherein movement of the flowable material between the continuous circumferential portion and the sleeve forms a dynamic melt seal thereby controlling the discharge of materials from the mixing chamber between the housing and the rotor shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously metering small amounts of comminuted plastic color pigment or concentrate in desired proportions to a volume of resin being supplied to an extruder. The feed of the color concentrate is accurately metered by a controlled electromagnetic vibrator and delivered into the resin feed throat of the extruder.