Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayered material sheet comprising a consolidated stack of unidirectional monolayers of drawn polymer, whereby the draw direction of two subsequent monolayers in the stack differs. At least one monolayer comprises a plurality of unidirectional tapes of the drawn polymer, aligned in the same direction, whereby adjacent tapes do not overlap. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the multilayered material sheet, and to a ballistic resistant article comprising the multilayered material sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayered material sheet comprising a consolidated stack of unidirectional monolayers of drawn polymer, whereby the draw direction of two subsequent monolayers in the stack differs. At least one monolayer comprises a plurality of unidirectional tapes of the drawn polymer, aligned in the same direction, whereby adjacent tapes do not overlap. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the multilayered material sheet, and to a ballistic resistant article comprising the multilayered material sheet.

Abstract: The invention concerns a high performance polyethylene (HPPE) member comprising at least 5 wt-% of a radiopaque component, the HPPE member is biocompatible and the radiopaque component is a particulate at least partially arranged inside a HPPE filament of the HPPE member. Furthermore, the radiopaque component has a particle size of at most 1 ?m, preferably the radiopaque component has a particle size if at most 0.5 ?m. The invention also concerns a method of making the HPPE member and various medical devices and repair products comprising the HPPE member.

Abstract: Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarns include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DRfluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DRsolid of at least 4.

Abstract: Gel-spinning processes for producing a high tensile strength ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) multifilament yarn comprising ultra-low dtex filaments, include applying a draw ratio DRfluid to fluid filaments obtained by spinning a solution of UHMWPE through a spinneret and into an air gap, is at least 450, wherein DRfluid=DRsp×DRag, the DRsp and DRag being the draw ratios in the spinholes and in the air gap, respectively; and provided that DRag is at least 30. The UHMWPE multifilament yarns produced thereof were characterized by a tensile strength of at least 3.5 GPa and contained filaments having a dtex of at most 0.5. The invention further relates to products comprising said yarns, e.g. fabrics, medical devices and composite and ballistic articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayered material sheet comprising a consolidated stack of unidirectional monolayers of drawn ultra high molecular weight polyolefine. The draw direction of two subsequent monolayers in the stack differs. Moreover the thickness of at least one monolayer does not exceed 50 ?m, and the strength of at least one monolayer is comprised between 1.2 GPa and 3 GPa. The invention also relates to a ballistic resistant article comprising the multilayered material sheet and to a process for the preparation of the ballistic resistant article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gel spun, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) multifilament yarn characterized in that said yarn comprises individual monofilaments having a coefficient of variation of their linear density, hereafter CVintra, of less than 30%, wherein the CVintra of a monofilament was determined from linear density values corresponding to a number of 20 representative lengths randomly extracted by cutting from said monofilament and using Formula 1 wherein ?i is the linear density of any one of the representative lengths extracted from the monofilament under investigation and Formula 1A is the averaged linear density over the n=20 measured linear densities of said n=20 representative lengths. The invention also relates to a gel spun UHMWPE multifilament yarn characterized in that the yarn has a coefficient of variation in linear density between the monofilaments comprising said yarn, hereafter CVinter, of less than 50%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making a monofilament-like product from a precursor containing a multitude of continuous polyolefin filaments, comprising exposing the precursor to a temperature within the melting point range of the polyolefin for a time sufficient to at least partly fuse adjacent fibers and simultaneously stretching the precursor at a draw ratio of at least 2.8. With the process according to the invention a monofilament-like product can be made that shows improved tensile properties; making it very suitable for application as e.g. fishing line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gel-spinning process for producing UHMWPE fibers, said process comprising the steps of a) feeding a slurry containing UHMWPE and a spinning solvent to an extruder; b) converting the slurry in the extruder into a solution of UHMWPE in the spinning solvent; c) spinning fluid UHMWPE fibers by passing the solution of step b) through a spinning plate containing a plurality of spin holes; d) cooling the fluid UHMWPE fibers to form gel UHMWPE fibers; e) removing at least partly the spinning solvent from the gel UHMWPE fibers; and f) drawing the UHMWPE fibers in at least one drawing step before, during and/or after removing the spin solvent characterised in that the spinning plate having at most 6 spin holes per cm2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gel spun, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) multifilament yarn characterized in that said yarn comprises individual monofilaments having a coefficient of variation of their linear density, hereafter CVintra, of less than 30%, wherein the CVintra of a monofilament was determined from linear density values corresponding to a number of 20 representative lengths randomly extracted by cutting from said monofilament and using Formula 1 wherein ?i is the linear density of any one of the representative lengths extracted from the monofilament under investigation and Formula 1A is the averaged linear density over the n=20 measured linear densities of said n=20 representative lengths. The invention also relates to a gel spun UHMWPE multifilament yarn characterized in that the yarn has a coefficient of variation in linear density between the monofilaments comprising said yarn, hereafter CVinter, of less than 50%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing gel-spun ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres having high tensile strengths and improved creep rates wherein the UHMWPE used in said process is characterized by a difference in the phase angle according to Formula (1) ??=?0.001??100 of at most 42°, wherein ?0.001 is the phase angle at an angular frequency of 0.001 rad/sec; and ?100 is the phase angle at an angular frequency of 100 rad/sec as measured with a frequency sweep dynamic rheological technique at 150° C. on a 10% solution of UHMWPE in paraffin oil, provided that ?100 is at most 18°. The invention further relates to gel-spun UHMWPE fibres produced thereof. The gel-spun UHMWPE fibres of the invention have a tensile strength of at least 4 GPa, and a creep rate of at most 5×10?7 sec?1 as measured at 70° C. under a load of 600 MPa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gel-spinning process for producing a high tensile strength ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) multifilament yarn comprising ultra-low dtex filaments, the process being characterized in that the draw ratio DRfluid applied to fluid filaments obtained by spinning a solution of UHMWPE through a spinneret and into an air gap, is at least 450, wherein DRfluid=DRsp*DRag, the DRsp and DRag being the draw ratios in the spinholes and in the air gap, respectively; and provided that DRag is at least 30. The UHMWPE multifilament yarns produced thereof were characterized by a tensile strength of at least 3.5 GPa and contained filaments having a dtex of at most 0.5. The invention further relates to products comprising said yarns, e.g. fabrics, medical devices and composite and ballistic articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing gel-spun ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres having high tensile strengths and improved creep rates wherein the UHMWPE used in said process comprises per thousand carbon atoms between 0.1 and 1.3 methyl side groups; and between 0.08 and 0.6 of methyl end groups; and wherein the overall draw ratio (DRoverall=DRfluid×DRgel×DRsolid) is at least 7000 provided that the fluid draw ratio DRfluid=DRsp×DRag is at least 100, wherein DRsp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DRag is the draw ratio in the air gap. The invention further relates to gel-spun UHMWPE fibres produced thereof. The gel-spun UHMWPE fibres of the invention have a tensile strength of at least 4 GPa, and a creep rate as measured at 70° C. under a load of 600 MPa of at most 6×10?7 sec?1.

