Abstract: A carbon-based biofilm carrier is formed of saturated fatty acids and saturated fatty alcohols. The carriers are shaped with a hollow center and have a length that ranges from bout 0.3 to about 1.5 times its outer diameter. The shape provides both maximum surface area and maximum protection during aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment of wastewater.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing a thermoformable composite by crosslinking PHA and PLA together in the presence of an additive to produce PHA and PLA blend and resins having: (a) a Ts value of up to about 180° C.; and (b) a heat distortion index of up to about 160° C. The thermoformable composite is used to make a food or beverage cup, lid, cutlery item, foodservice item, molded tray, or food storage container. The thermoformable composite comprises from about 5% to about 95% by weight of polylactic acid (PLA), from about 5% to about 95% by weight polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer, and from about 0.01% to about 60% additives wherein the PLA and PHAs being crosslink together by intermolecular means to enhance performance and processability.

Abstract: A durable composite sheet is provided, with a method of manufacturing the composite sheet. The method includes using a crack-resistant reinforcement panel between a gel coat and a reinforcement panel, which may be of lauan or of other materials. At least one outer coat of material is applied onto a mold surface. A barrier layer may be formed on the outer coat, preferably by spraying. At least one coat of a resin material, containing a curable resin and optionally a filler, and a fibrous reinforcement material are applied over the outer coat (over the barrier layer if present) to form a reinforcement layer. The reinforcement panel is applied to the crack-resistant reinforcement layer, and is bonded thereto.

Abstract: Multi-layered co-extruded tubes are provided that include an outer layer including a first semiaromatic semicrystalline polyamide having a melt temperature of about 240° C. to 280° C., and a thermal stabilizer; and an inner layer including a second semiaromatic semicrystalline polyamide having a glass transition equal to or greater than 100° C.

Abstract: Container with an opening and closing element (5) for wine or a similar beverage, comprising three distinct elements (2-4) made of plastic and assembled by welding, these being a flexible laminate (2) that forms the side wall of the said container, an end wall (4) and a shoulder (3) comprising a neck; characterized in that at least one of the three elements (2-4) is oxygen impermeable and in that at least one other element (2-4) is oxygen permeable.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable polyester film is obtained which is extremely satisfactory in openability along a perforation, has exceedingly high productivity, and is less apt to split in the lengthwise direction in processing, e.g., printing. Provided is a label which is formed from the heat-shrinkable film and is satisfactorily tearable. The label is one formed from a tubular material which comprises as a base a heat-shrinkable film thermally shrinking mainly in the film width direction and which has been cut according to an object to be packaged, both edges in the film width direction having been bonded to each other. The tubular material has been thermally shrunk to constitute the label, with which at least part of the periphery of the object to be packaged is covered. The label has an angle tear strength in the direction perpendicular to the main shrinkage direction (i.e., in the film length direction) of 100-310 N/mm and a tensile break strength in the direction perpendicular to the main shrinkage direction (i.e.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stretched plastic tube obtainable from a polymer composition comprising a copolyester elastomer, and comprising two end-parts and an elongated part between the end-parts wherein at least one end-part is a stretched end-part obtained by mechanically stretching of at least a section of that end part, characterized in that the stretched end-part comprises an outer surface layer area consisting of a first thermoplastic polymer composition (A) comprising a first copolyester elastomer (A-1) and 0-0.2 wt. % carbon black relative to the total weight of the thermoplastic polymer composition (A). The invention also relates to a Plastic tube obtainable from a polymer composition comprising a copolyester elastomer, wherein the plastic tube is a plastic tube comprising: (i) an outer surface layer consisting of a first thermoplastic polymer composition (A) comprising a first copolyester elastomer (A-1) and 0-0.2 wt.

Abstract: A ballistic-resistant moulded article having a compressed stack of sheets including reinforcing elongate bodies, where at least some of the elongate bodies are polyethylene elongate bodies that have a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 gram/mole and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6. Methods for manufacturing ballistic-resistant moulded articles are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tube in the form of a molded article of a resin composition including a hydrogenated block copolymer (a) which includes a polymer block constituted mainly from an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a polymer block constituted mainly from a specific conjugated diene compound unit and has a glass transition temperature of from ?45 to 30° C., a hydrogenated block copolymer (b) which includes a polymer block constituted mainly from an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a polymer block constituted mainly from a specific conjugated diene compound unit and has a glass transition temperature of less than ?45° C., and a polyolefin-based resin (c), at a specific proportion, said tube being excellent in transparency, flexibility, anti-kinking property, anti-sticking property, clamp resistance, solvent adhesion property, low-temperature impact resistance and heat resistance, as well as a medical device using the tube.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a multilayered polyamide-based tube for food packaging that is free from blocking in a Layer (C), and that has an excellent adherence to processed meat or like packaged food. The present invention provides a multilayered polyamide-based tube for food packaging comprising a Layer (A), a Layer (B) and a Layer (C); the multilayered polyamide-based tube having a low-temperature shrinkage ratio of 2 to 10%, and exhibiting heat shrinkage properties and gas barrier properties; the Layer (A) containing a polyamide-based resin; the Layer (B) containing a polyolefin-based resin; and the Layer (C) that comes in contact with the packaged food, the Layer (C) being a Layer (C-1) that contains a polypropylene-based resin having a heat distortion temperature (ISO 75B-1 or ISO 75B-2) of not less than 60° C. and a Vicat softening point of not less than 120° C.

