Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for assembling polymer-forming molecular components such that highly-structured arrays of polymer strands, such as collagen fibrils, are formed without the need for cells. A polymer nanoloom is designed to control the self-assembly of monomers into fibrils and related tissue constructs including ligament, tendon, cartilage, and bone. A nanoloom system comprises a polymer printhead, a temperature controller, and a movable substrate for polymer printing. A polymer printhead contains one or more nanoreactors that can control the assembly of collagen fibrils or other polymers on a nanoscale. Methods are provided for temperature-driven, enzyme-driven, and cholesteric assembly of collagen or other polymers into two- or three-dimensional tissue constructs.

Abstract: Provided are polymeric films that include a polyolefin and at least one cavitating agent including a poly(alkylene terephthalate) of formula (I); wherein n, representing the number of methylene segments in the repeating unit, is 3 or an integer greater than or equal to 5; p, representing the degree of polymerization, is an integer greater than 1. The polymeric film may be an opaque polymeric film. A preferred cavitating agent is poly(trimethylene terephthalate). Also provided are methods for making such polymeric films.

Abstract: A surgical implant including a cage having a first porosity and a first modulus; and a core bounded by said cage, said core having a second porosity that is higher than said first porosity of said cage, and said core having a second modulus that is lower than said first modulus of said cage. The implant may be functionally graded in a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction, or a radial direction thereof. The implant is made by preparing a first formulation for the cage within a first extruder and a second formulation for the core within a second extruder, extruding the first formulation through a co-extrusion die while simultaneously extruding said second formulation through the co-extrusion die so as to form an extrudate that includes said cage component and said core component bounded by said cage component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plasterboard panels comprising novel bonding agents and to methods of making the same.

Abstract: The invention is the provision of an elongated imitation wood product or component which has a plastic core and a plastic coating on at least one surface with the coating, which is of two different colours and which has a randomly swirled pattern, giving a realistic appearance of the wood grain of natural wood to the product. The invention further is in the method and equipment for producing such a realistic imitation wood product or component made of plastic.

Abstract: An extruded structural article with reduced stress whitening is disclosed. The article has a styrenic alloy cap layer that is lightly plasticized to reduce the stress discoloration without degrading properties of the article. A plasticizer is blended with components of the cap layer, and the cap layer co-extruded with a structural core material to form the article.

Abstract: A method of producing an entangled sheet of microfine long fibers using long fibers for forming microfine fibers. The method includes a step of forming a long-fiber web made of long fibers for forming microfine fibers, at least one component of the long fibers being a water-soluble, thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol resin; a step of entangling the long-fiber web to form a long-fiber entangled sheet; a step of shrinking the long-fiber entangled sheet to form a long-fiber shrunk sheet; and a step of converting the long fibers for forming microfine fibers in the long-fiber shrunk sheet to microfine long fibers, thereby producing the entangled sheet of microfine long fibers. The step of entangling is conducted so as to allow the long-fiber entangled sheet to have an interlaminar peel strength of 2 kg/2.5 cm or more. The step of shrinking is conducted so as to shrink in an areal shrinkage of 35% or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intermediate product intended for the production of a composite part in combination with a resin matrix, formed by at least two unidirectional sets of reinforcing yarns, the yams of each set extending in a different direction, whereby the sets are interlinked by means of stitching or knitting using at least one stitching or knitting yarn. The invention is characterized in that the stitching or knitting yarn has a yarn count of less than or equal to 30 dTex, preferably less than or equal to 25 dTex, in accordance with standard EN ISO 2060.

Abstract: Disclosed is a void-containing heat-shrinkable polyester film which is composed of at least two layers, wherein at least one of the layers is a polyester resin layer comprising a cyclic polyolefin resin and containing voids. The film has an apparent specific gravity of less than 1.00 and has specified heat shrinking properties and mechanical properties. Also disclosed is a void-containing heat-shrinkable polyester film as mentioned above, which exhibits specified cuttability along a perforation. Further disclosed is a process for producing a void-containing heat-shrinkable polyester film as mentioned above.

