Abstract: An composition comprising: a homopolycarbonate; a poly(carbonate-siloxane) having a siloxane content of 30-70 wt %, preferably 35-65 wt %, based on the total weight of the poly(carbonate-siloxane) present in an amount effective to provide 2-10 wt % total siloxane, based on the total weight of the composition; an antimicrobial agent, wherein the antimicrobial agent is a silver zinc zeolite powder, wherein the antimicrobial agent is present in amount effective to provide up to 1000 parts per million of elemental silver based on the total weight of the composition and optionally, an additive composition.

Abstract: Methods for producing transparent polycarbonate articles include melting a composition at a temperature of 300 to 390° C., extruding the melted composition to form a strand, cooling the strand of extruded composition, cutting the cooled strand into pellets, drying the pellets at a temperature of 50 to 140° C. and injecting molding or extruding the pellets at a temperature of 300 to 380° C. to form an article. The composition can comprise a moisture content of 0.1 to 5 wt. % and a crystalline additive having a melting point of at least 280° C., a heat of fusion greater than or equal to 1.0 Joule/gram (J/g). The composition can be cooled to at least 20° C. below the glass transition temperature of the polycarbonate.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a densified polymer powder comprising compressing a polymer feed that has a bulk density of less than or equal to 240 kg/m in a roll compactor comprising at least two compaction rolls to obtain a densified polymer material, wherein a gap between the two rolls is 0.5 to 10 mm, wherein the compaction rolls operate at a speed of 3 to 30 rpm, wherein an applied pressure of the roll compactor is 0.5 to 5 MPa, and milling the densified polymer material to obtain a densified polymer powder, wherein a bulk density of the densified polymer powder is greater than or equal to 250 kg/m3.

Abstract: Method of making an extruded thin film comprising: melt filtering an amorphous thermoplastic composition comprising an amorphous thermoplastic polymer with a glass transition temperature Tg of 130° C. to 280° C. to form a melt filtered amorphous thermoplastic composition; extruding the melt filtered amorphous thermoplastic composition into strands at a temperature TE; cooling the strands to a temperature Tc to form cooled strands; cutting the cooled strands into pellets having a length of 2.0 to 6.0 millimeters; treating the pellets at a temperature Ts to remove particulates having at least one of length, width, and height of less than 0.5 millimeters to form treated pellets; melting the treated pellets in an extruder at a temperature Tp to form a molten composition; and extruding the molten composition through a flat die to form a film having an average thickness less than or equal to 50 micrometers.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns compositions and methods to improve remote phosphor optical properties in polycarbonate. One method includes combining a phosphor component and a polycarbonate component to form a phosphor-polycarbonate composition; and at a fixed phosphor concentration, combining the phosphor-polycarbonate composition with a diffusing agent comprising polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), wherein the diffusing agent diffuses light, and wherein the phosphor-polycarbonate composition exhibits an increase in chromaticity coordinate (CIEx) as determined by CIE 1931 or increase in CIE 1976 (u?,v?) of at least about 5% relative to a substantially similar reference composition in the absence of PTFE.

Abstract: Methods for producing transparent polycarbonate articles include melting a composition at a temperature of 300 to 390° C., extruding the melted composition to form a strand, cooling the strand of extruded composition, cutting the cooled strand into pellets, drying the pellets at a temperature of 50 to 140° C. and injecting molding or extruding the pellets at a temperature of 300 to 380° C. to form an article. The composition can comprise a moisture content of 0.1 to 5 wt. % and a crystalline additive having a melting point of at least 280° C., a heat of fusion greater than or equal to 1.0 Joule/gram (J/g). The composition can be cooled to at least 20° C. below the glass transition temperature of the polycarbonate.

Abstract: A cleaning mixture comprising polymeric resin pellets having a Rockwell R hardness of 85 to 140, water, and a surfactant salt comprising at least one of sulfonate salts, C6 to C36 carboxylic acid salts, or mixtures thereof, is used to purge the mixing device. The cleaning mixture has a pH of 6.0 to 9.0.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a densified polymer powder comprising compressing a polymer feed that has a bulk density of less than or equal to 240 kg/m in a roll compactor comprising at least two compaction rolls to obtain a densified polymer material, wherein a gap between the two rolls is 0.5 to 10 mm, wherein the compaction rolls operate at a speed of 3 to 30 rpm, wherein an applied pressure of the roll compactor is 0.5 to 5 MPa, and milling the densified polymer material to obtain a densified polymer powder, wherein a bulk density of the densified polymer powder is greater than or equal to 250 kg/m3.

Abstract: A thermally insulated melt processor comprises a barrel (10) and a heater (40) disposed on the barrel. The heater comprises an insulating material (42) in contact with a surface of the barrel and a heat member (44) disposed in the insulating material and configured to provide heat in response conduction of electric current through the heat member.

Abstract: A cleaning mixture comprising polymeric resin pellets having a Rockwell R hardness of 85 to 140, water, and a surfactant salt comprising at least one of sulfonate salts, C6 to C36 carboxylic acid salts, or mixtures thereof, is used to purge the mixing device. The cleaning mixture has a pH of 6.0 to 9.0.

Abstract: Processes and compositions for cleaning mixing devices are disclosed that improve the production and quality of thermoplastic polymer resins subsequently produced in the mixing device, while reducing the time needed for cleaning and/or change over. A cleaning mixture comprising polymeric resin pellets having a Rockwell R hardness of 85 to 140 externally coated with an aqueous solution containing sulfonate salts, alkyl aryl sulfonate salts, alkyl sulfate salts, C6 to C36 carboxylic acid salts, or mixtures thereof, is used to purge the mixing device. The surfactant salt is present in the aqueous solution at 0.2 to 30 wt % of the solution, the aqueous solution having a pH of 6.0 to 9.0.

Abstract: Processes and compositions for cleaning mixing devices are disclosed that improve the production and quality of polycarbonate resins subsequently produced in the mixing device, while reducing the time needed for cleaning and/or change over. A cleaning mixture comprising polycarbonate resin pellets coated with an alkyl aryl sulfonate salt aqueous solution are used to purge the mixing device.