Abstract: A decorative laminate is provided and includes a core with at least one epoxy resin impregnated fiberboard sheet. The decorative laminate also includes at least one decorative layer provided adjacent to the core. A method of forming a decorative laminate is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for spinning a multifilament thread from a thermoplastic material, including the steps of extruding the melted material through a spinneret with a plurality of spinneret holes into a filament bundle with a plurality of filaments, winding the filaments as thread after solidifying, and cooling the filament bundle beneath the spinneret, whereby in a first cooling zone the gaseous cooling medium is directed in such a way that it flows through the filament bundle transversely, the cooling medium leaving the filament bundle practically completely on the side opposite the inflow side, and in a second cooling zone beneath the first cooling zone, the filament bundle being cooled further essentially through self-suction of the gaseous cooling medium surrounding the filament bundle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fine carbon fibrous structure which comprises carbon fibers and granular parts, wherein at least two granular parts connect by at least one of the carbon fibers; wherein the fine carbon fibrous structure have a D2/D1 ratio of 1.3 to 10, wherein the D1 is the median diameter of outer diameters of the carbon fibers and the D2 is the area-based circle-equivalent median diameter of the particles; wherein the granular parts have a D2 of 0.05 to 0.4 ?m; wherein the carbon fibers have a median length of not more than 20 ?m; wherein the granular parts are produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers; and wherein at least a graphene layer which exists on and constitutes the surface of each granular part is continued on a graphene layer which exists on and constitutes the surface of the carbon fiber which connects between the granular parts.

Abstract: Stiff, lightweight composite materials that include a Class A surface finish as well as methods of making these composites and articles that include these composites. The fiber reinforced HPPC composite sheet material includes a glass laminate layer and a metal layer. The metal layer covers the unidirectional glass fibers in the HPPC composite while the glass laminate layer gives the composite mechanical puncture resistance, while providing a composite sheet material with Class A surface properties that is still lightweight.

Abstract: The heat-shrinkable cylindrical label of the present invention comprises a cylindrical body formed a heat-shrinkable film into a cylindrical form, and a resin layer laid on a partial region of the cylindrical body, wherein the heat-shrinkable film is a film having a heat shrinkage ratio of 30% or more when the film is heated to 85° C. and having a shrinkage stress of 6.5 MPa or less when the film is heated to 85° C., and the resin layer is a layer which does not substantially deform when the layer is heated to 85° C. In a cylindrical-label-attached article, wherein the cylindrical label is shrunk by heat to be fitted to an article, the regions where the resin layer is formed rise up as a three-dimensional pattern in a convex form.

Abstract: An aromatic polyamide fiber comprising an aromatic polyamide containing a structural repeating unit of the following formula (1), and a structural repeating unit of the following repeating unit (2) in an amount of 30 mol % or more to the whole amount of the aromatic polyamide structural units, the fiber having strength of 20 cN/dtex or more and modulus of elongation of 500 cN/dtex or more: wherein Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent an unsubstituted or substituted divalent aromatic group.

Abstract: A package includes at least one layer of foamed thin film and an opening feature formed in the layer of foamed thin film. The foamed thin film has a caliper of from about 10 microns to about 250 microns thick. The foamed thin film comprises from about 5% to about 50% density reduction as compared to a non-foamed thin film of substantially the same caliper and substantially the same composition. The package may include foamed thin film made of a plastic resin and a whitening additive that is added to plastic resin. The whitening additive is selected to produce a foamed thin film having an opacity value of from about 35% to about 99%. The whitening agent is of substantially the same composition and is present in substantially the same amount as would be selected to produce substantially the same light reflectivity in a non-foamed thin film of substantially the same caliper and substantially the same composition.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a multilayer stretchy drawstring and methods of making the same. The drawstring of the disclosed subject matter is a stretched multilayer coextruded or laminated film that offers good balance between easy stretching at low strain and high strain hardening at high strain. The multilayer film includes a first layer of elastomeric polymer and second and third layers of thermoplastic polymer and is stretched beyond the deformation limit of the thermoplastic polymer and allowed to recover. This novel drawstring can be incorporated into a bag to enable the bag to be securely fitted to the upper portion of a trash container while not interfering with the intrinsic strength and operation of the drawstring.

Abstract: In various embodiments, composite materials containing a ceramic matrix and a carbon nanotube-infused fiber material are described herein. Illustrative ceramic matrices include, for example, binary, ternary and quaternary metal or non-metal borides, oxides, nitrides and carbides. The ceramic matrix can also be a cement. The fiber materials can be continuous or chopped fibers and include, for example, glass fibers, carbon fibers, metal fibers, ceramic fibers, organic fibers, silicon carbide fibers, boron carbide fibers, silicon nitride fibers and aluminum oxide fibers. The composite materials can further include a passivation layer overcoating at least the carbon nanotube-infused fiber material and, optionally, the plurality of carbon nanotubes. The fiber material can be distributed uniformly, non-uniformly or in a gradient manner in the ceramic matrix. Non-uniform distributions may be used to form impart different mechanical, electrical or thermal properties to different regions of the ceramic matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a moulded article made from a polypropylene composition comprising 48-94.9 mass % of a polypropylene; 5-30 mass % of glass fibers having average length of 1-50 mm; 0.1-2 mass % of oleamide and/or erucamide; and 0-20 mass % of other additives; the article showing a color change of dL<2 in the PSA/Renault scratch tests and a color change of dL<1.5 in the Erichsen scratch test. This article shows an excellent combination of properties, especially a good balance between stiffness and impact resistance, which have excellent surface appearance, and high resistance to surface scratching and abrasion.