Abstract: Multilayer foam-film composite structures in which the cells of at least one foam layer have an anisotropic orientation exhibit at least one enhanced property of toughness, tear resistance and puncture resistance in comparison with a foam-film composite structure alike in all aspects except for the anisotropic orientation of the cells of at least one foam layer.

Abstract: Prepare an alkenyl-aromatic foam having good surface quality, high thermal insulating properties and low density using an extrusion method by expanding a foamable polymer composition of an alkenyl-aromatic polymer composition containing less than 20 weight-percent covalently bonded halogens and having a polydispersity of less than 2.5 and a water solubility greater than 0.09 moles per kilogram and 2.2 moles per kilogram or less at 130 degrees Celsius and 101 kilopascals pressure and 0.8-2 moles per kilogram of a blowing agent containing 0.4 moles per kilogram or more of a chlorine-free fluorinated blowing agents and water at a concentration of at least 0.22 moles per kilogram; wherein moles per kilogram are relative to kilograms of alkenyl-aromatic polymer. The resulting foam has a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less and a thermal conductivity of 32 milliwatts per meter-Kelvin or less after 180 days.

Abstract: Disclosed are multilayer film structures having annular profiles, and methods and apparatus of making the structures disclosed. The annular multilayer articles have a uniform thickness, at least four layers and comprise overlapped and non-overlapped circumferential areas; wherein the layer structure of the non-overlapped area is doubled in the overlapped layer. A method of making the structure includes providing a multilayer flow stream with at least four layers of thermoplastic resinous materials; feeding the multilayer flow stream to a distribution manifold of an annular die to form an annular multilayer flow stream; and removing the annular multilayer flow stream from the annular die to form the annular multilayer structure.

Abstract: Multilayer foam-film composite structures in which the cells of at least one foam layer have an anisotropic orientation exhibit at least one enhanced property of toughness, tear resistance and puncture resistance in comparison with a foam-film composite structure alike in all aspects except for the anisotropic orientation of the cells of at least one foam layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymers derived from macrocyclic oligomers containing organo clay fillers comprising a) a polymer derived from a macrocyclic oligomer; b) clay platelets; and c) the residue of one or more onium compounds having at least one ligand with a C5 or greater carbon chain and at least one ligand containing one or more functional groups having one or more active hydrogen atoms wherein the functional group is reactive with the macrocyclic oligomer and/or functional groups formed when the macrocyclic oligomer decyclizes wherein a portion of one or more of the onium compounds is ironically bound to the clay platelet and covalently bonded to the polymers derived from macrocyclic oligomers. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such compositions. Furthermore, the invention relates to articles prepared from organoclay filled polymer compositions.

Abstract: Composites of macrocyclic oligomers and a filler material are made in a masterbatch process. The masterbatch contains at least 15% by weight of the filler material. The filler material is preferably a submicron sized material and is especially a clay or other layered material that can become at least partially exfoliated. The masterbatch can be let down into more of the macrocyclic oligomer, another polymer, another polymerizable material and subjected to polymerization conditions to form a nanocomposite material. Alternatively, the masterbatch can be polymerized to a high or intermediate molecular weight, and then blended with additional oligomer, polymer or other polymerizable material.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymers derived from macrocyclic oligomers containing organo clay fillers. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such compositions. Furthermore, the invention relates to articles prepared from organoclay filled polymer compositions.

Abstract: An improved process for making a structural foamed polymer, a multilayer polymer film, sheet or tube, a pultrusion polymer profile, a compression molded extruded fiber reinforced polymer pre-form, a strand foamed polymer and a SCORIM formed polymer article. The improvement includes the step of dispersing a multi-layered silicate material with the polymer so that the polymer has dispersed therein single layers of silicate material, double layers of silicate material, triple layers of silicate material, four layers of silicate material, five layers of silicate material and more than five layers of silicate material, the volume percent of the one, two, three, four and five layers of silicate material greater than the volume percent of the more then five layers of silicate material. In each of the above embodiments an important benefit of the instant invention is the orientation of the plane of the layers of silicate material.

