Abstract: A technique for initiating the formation of pores in a polymeric material that contains a thermoplastic composition is provided. The thermoplastic composition contains microinclusion and nanoinclusion additives dispersed within a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. To initiate pore formation, the polymeric material is mechanically drawn (e.g., bending, stretching, twisting, etc.) to impart energy to the interface of the continuous phase and inclusion additives, which enables the inclusion additives to separate from the interface to create the porous network. The material is also drawn in a solid state in the sense that it is kept at a temperature below the melting temperature of the matrix polymer.

Abstract: A garment that includes a porous polymeric material is provided. The porous polymeric material is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. A microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive may also be dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains, wherein a porous network is defined in the material that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less.

Abstract: A polyolefin packaging film is provided. The polyolefin film is formed by a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

Abstract: A polymeric material for use in thermal insulation is provided. The polymeric material is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer and within which a microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive are dispersed in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined in the material that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less. The polymeric material exhibits a thermal conductivity of about 0.20 watts per meter-kelvin or less.

Abstract: An absorbent article containing a polyolefin film is provided. The polyolefin film is formed by a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

Abstract: A polyolefin material that is formed by solid state drawing of a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

Abstract: An energy absorbing member that contains a porous polymeric material is provided. The polymeric material is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer and within which a microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive are dispersed in the form of discrete domains. A porous network is defined in the material that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less.

Abstract: A fabric that includes porous fibers is provided. The porous fibers are formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. A microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive may also be dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains, wherein a porous network is defined in the composition that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less.

Abstract: A polymeric material having a multimodal pore size distribution is provided. The material is formed by applying a stress to a thermoplastic composition that contains first and second inclusion additives dispersed within a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. Through the use of particular types of inclusion additives and careful control over the manner in which such additives are dispersed within the polymer matrix, the present inventors have discovered that a unique, multimodal porous structure can be achieved.

Abstract: An absorbent article containing a nonwoven web that includes a plurality of polyolefin fibers is provided. The polyolefin fibers are formed by a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and has a voided structure and low density is provided. To achieve such a structure, the renewable polyester is blended with a polymeric toughening additive to form a precursor material in which the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. The precursor material is thereafter stretched or drawn at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the polyester (i.e., “cold drawn”). This creates a network of voids located adjacent to the discrete domains, which as a result of their proximal location, can form a bridge between the boundaries of the voids and act as internal structural “hinges” that help stabilize the network and increase its ability to dissipate energy. The present inventors have also discovered that the voids can be distributed in a substantially homogeneous fashion throughout the composition.

Abstract: A film that is formed from a thermoplastic composition is provided. The thermoplastic composition contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase tensile elongation. To even further increase the ability of the film to dissipate energy in this manner, the present inventors have discovered that an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus reduces the stiffness (tensile modulus) of the film.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive is provided. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in the deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase impact strength. To even further increase the ability of the composition to dissipate energy in this manner, an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus enhances the degree and uniformity of debonding.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and has a voided structure and low density is provided. To achieve such a structure, the renewable polyester is blended with a polymeric toughening additive to form a precursor material in which the toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. The precursor material is thereafter stretched or drawn at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the polyester (i.e., “cold drawn”). This creates a network of voids located adjacent to the discrete domains, which as a result of their proximal location, can form a bridge between the boundaries of the voids and act as internal structural “hinges” that help stabilize the network and increase its ability to dissipate energy. The present inventors have also discovered that the voids can be distributed in a substantially homogeneous fashion throughout the composition.

Abstract: A film that is formed from a thermoplastic composition is provided. The thermoplastic composition contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase tensile elongation. To even further increase the ability of the film to dissipate energy in this manner, the present inventors have discovered that an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus reduces the stiffness (tensile modulus) of the film.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive is provided. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in the deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase impact strength. To even further increase the ability of the composition to dissipate energy in this manner, an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus enhances the degree and uniformity of debonding.

Abstract: A method for forming biodegradable fibers is provided. The method includes blending polylactic acid with a polyepoxide modifier to form a thermoplastic composition, extruding the thermoplastic composition through a die, and thereafter passing the extruded composition through a die to form a fiber. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the polyepoxide modifier reacts with the polylactic acid and results in branching of its polymer backbone, thereby improving its melt strength and stability during fiber spinning without significantly reducing glass transition temperature. The reaction-induced branching can also increase molecular weight, which may lead to improved fiber ductility and the ability to better dissipate energy when subjected to an elongation force. Through selective control over this method, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting fibers may exhibit good mechanical properties, both during and after melt spinning.

Abstract: A method for forming biodegradable fibers is provided. The method includes blending polylactic acid with a polyepoxide modifier to form a thermoplastic composition, extruding the thermoplastic composition through a die, and thereafter passing the extruded composition through a die to form a fiber. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the polyepoxide modifier reacts with the polylactic acid and results in branching of its polymer backbone, thereby improving its melt strength and stability during fiber spinning without significantly reducing glass transition temperature. The reaction-induced branching can also increase molecular weight, which may lead to improved fiber ductility and the ability to better dissipate energy when subjected to an elongation force. To minimize premature reaction, the polylactic acid and polyepoxide modifier are first blended together at a relatively low temperature(s).

Abstract: Fibers that are formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a polymer and high surface area nanostructures are provided. The fibers have a voided structure and low density while maintaining good strength characteristics. To achieve such a structure, a blowing agent in the thermoplastic composition is activated during extrusion to form bubbles in the fibers. The high surface area nanostructures in the formed fibers can be formed of or carry the blowing agent and can enhance the strength of the fibers and compensate for the non-load bearing voids of the fibers.

Abstract: An oil absorbing material is generally provided. The oil absorbing material can includes sorbent particles having an average aspect ratio of about 5 to about 500 and a mean average particle diameter of about 10 ?m to about 1 millimeter. The oil absorbing material comprises polypropylene, polyethylene, inorganic filler particles, and absorbent core material. In one embodiment, the sorbent particles can have an average specific surface area of about 0.25 to about 5.0 m2/g and can have a bulk density that is about 0.01 g/cm3 to about 0.8 g/cm3. Processes of making the oil absorbing material are also provided via a solid-state shear pulverization recycling process transforming absorbent article waste into the oil absorbing material. The process can include pulverizing the absorbent article waste to form sorbent particles while cooling the absorbent article waste in an amount sufficient to maintain the absorbent article waste in a solid state.