Abstract: An extrudate rotator die element, (24) extrusion die (18) comprising the extrudate rotator die element and a method for making multiple stripe extrudate from multilayer extrudate. The extrudate rotator die element (24) comprises a plurality of inlet slots (46), a plurality of outlet slots connected by rotated slot cavities (44). Each slot cavity (44) has a major cavity axis that rotates such that the outlet major axis of each outlet slot is oriented at an angle from the inlet major axis of the connected inlet slot (46) and the outlet slots are oriented such that each outlet major axis is coplanar with each other outlet major axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for UV marking a substrate comprises: an ink jet apparatus having UV sensitive ink, the ink jet apparatus being configured to eject the UV sensitive ink; and an extruder producing a wire and insulation in a processing direction. The ink jet apparatus is configured in relation to the processing direction so as to eject UV sensitive ink in a pattern onto a surface of the wire and insulation. Additionally, an apparatus for forming a UV marked product comprises: first and second injection devices; and a two layer mold injection unit at the output of the first and second injection devices. The first injection device uses a first mixture of a polymer, a color masterbatch, and a UV sensitive masterbatch, and the second injection device uses a second mixture of the polymer and the color masterbatch, and the first mixture and the second mixture are injected into the two layer mold to form a UV marked product having a UV sensitive section and a non-UV sensitive section.

Abstract: A polyester film includes particles and two kinds of crystalline polyester resins in which a sea-island structure is formed, wherein, if a crystallization temperature of a crystalline polyester resin A that forms a continuous phase or matrix phase in the polyester film is represented by TccA and a crystallization temperature of a crystalline polyester resin B that forms a dispersion phase or domain phase in the polyester film is represented by TccB, expression (1) below is satisfied, and a degree of flatness of the dispersion phase is 3 or more, and 70% or more of a total number of the particles present in the dispersion phase or are in contact with the dispersion phase: TccA?TccB?5° C.??Expression (1).

Abstract: A nano-composite article containing a nanofiber layer and a supporting layer. The nanofiber layer has a first outer boundary adjacent the supporting layer, a second outer boundary on the side of the nanofiber layer opposite the supporting layer and an inner boundary located at the mid-point between the first outer boundary and the second outer boundary and parallel to the first outer boundary. The nanofiber layer contains a matrix and a plurality of nanofibers, where at least 70% of the nanofibers are bonded to other nanofibers. The supporting layer contains a thermoplastic polymer. The concentration of nanofibers is substantially uniform in the nanofiber layer from the inner boundary to the first boundary layer.

Abstract: A spreader box and method form a bi-laminar paintball shell material. Walls of a box body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a first gel. Walls of a gate body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a second gel. Within the box, the first gel is kept separate from the second gel. The box body aperture dispenses the first gel as a continuous first layer. The gate body aperture dispenses the second gel as a continuous second layer that is adjacent and juxtaposed with the first layer, such that the first gel bonds with the second gel to form the bi-laminar paintball shell material. A paintball, containing a fill material, has a frangible bi-laminar shell including an exterior shell that completely surrounds and contains an interior shell. The paintball is adapted to withstand the normal range of forces sustained in being fired from a paintball gun.

Abstract: A filter element for use in a smoking article and providing filtration of particulate material and gaseous components of mainstream smoke is provided. The filter element includes a segment of fibrous tow comprising a plurality of individual filaments, wherein each individual filament includes a plurality of adsorbent material particles at least partially encapsulated with a removable encapsulant imbedded therein. The individual filaments may further include an outer coating that provides a plurality of reactive groups adapted for reaction with one or more components of mainstream smoke. Alternatively, the multifunctional filter element combines different fibrous filter materials, such as cellulose acetate or polyolefin filaments combined with activated carbon filaments and at least one of ion exchange filaments and catalytic filaments.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a medical device comprising: forming a desired shape from a polymer possessing a core and at least one functional group known to have click reactivity, whereby a medical device with an activated surface is produced.

