Abstract: The application discloses cellulose ester compositions comprising two or more miscible blends of cellulose ester each comprising a plurality of propionyl substituents having tunable rheology and physical properties not achievable by any one of the cellulose esters alone. These cellulose ester compositions can be further processed, with or without other materials such as plasticizers, flame retardants, and blowing agents, and converted into articles. These cellulose ester compositions have higher modulus and have low to no butyryl/butyric acid content relative to cellulose acetate butyrate (“CAB”) cellulose ester compositions made from CABs having a butyryl content of greater than 30 wt %.

Abstract: The application discloses cellulose ester compositions comprising two or more miscible blends of cellulose ester each comprising a plurality of propionyl substituents having tunable rheology and physical properties not achievable by any one of the cellulose esters alone. These cellulose ester compositions can be further processed, with or without other materials such as plasticizers, flame retardants, and blowing agents, and converted into articles. These cellulose ester compositions have higher modulus and have low to no butyryl/butyric acid content relative to cellulose acetate butyrate (“CAB”) cellulose ester compositions made from CABs having a butyryl content of greater than 30 wt %.

Abstract: This patent application discloses membranes comprised of cellulose esters that are crosslinked. The membrane can be in the form of a flat film, tube or hollow fiber membrane. The membranes are plasticization resistant and can be used to separate gases.

Abstract: Self-corrugating laminates useful in the manufacture of thermoelectric devices are disclosed. The laminates include an upper and a lower shrinkable film layer and a non-shrinkable core with a thermoelectric pattern formed thereon bonded between said upper and lower shrinkable film along bond lines arranged parallel, substantially parallel, radially, or annularly. The bond lines that bond the upper shrinkable film layer to top surface of the nonshrinkable core are staggered relative to the bond lines that bond the lower shrinkable film layer to the bottom surface of the non-shrinkable core such that upon shrinkage of the shrinkable film layers, structural corrugations are formed in the non-shrinkable core. Thermoelectric modules or devices and methods for forming them from the self-corrugating laminates are also described.

Abstract: Self-corrugating laminates useful in the manufacture of thermoelectric devices are disclosed. The laminates include an upper and a lower shrinkable film layer and a non-shrinkable core with a thermoelectric pattern formed thereon bonded between said upper and lower shrinkable film along bond lines arranged parallel, substantially parallel, radially, or annularly. The bond lines that bond the upper shrinkable film layer to top surface of the nonshrinkable core are staggered relative to the bond lines that bond the lower shrinkable film layer to the bottom surface of the non-shrinkable core such that upon shrinkage of the shrinkable film layers, structural corrugations are formed in the non-shrinkable core. Thermoelectric modules or devices and methods for forming them from the self-corrugating laminates are also described.

Abstract: A self-corrugating laminate is disclosed. The self-corrugating laminate includes an upper and a lower shrinkable film layer each having at least one axis of shrinkage and a non-shrinkable core bonded between the upper and lower shrinkable film layers along bond lines. The bond lines that bond the upper shrinkable film layer to the non-shrinkable core are staggered relative to the bond lines that bond the lower shrinkable film layer to the non-shrinkable core such that upon shrinkage of the shrinkable film layers, structural corrugations are formed in the non-shrinkable core. The shrinkable film layers of the invention exhibit a percent shrinkage along an axis of shrinkage from about 10 to about 45 percent.

Abstract: Self-corrugating laminates are disclosed that include first and second shrinkable film layers, each having a primary axis of shrinkage, bonded together in a grid of spaced bond points arranged substantially linearly along perpendicular horizontal and vertical bond lines such that the axes of shrinkage are substantially perpendicular to one another. Upon shrinkage of the shrinkable film layers, a structural corrugate is formed that includes first and second corrugated layers each with structural corrugations therein arranged along lines of corrugation. At the interface of the two corrugated layers, the lines of corrugation in the first corrugated layer are substantially perpendicular to the lines of corrugation in the second corrugated layer.

Abstract: Self-corrugating laminates are disclosed that include first and second non-shrinkable core layers bonded together in a grid of spaced bond points arranged substantially linearly along perpendicular horizontal and vertical bond point lines; and upper and lower shrinkable film layers, each having a primary axis of shrinkage and each bonded to one of the non-shrinkable core layers along bond lines that are substantially perpendicular to the primary axis of shrinkage of the immediately adjacent shrinkable film layer. Upon shrinkage of the upper and lower shrinkable film layers a corrugated structure is formed that includes first and second core layers each having spaced structural corrugations formed therein.

