Abstract: A process for the synthesis of a granular polymer, the process comprising (a) providing an active polymerization mixture that includes polymer, monomer, catalyst and optional solvent; (b) introducing a hydroxy-containing diaryl acetyl compound to the active polymerization mixture to thereby provide an inactive polymer mixture; (c) separating the polymer solution into a first stream and a second stream, where the first stream includes the polymer and the hydroxy-containing diaryl acetyl compound, and the second stream includes the monomer and the optional solvent; and (d) fabricating granules from the first stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for extruding and pelletising a propylene copolymer. The copolymer has a content of comonomer from 5 to 40% by mole, a melt flow rate MFR2 measured at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kg of from 0.5 to 15 g/10 min and a content of cold xylene soluble material of from 20 to 60% by weight. The process comprises extruding the propylene copolymer through a die plate into an underwater pelletiser and cutting strands of the propylene copolymer into pellets in the underwater pelletiser, wherein the ratio of the mass flow rate of the propylene copolymer to the mass flow rate of the cooling water is from 0.020 to 0.060; and the propylene copolymer comprises a polymeric nucleating agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a plastic granulate (16), in which a process fluid (12) is contained in a process chamber (10) where an underwater granulation takes place and the process fluid in the process chamber has a temperature greater than 120° C. A process pressure of at least 2.0 bar is obtained in the process chamber, at which a granulation of the plastic strands (14) into plastic granulate occurs. From the process chamber, a mixture (18) of process fluid and plastic granulate is diverted into a first cooling zone (25) during cooling of the plastic granulate, while maintaining the process pressure. In a first separating device (22), the plastic granulate is separated from the process fluid under process pressure. In the process chamber, the process fluid has a temperature in the range from 120° C. to 160° C., and the process pressure obtained there is greater than the pressure of the vapour pressure curve of the process fluid.

Abstract: Resins for improved flow in injection molding, molded articles made from the same, and methods of using the same. A molded article formed from a polymer feed includes nylon-6,6. The molded article also includes a thin elongated profile including a thickness of up to 1.5 mm and a flow length of at least 25 cm. An absolute value of ?RV of the molded article as compared to the polymer feed is from 0 to 5, the RV determined according to ASTM D789.

Abstract: The present subject matter claims a process and apparatus for forming, crystallizing and increasing the molecular weight of polymer particles which does not require re-heating the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pellets after they are cut and crystallized in the under water cutting (UWC) section. In the existing solid state polycondensation (SSP) technologies where an UWC is used, high crystallinity of the PET pellets can occur, by cooling and re-heating the PET pellets, which results in reduced removal efficiency of by-products, such as acetaldehyde (AA) and furthermore also a reduction of the reaction rates of molecular weight increasing reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of grinding polyaryletherketones, providing very good yields and the production of powders of polyaryletherketones with an average diameter below 100 ?m having a narrow size distribution with few fine particles (Dv10>15 ?m).

Abstract: An oral-care implement including a filament comprising an external material and at least a first internal material. The filament includes an elongated flexible body having a length, a longitudinal axis, and a longitudinal outer surface comprising the external material, the elongated body terminating with a tip having a tip surface comprising the external material, wherein the tip surface has therein a plurality of craters distributed throughout the tip surface in a predetermined pattern, each of the craters having a surface edge of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape, walls extending longitudinally from the surface edge and comprising the external material, and a bottom comprising the at least first internal material and situated at a depth from the surface edge, the surface edge being formed by the walls and the tip surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an extruded expanded thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer bead and a preparation method therefor. The bead consists of components of the following parts by weight: 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, 0.01-0.5 parts of a foaming nucleating agent, and 0.01-0.2 parts by weight of an antioxidant. The preparation method comprises: mixing materials, then putting the mixture into an extruder for granulation to produce a particle raw material suitable for foaming, finally, putting the particle into a foam extruder, and die foaming then underwater pelletizing, thus obtaining a product bead. The present invention utilizes an extrusion method to prepare expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads. Control of the working conditions of the foaming process could lead to acquiring an expanded=bead of a controllable density, the cell density evenly distribute. The overall production process is easy to operate.

