Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a film comprising a blend of about 90% to 99% polyester and about 1% to 10% biodegradable aliphatic or aromatic polyester (by weight). It has been surprisingly discovered that polymeric films comprising the disclosed blend exhibit improved flexibility and impact strength compared to polyester films known in the art. Films with the disclosed blends also advantageously do not adversely affect recyclability of the film. The disclosed films can be used in a wide variety of areas, including (but not limited to) shrink sleeve applications.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to method of producing thermoplastic foam from a blend of polyolefin and acrylated epoxidized fatty acid using a phsyical blowing agent. Specifically, the presently disclosed subject matter includes embodiments wherein the acrylated epoxidized fatty acid is added to the polyolefin resin in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 10%, based on the total weight of the resin. The presently disclosed subject matter also includes the foam produced by the disclosed method.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to method of producing thermoplastic foam from a blend of polyolefin and acrylated epoxidized fatty acid using a phsyical blowing agent. Specifically, the presently disclosed subject matter includes embodiments wherein the acrylated epoxidized fatty acid is added to the polyolefin resin in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 10%, based on the total weight of the resin. The presently disclosed subject matter also includes the foam produced by the disclosed method.

Abstract: Flexible sheet materials having a foam layer and a film layer of polymer materials, at least one of the layers being formed from a filled polymer resin composition containing filler material comprising 30% to 65% by weight of the composition. The filled resin composition includes an ethylene copolymer such as ethylene vinyl acetate and may include other polymers such as polyethylene. The film layer provides a vapor barrier function. The layer having the filler provides a sound transmission loss. A preferred embodiment of an underlayment has a filler resin film layer of 6 to 30 mils thickness and a polymer foam layer of 75 mils thickness, the underlayment providing a sound transmission loss of at least about 2.5 dB at 1000 Hz.

Abstract: A three-component laminate is disclosed which may be formed into bags and pouches suitable for packaging a variety of moisture and oxygen sensitive products, particularly dry-flow products such as resin pellets, pet food and coffee. The first component is an oriented, multilayer sealant film having an outermost layer which is sealable to itself and to the outermost surface of the third component. The second component, which is disposed between the first component and the third component, is a metallized film. The resulting laminate and bags formed therefrom exhibit excellent moisture and gas barrier properties, excellent abuse resistance and reduced package failure as compared to foil-based packages.

Abstract: Flexible sheet materials having a foam layer and a film layer of polymer materials, at least one of the layers being formed from a filled polymer resin composition containing filler material comprising 30% to 65% by weight of the composition. The filled resin composition includes an ethylene copolymer such as ethylene vinyl acetate and may include other polymers such as polyethylene. The film layer serves a vapor barrier function. The layer having the filler provides a sound transmission loss. A preferred embodiment of an underlayment has a filler resin film layer of 6 to 30 mils thickness and a polymer foam layer of 75 mils thickness, the underlayment providing a sound transmission loss of at least about 2.5 dB at 1000 Hz.

Abstract: A two-component laminated multilayer film suitable for use in packaging articles such as pet food comprises a first component and a non-heat-shrinkable second component. The first component comprise an outer first film layer, an optional second film layer, and an optional third film layer. The first and third film layers comprise ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, while the second film layer is a modified ethylene copolymer. The second component comprises an outer fourth layer, an oxygen barrier fifth layer, sixth and seventh layers which serve as tie layers and are positioned on either side of the barrier layer. The multilayer film is heat sealable to itself and another film. The multilayer film has a total thickness of at least 2 mils, an impact strength of at least about 3 ft-lbs, an elongation at break of less than 300%, a tear propagation of at least 50 grams, a tensile modulus of at least 45,000 psi, total free shrink at 180° F. of from less than 50 percent.

Abstract: A sealed article comprising a multilayer film having at least 4 layers. The first layer is an inside layer comprising ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer and/or polystyrene. The second layer comprises ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer, anhydride-modified ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, anhydride-modified ethylene/ester copolymer, acid-modified ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, and/or acid-modified ethylene/acid copolymer. The third layer comprises ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer and/or polystyrene. The fourth layer comprises ethylene homopolymer, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyester, polyalkylene carbonate, polyacrylonitrile, and/or ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer. At least 85 volume percent of the film is made up of polyolefin homopolymer, polyolefin copolymer, ethylene/ester copolymer, polystyrene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, EVOH, PVDC, and polyacrylonitirile.

