Abstract: A water and soil conservation and ecological restoration method of high and steep, abandoned slag piles at high elevation with large temperature differential in xerothermic drought valleys, comprises: preparing a mixed material; collecting and cutting a plant to obtain a plant ingredient; preparing a treated material; digging tree holes; planting; spreading the treated material, and watering. The water and soil conservation method adds gelling material for cover soil, and stirs to allow fine particles in the cover soil to be uniformly coated on the coarse particles to realize coherence, thus effectively avoiding water erosion and wind erosion on the loose cover soil on a slope and slag pile, reducing the cover soil falling into gaps of large slag pieces on the slope surface, thus controlling the water and cover soil conservation of a slag pile, and the scale of fill earth, and ensuring the survival rate and preservation rate of planted trees.

Abstract: A continuous fiber composite is described and methods for forming the continuous fiber composite. The continuous fiber composite includes a plurality of unidirectionally aligned continuous fibers embedded within a polyarylene sulfide polymer. The continuous fiber composite includes a very high loading of continuous fibers, for instance greater than about 40% by weight of the continuous fiber composite. The continuous fiber composite is formed by reacting a starting polyarylene sulfide with a reactively functionalized disulfide compound in a melt processing unit. Reaction between the starting polyarylene sulfide and the reactively functionalized disulfide compound leads to formation of a reactively functionalized polyarylene sulfide. Upon embedding of the continuous fibers into the reactively functionalized polyarylene sulfide, the reactivity of the polyarylene sulfide can enhance adhesion between the polyarylene sulfide polymer and the fibers.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions are described that exhibit heat stability in addition to flexibility. Methods for forming the thermoplastic compositions are also described. The compositions include a polyarylene sulfide, an impact modifier and a heat stabilizer. The composition includes the impact modifier in a relatively large amount in combination with the heat stabilizer to provide long term heat stability to the composition and products formed therefrom such as coated wires and cables.

Abstract: Melt processed polyarylene sulfide compositions are described as are methods of forming the melt processed polyarylene sulfide compositions. The melt processed polyarylene sulfide compositions are formed according to a melt processing method that includes melt processing a mixture that includes a starting polyarylene sulfide, a disulfide compound and a filler. The melt processed polyarylene sulfide compositions may provide low chlorine content products having excellent strength characteristics.

Abstract: Pipe sections and methods for forming pipe sections are disclosed. A pipe section includes a hollow body formed from a metal 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 bonded to 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 thermoplastic composition for use in a fine pitch electrical connector 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 flowability, which enables it to be uniquely suited for the walls of a fine pitch connector.

Abstract: Pipe sections and methods for forming pipe sections are disclosed. A pipe section includes a hollow body, 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 the hollow body, the barrier layer having an inner surface and an outer surface. The barrier layer is formed from a polyarylene sulfide composition. The polyarylene sulfide composition includes a polyarylene sulfide and a crosslinked impact modifier. Such pipe sections exhibit high strength characteristics and flexibility as well as resistance to degradation, even in extreme temperature environments, while maintaining desirable processing characteristics.

Abstract: A polymer composition that contains a polyaryletherketone and a liquid crystalline polymer that includes repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic acids, naphthenic dicarboxylic acids, or a combination thereof in an amount of about 15 mol. % or less of the polymer is provided. The composition optionally contains reinforcing fibers (e.g., glass fibers) in an amount of no more than about 10 wt. %.

Abstract: A polymer composition that contains a polyaryletherketone and a liquid crystalline polymer that includes repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic acids, naphthenic dicarboxylic acids, or a combination thereof in an amount of more than about 15 mol. % of the polymer is provided.

Abstract: A wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and compositions including the liquid crystalline polymer are described. The polymer composition can include the liquid crystalline polymer and a fibrous filler, e.g., a chopped glass or milled glass fibrous filler. The compositions are capable of exhibiting excellent mechanical properties. The liquid crystalline polymer provides desirable characteristics with the incorporation of little or no naphthenic acids in the polymer backbone.

Abstract: Pipe sections and methods for forming pipe sections are disclosed. A pipe section includes a hollow body, 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 the hollow body, the barrier layer having an inner surface and an outer surface. The barrier layer is formed from a polyarylene sulfide composition. The polyarylene sulfide composition includes a polyarylene sulfide and a crosslinked impact modifier. Such pipe sections exhibit high strength characteristics and flexibility as well as resistance to degradation, even in extreme temperature environments, while maintaining desirable processing characteristics.

Abstract: Blow molded articles are made from a polymeric composition containing a mixture of polyphenylene sulfide resins. For instance, the polymeric composition may contain a linear polyphenylene sulfide resin combined with a branched polyphenylene sulfide resin. The composition can further contain a reinforcing agent, such as glass fibers, a polytetrafluoroethylene polymer, a polyphenylene oxide polymer, a silane coupling agent, and/or an impact modifier. Compositions made according to the present disclosure can have relatively high near zero shear rate melt strengths while also having high shear rate melt viscosities and high engineering stresses at a high percent elongations, making the compositions amenable to extrusion and molding processes. Compositions made according to the present disclosure are particularly well suited to molding articles with a complex shape.

Abstract: A laminate that contains a film on which one or more conductive elements are disposed is provided. The film is formed from a polymer composition that contains an aromatic polyester and an additive that is “laser-activatable” in the sense that it can be activated by a laser direct structuring (“LDS”) process. By selectively controlling the nature of the polymer composition and its respective components, the present inventors have discovered that a film can be readily formed that has good heat resistance, yet is also capable of exhibiting good adhesion to the conductive elements due to the fact that such elements can be integrally formed on the film using an LDS process.

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: An injection molded housing for a portable electronic device is provided. The housing contains a thermoplastic composition that includes a polyarylene sulfide melt processed in the presence of a disulfide compound and a filler. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the disulfide can undergo a chain scission reaction with the starting polyarylene sulfide to lower its melt viscosity, which can lead to decreased attrition of the filler and thus improved mechanical properties. Due to this ability to reduce viscosity during melt processing, the present inventors have discovered that relatively high molecular weight polyarylene sulfides can be fed to the extruder with little difficulty.

Abstract: A polymer composition that comprises a polyarylene sulfide, inorganic fibers, impact modifier, and a functionalized coupling system is provided. The functionalized coupling system includes a disulfide compound and an organosilane compound. The weight ratio of organosilane compounds to disulfide compounds is from about 0.1 to about 10.

Abstract: A polymer composition containing a polyarylene sulfide, a disulfide compound, and inorganic fibers is provided. The polymer composition has an aspect ratio of from about 1.5 to about 10, wherein the aspect ratio is defined as the cross-sectional width of the fibers divided by the cross-sectional thickness of the fibers.

Abstract: A polymer composition that contains at least one high performance polymer and at least one aromatic amide oligomer is provided. The oligomer can serve as a flow aid that lowers the overall viscosity of the polymer matrix under shear.

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: Disclosed is a twin-robot testing apparatus for non-destructive testing.