Abstract: A deformation element arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, having a deformation element and a vibration-generating device. The vibration-generating device is arranged and designed in such a way that the deformation element, when required, can be set in vibration so that a deformation behavior and/or a flow behavior of the deformation element is/can be varied in accordance with a request condition.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for liquid crystalline polyester resin pellets that is provided with: a die head with a discharge port for discharging melted liquid crystalline polyester resin supplied to the die head from a reactor through a valve; a cutter for cutting the resin discharged from the die head and solidified; and at least one perforated plate located downstream of the valve and upstream of the discharge port. The hole diameters of a plurality of die holes provided in the discharge port are 3 mm-6 mm and the average hole diameter in the perforated plate is 0.1-1.2 times the hole diameter of the die holes. A manufacturing method for liquid crystalline polyester resin pellets for cutting liquid crystalline polyester resin, which has been discharged from the die head of said apparatus via the discharge port so as to form groups of strands and solidified, into pellet form.

Abstract: A filament for use in a brush implement comprises an external material and at least a first internal material. The filament includes an elongated flexible body having a length, a longitudinal axis, and a longitudinal outer surface comprising the external material, the elongated body terminating with a tip having a tip surface comprising the external material, wherein the tip surface has therein a plurality of craters distributed throughout the tip surface in a predetermined pattern, each of the craters having a surface edge of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape, walls extending longitudinally from the surface edge and comprising the external material, and a bottom comprising the at least first internal material and situated at a depth from the surface edge, the surface edge being formed by the walls and the tip surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of fibers and fibers prepared by the process. The process can provide discontinuous colloidal polymer fibers in a process that employs a low viscosity dispersion medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filled polymeric materials including a polymer and a mass of metallic fibers distributed within the polymer, and to light weight composites which comprise at least a pair of metallic layers and a polymeric layer interposed between the pair of metallic layers, the polymeric layer containing the filled polymeric material. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding. Preferred composite materials include one or any combination of the following features: metallic fibers that are ribbon fibers; a polymer selected from a polyolefin, a polyamide, or a combination thereof; or a metallic layer (e.g., one or both of the pair of metallic layers) having a surface facing the filled polymeric material that is untreated.

Abstract: The invention comprises a shaping process for making pellets of a thermoplastic extrudable resin composition. The resin composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer, plasticizer and optionally further additives. The plasticizer comprises a component which is solid at room temperature. The process is run at a temperature above the melting point of the plasticizer and below the melting/plastification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: The process creates a radial temperature gradient in an extruded strand in a direction normal to the direction of motion thereof (that is, normal to the longitudinal direction thereof) so that upon exiting the first quench region the surface of the strand has solidified while at least the preponderant portion of the interior of the strand remains above the cold crystallization temperature, Tcc Then, in the annealing region, heat from the warmer interior will be transferred to the cooler surface, causing the surface to heat up into the range of Tcc, thereby inducing the surface to undergo crystallization. Once the surface has undergone crystallization, the strand is thoroughly quenched in a second quench region so that the strand will be ready for pelletization, accumulation or other handling steps.

