Abstract: Disclosed is a method to reduce flame spread within a room by attaching an interior finish compising at least 80 weight percent of a polymer composition to a ceiling, one or more walls, or combination thereof, wherein the interior finish partially or completely detaches from the wall or ceiling upon exposure to the heat of a flame. The polymer composition has certain properties of crystallization half-time, heat release capacity, and char generation and can comprise one or more polymers. The interior finish may detach or partially detach from the ceiling or wall as a result its thermal behavior when exposed to heat or as a result of softening or melting of fasteners. The spacing of the fasteners of the interior finish is dependent on the physical properties of the polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed are polyester blends that provide improved stress whitening behavior. The blends may be prepared from a polyester having crystallization half-time of at least 5 minutes and a polyester elastomer. The polyesters blends may be extruded or, in the presence of a release additive, calendered to produce film or sheet. Also disclosed are processes for making a film or sheet by extrusion or calendering the above blends and the film or sheet produced therefrom. The polyester blend and the film or sheet produced therefrom also may include plasticizers and/or flame retardants to increase their flexibility and enable their use in commercial applications requiring flame resistance. The film and sheet have excellent appearance and can be used in a wide range of decorative and packaging applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are high clarity films produced from semicrystalline polyesters by calendering. These films unexpectedly develop a higher peak melting point, which leads to higher thermal resistance. The semicrystalline polyesters may be biodegradable. When these calendered films are oriented, they develop unexpectedly high physical strength or clarity in comparison to films that are prepared by conventional techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for a film or sheet by calendering a polyester composition, comprising one or more semicrystalline polyesters and a release additive, at a maximum temperature below the upper temperature of the melting point range of each of the polyesters in the composition. The polyester composition may comprise one or more biodegradable polyesters such as, for example, aliphatic-aromatic polyesters. The calendered polyesters can form tough, flexible films without the addition of a plasticizer. The film and sheet can have optical and physical properties that make them suitable as a replacement for some plasticized PVC films. Also disclosed is a polyester composition for calendering comprising an aliphatic-aromatic polyester.

Abstract: Polyester compositions that provide a higher throughput in calendering processes may be prepared from a polyester having crystallization half time of at least 5 minutes, an inherent viscosity of about 0.55 to about 0.75 dL/g, a branching monomer, and a release additive. The polyester compositions show a combination of excellent melt strength with good shear response that permits higher calendering line speeds before melt fracture occurs. Also disclosed are processes for film or sheet by calendering the above compositions and the film or sheet produced therefrom. The polyester compositions, film, or sheet also may include plasticizers and/or flame retardants to increase their flexibility and enable their use in commercial applications requiring flame resistance. The film and sheet have excellent appearance and can be used in a wide range of decorative and packaging applications.