Abstract: In order to prolong the useful life of an artist's paint brush, the paint brush is supported from a clamp while drying. The clamp has first and second coplanar surfaces which clamp against the tip of the brush supporting it as it is drying. The clamping surfaces are covered with a compressible material such as an open cell foam rubber. The compressible material prevents the bristles of the brushes from spreading out excessively and the open celled foam further facilitates wicking of liquid from the brush as it dries.

Abstract: Toy balloons that have an internal surface coated with a barrier coating include a one-way valve. The one-way valve incorporates an inlet stem that is surrounded by an expandable elastomeric collar. The coating solution is an aqueous solution having a low concentration of polyvinyl alcohol and a carbohydrate. A minimal amount of coating composition is used. This allows preassembly and precoating of toy balloons with one-way valves that can be stored for up to one year without drying out.

Abstract: The oxidation resistance of elastomeric balloons made from natural rubber is greatly improved by coating the exterior of the balloon with a film of uncured elastomer, preferably neoprene. The uncured elastomer coating maintains the clarity of the inflated balloons. These balloons are particularly useful as containers for gifts or in balloon sculpture.

Abstract: Removing chloroprene dimers from polychloroprene by feeding to a screw extruder a polychloroprene latex and coagulating the latex in the extruder, feeding the coagulated latex to a dewatering zone and discharging the coagulated polychloroprene through a flow restriction which heats and pressurizes the polychloroprene to an area of reduced pressure to form a porous crumb. Also, the flow restriction applies back pressure sufficient that the water in the polychloroprene is forced out of a vent port. The polychloroprene crumb discharged from the extruder is heated to strip chloroprene dimer therefrom.

Abstract: Polymers are isolated from their dispersions in liquid media in a twin-screw extruder, wherein the screws in the feed area are intermeshing and fully wiping each other and the extruder bore, the polymer dispersion or latex (which is coagulated in the first zone) being conveyed to a high pressure seal zone, liquid being forced upstream and out of the extruder, and the polymer being conveyed through the seal, into a reduced pressure zone, where most remaining liquid is removed, and finally into a pumping zone from which it is extruded. The invention avoids high pressure pumping of polymer dispersions and also is applicable to dispersions of sticky thermoplastic or elastomeric materials, which have caused considerable difficulties in the past.

Abstract: Polymers are isolated from their dispersions in liquid media in a twin-screw extruder, wherein the screws in the feed area are intermeshing and fully wiping each other and the extruder bore, the polymer dispersion or latex (which is coagulated in the first zone) being conveyed to a high pressure seal zone, liquid being forced upstream and out of the extruder, and the polymer being conveyed through the seal, into a reduced pressure zone, where most remaining liquid is removed, and finally into a pumping zone from which it is extruded. The invention avoids high pressure pumping of polymer dispersions and also is applicable to dispersions of sticky thermoplastic or elastomeric materials, which have caused considerable difficulties in the past.