Abstract: A solid face die plate for an underwater pelletizer includes a carrier or holding plate having a circular slot for holding a hard anti-wear element of highly wear-resistant material through which the extrusion orifices open for extruding polymer. The solid face die plate eliminates the need for insulation or plugging material in the center of the die plate and, by embedding the hard anti-wear element within the carrier, protects the edges of the hard anti-wear element for longer wear life.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing and treating plastic pellets. According to said method, a melt of the plastic material is granulated to give pellets, the pellets are cooled in a cooling fluid, the pellets are separated from the cooling fluid and the pellets are crystallized. The device according to the invention is characterized by comprising a control unit which monitors the crystallization step and controls the method in such a manner that, in case of a disturbance of crystallization, the pellets are supplied to an intermediate storage alter separation of the pellets from the cooling fluid and, as soon as the disturbance is removed, the pellets temporarily stored in the intermediate storage are supplied to crystallization and are crystallized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for underwater pelletizing and subsequent drying of crystallizing polymers to crystallize the polymer pellets with out subsequent heating is shown in FIG. 5. High velocity air or other inert gas is injected into the water and pellet slurry line (120) toward the dryer near the pelletizer exit (102) at a flow rate from about 100 to about 175 m3/hour, or more. Such high-speed air movement forms a vapor mist with the water and significantly increases th speed of the pellets into and out of the dryer such that the polymer pellets leave the dryer with sufficient latent heat to cause self-crystallization within the pellets. A valve mechanism in the slurry line (150) after the gas injection further regulates the pellet residence time and a vibrating conveyor after the dryer helps the pellets to achieve the desired level of crystallinity and to avoid agglomeration.

Abstract: A melt extrusion process for producing pelletized 100% additive blends using additives with lower Hausner ratio and larger particle size with granular form, compared to powder form of additives; also additive blends produced by such process. Extrusion throughput rate is increased using granular additive particle form with lower Hausner ratio than that of powder form. The productivity and efficiency of the process is enhanced by using a larger particle size of additives. Additive blends and polymer stabilization agent blends can be added in post-polymerization processes in resin manufacturing plants to enhance the processing and performance properties of polymers.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of biodegradable net-shaped articles includes: (a) preparing a biodegradable mixture; (b) granulating the mixture into plastic grains; (c) baking the plastic grains in an oven at 60° C. to 70° C. for 3 to 4 hours; (d) melting and extruding the plastic grains by a screw-type extruder so as to obtain a net-shaped preform; and (e) cooling and thereby finalizing the net-shaped preform in a cooling bath at 15° C. to 30° C. so as to obtain the net-shaped article.

Abstract: In a process for producing a biopolymer nanoparticles, biopolymer feedstock and a plasticizer are fed to a feed zone of an extruder and the biopolymer feedstock is processed using shear forces. A crosslinking agent is added to the extruder downstream of the feed zone. The process has a production rate of at least 1.0 metric tons per hour. The feedstock and the plasticizer are preferably added separately to the feed zone. The extruder may have single flight elements in the feed zone. The temperatures in the intermediate section of the extruder are preferably kept above 100 C. The screw configuration may include two or more steam seal sections. Shear forces in a first section of the extruder may be greater than shear forces in an adjacent downstream section of the first section. In a post reaction section, water may be added to improve die performance.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing granulates or continuous strips intended for feeding an extrusion machine, formed of a gel comprising at least, as majority elastomer, a styrene thermoplastic elastomer and more than 200 phr of an extender oil, each element of the granulate having a given surface area. The granulate element is sized so that the compactness, of a granulate element, is less than a value decreasing from 1500 m?1 to 375 m?1 and deposited on the surface of said granulates is an anti-tack agent having a value increasing from 2 cm3 to 8 cm3 per m2 of granulate surface area, when the mean size of the particles of said anti-tack agent increases from a value of 1 ?m to 100 ?m.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a “Self-Reinforced Composite” (SRC) made of recycled thermoplastic polymers, methods and an apparatus for their manufacture. In one embodiment of the invention, the SRC is a self-reinforced composite comprising (a) a fiber comprising a first recycled thermoplastic polymer and having a Young's modulus at least about 500 MPa and (b) a matrix comprising a second recycled thermoplastic polymer. In one aspect of the invention, the source mixture is recycled immiscible thermoplastic polymers, obtained from the waste stream in the carpet and automotive industries. In another embodiment of the invention, the method for making the self-reinforced composites, comprising the steps of (a) melt-blending recycled immiscible polymers, (b) phase-migration fiber spinning the recycled immiscible polymers to form a fiber having a first recycled thermoplastic polymer substantially surrounded by a second recycled thermoplastic polymer, and (c) drawing the fiber to form a high modulus fiber.