Abstract: A flexible energy absorbing system including a material coated, impregnated and/or combined with a strain rate sensitive substance is disclosed. The flexible energy absorbing system is formed so as to define repeating adjacent cells, each cell having a re-entrant geometry such that, upon impact, the material locally densifies at the impact site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved pultrusion process for producing semifinished products based on polymers, in particular polyesters or polyamides, which comprises adding reactive chain extenders during the process of saturation (impregnation) of the fibers.

Abstract: Two resin films each provided with an orally administrable edible agent layer are joined so that administrable agent layers face each other, drawn into a nip between a pair of press rolls, pressurized at back surfaces to bond the administrable agent layers together, and conveyed in a direction substantially conforming to a tangential direction at a pressurization zone of the press rolls. A delamination roll disposed in the conveying direction is used to draw only one of the two resin films sandwiching the bonded plural administrable agent layers in a direction different from the conveying direction, while continuously conveying the other resin film retaining the plural administrable agent layers in the conveying direction. This allows only one of the joined two resin films to be delaminated. The obtained pressure bonded product, that is, an orally administrable edible agent of laminate film form can be punched out into predetermined shapes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out the method are for forming a sheet or film of thermoplastic polymer alloy by extruding an intimate blend of incompatible polymer materials, such as polypropylene dispersed in LLDPF, through an extruding die and stretching after extrusion.

Abstract: A feedblock including a first packet creator that forms a first packet including a first plurality of polymeric layers, the first plurality of layers including at least four first individual polymeric layers; and a second packet creator that forms a second packet including a second plurality of polymeric layers, the second plurality of layers including at least four second individual polymeric layers, wherein the first and second packet creators are configured such that, for each packet creator, respective individual polymeric layers of the plurality of polymeric layers are formed at approximately the same time. The feedblock may include a packet combiner that receives and combines the first and second primary packets to form a multilayer stream. In some examples, at least one of the first and second primary packets may be spread in the cross-web direction prior to being combined with one another.

Abstract: A filter bag for a vacuum cleaner includes a tubular bag made of a casing which has at least one nonwoven layer. The casing has a first end region which is sealed at least partially and a second sealed end region situated opposite the first end region. The first end region is folded and forms a base.

Abstract: A multilayer heat shrink film including a core layer including one or more alpha-olefin polymer and at least one skin layer including one or more cyclic olefin copolymers (COC), process for its preparation and uses thereof.

Abstract: A multilayer, heat-shrinkable film generally includes at least one bulk layer and a microlayer section comprising a plurality of microlayers. The ratio of the thickness of any of the microlayers to the thickness of the bulk layer ranges from about 1:2 to about 1:40.

Abstract: A process is provided for strengthening a porous substrate. The process includes providing a substrate having intersecting fibers, where the intersecting fibers cooperate in the final substrate product to form an open pore network. Pathways are opened into the fibrous substrate structure, which enable a flow of gas into the or through the substrate. The substrate is positioned in a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) station, and one or more layers of a strengthening agent is deposited. The deposited layer or layers form a strong coating around fibers and fiber intersections to provide additional strength to the substrate. The strengthened substrate may then be used in wide variety of applications and fields. Advantageously, the disclosed fiber strengthening process produces a substrate having high porosity and higher strength characteristics as compared to a non-strengthened substrate.

Abstract: Films and formulations that include recycled polylactic acid resin are described. The films and formulations include, for example, 1-10 wt % of an ethylene-acrylate copolymer. The use of the ethylene-acrylate compolymer in the polylactic acid formulations allows for recycling of PLA-based films and articles with minimum degradation, as exhibited by changes in intrinsic viscosity and color properties.

