Abstract: Disclosed are polymeric additives for concrete formed of a polyoxymethylene (POM) copolymer. POM copolymers can be utilized to form fibrous additives for concrete, i.e., microfibers and/or macrofibers. The POM copolymers can include one or more chemical groups, e.g., end groups and/or pendant groups that can increase the polarity of the POM and increase the hydrophilicity of the formed fibers, which can improve miscibility of the fibers in wet concrete. Chemical groups of the POM copolymers can bond with components of the concrete or can hydrolyze to form groups that can bond with components of the concrete, e.g., form covalent or noncovalent (e.g., electrostatic or ionic) bonds with one or more components of the concrete binder.

Abstract: An aromatic amide compound having the following general formula (I) is provided: wherein, X1 and X2 are independently C(O)HN or NHC(O); G1, G2 and G3 are independently hydrogen, C(O)HN-phenyl, or NHC(O)-phenyl, wherein at least one of G1, G2 and G3 is C(O)HN-phenyl or NHC(O)-phenyl; Q1, Q2, and Q3 are independently hydrogen, C(O)HN-phenyl, or NHC(O)-phenyl, wherein at least one of Q1, Q2, and Q3 is C(O)HN-phenyl or NHC(O)-phenyl; R5 is halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; and m is from 0 to 4.

Abstract: An impregnation section of a die (150) and a method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The impregnation section includes an impregnation zone (250) configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The impregnation zone (250) includes a plurality of contact surfaces (252). The impregnation section further includes a device (300) positioned upstream of the impregnation zone (250) in a run direction of the roving. The device (300) is configured to reduce tension in the roving. The method includes tensioning a fiber roving, reducing the tension in the roving, coating the roving with a polymer resin, and traversing the coated roving through an impregnation zone (250) to impregnate the roving with the resin.

Abstract: Polymer compositions containing a polyoxymethylene base polymer that is compounded with a conductive filler. The polymer composition is formulated so as to increase the electrically conductivity of the polymer composition and articles formed therefrom while at the same time having a high enough stiffness via the addition of a conductive filler. The polyoxymethylene base polymer has a melt flow rate ranging from about 15 grams per 10 minutes to about 50 grams per 10 minutes at 190° C. and a 2.6 kilogram load in accordance with ASTM D1238-82. Further, the polymer composition has a modulus of from about 10,000 MPa to about 20,000 MPa. The polymer composition can be used to form molded parts such as printer spindles where conductivity, wear resistance, and stiffness are required.

Abstract: A polymer composition is disclosed containing a coupling agent and an impact modifier that renders the composition resistant to ultraviolet light degradation. The polymer composition contains an aliphatic coupling agent, an aliphatic impact modifier, or both an aliphatic coupling agent and an aliphatic impact modifier. The polymer composition is well suited to producing molded articles, especially articles that will later be exposed to substantial amounts of ultraviolet light. For example, molded articles made according to the present disclosure are well suited for use on the interior of vehicles where the parts are not only exposed to ultraviolet light, but are also exposed to repeated thermal cycles.

Abstract: Polymer compositions containing a polyoxymethylene base polymer that is compounded with a conductive filler, a polyalkylene glycol, and a metal oxide are disclosed that exhibit electrostatic dissipative (ESD) capabilities while also being resistant to degradation upon exposure to aggressive fuels. For instance, the polymer compositions can have a volume resistivity of from about 1 Ohm-cm to about 200 Ohm-cm and a surface resistivity of about 103 Ohms to about 104 Ohms. Further, the polymer compositions can have a strain at break of from about 15% to about 23%. The polymer compositions can be formed into a shaped or molded article such as a connector, filter housing, baffle, flange, reservoir, port, tube, or pipe, etc. for use in fuel systems where uniform increased conductivity and resistance to aggressive fuels are required.

Abstract: A multilayer composite is described as well as methods for forming the multilayer composite and products that incorporate the multilayer composite. The multilayer composite includes a continuous fiber composite first layer and a second layer that is formed from the melt directly on the continuous fiber composite. The continuous fiber composite includes a plurality of unidirectionally aligned carbon fibers embedded within a polymer composition that includes a first polyarylene sulfide. The second layer includes a second polymer composition that can be the same as or different from the first polymer composition. Products can include electronic devices such as computers, cellular telephones, e-readers, etc. as well as panels, such as interior panels in vehicles.

Abstract: Polymer compositions and molded articles made from the polymer compositions are described which contain a high strength polyoxymethylene polymer, an emission control agent, and at least one light stabilizer. The polymer composition not only has excellent resistance to ultraviolet light but also exhibits low formaldehyde emission. In one embodiment, the emission control agent comprises allantoin while the light stabilizer comprises a hindered amine.

Abstract: A method for coating a non-metallic substrate with a polymer solution that includes an aromatic polyester and a solvent is provided. By selectively controlling the nature of the aromatic polyester, the present inventors have discovered that such polymer solutions can be readily formed, thereby enabling the use of simpler and less complex techniques (e.g., solvent casting) for coating substrates with aromatic polyesters. Moreover, the nature of the polyester and its relative concentration in the solution can also be tailored to achieve coatings that not only adhere well to the substrate, but also possess good thermal and mechanical properties for use in a wide variety of potential applications.

