Abstract: An asymmetric tape and a system and method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin to form an asymmetric tape are provided. The asymmetric tape includes a polymer resin, and a plurality of fibers embedded in the polymer resin to form a fiber reinforced polymer material. The fiber reinforced polymer material includes a first surface and an opposing second surface. The fibers are disposed in the fiber reinforced polymer material to form a resin rich portion and a fiber rich portion. The resin rich portion includes the first surface and the fiber rich portion includes the second surface.

Abstract: An adsorbent medium for removing gaseous contaminants from air comprises a porous self-supporting filter element produced by sintering particles of polyethylene having a molecular weight greater than 400,000 g/mol as determined by ASTM-D 4020 and an adsorbent. In one embodiment, the filter element comprises a body perforated by a plurality of holes extending in the direction of fluid flow in use and having a diameter of less than 10 mm. In another embodiment, the filter element comprises a panel wherein at least the surface of the panel presented, in use, to the incoming air comprises a plurality of projections. In a further embodiment, the filter element comprises a fibrous web having particles of the adsorbent secured to the web by the sintered polyethylene.

Abstract: Pipe sections and methods for forming pipe sections are disclosed. A pipe section includes a hollow body formed from a polymer material, the hollow body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior. The pipe section further includes a barrier layer surrounding and unbonded from the hollow body, the barrier layer having an inner surface and an outer surface. The barrier layer is formed from a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. Such pipe sections may be lightweight and flexible while exhibiting improved strength characteristics.

Abstract: A fluid filter, with a media body that comprises granular filter media and is capable of transitioning from a compacted state to an expanded state, may allow for multiple filtration cycles with regeneration of the granular filter media via backwashing cycles. Two or more of such filters may also be used in filtration apparatuses that is configured for continuous filtration including during backwashing of one of the filters.

Abstract: Polymer compositions containing a polyoxymethylene polymer are disclosed that are receptive to paints and ink coatings. The polymer composition contains a polyoxymethylene polymer having a relatively high terminal hydroxyl group content in combination with a thermoplastic elastomer. In one embodiment, a coupling agent may be added for coupling the thermoplastic elastomer to the polyoxymethylene polymer. The polymer composition can be molded into various articles and then painted or printed with an ink composition. The polymer composition has been found to dramatically improve adhesion between the molded article and the ink or paint coating.

Abstract: Ski boots and other cold weather articles are described made from polymer compositions that are exceptionally stable at low temperatures. The polymer composition, for instance, may contain a thermoplastic polymer, a thermoplastic elastomer, and an impact modifier. In one embodiment, each of the individual components are selected such that they do not undergo a second order transition within a temperature range of from about 50° C. to about ?40° C., and particularly from about 23° C. to about ?40° C. In one embodiment, the polymer compositions are used to mold the outer shell of a snow ski boot.

Abstract: A nucleating system for a thermoplastic composition that contains a polyarylene sulfide is provided. The nucleating system includes a combination of an inorganic crystalline compound and an aromatic amide oligomer. The present inventors have discovered that the combination of these different types of nucleating agents result in excellent crystallization properties (e.g., rate of crystallization). Due to the improved crystallization rate, the thermoplastic composition can be molded at lower temperatures to still achieve the same degree of crystallization. In addition to minimizing the energy requirements of the molding operating, the use of lower temperatures can also decrease the production of “flash” normally associated with high temperature molding operations. The composition may also possess good viscosity properties that allow it to be readily molded into parts of a variety of different shapes and sizes.

Abstract: A method for injection molding a thermoplastic composition that contains a polyarylene sulfide and a boron-containing nucleating agent is provided. By selectively controlling certain aspects of the polyarylene sulfide and nucleating agent, as well as the particular manner in which they are combined, the crystallization properties of the resulting thermoplastic composition can be significantly improved. This allows the “cooling time” during a molding cycle to be substantially reduced while still achieving the same degree of crystallization. The cooling time can be represented by the “normalized cooling ratio”, which is determined by dividing the total cooling time by the average thickness of the molded part.

Abstract: A method for injection molding a thermoplastic composition that contains a polyarylene sulfide and an aromatic amide oligomer is provided. Due to the improved crystallization properties imparted by the oligomer, the present inventors have discovered that the thermoplastic composition can be molded at lower temperatures to still achieve the same degree of crystallization. In addition to minimizing the energy requirements for the molding operation, such low mold temperatures may be accomplished using heating mediums that are less corrosive and expensive than some conventional techniques.