Abstract: This invention is to an improved method for cleaning contaminated polymer when that polymer is to be blended with clean material. The method involves combining the contaminated material and the clean material in a compartmentalized pellet wherein the contaminated material is placed in the outermost compartment, the clean material is placed in an inner compartment and then subjecting the pellet to an extraction process.

Abstract: A method of recycling PET into PET nurdles, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 18 millibars; (E) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (F) forming the recycled polymer into PET nurdles. In various embodiments, the polymer melt is formed into PET nurdles using any suitable technique such as, for example, any suitable strand pelletizing or melt pelletizing techniques.

Abstract: A melt-extruded polymer composition comprising a) at least one cellulose ether, b) one or more active ingredients and c) one or more optional additives, wherein said at least one cellulose ether has an MS (hydroxyalkyl) of 0.05 to 0.55 and hydroxyl groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that [s23/s26?0.2*MS(hydroxyalkyl)] is 0.32 or less, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxyl groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with a methyl group and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxyl groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with a methyl group.

Abstract: A cutter head holder for blades of an underwater granulator for granulating pellets from a plastic melt that emerges from a perforated plate into a process chamber of a housing of an underwater granulator.

Abstract: A continuous length of material of non-circular cross-section is pelletized to form discrete bits, by feeding the material to a cutting wheel with shaped cutters that form non-planar bits having non-circular axial projections and that are aligned with the material. The material is fed so as to maintain a rotational orientation with respect to the cutters, and so as to avoid buckling. Multiple banks of strands of material are severed simultaneously, thereby producing high volumes of shaped bits that are useful as filling and as filter material, and as friction-enhancing additives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for pelletizing at least one strand of material to be pelletized. Said device comprises a cutting device with two blades that can be displaced relative each other, at least one feed roller and at least one strand feeder for feeding the strand to the cutting device. An additional tab-shaped rectification guide is arranged downstream of the strand feeder in the region directly in front of the feed roller and next to the same, said guide being adjustable and movable in relation to the strand feeder. The rectification guide can be used to adjust the angle at which the strand is fed to the feed roller.

Abstract: A process of forming a non-woven web including spinning a plurality of continuous polymeric filaments including a polycarbonate homopolymer component, a polycarbonate copolymer component, and combinations thereof at a rate of at least 300 grams/hour/spinneret.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a milk protein based plastic material produced according to a plastic material shaping method, known by a person skilled in the art and the literature, in which at least one protein, which is obtained from milk and which can be thermally plasticized, is plasticized using a plasticizing agent, such as for example water or glycerol at temperatures of between room temperature and 140° C., subjected to mechanical stress and subsequently retreated according to a production method, known to person skilled in the art and literature, to form moulded bodies.

Abstract: A solvent spun bamboo fiber with a high wet modulus and a producing method thereof are disclosed. The producing method includes: activating by adding a bamboo pulp into de-ionized water, adjusting the pH value, adding cellulase and adjusting the pH value by adding alkali; squeezing by vacuum dehydration; pre-dissolving by adding an aqueous solution containing 50-88% by mass of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide; then dissolving by putting the above pre-dissolved mixture into a dissolver, heating, vacuumizing, dehydrating, dissolving, homogenizing and defoaming; spinning by spraying through a spinneret and forming a bamboo fiber by dry-wet spinning; water washing; bleaching; oiling; and drying. The present method is simple to operate, free of industrial pollution, low energy consuming, and highly safe. The bamboo fiber produced by the present method not only keeps the natural physical and chemical properties of bamboo fiber, but also has a high wet modulus without harmful chemical residues.

