Abstract: A microlayer component having improved oxygen and water vapor barrier properties (i.e., decreased permeabilities) comprises a barrier microlayer of a semi-crystalline barrier polymer in direct contact with a confining microlayer to promote in-plane crystalline lamellae formation. A microlayer component having a significant amount of in-plane crystalline lamellae may be characterized by at least 1.5× oxygen permeability improvement and at least 1.5× water vapor permeability improvement. A microlayer component having at least 1.5× improvement in oxygen and water vapor permeability may be coextruded and subjected to post extrusion stretching or heat treating.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a composition comprising (a) a vinylidene chloride/methyl acrylate interpolymer having greater than 6 wt % methyl acrylate mer units in the interpolymer, (b) greater than 6 wt % of an epoxy plasticizer; and (c) less than 4 wt % of an acrylate polymer. The composition exhibits a crystallization time greater than 25 minutes to crystallization at 35° C. Films made from the present composition show improved processability and find advantageous application as permeable barrier film for food packaging, for specialty food packaging, and for gassy cheese.

Abstract: Disclosed are coextruded multilayer film or sheet comprising at least four alternating layers of layer materials A and B, the layers having an average layer thickness of from 1 to 3000 nm, wherein layer material A comprises a cyclic olefin polymer, layer material B comprises an ethylene polymer and, based on layer materials A and B, one layer material is from 5 to 95 volume percent of the film or sheet and the other makes up the balance. In some of the embodiments the layers of A and B have a total thickness of at least 40 nm and the disclosed film or sheet can also comprise outer skin layers C and optional inner layers D which comprise from 5 to 95 volume percent of the film or sheet.

Abstract: The present invention includes a polymer composition of at least one vinylidene chloride/alkyl acrylate polymer having from about 3.4 to about 6.7 percent mole percent of mer units derived from at least one alkyl acrylate monomer polymerized with the vinylidene chloride and comprising a plasticizer and having at least one of the following compositional characteristics (1) and (2): (1) at least one low molecular weight vinyl chloride polymer having a molecular weight of at most about 70,000 Daltons in an amount sufficient to increase affinity for at least one ink; and (2) at least one methacrylic polymer in an amount sufficient to increase the affinity for at least one ink. Surfaces comprising such a composition and articles having such surfaces are surprisingly printable and are aspects of the invention as is printing thereon.

Abstract: A multilayer structure comprises at least one barrier layer comprising at least one vinylidene chloride polymer, at least one UV protecting layer, and at least one reflective layer wherein none of these layers also serve as a sealing layer. The multilayer structure is preferably a film, more preferably in the form of a pouch, preferably for packaging flowable product, especially milk. When used as a milk pouch, the structure is more effective at protecting milk from deterioration at ambient temperature and humidity than is a similar multilayer structure having an ethylene vinyl alcohol barrier layer. The multilayer structure preferably has more than one reflective layers and is preferably in the form of a pillow pouch.

Abstract: Articles comprise a monolayer blown film prepared from a composition comprising at least one vinylidene chloride polymer and at least one plasticizer wherein at least one vinylidene chloride polymer comprises vinylidene chloride and at least one alkyl acrylate, selected from methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, or butyl acrylate or a combination thereof in an amount of from 2.5 to 9 mole percent of the monomer content of the vinylidene chloride polymer and wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 1 to 15 parts by weight per hundred parts of polymer, wherein the article is selected from a package, a container, a laminate, sausage casing or combination thereof, particularly a sausage casing, wherein at least 4 of designated characteristics are present. The invention also includes processes for making articles of the invention and films used therein.

Abstract: The invention includes an interlayer film and composition comprising a polymer composition obtainable from (a) at least one low crystallinity propylene polymer, and at least one (b) internal adhesion enhancer, (c) at least one clarity enhancer or (d), more preferably, both (b) and (c). The invention also includes a process of preparing a film comprising (a) supplying at least one first component, a low crystallinity propylene polymer, (b) supplying at least one second component, selected from at least one an internal adhesion enhancer, at least one clarity enhancer or a combination thereof; and, (d) admixing the first and second components and optional additives.

