Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for optimisation of the sustainability footprint of a polymer formulation, wherein the method involves: a. identifying one or more material specifications which are to be present in the polymer formulation; b. identifying one of more sustainability criteria to be optimised in the polymer formulation; c. providing a repository of materials that may be selected for use in the polymer formulation; d. providing a computer-implemented algorithm for calculating the contribution of each of the materials selected from the repository to achieving the desired material specifications of the polymer formulation; e. providing a computer-implemented algorithm for calculating the contribution of each of the materials selected from the repository to optimising the desired sustainability criteria of the polymer formulation; and f.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bicycle frame made by injection molding pellets of a long glass fibre reinforced polypropylene composition having a core containing glass fibres and an impregnating agent and a sheath of polypropylene surrounding said core, wherein the pellets have an average length of at least 1 mm, the amount of the glass fibers is 10 to 70 wt % with respect to the composition and the polypropylene has a flexural modulus determined according to ASTM D790A of at least 1000 N/mm2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bicycle frame made by injection molding pellets of a long glass fibre reinforced polypropylene composition having a core containing glass fibres and an impregnating agent and a sheath of polypropylene surrounding said core, wherein the pellets have an average length of at least 1 mm, the amount of the glass fibers is 10 to 70 wt % with respect to the composition and the polypropylene has a flexural modulus determined according to ASTM D790A of at least 1000 N/mm2.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an infrared blocking composition comprises 60 to 98 wt % of a curable prepolymer based on a total weight of the curable prepolymer and an infrared blocking agent; 2 to 40 wt % of the infrared blocking agent based on a total weight of the curable prepolymer and the infrared blocking agent; wherein the infrared blocking agent comprises indium tin oxide, antimony tin oxide, fluorine tin oxide, tungsten oxide, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to materials prepared using a laser-direct structuring (LDS) method. The LDS materials of the present disclosure comprise polymeric film or polymeric sheet structures containing a LDS additive and which can undergo laser-direct structuring and chemical plating to form conductive paths on their surface. The present disclosure finds use, for example, in the automotive, electronics, RFID, communications, and medical device industries.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to LDS materials comprising a first coating layer comprising a first LDS additive, and a base substrate, wherein the coating layer contacts the base substrate. Articles formed from the LDS materials are also disclosed that include a conductive path and a metal layer deposited on the activated path. Methods for making the LDS materials and corresponding articles are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display film stack for a backlight display system. In one embodiment, the display system comprises: a light source, a first film comprising a first surface texture layer that is formed of a first material of a first refractive index, and a second film comprising a second surface texture layer that is formed of a second material of a second refractive index. The second film is disposed between the light source and the first film. The second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index. The light source is disposed in optical communication with the first film and the second film. The first surface texture layer and the second surface texture layer comprise unit structures independently selected from the group consisting of hemispherical structures, partial hemispherical structures, ellipsoidal structures, immersed spherical beads, ellipsoidal beads, “bell-shape” bump and complex lens shape structures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display film stack for a backlight display system. In one embodiment, the display system comprises: a light source, a first film comprising a first surface texture layer that is formed of a first material of a first refractive index, and a second film comprising a second surface texture layer that is formed of a second material of a second refractive index. The second film is disposed between the light source and the first film. The second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index. The light source is disposed in optical communication with the first film and the second film. The first surface texture layer and the second surface texture layer comprise unit structures independently selected from the group consisting of hemispherical structures, partial hemispherical structures, ellipsoidal structures, immersed spherical beads, ellipsoidal beads, “bell-shape” bump and complex lens shape structures.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polycarbonate composition is disclosed, in various embodiments, having enhanced low-temperature ductility, UV resistance and/or fire-retardance characteristics. The composition comprises a polycarbonate, and a combination of an elastomer-modified graft copolymer and a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer. The polycarbonate composition is useful for manufacture of electronic and mechanical parts, among others.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition comprises an aromatic polycarbonate; an impact modifier; a flame retardant; and from 0.9 to 5.38 mol % of an anti-static additive having the formula: wherein X is independently selected from halogen or hydrogen provided that at least one X is halogen; n, m and p are integers from 0 to 12; and Y is zero or a heterocyclic atom, other than carbon, of an atomic ring and is either nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, selenium, phosphorus, arsenic, and the like; R1, R2, and R3 are the same, each having an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical with 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an aromatic hydrocarbon radical of 6 to 12 carbon atoms and R4 is a hydrocarbon radical with 1 to 18 carbon atoms; wherein the amount of the anti-static additive is based on 100 kg of the composition.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polycarbonate composition is disclosed, in various embodiments, having enhanced low-temperature ductility, UV resistance and/or fire-retardance characteristics. The composition comprises a polycarbonate, and a combination of an elastomer-modified graft copolymer and a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer. The polycarbonate composition is useful for manufacture of electronic and mechanical parts, among others.