Abstract: Suture containing filaments of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE), characterized in that the suture contains a multi-filament yarn that is obtained by a process comprising the steps of: a) Providing a mixture containing UHMwPE, a spinning solvent and a pigment b) Spinning a multi-filament yarn from the mixture by the gel spinning process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn comprising the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DRfluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DRsolid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DRfluid=DRsp*DRag of at least 150, wherein DRsp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DRag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DRsp being greater than 1 and DRag at least 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to gel-spun ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers and to a process for producing thereof. Specifically, the invention relates a gel-spun UHMWPE fiber comprising an UHMWPE having an intrinsic viscosity in decaline at 135° C. of at least 8 dl/g, and having a T1 relaxation time as measured by Solid-State proton NMR at 26° C. of at least 600 ms. The invention further relates to ropes, nets and composites, in particular composites for ballistic applications containing the UHMWPE fibers of the invention.

Abstract: Process for removing residual spin solvent from a gel spun, UHMwPE filament having an effective diameter of above 16 ?m, comprising the steps of: removing residual spin solvent from the filament to a level of below 100 ppm at elevated temperature, while keeping the filament taut. The invention also relates to gel spun UHMwPE filament having an effective diameter of above 16 ?m and a residual spin solvent residue of less than 100 ppm. Preferably the filament has a creep rate, measured at 50° C., under a load, so that the initial stress is 600 MPa, of less than 510?6 sec?1.

Abstract: An AC power distribution unit for coupling AC power having a fundamental frequency to a plurality of electrical loads has an enclosure. A power input feed is retained by the enclosure for coupling to a source of the AC power. A plurality of power output feeds is retained by the enclosure for coupling to the plurality of electrical loads. A harmonic mitigation module is retained in the enclosure and is connected in series between the power input feed and the plurality of power output feeds. The harmonic mitigation module bilaterally reduces harmonic current distortion above a predetermined frequency between the power input feed and the plurality of power output feeds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayered material sheet comprising a consolidated stack of unidirectional monolayers of drawn polymer, whereby the draw direction of two subsequent monolayers in the stack differs. At least one monolayer comprises a plurality of unidirectional tapes of the drawn polymer, aligned in the same direction, whereby adjacent tapes do not overlap. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the multilayered material sheet, and to a ballistic resistant article comprising the multilayered material sheet.

Abstract: An AC power distribution unit for coupling AC power having a fundamental frequency to a plurality of electrical loads has an enclosure. A power input feed is retained by the enclosure for coupling to a source of the AC power. A plurality of power output feeds is retained by the enclosure for coupling to the plurality of electrical loads. A harmonic mitigation module is retained in the enclosure and is connected in series between the power input feed and the plurality of power output feeds. The harmonic mitigation module bilaterally reduces harmonic current distortion above a predetermined frequency between the power input feed and the plurality of power output feeds.