Abstract: A polymer composition capable of being additively manufactured includes a polymer matrix and a magnetically receptive additive. The polymer composition may be additively manufactured or extruded to form a tool which may be used to form a composite part.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of fasteners includes extruding a continuous strip of material, the continuous strip defining a base portion, a tip portion, and a stem portion extending between the base portion and the tip portion. A portion of material is removed from the continuous strip of material along the tip portion such that a plurality of tip portions are separated from each other and spaced apart, each tip portion having at least one flexible tab. The continuous strip of material is then extruded through a foaming die, wherein the flexible tabs are elastically displaced away from the base portion during a foaming process such that a foam material fills a cavity of the foaming die to form a sealing element around the stem portion. Portions of the continuous strip between each of the tip portions are separated to produce a plurality of individual sealed fasteners.

Abstract: The electrostatic chuck device includes: a base having one main surface serving as a mounting surface on which a plate-shaped sample is mounted; and an electrode for electrostatic attraction provided on a side opposite to the mounting surface in the base or in an interior of the base, in which the electrode for electrostatic attraction is made of a composite sintered body that includes a matrix phase having insulation properties and a dispersed phase having a lower volume resistivity value than the matrix phase, in any cross section of the composite sintered body, a region of the dispersed phase, which is surrounded by the matrix phase and is independent, includes aggregated portions having a maximum Feret diameter of 30 ?m or more, and one or more of the aggregated portions are present in a range of 2500 ?m2 in any cross section of the sintered body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of a tube with an outer diameter in the range of from 10 ?m to 250 ?m consisting of a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane as well as to a tube with an outer diameter in the range of from 10 ?m to 250 ?m consisting of a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane obtained or obtainable by the process according to the invention. The invention is further directed to the use of a tube according to the invention as a tube for the transportation of a fluid or as gas membrane tube or as an elastic fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for making spunbonded nonwoven has a spinneret for emitting the continuous filaments in a filament-travel direction, a cooling chamber downstream in the direction from the spinneret and receiving the filaments, and two air-supply manifolds flanking the chamber for feeding cooling air thereinto transverse to the direction. A flow straightener for equalizing flow of the cooling air on the filaments is provided in at least one of the air-supply manifolds and has passage walls forming a plurality of flow passages that extend transversely to a filament-travel direction. A flow cross section of the flow straightener is greater than 85% (preferably more than 90%) of a cross-sectional size of the straightener, a ratio of a length L of the flow passages to an inner diameter Di of the flow passages L/Di is 1 to 15.

Abstract: Methods for making high quality polyimide fibers suitable for continuous industrial production are described. Polyimide fibers are continuously prepared from a polyamic acid solution through sequentially spinning the polyamic acid solution by either a wet or a dry-wet process, coagulating, drying or drying after washing, thermally treating and stretching the resulting polyamic acid fibers to obtain polyimide fibers, and winding polyimide fibers as prepared into rolls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drawn PET fiber which has good dimensional stability and can be applied to a cap ply cord for a pneumatic tire, a PET tire cord, their preparation methods, and a tire including the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an undrawn PET fiber and a drawn PET fiber those can provide a cap ply cord and the like showing more improved modulus and good dimensional stability, and a tire cord including the same. The undrawn PET fiber may be a fiber of which the crystallinity is 25% or more, the birefringence index is 0.085 to 0.11, the amorphous orientation factor (AOF) is 0.15 or less, and the melting temperature (Tm) is 258° C. or more.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing mechanically resilient titanium carbide (TiC) nanofibrous felts comprising continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix, comprising: (a) electrospinning a spin dope for making precursor nanofibers with diameters less than 0.5 J.Lm; (b) overlaying the nanofibers to produce a nanofibrous mat (felt); and then (c) heating the nano-felts first at a low temperature, and then at a high temperature for making electrospun continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix; and (d) chlorinating the above electrospun nano-felts at an elevated temperature to remove titanium for producing carbide derived carbon (CDC) nano-fibrous felt with high specific surface areas.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides polyimide fibers with kidney-shaped cross-section and their preparation methods thereof, falling within the technical field of polyimide fiber. Polyimide fibers with kidney-shaped cross-sections are prepared by a continuous, integrated approach, starting from a polyamic acid solution prepared by reacting an aromatic dianhydride with an aromatic diamine. PAA nascent fibers with kidney-shaped cross-sections are obtained by adopting a spinneret having circular orifices under wet spinning process. The kidney-shaped cross-sections are obtained by varying the processing condition, including spinning speed, coagulation bath composition, coagulation temperature, and depth of coagulation bath. After washing and drying, polyamic acid nascent fibers are converted to polyimide fibers with kidney-shaped cross-sections under thermal curing. The integrated preparation methods are suitable for mass industrial production.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods of using boron-containing additives for crosslinking polysilazane green fibers, which are precursors to silicon carbide fibers. These methods provide a controllable process for crosslinking silicon carbide fibers while providing a simple way for the introduction of boron as a sintering aid into the polymer structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polyacrylonitrile fiber includes a spinning process in which a spinning dope including polyacrylonitrile is spun; a first drawing process; a drying process; and a second hot drawing process in this order.

Abstract: A technique with which a nanofibrous resin spun by electrospinning can be introduced into inner parts of fibers. The process for fiber composite material production is a process which comprises spinning a nanofibrous resin toward split fibers continuously conveyed along a given conveyance route and thereby combining the split fibers with the resin to produce a fiber composite material. The process involves a resin spinning step in which the nanofibrous resin spun with an electrospinning device is flown toward the split fibers. In the resin spinning step, the direction in which the nanofibrous resin proceeds is made to be the same as the conveying direction of the split fibers by blowing an air stream from a blower on the nanofibrous resin.