Abstract: A polycarbonate composition is disclosed having improved fatigue resistance characteristics. The composition is useful for manufacture of electronic and mechanical articles, such as cell phone housing, among others. The composition comprises an effective amount of a polycarbonate, an impact modifier, and a pentraerythritol diphosphite derivative represented by formula (P-1): wherein m is an integer and 1?m?5; n is an integer and 1?n?5; and each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of arylalkyl, alkylarylalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, and any combination thereof.

Abstract: A halogen-free polycarbonate composition is disclosed having improved fire-retardancy and/or transparency characteristics. The composition comprises a polycarbonate, and a synergic combination of an aromatic sulfone sulfonate such as potassium diphenylsulfone sulfonate, an aromatic sulfonate such as sodium salt of toluene sulfonic acid, and optionally a siloxane oligomer. The polycarbonate composition is useful for manufacture of electronic and mechanical parts, among others.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe and method for noninvasively monitoring materials processing in screw driven extruders. The noninvasive probe includes at least one ultrasonic transducer operable to transmit an ultrasonic signal on a signal path intersecting an inner sidewall of a barrel of the extruder and material between the inner sidewall of the barrel and an outer surface of a screw within the barrel. Information about the state of the material intersected by the ultrasonic signal is ascertainable from an elapsed time between reception of a first reflection of the ultrasonic signal and reception of a second reflection of the ultrasonic signal. The first reflection results when the ultrasonic signal exits the inner sidewall of the barrel and the second reflection results when the ultrasonic signal reaches one of the outer surface of the screw and partially solid material.

Abstract: A system for providing process control information, such as viscosity, concerning a polymer melt comprises a means containing a polymer melt under pressure; means for diverting a stream of the polymer melt directly from said containing means to and through an orifice of predetermined geometrical shape wherein the flow of said diverted portion to and through said orifice is unobstructed and directly dependent on the pressure of said main polymer melt wherein the cross sectional area is sized to permit the flow of said diverted melt polymer therethrough absence additional independent means acting on said diverted melt polymer for increasing flow through said orifice; temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of the diverted melt stream and producing a resultant temperature signal; pressure sensing means for measuring the pressure of the diverted melt stream and producing a resultant pressure signal, said pressure signal being directly dependent on the pressure of polymer in said main polymer melt

Abstract: A system for providing process control information, such as viscosity, concerning a polymer melt comprises a means containing a polymer melt under pressure; means for diverting a stream of the polymer melt directly from said containing means to and through an orifice of predetermined geometrical shape wherein the flow of said diverted portion to and through said orifice is unobstructed and directly dependent on the pressure of said main polymer melt wherein the cross sectional area is sized to permit the flow of said diverted melt polymer therethrough absence additional independent means acting on said diverted melt polymer for increasing flow through said orifice; temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of the diverted melt stream and producing a resultant temperature signal; pressure sensing means for measuring the pressure of the diverted melt stream and producing a resultant pressure signal, said pressure signal being directly dependent on the pressure of polymer in said main polymer melt

Abstract: High flow brominated polycarbonates, useful as flame retardant additives for other polymers such as polyesters, are obtained by equilibration of a brominated aromatic polycarbonate such as a tetrabromobisphenol A homo- or copolycarbonate with a di- or polyhydroxy aromatic compound such as bisphenol A, or a diaryl carbonate, and an equilibration catalyst, under conditions such that the weight average molecular weight of the brominated polycarbonate is reduced by at least 35%. Preferred equilibration catalysts are Group I metal carboxylates, such as sodium stearate, and hexaalkylguanidinium salts.

Abstract: Flame retarded resin molding compositions with enhanced electrical properties comprising a polyamide resin, a flame retarding amount of a halogenated flame retardant, a fiber glass and/or mineral filler, and an effective amount of a pyro/polyphosphate, and optionally including an olefinic polymer for enhancing electrical properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to extruders of the type which employ single screws that use chaotic mixing to generate substantially better distributive mixing. Such structures of this type, generally, stretch and fold material lines repeatedly such that interfacial areas between material elements increase exponentially and heat/mass transfers are greatly enhanced.