Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of poly acrylic and/or methacrylic macroinitiators in the free radical addition reaction of vinyl aromatic monomers to improve the properties of the resulting copolymer and/or composite. More particularly, the present invention relates to the production of poly acrylic and/or poly methacrylic macroinitiators having nitroxyl end groups. Using such macroinitiators in the free radical addition reaction of vinyl aromatics such as polystyrene compatibilizes the acrylic monomer in the vinyl aromatic matrix thereby improving the properties of the resulting polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a linear ethylenic block copolymer comprising: at least a first block A having a glass transition temperature above 20° C.; at least a second block B having a glass transition temperature below 15° C.; and at least a third block C having a glass transition temperature above 20° C.; said first block A and third block C being identical or different and at least one of them comprising at least one monomer unit comprising at least one —CO2H and/or carboxylate —COO? functional group. Use of this copolymer in adhesive compositions and thermoplastic compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoset material with improved impact resistance comprising, by weight: •99 to 20% of a thermoset resin, •1 to 80% of an impact modifier comprising at least one copolymer chosen from copolymers comprising A-B-C and A-B blocks, in which: each block is connected to the other by means of a covalent bond or of an intermediate molecule connected to one of the blocks via a covalent bond and to the other block via another covalent bond, A is a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and of at least one water-soluble monomer, C is either (i) a PMMA (homopolymer or copolymer) this PMMA comprising optionally a water-soluble monomer or (ii) a polymer based on vinyl monomers or mixture of vinyl monomers, B is incompatible or partially compatible with the thermoset resin and incompatible with the A block and the optional C block and its glass transition temperature Tg is less than the operating temperature of the thermoset material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the protection, with masking films, of thermoplastic sheets, more especially acrylic resin sheets and polycarbonate sheets. The subject of the invention is a method for the protection of thermoplastic sheets using a multilayer film comprising polypropylene, and also the sheet thus coated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for predicting failure in a system is provided having a measurement unit for repeatedly measuring a disorder indicator of the system, and a comparator for comparing obtained measurements of the disorder indicator with a predetermined statistical description of the disorder indicator. The comparison is used to determine whether a deviation is present between presently measured values of the disorder indicator and the statistical description. The apparatus issues a failure prediction upon determination of the presence of such a deviation. The apparatus is able to use routine monitoring of the system and relies on its own statistical analysis of the behavior of the disorder indicator, to provide fault prediction which is non-specific to the type of fault.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production and use of block copolymers which are obtained by means of controlled radical polymerisation in the presence of nitroxides for the purpose of reinforcing fragile polymer matrices. The invention offers advantages such as (i) simplicity of copolymer synthesis and use and (ii) fine dispersion of the copolymer molecules in the fragile matrix, which ensures both the transparency of the material and high reinforcement against impact. More specifically, the invention relates to the radical synthesis of block copolymers comprising at least three blocks, which include one block having a glass transition temperature of less than 0° C. and a thermoplastic end block having a glass transition temperature of more than 0° C., thereby guaranteeing compatibility with the fragile matrix to be reinforced against impact.

Abstract: A full-flow microfiltration device (12) and method for filtering fluid in a hydraulic system (10) is provided. The filtration device (12) includes a housing (22) and a filter medium (24) sealingly coupled to and contained within the housing (22). The housing (22) and the filter medium (24) define a central chamber (26) and a concentric chamber (28). The central chamber (26) directly communicates with an entry port (34) and an exit port (36) formed within the housing (22) for directing a first flow through the filter device (12). The concentric chamber (28) directly communicates with an inlet port (38) and an outlet port (40) formed within the housing (22) for directing a second flow through the filter device (12). A portion of the second flow is drawn from the concentric chamber (28) through the filter medium (24) into the central chamber (26) and into the first flow.

Abstract: The invention concerns moulded discs for audio and/or optical information recording media (such as CDS and DVDs) obtained from a thermoplastic polymer material comprising, by weight, (a) 60 to 95%, preferably 70 to 85%, of a thermoplastic resin selected from (1) a methyl methacrylate homopolymer, (2) a copolymer containing in majority units derived from methyl methacrylate monomer, (3) a mixture of the homopolymer (1) and/or of the copolymer (2) with a substituted or unsubstituted styrene copolymer and of at least one monomer selected from (meth)acrylonitrile, maleic anhydride and maleimides or (4) a glutarimide polymer, optionally mixed with a substituted or unsubstituted styrene/(meth)acrylonitrile copolymer and (b) 5 to 40%, preferably 15 to 30%, of at least one impact modifier compound in the form of particles having an average size of between 10 and 200 nm, preferably between 40 and 150 nm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hot-coextrudable hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesives particularly suitable for the production of multilayer films intended for what are called “repositionable” packages that are opened and reclosed easily. The films used in these packages comprise at least three layers, namely an outer layer intended to be complexed thereafter, a sealing and separable layer, defining all or part of the internal surface of the package, and between them a hot-melt adhesive layer that joins them together. In this type of package, the adhesive plays an essential role insofar as, once the package has been opened by the end user, the quality of the reclosure and of the reopening will depend on the performance of the adhesive, which is of course a pressure-sensitive adhesive, that is to say an adhesive that adheres simply by manual pressure.

Abstract: A method of manufacture includes the steps of making perforations using a perforating tool in a flat product before it is bent; making bends using a bending tool in the perforated flat product; detecting the position of a perforation on the corrugation; and slaving the relative position of tools to the detected position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device for microfiltration of oil, in particular for use in engines, automatic transmissions and hydraulic applications. The filter device comprises a tubular microfilter cartridge through which medium can flow in the transverse direction and which has open ends. This filter cartridge is accommodated in a filter chamber which is enclosed by a filter housing and is accommodated between two end closure elements, between which the filter cartridge is clamped under prestress. On their surface facing towards the filter cartridge the end closure elements are provided with at least one rib which extends in the transverse circumferential direction of the filter cartridge. The holding means comprise a spring which acts with prestress on one of the end closure elements, in such a manner that his closure element follows the end wall which it adjoins in the event of longitudinal expansion and also in the event of longitudinal contraction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for predicting failure in a system, comprises: a measurement unit for repeatedly measuring a disorder indicator of the system, and a comparator for comparing obtained measurements of the disorder indicator with a predetermined statistical description of the disorder indicator. The comparison is used to determine whether a deviation is present between presently measured values of the disorder indicator and the statistical description. The apparatus issues a failure prediction upon determination of the presence of such a deviation. The apparatus is able to use routine monitoring of the system and relies on its own statistical analysis of the behavior of the disorder indicator, to provide fault prediction which is non-specific to the type of fault. Thus no detailed knowledge of the system being monitored is required, and furthermore the apparatus is applicable to systems irrespectively of the system complexity.

Abstract: In this method of manufacture:

Abstract: A submarine system comprising a submarine device for operation within a fluid environment. The device is provided with a self-contained source of energy, propulsion components coupled to the energy source, maneuvering components and an environment observation device. A control station located remote from the submarine device is connected to it by means of a transmission cable, the cable being the sole means of transmitting command signals to the device and receiving observation results therefrom.