Abstract: Polymer composite materials comprising of least one polymer resin and platelet particles from at least one layered silicate material uniformly dispersed in the resin and articles prepared from the polymer composite materials. The polymer composite contains at least one polyamide resin, at least one oxygen scavenging system, and at least one layered silicate material. These polymer composite materials are especially useful for manufacturing clear polyester bottles and polyester film that are recyclable have improved active gas barrier properties to oxygen, and have improved passive barrier properties to carbon dioxide and other gases. The polymer composite materials can be used in relatively minor amounts as either a blend or a coextruded thin layer with virgin or post consumer recycled polyesters and related copolymners.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for preparing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer-platelet particle nanocomposite comprising the steps of: (i) melt mixing platelet particles with a matrix polymer-compatible oligomeric resin to form an oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite, and (ii) mixing the oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite with a high molecular weight matrix polymer, thereby increasing the molecular weight of the oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite and producing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer nanocomposite material. The invention also is directed to a nanocomposite material produced by the process, products produced from the nanocomposite material, and a nanocomposite prepared from an oligomeric resin-platelet particle precursor composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing a nanocomposite comprising: a. preparing an organoclay material by reacting a swellable layered clay with an onium ion represented by Formula (I): wherein i) M is nitrogen or phosphorus, ii) R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms, iii) R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from organic or oligomeric ligands or hydrogen, and iv) at least one of R2, R3, and R4 comprises an alkylene oxide group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms or a polyalkylene oxide group, and b. melt mixing the organoclay material with an expanding agent, and c. melt extruding the expanded organoclay and a polymer to provide a nanocomposite.

Abstract: This invention describes the use of organoclays as additives to plasticizers to provide a plasticizer composition, to allow the mixing of the plasticizers with thermoplastic resins in the same process used to convert the resin formulation to finished product. The use of this invention eliminates the need for a preliminary compounding step to incorporate plasticizers into thermoplastics prior to extrusion or molding.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a polymer-clay nanocomposite, products produced from the nanocomposite, and a process for preparing a polymer-clay nanocomposite. The polymer-clay nanocomposite comprises (a) a matrix polymer, (b) an amorphous oligomer, and (c) a layered clay material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite composition comprising one or more polyamide polymers or copolymers, one or more layered clay materials, and one or more alkoxylated ammonium cations. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a nanocomposite and articles produced from the nanocomposite, including bottles.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for preparing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer-platelet particle nanocomposite comprising the steps of: A process for preparing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer-platelet particle nanocomposite comprising the steps of: (i) melt mixing platelet particles with an oligomeric polyamide resin to form an oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite, and (ii) mixing the oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite with a high molecular weight matrix polyamide having diamine and diacid repeat units, thereby increasing the molecular weight of the oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite and producing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer nanocomposite material. The invention also is directed to a nanocomposite material produced by the process, products produced from the nanocomposite material, and a nanocomposite prepared from an oligomeric resin-platelet particle precursor composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising (i) a layered clay material that has been cation-exchanged with an organic cation salt represented by Formula (I): wherein M is nitrogen or phosphorous, X− is a halide, hydroxide, or acetate anion, R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms, and R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen or a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms; and (ii) at least one expanding agent, wherein the cation-exchanged clay material contains platelet particles and the expanding agent separates the platelet particles. The present invention also relates to a composite comprising a polymer having dispersed therein a composition of this invention. Preferred polymers for use in the composite include polyesters. The composite of the present invention shows vastly improved platelet separation as evidenced by higher than previously reported basal spacing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing a nanocomposite comprising:

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for preparing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer-platelet particle nanocomposite comprising the steps of: (i) melt mixing platelet particles with a matrix polymer-compatible oligomeric resin to form an oligomeric resin-platelet with a high molecular weight matric polymer, thereby increasing the molecular weight of the oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite and producting an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer nanocomposite material. The invention also is directed to a nanocomposite material producted by the process, producted produced from the nanocomposite material, and a nanocomposite prepared from an oligomeric resin-platelet particle precursor composite.