Abstract: An overmolded composite structure that contains a metal component and a resinous component adhered to a surface thereof is provided. The resinous component is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains at least one polyarylene sulfide and at least one mineral filler. The present inventors have discovered that the nature and relative concentration of the polyarylene sulfides, mineral fillers, and/or other materials in the thermoplastic composition can be selectively tailored so that the resulting resinous component has a coefficient of linear thermal expansion and/or color that is similar to the metal component.

Abstract: A monofilament fiber as described made from a polyoxymethylene polymer. Polyoxymethylene polymer can be blended with an abrasion additive in order to improve abrasion resistance. The polyoxymethylene polymer may be combined with a thermoplastic elastomer and a coupling agent. The fiber can be used as fishing line, as bristles for a brushing device, or the like.

Abstract: An impact modified polyoxymethylene polymer composition is described containing a melt flow stabilizer. The polymer composition may contain a polyoxymethylene polymer containing functional groups, a thermoplastic elastomer and a coupling agent. A melt flow stabilizer is added to the composition in order to stabilize the melt volume flow rate of the composition after the components have been formulated. The melt flow stabilizer may comprise a pyridine derivative.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming fiber reinforced polymer tapes are disclosed. A method may include, for example, traversing a polymer impregnated roving through a system comprising an inlet and an outlet, applying a consolidation pressure within the system to the polymer impregnated roving, and applying a smoothing pressure within the system to the polymer impregnated roving. The method may further include adjusting a temperature of the polymer impregnated roving with a heat transfer device between the inlet and the outlet, the heat transfer device having a temperature different from a temperature of the polymer impregnated roving at the inlet.

Abstract: A prepreg composite that contains a porous substrate impregnated with an aromatic polyester is provided. In addition to possessing a high degree of heat and moisture resistance, the present inventors have also discovered that the nature of the aromatic polyester can be selectively controlled so that it is soluble in a solvent. This allows for the formation of polymer solutions that can be readily employed to impregnate the porous substrate. The nature of the polyester and its relative concentration in the solution can also be tailored to achieve polymers that not only adhere well to the substrate, but also possess good thermal and mechanical properties for use in a wide variety of potential applications.

Abstract: Composite components and methods for forming composite components are provided. A method includes inserting a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic tape into a molding device, and feeding a parison into the molding device. The parison includes a thermoplastic material. The method further includes blow molding the parison within the molding device such that the parison bonds with the tape, forming the composite component. A composite component includes a blow molded inner layer comprising a thermoplastic material. The composite component further includes an outer layer bonded to the inner layer during blow molding of the inner layer. The outer layer includes a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic tape.

Abstract: A shaped part that is formed from a polymer composition that contains a liquid crystalline polymer and a black pigment is provided. By selectively controlling the type and relative concentration of these components, the polymer composition and shaped parts formed therefrom can have a dark black appearance, and yet still exhibit good thermal and mechanical properties at high temperatures.

Abstract: Polymer compositions are described that are well suited for producing reflectors for light-emitting devices, such as light-emitting diodes. In one particular embodiment, the polymer composition contains a polymer resin, a white pigment, a silicone compound, and a nucleating agent. The polymer resin may comprise, for instance, a poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate). In accordance with the present disclosure, the composition also contains at least one silicone compound and at least one nucleating agent. The silicone compound and nucleating agent have been found to improve the molding processability and reflectance stability of the polymer composition.

Abstract: Polymer compositions containing a polyoxymethylene base polymer that is compounded with a conductive filler and pigment carbon black are disclosed that exhibit electrostatic dissipative (ESD) capabilities while also being laser weldable. The polymer composition can be formed into shaped or molded articles such as filters, flanges, connectors, etc. for use in fuel systems where conductivity, ductility, weldability, and resistance to aggressive fuels are required. The compositions can be compounded into a pellet product which can then be formed into a shaped article that complies with the ESD capabilities required by SAE J1645. At the same time, parts produced from the compositions can absorb laser energy sufficiently to form a high quality welded interface with parts produced from other compositions that are transparent to laser radiation and cannot absorb laser energy sufficiently.

Abstract: A multicomponent fiber that contains two or more components arranged in distinct zones across the cross-section of the multicomponent fiber is provided. The components are arranged in a sheath/core configuration in which the core component is substantially surrounded by the sheath component. One of the sheath and the core is formed from a polyarylene sulfide composition and the other of the sheath and the core is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a thermoplastic polymer other than a polyarylene sulfide. Further, the polyarylene sulfide is “functionalized” in that it contains at least one functional group in its molecular structure (e.g., at its molecular terminal end). Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that such functional groups can improve the adhesion between the core and sheath components, thereby resulting in a fiber having improved thermal and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline polymer composition that is thermally and/or electrically conductive and has a reduced tendency to create a static electric charge during a molding operation is provided. More particularly, the composition contains carbon fibers distributed within a liquid crystalline polymer matrix. Through the use of carbon fibers having relatively high purity, high temperature sizing agent, and/or various process parameters, molded parts can be produced having excellent characteristics while minimizing the amount of carbon fibers contained within the polymer matrix.