Abstract: A process including: (a) mixing a microbial biomass, comprising oil-containing microbes, and at least one grinding agent capable of absorbing oil, to provide a disrupted biomass mix; (b) blending at least one binding agent with said disrupted biomass mix to provide a fixable mix capable of forming a solid pellet; and, (c) forming the solid pellet from the fixable mix. The process optionally includes extracting the solid pellet with a solvent to provide an extracted microbial oil.

Abstract: A method for producing a polyglycolic acid fiber, including: obtaining undrawn yarns by melt spinning a polyglycolic acid resin; keeping the undrawn yarns under a temperature condition of 1 to 20° C.; obtaining drawn yarns by drawing the kept undrawn yarns; and, if necessary obtaining a staple fiber by cutting the drawn yarns.

Abstract: Described herein are extrusion processes to produce hollow pellets. Also disclosed are pelletizer devices that can be used to produce the hollow pellets. The processes and devices make use of an extrusion die having a die orifice and an insert that is placed in the die orifice to produce the hollow pellets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for pelletizing polymer melts comprising blowing agent in a pelletizing chamber through which a liquid flows, its pressure being above the ambient pressure. In a first step, the polymer melt is injected into the pelletizing chamber, in a second step the polymer melt is cut via a cutting apparatus into individual pellets and, in a third step, the pellets produced in the pelletizing process are discharged with the liquid from the pelletizing chamber and are then isolated from the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a melt processing plant, comprising a melt charger for charging a processing head, in particular palletizing head, with melt, wherein upstream of the processing head a diverter valve for discharging the melt during a starting and/or retooling phase is associated to the melt charger, and to a method for melt processing in such melt processing plant. In accordance with the invention, a portioning device for portioning the discharged melt into melt portions is associated to the diverter valve, wherein a cooling device for cooling the melt portions to at least partly solidified chunks of material is provided.

Abstract: A fine denier poly(trimethylene arylate) spun drawn fiber is characterized by high denier uniformity. A process for preparing uniform fine denier yarns at spinning speeds of 4000 to 6000 m/min is further disclosed. The poly(trimethylene arylate) fiber hereof comprises 0.1 to 3% by weight of polystyrene dispersed therewithin. Fabrics prepared therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a semicrystalline polymer, said method comprising the following steps: producing a polymer melt from a crystallizable polymer; shaping particles and solidifying the polymer melt, the step of shaping the particles being carried out before or after solidification; cooling the particles; treating the particles to reduce their tendency to agglomerate; crystallizing the particles. The invention is characterized in that the treatment is carried out by shaking at a temperature T1 which is below the glass transition temperature of the polymer plus 10° C., i.e. T1<Tg+10° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making granules from strands of a melt of a thermoplastic polymer material having the steps of creating and providing the melt of the material, discharging the material in multiple strands from a perforated plate, impinging the strands with an impinging flow fluid from an impinging flow nozzle, cooling the strands and dividing the strands into individual granules, wherein the strands are impinged by the impinging flow fluid only during discharge from the perforated plate, and wherein, as it is discharged from the impinging flow nozzle, the impinging flow fluid has a temperature above the melting temperature of the material and has a discharge velocity in the range from 50 m/sec to 300 m/sec; the invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method with an impinging flow device that can be pivoted by means of a pivoting joint.

Abstract: Provided is a process for making thermoplastic polymer pellets. The process has the following steps: (a) melting a thermoplastic polymer to form a polymer melt; (b) extruding the melt through a die to form a substantially continuous molten polymer extrudate wherein the die has a contact surface bearing a polymer coating having a surface energy of less than 25 mN/m at 20° C.; (c) cooling the extrudate to form a cooled extrudate; and (d) pelletizing the cooled extrudate to form a plurality of polymer pellets. Provided is also a polymer pellet shipping system and a stable thermoplastic polymer pellet.

