Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus or process for devolatilization of flowable materials (such as molten polymers with entrained or dissolved solvent or unreacted monomers or comonomers) using a plate heater having heating channels, the design or operation of which heating channels maintains the flowable material above its bubble point pressure during passage through a larger first zone and then induces flashing in, or downstream of, a smaller second zone of the heating channel. The apparatus enables a higher throughput per heating channel while achieving equivalent or better devolatilization, as compared to current devolatilization apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides an ethylene-based interpolymer comprising the following features: a) density from 0.910 to 0.930 g/cc; b) melt index (I2) from 0.1 to 0.5 g/10 min; and c) a high density fraction in an ATREF short chain branch distribution (SCBD) curve, eluting above 92° C., of greater than 10 percent to less than 28 percent of the total ATREF SCBD curve area. The invention also provides a composition comprising an ethylene-based interpolymer that comprises the following features: a) a density from 0.919 to 0.928 g/cc; b) a melt index (I2) from 0.1 to 0.8 g/10 min; and c) a high density fraction in an ATREF short chain branch distribution (SCBD) curve, eluting above 92° C., of greater than 10 percent to less than 28 percent of the total ATREF SCBD curve area. The invention also provides a hollow tube comprising at least one component formed from a composition comprising an ethylene-based interpolymer that comprises the following features: a) a density from 0.919 to 0.

Abstract: Isocyanate reactive materials of natural origin having an average isocyanate reactive functionality of less than about 1.5 can be used to enhance polyurethane foams. For instance, use of such materials often results in more open foams than is obtained in the same formulation without the materials. The materials also help maximize the level of renewable resource materials used in foams, especially with viscoelastic foams. The invention includes a polyol composition comprising at least one natural oil isocyanate reactive material having an average isocyanate reactive functionality of less than 1.5 in an amount greater than that naturally present in any natural oil polyol in the composition. While it is preferred to include at least one natural oil polyol in the polyol composition, doing so is optional.

Abstract: A catalyzed soot filter is comprised of a monolithic ceramic honeycomb body that has a catalyzed inlet zone that has a catalyst within the walls of the ceramic honeycomb inlet end to at most about 45% of the length of the catalyzed soot filter. The catalyzed inlet zone has a porosity that is at least ? the porosity of a wall of the ceramic honeycomb that does not have a catalyst in the wall.

Abstract: The invention is a composition comprising a) one or more isocyanate functional polyether based prepolymers containing one or more organic based polymers dispersed therein; b) one or more isocyanate functional polyester based prepolymers which is solid at 23° C.; c) one or more polyisocyanates having a nominal functionality of about 3 or greater; d) one or more conductive carbon blacks in an amount such that the composition has a dielectric constant of about 15 or less; and e) one or more catalysts for the reaction of isocyanate moieties with hydroxyl groups, wherein the composition demonstrates upon cure a modulus of 2.0 MPa or greater at 25° C. measured according to ASTM D4065; a dielectric constant of about 15 or less; a sag of an uncured sample of less than 2 mm, a press flow viscosity of about 20 to about 50 and a storage modulus of about 5.3×105 Pa or greater.

Abstract: This disclosure describes devices and methods in which photovoltaic cells are configured such that an active layer of a photovoltaic cell is protected against an environmental condition by another active cell layer that is more robust against the environmental condition. In one aspect, the disclosure describes a multi-junction photovoltaic device that includes (a) an upper photovoltaic cell portion that has a first plurality of active layers of films, at least a subset of which form an upper photovoltaic sub-cell and (b) a lower photovoltaic cell portion disposed below the upper photovoltaic cell portion that has a second plurality of layers of films, at least a subset of which form a lower photovoltaic sub-cell. The first plurality of active layers, of the upper cell portion, include at least two layers of films having different degrees of robustness from each other against environmental conditions, such as exposure to water or oxygen.

Abstract: A tube reactor system containing a process fluid, comprising: at least one fresh feed source for supplying ethylene into a process fluid; a primary compressor for pressurizing the process fluid to reaction conditions in fluid communication with both the at least one fresh feed source and a recycle conduit; a reactor tube for converting a portion of the ethylene and optionally at least one comonomer within the process fluid into a low density ethylene-based polymer and a remaining portion of ethylene in fluid communication with the primary compressor; a high pressure separator for separating the low density ethylene-based polymer from the remaining portion of ethylene in fluid communication with the reactor tube; the recycle conduit in fluid communication with the high pressure separator for conveying the remaining portion of ethylene to the primary compressor; where the improvement comprises a reactor tube further comprising at least one initiator injection nozzle in fluid communication with an initiator s

Abstract: A polymer composite is made from or containing: (i) a phase I material consisting essentially of a polar copolymer of ethylene and an unsaturated ester having 4 to 20 carbon atoms; (ii) a phase II material consisting essentially of a nonpolar, low density polyethylene; and (iii) a conducting filler material dispersed in the phase I material and/or the phase II material in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than the amount required to generate a continuous conducting network in the phase I and phase II materials. Articles are made from the polymer composite.