Abstract: A packaged product has an explosive article packaged in a film. Although the film can comprise any one or more of a wide variety of polymers, the film is non-crosslaminated and is sealed to itself, and has a total free shrink at 185° F. of less than about 5 percent. The explosive article preferably comprises a flowable explosive composition. Preferably the film is lap-sealed along its length and clipped at the ends, with the package being in the form of a chub. The relatively low total free shrink at 185° F. enables the film to be used in a vertical-form-fill-and-seal packaging process in which a lap-seal is formed using a hot-melt adhesive composition. The relatively low free shrink of the film allows the film to be sealed using a hot melt type adhesive, without the film shrinking back to such an extent that the resulting seal is defective.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a coating on the exterior surfaces of a plurality of elongate members, such as wires, including positioning a plurality of elongate members substantially parallel to each other, coating the exterior surfaces of each member with a coating, removing any excess coating from desired portions of each member and curing the coating to adhere the coating to each member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a coating on the exterior surfaces of a plurality of elongate members, such as wires, including positioning a plurality of elongate members substantially parallel to each other, coating the exterior surfaces of each member with a coating, removing any excess coating from desired portions of each member and curing the coating to adhere the coating to each member.

Abstract: A protective seam plate retains a flexible membrane of a roofing system in place without tearing the flexible membrane during high winds. The protective seam plate comprises a seam plate having a web with a periphery and top and bottom surfaces. A protective ring surrounds the seam plate web periphery and overlies the web top and bottom surfaces around and adjacent the web periphery. The protective ring has a smooth continuous surface that is contacted by the flexible membrane when the flexible membrane lifts off the roof during high winds. The protective seam plate may be manufactured by heat shrinking a tube of heat shrinkable material surrounding the periphery of the seam plate web. Alternately, the protective ring may be an L-shaped ring that is assembled to the seam plate by bending a leg over the web top surface. The protective seam plate may also be fabricated by bending a flange that is integral with the seam plate web such that the flange partially overlies the web top surface.

Abstract: A coated fastener includes a coating comprised of one-hundred percent dry solids which is virtually free of solvent emissions when applied and during curing, covers substantially the entire exterior of the fastener, provides a protective coating to the fastener against corrosion, enables the fastener to be adhered to at least one other fastener, and provides increased holding power of the fastener after the fastener is driven into a desired surface.

Abstract: A seamless tube useful in making a roofing batten is extruded from a polymeric material consisting essentially of a major amount of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a minor amount of at least one polyolefin, flattened in a vacuum sizer so as to define two plies, and milled and drawn so as to orient the tube longitudinally. As milled and drawn, the tube is oriented so as to have a tensile strength of at least about 25,000 psi in a longitudinal direction. The plies are punched so as to have holes therethrough at spaced intervals along the tube. When used to make a roofing batten to coact with conventional fasteners, such as roofing screws, the tube exhibits superior characteristics of split resistance and pull-through resistance.

Abstract: A continuous, automated method and apparatus for transporting and electrostatically coating articles including providing a plurality of articles in an unoriented bulk state, each article having a first end portion, orienting each article and transporting them into a desired position, transferring each article in succession to a moving conveyor, suspending each article from the conveyor by its end portion and conveying the articles for electrostatic coating and curing.

Abstract: A seamless tube useful in making a roofing batten is extruded from a polymeric material consisting essentially of a major amount of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a minor amount of at least one polyolefin, flattened in a vacuum sizer so as to define two plies, and milled and drawn so as to orient the tube longitudinally. As milled and drawn, the tube is oriented so as to have a tensile strength of at least about 25,000 psi in a longitudinal direction. The plies are punched so as to have holes therethrough at spaced intervals along the tube. When used to make a roofing batten to coact with conventional fasteners, such as roofing screws, the tube exhibits superior characteristics of split resistance and pull-through resistance.

Abstract: A seamless tube useful in making a roofing batten is extruded from a polymeric material consisting essentially of a major amount of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a minor amount of at least one polyolefin, flattened in a vacuum sizer so as to define two plies, and milled and drawn so as to orient the tube longitudinally. As milled and drawn, the tube is oriented so as to have a tensile strength of at least about 25,000 psi in a longitudinal direction. The plies are punched so as to have holes therethrough at spaced intervals along the tube. When used to make a roofing batten to coact with conventional fasteners, such as roofing screws, the tube exhibits superior characteristics of split resistance and pull-through resistance.

Abstract: A seamless tube useful in making a roofing batten is extruded from a polymeric material consisting essentially of a major amount of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and a minor amount of at least one polyolefin, flattened in a vacuum sizer so as to define two plies, and milled and drawn so as to orient the tube longitudinally. As milled and drawn, the tube is oriented so as to have a tensile strength of at least about 25,000 psi in a longitudinal direction. The plies are punched so as to have holes therethrough at spaced intervals along the tube. When used to make a roofing batten to coact with conventional fasteners, such as roofing screws, the tube exhibits superior characteristics of split resistance and pull-through resistance.

Abstract: A flexible oriented plastic sheet of high tensile strength and which is resistant to corrosion and highly resistant to splitting when penetrated by a pointed article. The flexible oriented sheet of the invention can be cut into desired shapes and sizes so as to be useful in a variety of applications, such as roofing batten bars and fencing materials, which require high resistance to splitting and fastener pull-through. The sheets are produced by melt extruding and orienting a composition comprising a major amount of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a minor amount of a polyolefin, preferably polypropylene.