Abstract: Articles comprise a monolayer blown film prepared from a composition comprising at least one vinylidene chloride polymer and at least one plasticizer wherein at least one vinylidene chloride polymer comprises vinylidene chloride and at least one alkyl acrylate, selected from methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, or butyl acrylate or a combination thereof in an amount of from 2.5 to 9 mole percent of the monomer content of the vinylidene chloride polymer and wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 1 to 15 parts by weight per hundred parts of polymer, wherein the article is selected from a package, a container, a laminate, sausage casing or combination thereof, particularly a sausage casing, wherein at least 4 of designated characteristics are present. The invention also includes processes for making articles of the invention and films used therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a Web-enabled transaction and matter management application are described. In one embodiment, the application is centered around a user-friendly home navigation page designed to facilitate convenience for the user in accessing information or entering and tracking data. All information is sorted by project or matter name. A client user may view information one matter at a time, all matters at once, or any user-specified number of matters. Access is restricted to authorized users with password access rights. The application enables the tracking of information that is beneficial to all levels of the user's organization, that is substantive and relevant to different levels of the user's staff, and that aids the client in making informed decisions regarding its current transactions and documents relating thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a Web-enabled transaction and collaborative management application are described. In one embodiment, the application is centered around a user-friendly home navigation page designed to facilitate convenience for the user in accessing information or entering and tracking data. All information is sorted by project or matter name. A client user may view information one matter at a time, all matters at once, or any user-specified number of matters. Access is restricted to authorized users with password access rights. The application enables the tracking of information that is beneficial to all levels of the user's organization, that is substantive and relevant to different levels of the user's staff, and that aids the client in making informed decisions regarding its current transactions and documents relating thereto.

Abstract: A tubular, multilayer film comprises a central barrier layer and a pair of adhesive layers on opposite sides of the central barrier layer. The adhesive layers completely cover the central barrier layer. Opposing edges of the central barrier layer overlap longitudinally along the tubular, multilayer film. The total thickness of the central barrier layers in the overlapping portion is substantially the same as the thickness of the central barrier layer in the non-overlapping portion. The tubular, multilayer film also includes inner and outer surface layers. The inner surface layer extends completely around the interior of the tubular, multilayer film, and the outer surface layer extends completely around the exterior of the tubular, multilayer film.

Abstract: An extruder screw for use in a barrel of an extruder for forwarding thermoplastic polymer from a first end to a second end of the extruder. The extruder comprises a transition section and at least one flight extending substantially along the length of the screw. A dam is positioned at the point where the rapid melting of the solids starts to slow down and the rate of solid bed width decrease approaches zero. The dam provides the screw with a high output of extrudate and close control of the residence time of polymer particles as they are transported through the screw, resulting in an extrudate which is uniformly melted and which is substantially free of degradation products and/or entrapped air.

Abstract: A vinylidene chloride polymer composition comprising a vinylidene chloride polymer and a concentrate comprising a blend of a high viscosity, high molecular weight silicone polymer and a carrier polymer, e.g. high density polyethylene, the concentrate being present in an amount sufficient to improve the extrudability of the vinylidene chloride polymer. The vinylidene chloride composition can be fabricated into flexible and rigid containers, both in monolayer and multilayer structures for use in the preservation of food, drink medicine and other perishables.

Abstract: The present invention is a coated particulate in the form of a powder or in the form of a pellet, the particulate comprising a vinylidene chloride interpolymer and being coated with at least one processing aid at a level effective to improve the extrudability of the vinylidene chloride interpolymer. The processing aid beneficially is selected from the group consisting of fatty esters; wax esters; glycerol esters; glycol esters; fatty alcohol esters, fatty alcohols; fatty amides; metallic salts of fatty acids; olefin polymers and polyolefin waxes.

Abstract: The present invention is a formulated barrier composition containing tetrasodium pyrophosphate or magnesium hydroxide, high density polyethylene, epoxidzed vegetable oil, oxidized polyolefin and a paraffin or polyolefin wax. The composition has a substantially lower oxygen permeability than existing compositions and is at least equally extrudable.

Abstract: Devices for interconnection into a digital computer system contain arbitration mechanisms for assigning control of a common communications path among the devices. Several modes of device arbitration are provided for, and the modes may be mixed among devices, and changed during operation of the system, in the system without interfering with communications. The arbitration mechanism requires only a single additional line in the communications pathway, and thus a single additional pin on the integrated circuit on which it is implemented, for the arbitration function. It thus facilitates implementation of the arbitration mechanism along with all other interconnect logic on a single integrated circuit.

Abstract: Control of a communications path interconnecting separate devices in a digital computer system is provided by only two signals generated and received locally within each device on the path and asserted on a systems-wide basis on two separate lines of the path. The generation and utilization of the control signals is independent of the physical location of the devices on the path, and position-dependent delays in transmission of the signals from one device to another are avoided.

Abstract: A secondary storage facility including magnetic tape, disk or drum units or other sequential access storage units. Each storage unit or drive connects to a controller by means of a device bus with asynchronous and synchronous paths. Status and controller information is coupled between the controller and a selected drive unit asynchronously over the asynchronous bus. Actual data transfers occur between the controller and a drive over the synchronous bus and between other units in the system and the controller using direct memory access or equivalent data transfers.