Abstract: An oriented polymer composition containing thirty to 95 weight-percent inert inorganic filler and a continuous phase of at least one orientable polymer contains void spaces due to cavitation and has a density of less than 0.8 grams per cubic centimeter, a flexural modulus of 1.4 gigapascals or more, cross section dimensions all greater than 1.5 millimeters, a delamination force value of 44.5 Newtons (ten pounds force) or more and little or no blowing agent.

Abstract: Prepare an oriented polymer composition that is cavitated, has cross sectional dimensions all at least three millimeters and at least one de-oriented surface layer having a thickness of at least 80 microns and at least 50 microns less than half the thickness of the oriented polymer composition, the de-oriented surface layer having a lower degree of polymer orientation than a 100 micron thick portion of the oriented polymer composition adjacent to and below the de-oriented surface layer by sufficiently heat treating a surface of a cavitated oriented polymer composition.

Abstract: Solid state draw a polymer billet, wherein at least 50 percent of all polymers in the billet is a continuous phase of polyethylene polymer having a density of 0.941-0.959 grams per cubic centimeter and a weight-average molecular weight that is 110,000 grams per mole or greater, at a drawing rate of 1.2 meters per minute or faster using a tensile force to create an oriented and cavitated polymer composition whose cross section dimensions all exceed two millimeters.

Abstract: Including crosslinked rubber particles in an oriented polymer composition induces cavitation in the oriented polymer composition and can increases the scratch and mar resistance as well as fibrillation resistance.

Abstract: An inventive solid state drawing die has shaping walls that define a shaping channel and that, in the course of solid state drawing, direct polymer composition along a drawing path. Each cross section of the drawing path (and, hence, polymer composition in the drawing path) is non-circular, substantially proportional to one another, contains a centroid that lies on a substantially straight line parallel to the drawing direction and all cross sectional dimensions are 1.5 millimeters or more.

Abstract: Prepare an oriented polymer composition having a decorative appearance by a process including extruding an orientable polymer composition from an extruder, directing the orientable polymer composition through a calibrator and then drawing the orientable polymer composition, optionally through a drawing die, at a drawing temperature to form an oriented polymer composition wherein the process further includes disposing a colorant onto a surface of the oriented polymer composition prior to the calibrator, prior to the drawing die or both prior to a calibrator and prior to the drawing die in a pattern having a width of at least five millimeters and that preferably so that the colorant is at least partially located on a recessed portion of the resulting oriented polymer composition's surface and/or extends to a depth of at least one millimeter below the oriented polymer composition's surface.

Abstract: Tensile draw an orientable polymer composition wherein at least 50 weight-percent of the polymers in the orientable polymer composition are polypropylene-based polymers and wherein the orientable polymer composition contains four weight-percent or less of a combination of polypropylene xylene solubles and ethylene/propylene copolymer xylene solubles and ten volume percent or more of inorganic filler to prepare a cellular oriented polymer composition having a density of 0.85 grams per cubic centimeter or less and a flexural modulus of 4137 megaPascals (600,000 pounds per square inch) or more.

Abstract: Prepare an oriented polymer composition that is cavitated, has cross sectional dimensions all at least three millimeters and at least one de-oriented surface layer having a thickness of at least 80 microns and at least 50 microns less than half the thickness of the oriented polymer composition, the de-oriented surface layer having a lower degree of polymer orientation than a 100 micron thick portion of the oriented polymer composition adjacent to and below the de-oriented surface layer by sufficiently heat treating a surface of a cavitated oriented polymer composition.

Abstract: An oriented polymer composition containing thirty to 95 weight-percent inert inorganic filler and a continuous phase of at least one orientable polymer contains void spaces due to cavitation and has a density of less than 0.8 grams per cubic centimeter, a flexural modulus of 1.4 gigapascals or more, cross section dimensions all greater than 1.5 millimeters, a delamination force value of 44.5 Newtons (ten pounds force) or more and little or no blowing agent.

Abstract: Draw a polymer composition by providing a polymer composition containing an orientable polymer having a softening temperature and a filler; conditioning the temperature of the polymer composition at or below its softening temperature; and drawing the polymer composition at a draw rate of at least 127 centimeters per minute in order to achieve an oriented filled polymer composition demonstrating a stable extent of cavitation with draw rate.

Abstract: A composition consisting essentially of:A) a syndiotactic monovinylidene aromatic polymer, andB) a random interpolymer of an aliphatic alpha-olefin and a vinyl aromatic monomer, wherein the random interpolymer contains greater than 40 weight percent vinyl aromatic monomer.

Abstract: A polymer composite comprises a polymer matrix having, dispersed therein, layers of an inorganic material derived from a multilayered inorganic material such as clay intercalated with an inorganic intercalant. The multilayered inorganic material may also be intercalated with an organic material.

Abstract: Organoclay compositions which comprise the reaction product of a smectite-type clay having an ion exchange capacity of at least 50 meq. wt. per 100 g. clay (active basis), and mixture of a quaternary ammonium compound and a chain transfer agent which is a thiol, .alpha.-methylketone, .alpha.-methylalcohol or a halogen compound are useful agents for use in the processes for the preparation of thermoplastic materials.

Abstract: Polymer blend compositions are prepared having excellent combinations of optical properties, physical properties and hydrolytic stability comprising, in admixture, (a) a diaryl fluorene carbonate polymer and (b) a polysulfone. Preferably, the diaryl carbonate polymer is a copolycarbonate of bisphenol A with bis(hydroxyphenyl) fluorene, preferably 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene. Optionally, the blend compositions also comprise a second non-fluorene carbonate polymer (c). Preferably, the polysulfone is a bisphenol A polysulfone or a polyether poly sulfone. In preferred aspects of this invention, the polysulfone and diaryl carbonate polymer components are selected to provide a transparent blend composition.