Abstract: Improved multi-layer coextruded blow-molded objects (such as fuel containers) having at least a barrier layer and a support layer are disclosed together with improved methods for preparing such objects. The barrier layer includes an amount of modified polyolefin having approximately the same density as the support layer, wherein the modified polyolefin is prepared by grafting an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to the polyolefin, the modified polyolefin being added in an amount such that the gas-barrier layer sufficiently adheres to the adjacent layer and such that the gas barrier properties of the fabricated article are still adequate. The present invention also relates to modification of the rheology of base resins, such as PET (a preferred material for the barrier layer), so that they more closely match the rheology of high density polyethylene (a preferred material for the support layer).

Abstract: A laminate structure comprises one or more layers of a polyester and one or more layers of a hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer. The laminate structure can be prepared by coextruding one or more layers of a polyester and one or more layers of a hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer. The laminate structure can be fabricated into articles using conventional fabrication techniques such as compression molding, injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, solvent casting, calendering and thermoforming.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making multilayer plastic articles. Initially, two or more streams of diverse thermoplastic materials are provided. Layers are formed from these streams and are arranged in a layered first composite stream. The first composite stream may be directly formed into a desired configuration by a molding process or may be manipulated to form a second composite stream having an increased number of layers before being formed into the desired configuration. The resulting articles are comprised of a number of discrete and substantially continuous layers.

Abstract: A cross-support member extends between the opposed side panels of an inverted U-shaped boot insert to prevent the side panels from collapsing toward one another. The cross-support member may be a separate structural element which is associated with the inverted U-shaped boot insert, or may be formed as an integral part of the inverted U-shaped boot insert (e.g., by partially cutting out the cross-support member from at least one of the side panels and/or by affixing the cross-support member to an interior surface of at least one of the side panels). The cross-support member may itself include lateral stiffening panels of desired geometry (e.g., triangular, rectangular, etc.) which are preferably formed as an integral part of the cross-support member by folding a lateral section of the cross-support member angularly out of the cross-support member's plane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making multilayer plastic articles. Initially, two or more streams diverse thermoplastic materials are provided. Layers are foraged from these streams and are arranged in a layered first composite stream. The first composite stream may be directly formed into a desired configuration by a molding process or may be manipulated to form a second composite stream having an increased number of layers before being formed into the desired configuration. The resulting articles are comprised of a number of discrete and substantially continuous layers.

Abstract: A multilayered reflective body which is thermoformable and capable of being fabricated into films, sheets and a variety of parts while maintaining a uniform reflective appearance is provided. The reflective polymeric body includes at least first and second diverse polymeric materials of a sufficient number of alternating layers of the first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of the light incident on the body is reflected. A substantial majority of the individual layers of the body have an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, and adjacent layers of the first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.1. The reflective body may be fabricated into sheets, mirrors, noncorroding metallic appearing articles and parts, reflectors, reflective lenses, and the like.

Abstract: A light-stable, optically clear laminate construction and method of making it which utilizes inexpensive styrenic polymers is provided. The laminate formed exhibits strong interfacial adhesion without the need for additional glue or adhesive layers through the use of pendant functionalized hydroxyl groups incorporated into the styrenic polymer by copolymerization. These pendant hydroxyl groups react with active pendant ester groups on the other polymer layer in the laminate to form strong covalent interfacial bonds by heating the layers, preferably either in a compression molding step or during coextrusion of the layers.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymeric laminate by the reactive coextrusion of functionalized polymers wherein at least one layer is a polymer having functional groups and the adjacent layer is a polymer having coreactive groups which form covalent bonds with the functional groups at the interfacial surfaces. One such functional group can comprise a pendant cyclic imino ether group to form covalent bonds with the coreactive groups. A laminate having a plurality of layers covalently bonded together through the interaction of pendant cyclic imino ether groups and coreactive groups is also provided.