Abstract: A seal is described which has good low temperature flexibility and includes a core (3) comprising an elastomer, and an outer layer (7) on the core comprising an elastomer. In some examples described, the Tg of the core is greater than the Tg of the outer layer. Seals described have high chemical resistance as well as good resistance to explosive decompression.

Abstract: A spunbond nonwoven fabric useful as a topsheet is produced from polypropylene filaments including a high level of reclaimed polypropylene, while maintaining a product quality, including superior formation, comparable to that obtained when using 100 percent virgin polymer. The spunbond nonwoven fabric is made with multicomponent filaments having at least two different polymer components occupying different areas within the filament cross section, and wherein one of the polymer components comprises reclaimed polypropylene recovered from previously spun polypropylene fiber or webs comprised of previously spun polypropylene fiber. In a specific embodiment, the filaments are sheath-core bicomponent filaments and the reclaimed polypropylene is present in the core component. The core of the bicomponent filament can be comprised of up to 100% reclaimed polypropylene.

Abstract: A fluted filter medium (74) comprising a corrugated filter sheet, where each flute (120) has an end closure defined by a regular fold arrangement in the corresponding corrugation. Each regular fold arrangement has at least four folds. A process for manufacturing the fluted filter medium comprising deforming a portion of each corrugation to define at least one foldable tip, and folding the said tip in order to close the corrugation.

Abstract: A transparent multilayer stretched product is produced through a process including: providing a resin laminate including at least on layer of polyglycolic acid resin, heat-forming and cooling the resin laminate, reheating the resin laminate until the polyglycolic acid resin is crystallized to be opaque and then stretching the reheated resin laminate. The thus-obtained multilayer stretched product is excellent in gas-barrier property in addition to the transparency and is suitable as a packaging material or container.

Abstract: A multilayered polymeric structure having at least two polymeric layers is provided, each layer being a mixture of a polymeric composition with carbon fibrils. The multilayer polymeric structure may include an electrically conductive material between the first and second polymeric layers. A process for making a multilayered polymeric structure for packaging electronic components is also provided. The multilayered polymeric material is used to form trays and packages for containing electrical components.

Abstract: Films that include at least one metallizable layer, wherein the metallizable layer includes a polyolefin and at least one organosilicon compound, such as silane, polysilane, side group modified polysilane, graft or block copolymer of silane, polycarbosilane, particularly organosilicon compounds having a silicon:(oxygen+nitrogen) molar ratio of 0.3 to 3.5 are described. Metallized films having good barrier properties and metal adhesion as well as methods for making such films are described.

Abstract: A method of co-extrusion is used to prepare a thermal imaging element such as a thermal dye receiver element. In this method, two or three of an image receiving layer, an antistatic tie layer, and a compliant layer are co-extruded and these co-extruded multiple layers can be disposed on a support to provide a smooth outer surface and reduced delamination among layers especially in a high humidity environment.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the production of a predetermined ratio of multicomponent fibers in combination with monocomponent fibers or other multicomponent fibers, preferably through a spunbonding process. After extrusion, these fibers can produce a fiber network that is subsequently bonded to produce a nonwoven fabric comprising multiple types of fibers. The multicomponent fibers within the network may be processed to remove one component by dissolution or to split the individual components into separate fibers. As a result, the fabric will be comprised of fibers with a range of diameters (micro- or nano-denier fibers as well as higher denier fibers) such that the fibers will not pack as tightly as in a homogeneous nonwoven fabric produced from one type of monocomponent or multicomponent fiber. The present invention additionally relates to methods for producing nonwoven fabrics with increased loft, breathability, strength, compressive properties, and filtration efficiency.

Abstract: A polyester film with a high transparency, such as a transparency of from 70 to 99.5%, is provided that includes barium sulfate particles whose median particle size is from 0.7 to 7 ?m. The barium sulfate particles have an inorganic coating formed from oxides, mixed oxides, or a mixture of oxides of Si, Al, Sn, Fe, In, and/or Sb. The coating makes the barium sulfate particles more compatible with the polyester matrix, thereby minimizing the haze of the film. Preference is given to mixed oxides of SiO2 and Al2O3, and PET is the preferred polyester.