Abstract: A method for forming a heat sealable coating on a substrate, wherein the substrate is formed from at least one oriented polymer is shown. The method includes depositing an aqueous polymer dispersion on the substrate, wherein the aqueous polymer dispersion includes (A) at least one thermoplastic resin; (B) at least one dispersing agent; and (C) water; wherein the dispersion has a pH of less than 12, and drying the dispersion to form a first layer.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorption assembly is shown, wherein the hydrocarbon adsorption assembly is disposed in an encapsulating layer adapted to be received by an air filter of an automobile.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with a non-crystal reference clock includes: an oscillator adapted to generate and transmit an oscillator output signal, wherein the oscillator includes at least one of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; a comparator adapted to receive the oscillator output signal and a calibration input signal, compare the oscillator output signal characteristics and the calibration input signal characteristics, and generate and transmit a first comparator signal in response to the comparison of the oscillator output signal and the calibration input signal; a state machine adapted to receive the first comparator signal, analyze the first comparator signal and calibrate the oscillator in response to the analysis of the first comparator signal; and a controller adapted to the receive the oscillator output signal, wherein a frequency of the oscillator output signal is utilized by the controller as a clock frequency.

Abstract: Foam a polymer blend of (a) a high melt strength polypropylene (HMS PP); (b) a linear or substantially linear polypropylene that has a melting point within ten degrees Celsius of (a), a melt flow rate that is significantly different than (a) and that is miscible with (a); and, optionally, (c) a polyethylene that is immiscible with (a) produces a polymeric foam having an average cell size of at least four millimeters and that has an inherent open-celled content of at least 40 percent. The HMS PP makes up 60 weight percent (wt %) or more and 90 wt % or less of the total combined weight of (a) and (b). Component (c) makes up 60 wt % or less of the total polymer blend weight.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in zwitterionic form, such as dicyclohexylphenylphosphine monosulfonate zwitterion, involving contacting an aromatic phosphine with a sulfonating agent to provide a reaction mixture containing aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in acid form and unconverted sulfonating agent; quenching or removing substantially all of the unconverted sulfonating agent; partially neutralizing the aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in acid form to phase separate aromatic phosphine monosulfonate in zwitterionic form as a solid or neat liquid layer; and collecting the zwitterion as a solid or neat liquid. The zwitterion may be neutralized to form the corresponding aromatic phosphine monosulfonate metal salt, which is useful in preparing catalysts for hydroformylation processes.

Abstract: Articles comprise a monolayer blown film prepared from a composition comprising at least one vinylidene chloride polymer and at least one plasticizer wherein at least one vinylidene chloride polymer comprises vinylidene chloride and at least one alkyl acrylate, selected from methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, or butyl acrylate or a combination thereof in an amount of from 2.5 to 9 mole percent of the monomer content of the vinylidene chloride polymer and wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 1 to 15 parts by weight per hundred parts of polymer, wherein the article is selected from a package, a container, a laminate, sausage casing or combination thereof, particularly a sausage casing, wherein at least 4 of designated characteristics are present. The invention also includes processes for making articles of the invention and films used therein.

Abstract: Stretch films which exhibit good puncture and impact resistance while also exhibiting resistance to defect propagation are desired. The films of the present invention have an ultimate stretch of at least 200 percent, a dart impact strength of at least about 700 gms/mil and a catastrophic failure stretch of at least 95 percent of the elongation to break value (CF of 5 or less). The films preferably comprise at least 3 layers and preferably comprise at least 50 percent by weight of polyethylene polymers.

Abstract: Novel terminal connectors or fittings and terminal connector assemblies using such novel terminal connectors are disclosed. The terminal connector assemblies have uses which include, for example, on load- or motion-transmitting cable assemblies, e.g., for aircraft, automotive, and marine vehicle applications. Certain exemplary embodiments of the terminal connectors and terminal connector assemblies have features that, either alone or in combination, provide desirable characteristics such as, e.g., reduced lash or vibration in such cable assemblies. Such features include, but are not limited to groove(s) disposed in an arm of the fitting, tab member(s) extending from an arm of the terminal connector, projection(s) positioned on an arm of the fitting, etc.

Abstract: The main object of the invention is to obtain LiMnPO4 having an excellent crystalline and a high purity at a lower temperature. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing LiMnPO4 including the steps of: precipitating for obtaining precipitate of manganese hydroxide (Mn(OH)x) by adding a precipitant to a Mn source solution in which a Mn source is dissolved; reducing for obtaining a reduced dispersion solution by dispersing the precipitate in a reducing solvent; adding for obtaining an added dispersion solution by adding a Li source solution and a P source solution to the reduced dispersion solution; pH adjusting for adjusting the pH of the added dispersion solution in the range of 3 to 6 to obtain a pH-adjusted dispersion solution; and synthesizing for synthesizing by reacting the pH-controlled dispersion solution by a heating under pressure condition.

Abstract: An in-vehicle system and method for warning a driver of upcoming curves in a road including. In general, a vehicle positioning module determines the vehicle's position in a global positioning system and a map matching module determines the vehicle's position on a map based on the position in the global positioning system. A look ahead module looks ahead on the map for a curve, determines a candidate list of probable driving paths through the curve, and from this candidate list determines the most likely path of the vehicle around the curve. A warning module then assesses the threat the upcoming curve poses to the vehicle.

Abstract: Copolyesters containing secondary hydroxyl groups are useful polyols for manufacturing polyurethanes. These can be prepared by reacting a secondary hydroxyl-containing fatty acid or ester thereof with an initiator containing hydroxyl and/or primary or secondary amino groups. A copolyester of particular interest includes a poly(ethylene oxide) segment derived from a poly(ethylene oxide) initiator.

Abstract: Telechelic unsaturated polymers suitable for conversion to functionalized derivatives such as polyols are prepared by metathesis of an unsaturated copolymer formed by addition polymerization of ethylene, a diene or alkyne and, optionally, one or more C3.20 ?-olefins.