Abstract: A boron-containing nucleating agent is provided for use with a polyarylene sulfide. The boron-containing nucleating agent can have low crystallinity, a small particle size, and a large specific surface area. By selectively controlling certain aspects of the nucleating agent, the crystallization properties of a thermoplastic composition including the nucleating agent and a polyarylene sulfide can be significantly improved. For instance, the recrystallization temperature can be increased, which can allow the “cooling time” during a molding cycle to be substantially reduced. Through use of the boron-containing nucleating agent the recrystallization temperature can be greater than about 231° C.

Abstract: Light-emitting diode assembly housing comprising high temperature poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) compositions containing titanium dioxide.

Abstract: A molded part that has a relatively small thickness so that it can be readily employed in portable electronic devices is provided. The molded part is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a polyarylene sulfide and an aromatic amide oligomer. Due to the improved crystallization rate, the thermoplastic composition can be molded at lower temperatures to still achieve the same degree of crystallization. In addition to minimizing the energy requirements of the molding operating, the use of lower temperatures can also decrease the production of “flash” normally associated with high temperature molding operations. The composition may also possess good viscosity properties that allow it to be readily molded into parts of a variety of different shapes and sizes.

Abstract: An impregnation plate and an impregnation section of a die for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The impregnation plate includes an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The impregnation zone includes an inner surface. The impregnation plate further includes a sidewall. The sidewall includes an inner surface. The inner surface of the sidewall includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys. At least one of the plurality of valleys defines a maximum height that is less than a height of the inner surface of the impregnation zone at a neighboring location along a run direction of the roving.

Abstract: A die and method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The die includes an impregnation section. The impregnation section includes an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The impregnation zone includes a plurality of contact surfaces. At least one of the plurality of contact surfaces is configured such that a normal force of the roving is less than or equal to a lift force of the resin at an impregnation location on the contact surface during impregnation of the roving with the resin by the contact surface.

Abstract: An impregnation section of a die and a method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The impregnation section includes an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The impregnation zone includes a plurality of contact surfaces, at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces defining a cut-away portion downstream in a run direction of the roving of a point-of-contact for the at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces. The at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces further includes an edge defined by the cut-away portion. Excess material build up is reduced by the cut-away portion.

Abstract: A die and a method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The die includes an impregnation section comprising an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The die further includes a passage at least partially defined in the impregnation section and in fluid communication with the impregnation zone, and a pump in fluid communication with the passage. The method includes coating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin, traversing the coated roving through an impregnation zone of an impregnation section to impregnate the roving with the resin, and applying an external pressure to the impregnation zone.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that comprises a naphthenic-rich, thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blended with a flow modifier is provided. The flow modifier is an aromatic carboxylic acid that contains or more carboxyl functional groups. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the functional groups can react with the polymer chain to shorten its length and thus reduce melt viscosity. It is also believed that such acids can combine smaller chains of the polymer together after they have been cut during processing. This helps maintain the mechanical properties of the composition even after its melt viscosity has been reduced. As a result of the present invention, the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic composition is generally low enough so that it can readily flow into the cavity of a mold having small dimensions.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that comprises a low-naphthenic, thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blended with a flow modifier is provided. The flow modifier is an aromatic carboxylic acid that contains one or more carboxyl functional groups. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the functional groups can react with the polymer chain to shorten its length and thus reduce melt viscosity. It is also believed that such acids can combine smaller chains of the polymer together after they have been cut during processing. This helps maintain the mechanical properties of the composition even after its melt viscosity has been reduced. As a result of the present invention, the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic composition is generally low enough so that it can readily flow into the cavity of a mold having small dimensions.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition for use in a compact camera module is provided. The thermoplastic composition contains a liquid crystalline polymer and a plurality of fibers. The volume average length of the fibers in the thermoplastic composition is selectively controlled according to the present invention so that it is within a certain range, such as from about 80 to about 250 micrometers. The fibers also have a narrow length distribution. That is, at least about 70% by volume of the fibers have a length within a certain range. Through the use of a liquid crystalline polymer and fibers of a certain weight average length and narrow length distribution, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting thermoplastic composition is able to achieve a desirable combination of strength and surface smoothness, which enables it to be uniquely suited for a compact camera module.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline polymer composition having a relatively high comparative tracking index (“CTI”) is provided. The present inventors have discovered that high CTI values can be achieved through the use of inorganic particles in combination with a functional aromatic compound. While not fully understood, it is believed that the functional compound can react with the liquid crystalline polymer and create smaller degraded polymer chains. In combination with the inorganic particles, these smaller chains can potentially form insulated regions at the surface of the polymer that hinder the formation of conductive carbonaceous deposits during the tracking process, which could otherwise lead to failure during testing.