Abstract: In on aspect, the invention includes a microcarrier bead having a porous three-dimensional core having (a) a polymeric porous three-dimensional body having porosity of about 15 to about 90% such that at least 99% of pores are interconnected and have diameters of at most 200 microns, (b) an outer protective layer and optionally (c) a filler. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of making an artificial scaffold wherein a scaffolding material is extruded into a coolant and thereby creating a porous material having a porosity of between 15-90% such that at least 99% of pores are interconnected and have diameters of at most 200 microns.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition and method of modifying the surface of a polymeric to produce a film or article with a reduced coefficient of friction (COF) and improved release properties. The reduced coefficient of friction improves both the slip and anti-blocking properties of the material as well aiding in processing of the polymeric material. Additionally, the invention improves demolding and release of the polymeric material from other polymeric surfaces or adhesives as well as metal molding surfaces.

Abstract: To produce a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet according to which air entrapment and blistering can be prevented or eliminated through through-holes, and yet the through-holes are not readily visible at a substrate surface, a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface of a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 12 in a laminate comprising a substrate 11 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 12 is irradiated with a CO2 laser having a pulse width of from 1 to 140 ?sec, a pulse energy at each processing point of from 0.01 to 3.0 mJ, and a beam spot diameter at each processing point of from 30 to 160 ?m, so as to form through-holes 2 having a diameter at the surface of the substrate 11 of from 0.1 to 42 ?m at a hole density of from 30 to 50,000 per 100 cm2.

Abstract: An in situ compositionally modulated meltspun fabric and method for making the same. The meltspun fabric has at least one layer comprising a plurality of discrete regions of fiber. At least two discrete regions of fiber are inelastic or extensible and at least one discrete region of fiber is elastic or extensible. The layer is compositionally modulated in the cross direction.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing pitch-densified carbon-carbon composite brake discs from carbon fiber preforms, by the following sequential steps: (a) providing a carbon-carbon composite brake disc preform; (b) heat treating the preform; (c) subjecting the heat-treated preform to Chemical Vapor Deposition/Chemical Vapor Infiltration processing; (d) infiltrating the preform with an isotropic low to medium char-yield pitch by Vacuum Pitch Infiltration processing or Resin Transfer Molding processing; (e) carbonizing the pitch-infiltrated preform; (f) machining the surfaces of the resulting carbonized preform; and (g) repeating steps (d) through (f) until the density of the carbon-carbon composite preform is at least 1.70 g/cc. The use of VPI equipment with isotropic, low to medium char-yield pitches for all densification steps following an initial CVD densification reduces capital and pitch materials cost.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing pitch-based carbon-carbon composite useful as a brake disc, by: (a) providing annular carbon fiber brake disc preform; (b) heat-treating the carbon fiber preform; (c) infiltrating the carbon fiber preform with pitch feedstock by VPI or RTM processing; (d) carbonizing the pitch-infiltrated carbon fiber preform; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) to achieve a density in the carbon fiber preform of approximately 1.5 g/cc to below 1.7 g/cc; and (f) densifying the preform by CVI/CVD processing to a density higher than 1.7 g/cc. Employing lower cost VPI and/or RTM processing in early pitch densification cycles and using more expensive CVI/CVD processing only in the last densification cycle provides C-C composites in which the pitch-based components resist pullout, resulting in a longer wearing composite.

Abstract: An exemplary method for making a transparent composite includes steps of combining a refractive index modifier with a precursor solution to provide a modified polymer precursor solution, combining glass with the modified precursor solution, and curing the modified precursor solution to create a transparent glass reinforced polymer composite. An example refractive index modifier comprises a monofunctional compound or monofunctional monomer, a polyfunctional compound or polyfunctional monomer or polymer, which is combined with the polymer precursor solution to increase the crosslinking density of the chain in the cured modified polymer precursor solution, and thus increase the refractive index. An exemplary transparent composite comprises a glass reinforced thermosetting polymer composite layer sandwiched between glass layers.

