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: A foam extrusion process using multiple independent restraining elements (50) by extruding a foamable composition from a die to form an expanding polymeric foam and then contact a surface of the foam with multiple independent restraining elements, each having a width less than the width of the expanding foam.

Abstract: Prepare a foam structure that includes hollow coalesced foam strands and, optionally, solid coalesced foam strands using an extrusion die block equipped with apertures that promote forming the hollow strands and, optionally, the solid foam strands.

Abstract: Prepare a foam structure that includes hollow coalesced foam strands and, optionally, solid coalesced foam strands using an extrusion die block equipped with apertures that promote forming the hollow strands and, optionally, the solid foam strands.

Abstract: Prepare a foam structure that includes hollow coalesced foam strands and, optionally, solid coalesced foam strands using an extrusion die block equipped with apertures that promote forming the hollow strands and, optionally, the solid foam strands.

Abstract: The invention is a composite foam structure comprising a first segment of an anisotropic thermoplastic foam part and a second foam shaped part comprising an isotropic foam wherein the anisotropic foam block and isotropic foam part intersect along at least one common surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a foam, a process for preparing the foam and an article containing the foam. The foam contains a coupled propylene polymer and has a density in of from 9.6 to 801 kg/m3 and has either a foamability factor of more than 1.8 to less than 2.8 and an open cell content less than 20 percent, or a foamability factor of at least 2.8 and less than 15 and an open cell content of less than 50 percent. The process includes heating a coupled propylene polymer having a melt flow rate from 0.2 to 20 g/10 min and a melt strength of at least 39 cN to a molten state to produce a molten polymer material and mixing said molten polymer material with a blowing agent under conditions to produce a foamed material having a density in the range of from 9.6 to 801 kg/m3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a foam, a process for preparing the foam and an article containing the foam.

Abstract: A process for making a polymer foam sheet, which comprises (i) extruding through an annular extrusion die a foamable composition comprising at least one polypropylene polymer and at least one blowing agent, at a pressure, temperature, and extrusion rate sufficient to prevent foaming of the composition prior to exiting the die, under conditions sufficient to form a foam tube having a density of at least 16 kg/m3 and no greater than 200 kg/m3, an open cell content of less than 70 percent, a circumference of at least 1 meter, and a foam thickness of at least 2 mm and no greater than 25 mm, wherein the blowing agent is used in an amount of from 0.2 to 4.

Abstract: An energy absorbing article having a direction in which impact resistance is desired is formed of extruded thermoplastic foam exhibit anisotropic compressive strength. The extrusion direction of the thermoplastic foam is aligned substantially parallel with the direction in which impact resistance is desired to provide an energy absorbing article exhibiting a high ratio of compressive strength to weight.

Abstract: A polymer blend foam having smooth skin and/or an open-cell content of at least 20 volume percent, a crosslinked gel content of no greater than 10 percent, a minimum cross-sectional area of at least 1000 mm.sup.2, and a density of no greater than 250 kg/m.sup.3. The blend includes (A) a substantially random interpolymer having polymerized therein (1) a vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer and/or a sterically hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, and (2) one or more of ethylene and a C.sub.3-20 aliphatic .alpha.-olefin; and (B) an olefin polymer based on one or more of ethylene, C.sub.3-20 aliphatic .alpha.-olefins, and C.sub.3-20 aliphatic .alpha.-olefins containing polar groups. The olefin polymer (B) lacks any of the vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomers found in (A).

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, unitary, closed-cell olefin polymer foam structure in plank form. The foam structure has a cross-section of 2 or more inches in one dimension and 18 or more inches in the other dimension. The olefin polymer material has a melt index of about 3.5 grams/10 minutes or less. The foam structure contains a blowing agent of about 75 mole percent or more 1,1-difluoroethane based upon the total moles of blowing agent. Further disclosed is a process for making the foam structure at a shear rate of about 400/second or more. It was found surprising that 1,1-difluoroethane which has relatively low solubility in olefin polymers, could be used to make olefin polymer foam structures of large cross-section.

Abstract: Novel, expandable polymeric blends comprising at least one vinylaromatic monomer-acylonitrile resinous material, an effective amount of at least one blowing agent, and from about 0.2 to about 1.0 percent by weight, based on the weight of resinous material, of an expansion aid consisting essentially of triethylene glycol. The triethylene glycol expansion aid unexpectedly reduces the amount of expansion agent required to expand the composition, particularly to low density products, without adversely affecting the final properties of the foamed product.

Abstract: The clumping together of expandable vinylaromatic-acrylonitrile copolymer particles during expansion of such particles is substantially completely reduced by coating the unexpanded virgin particles with from 0.2 to 1.5 weight percent, based on weight of expandable copolymer particles, of particulate magnesium oxide.

Abstract: Expandable and expanded particles are prepared from an alkenyl aromatic polymer and a volatile fluid blowing agent mixture of a first blowing agent of 1,1-difluoro-1-chloroethane; and a second blowing agent selected from normal pentane, isopentane, neopentane or mixtures of the various pentanes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expandable and expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particles having the ability to use a decreased amount of blowing agent to produce an expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particle of an equivalent bulk density or the same amount of blowing agent to produce an expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particle having a decreased bulk density by including a density modifier in the expandable alkenyl aromatic polymer particle in an amount of about 0.005 to 0.5 weight percent by weight of the total mixture. Also included as part of the invention are methods of making the expandable and expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particles wherein the expandable and expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particles have a density modifier included in an amount of about 0.005 percent to about 0.5 weight percent by weight of the total mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expandable and expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particles having the ability to use a decreased amount of blowing agent to produce an expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particle of an equivalent bulk density or the same amount of blowing agent to produce an expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particle having a decreased bulk density by including a density modifier in the expandable alkenyl aromatic polymer particle in an amount of about 0.005 to 0.5 weight percent by weight of the total mixture. Also included as part of the invention are methods of making the expandable and expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particles wherein the expandable and expanded alkenyl aromatic polymer particles have a density modifier included in an amount of about 0.005 percent to about 0.5 weight percent by weight of the total mixture.

Abstract: A substantially rustle-free thermoplastic film and container made therefrom. The film may be a multilayer structure, a skin of which is formed of a chlorinated polyethylene resin blend. The composition of said structure is such that quietness is imparted without detracting from the extrudability and other physical characteristics necessary for practical applications. A vapor barrier may be included as a core layer. A particular application for the present invention is an ostomy bag.

Abstract: An improved process for adding magnesium oxide to polymeric compositions based on vinylidene chloride copolymers. The improvement comprises forming a pre-mixture of the magnesium oxide and an ethylene-vinylalkanoate dispersing medium or agent and thereafter blending an amount of the pre-mixture with the vinylidene chloride copolymer composition.