Abstract: A method for continuous casting and granulating strands of a thermoplastic material which uses a nozzle head having a plurality of nozzle apertures of a maximum diameter of 4 mm each, and water-moistened guide member for cooling and guiding the plastic strands exiting the nozzle aperture via inlet rollers to the inlet of the cutting unit for chopping up the plastic strands into granules approx. 2-3 mm in length. The flow rate of the melt, with the strands being cooled down on their way from the nozzles via the guide member the feed rollers of the cutting unit, of at least 100 m/min in the central spatial region of the nozzle apertures will be increased to such an extent that the cutting unit will chop up the strands at a cutting rate of >2,000 cuts/s.

Abstract: This invention is to an improved method for cleaning contaminated polymer when that polymer is to be blended with clean material. The method involves combining the contaminated material and the clean material in a compartmentalized pellet wherein the contaminated material is placed in the outermost compartment, the clean material is placed in an inner compartment and then subjecting the pellet to an extraction process.

Abstract: The invention concerns an extrusion granulator for the granulation of plastic strands gripped by a pair of feed rollers and directed over a slideway in the direction of a cutting rotor with an opposing blade. A guided air stream directed onto the slideway, and deflected perpendicularly towards the cutting rotor by said slideway, impinges on the strands carried on the slideway with such a speed that the strands are held in a parallel orientation by the air stream.

Abstract: Biodegradable drug delivery systems, such as extruded implants, for the sustained delivery of a protein to an ocular region of the eye or intraarticular region in the body are described. The drug delivery systems may be used to treat a variety of ocular and medical conditions, including macular degeneration. Methods for using and making the drug delivery systems are also described. The drug delivery systems can be in the form of extruded filaments configured for placement in an ocular region such as the vitreous body or anterior chamber of the eye.

Abstract: A process for efficiently producing a water-dispersible particulate agricultural-chemical composition having improved disintegrability/dispersibility in water, the composition having a particular size in the range of 50-1,000 ?m. The process is characterized by comprising the following steps (a) to (e): (a) a step of kneading an agricultural-chemical active ingredient, a surfactant, and water; (b) a step of extruding the resultant mixture through a screen having pores 600-2,000 ?m in diameter to form granules; (c) a step of drying the granules; (d) a step of rotating two toothed rolls with irregularities on the surface arranged in parallel to each other, and leading the dried granules to pass between the toothed rolls thereby pulverizing the granules; and (e) a step of sieving the pulverized granules.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoplastic melt-mixed composition including: a) a polyamide resin; b) a polyetherol compound provided by reacting: b1) one or more polyepoxy compound having at least two or more epoxy groups; and b2) one or more polyhydric alcohols having two or more hydroxyl groups; c) 10 to 60 weight percent of reinforcing agent; d) 0 to 30 weight percent polymeric toughener; and e) 0 to 10 weight percent further additives. Also disclosed are molded parts derived from the composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin pellets, comprising pultruding a plurality of reinforced fiber bundles in a molten thermoplastic resin while twisting the plurality reinforced fiber bundles to form a strand in which the reinforced fibers are coated with the thermoplastic resin, and cutting the strand to a predetermined length to form pellets, wherein the strand is pultruded under the conditions that the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic resin is adjusted such that the melt flow rate is 500 to 1500 g/10 min, and the twisting angle ? of the reinforced fiber bundles with respect to the pultruding direction of the strand is set as follows: 0°<??50°.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyamide molding material for the production of transparent or colorable moldings with high flexibility, high notched impact strength (Charpy), low water absorption and excellent chemical resistance, comprising at least one partly crystalline, transparent copolyamide (A) with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at most 80° C. and a melting temperature of at least 150° C., and a heat of fusion of at least 20 J/g, where the glass transition temperature (Tg), the melting temperature (Tm) and the heat of fusion (HF) are determined according to ISO 11357-1/2, under conditions where the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is performed with a heating rate of 20 K/min, wherein the copolyamide (A) includes no aromatic dicarboxylic acids.

Abstract: Thermoplastic particle foams which have cells having a mean cell size in the range from 20 to 500 ?m and in which the cell membranes have a nanocellular or fibrous structure having pore or fiber diameters below 1500 nm, and also processes for producing them.