Abstract: An ion-conductive membrane that includes a first layer comprising a first ionomer, and a porous polymer substrate, where at least a portion of the first ionomer is interpenetrated within the porous polymer substrate by ionomer-induced phase separation.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film having at least two thermoplastic resin layers laminated on each other, wherein at least the thermoplastic resin layer of the film surface and the thermoplastic resin layer of the film back each have a tilt structure in the thickness direction of the film, and in the plane including the tilt direction of the tilt structure and the film normal line, the sign of the angle, ? between the normal direction of the film surface and the tilt direction differs between the thermoplastic resin layer of the film surface and the thermoplastic resin layer of the film back, and wherein ? is from ?90° to 90°.

Abstract: A method including forming a bilayer polymer film having an oriented polypropylene film and a metallocene-catalyzed polypropylene film wherein the metallocene-catalyzed polypropylene film has a seal initiation temperature of from 80° C. to 130° C. A laminate including a biaxially oriented polypropylene film, a metallocene-catalyzed polypropylene film, and a substrate, wherein the metallocene-catalyzed polypropylene film is disposed between the biaxially oriented polypropylene film and the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a microporous polyolefin film which can be used for various battery separators, separating filters and membranes for microfiltration. The process for manufacturing a microporous polyolefin film according to the invention comprises mixing/extrusion through efficient and separate injection of 15-55% by weight of polyolefin (Component I), and 85-45% by weight of a diluent (Component II) which forms thermodynamic single phase with the polyolefin and a diluent (Component III) which can undergo thermodynamic liquid-liquid phase separation with the polyolefin, into an extruder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming ductile multilayer silicone resin films. The method may include forming a silicone resin film comprising at least two polymer layers, at least one of them being a silicone resin layer. The thickness of the silicone resin layer(s) is less than a corresponding ductile transition thickness.

Abstract: An anti-glare film which can prevent reflected glare in a display and a whitening in a displayed black image and provide a contrasty image display in which black color appears more sharply is provided. The anti-glare film is produced by applying a liquid composition containing a nonreactive (meth)acrylic resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 30,000 to 1,000,000, a (meth)acrylic resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000 and a polymerizable group, a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, and a solvent having a boiling point of not lower than 100° C., and producing convection along with volatilization of the solvent, wherein the anti-glare film has a ridge formed dispersively and in a random direction on a surface thereof, and the total area of the ridges is not more than 50% of a whole surface area of the anti-glare film. The ridge may have an average height of 0.05 to 10 ?m and an average width of 0.1 to 30 ?m.

Abstract: A process which subjects a body of polymer to deformation to produce strain hardened polymeric products including blending a polymer and a nanoparticle material to produce a polymeric composition, forming a film from the polymeric composition, and subjecting the composition to strain hardening. The resulting product has improved clarity, dimensional stability, uniform thickness, due to the “self-leveling” properties of the polymeric composition.

Abstract: Geotechnical article, and process for making it, the article having coefficient of thermal expansion less than about 150 ppm/° C. at ambient; resistance to acidic media greater than polyamide 6 resin and/or resistance to basic media greater than PET resin; resistance to hydrocarbons greater than that of HDPE; creep modulus of at least 400 MPa at 25° C., at 20% of yield stress load for 60 minutes (ISO 899-1); and 1 percent secant flexural modulus at least 700 MPa at 25° C. (ASTM D790); the article including a composition including (a) from about 1 to about 95% by weight of the composition of at least one functional group containing polymer or oligomer; and (b) from about 5 to about 99% by weight of the composition of at least one engineering thermoplastic, and optionally containing a filler and optionally containing an unmodified polyolefin, ethylene copolymer or ethylene terpolymer.