Abstract: A melt spinning apparatus includes an apparatus body and a nozzle for extruding melted resin, a primary hot air passage formed around the nozzle, and a secondary hot air passage formed in a zone outside of the primary hot air passage, which are formed in the apparatus body. The primary hot air passage discharges primary hot air onto fibers of the melted resin extruded from the nozzle. The secondary hot air passage discharges secondary hot air to maintain the temperature of the primary hot air. The discharge angle of the secondary hot air from the secondary hot air passage is set in a range of 0° to 50° with respect to the direction of the melted resin extruded from the nozzle. The secondary hot air forms an air curtain that blocks the atmospheric air.

Abstract: A melt spinning apparatus includes an apparatus body, a nozzle configured to extrude melted resin in the apparatus body, and a barrel having an air discharge passage arranged around this nozzle to discharge hot air. The discharge passage includes a sloped passage and a parallel passage that extends along the nozzle. At an intersection of imaginary lines extending along the centerlines of the sloped passage, an imaginary merging section is defined. An open end of the nozzle is positioned on the downstream side of the imaginary merging section of the hot air blown diagonally forward toward a periphery of the nozzle. To manufacture a sheet of a nonwoven fabric, the melted resin is discharged from the nozzle and then the hot air swirling diagonally forward is blown toward the periphery of the nozzle. This causes the melted resin to be formed into spiral fibers. Those fibers are blown onto the belt of a conveyor belt apparatus to manufacture a nonwoven fabric sheet.

Abstract: A method of preparing antimicrobial-containing polymeric products is provided, the method involving electrospinning a dispersion comprising a dispersible polymer, a fiberizing polymer, and one or more antimicrobial agents. The electrospun material is heated to remove solvent and the fiberizing polymer, giving a nonwoven polymeric material having antimicrobial agent incorporated therein. The material can be in the form of, for example, a non-woven sheet, tube, or covering.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a graphene conjugate fiber and a method for manufacturing same, and more particularly, to a conjugate fiber including graphene and a polymer, wherein a wrinkled structure of the graphene is maintained in a fiber state. The graphene conjugate fiber manufactured thereby has superior mechanical properties, is flexible, and has high utility by being manufactured as a fiber.

Abstract: A colored high strength polyethylene fiber, preparation method and use thereof are provided, which are in the high molecular material field. The surface of said high strength polyethylene fiber is chromatic, grey or black. The strength of said high strength polyethylene fiber is 15-50 g/d, its modulus is 400-2000 g/d. The product of the present invention is colored, so it can be well applied to civil and military field. The preparation method of present invention has some advantages that technological process is simple, production efficiency is high, cost of production is low, performance of made fiber is excellent, and use-cost is reduced, compared with the prior art.

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: Dental floss products are provided which include a unitary tape of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 5 dl/g, as measured in decalin at 135° C., the tape having a thickness of about 0.02-0.1 mm and a width of about 0.25-6 mm, and a tensile strength of at least 1.8 GPa. The dental floss products have very high mechanical, especially tensile strength, and show high resistance to tearing and has a low coefficient of friction. The tape can be inserted between teeth tightly together without breaking. A further advantage of the dental tape products is that most of the initial strength during flossing is retained, even if the tape separates into filaments. Processes for making a unitary tape suitable for use in a dental floss product are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a flame retardant polyester fiber that makes it possible to prepare a flame retardant polyester fiber having excellent shape stability while preventing a lumping phenomenon and reducing powder generation and discoloration during the preparing process of the flame retardant polyester fiber, and a flame retardant polyester fiber prepared therefrom.

Abstract: Conjugate fibers are prepared in which at least one segment is a mixture of a high-D PLA resin and a high-L PLA resin. These segments have crystallites having a crystalline melting temperature of at least 200° C. At least one other segment is a high-D PLA resin or a high-L PLA resin. The conjugate fibers may be, for example, bicomponent, multi-component, islands-in-the-sea or sheath-and-core types. Specialty fibers of various types can be made through further downstream processing of these conjugate fibers.

Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymeric filtration medium including at least one fibrous mat of randomly oriented fibers of a polymer. The polymer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) between about 1.4 and about 6 and a melt flow rate greater than about 1000 g/10 minutes. Also disclosed herein are methods of making and using the polymeric filtration medium. Further disclosed herein is a composite filtration medium incorporating the polymeric filtration medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous, multicellular, hollow carbon fiber wherein the fiber structure includes a substantially hollow fiber and multiple internal walls defining multiple integral internal hollow fibers such that the fiber structure comprises a honeycomb-like cross section.

Abstract: A process is disclosed of forming cellulose fibers. The process includes extruding an aqueous solution of cellulose and a solvent through a first member to form filaments. The first member has multiple rows of first and second openings with a nozzle positioned in each of the first openings. At least one of the nozzles in one row is staggered from at least one of the nozzles in an adjacent row. At least a portion of each of the filaments is shrouded in a pressurized gas emitted through each of the first openings. Each of the filaments is contacted with a liquid to remove some of the solvent and transform each of the filaments into a continuous solid fiber. The continuous solid fibers are then collected on a moving surface to form a non-woven cellulose web.

Abstract: Methods for making bioabsorbable copolymer filaments are provided herein. The methods include drying the polymer pellets to be extruded, melt extrusion of copolymer components, stretching the filaments in one or more draw steps and permitting the drawn filaments to relax. The copolymer preferably contains units derived from glycolide or glycolic acid and units derived from an alkylene carbonate, such as, for example, trimethylene carbonate.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide core-sheath nanofibers produced by coaxial electrospinning, fuser members comprising core-sheath nanofibers, and methods for forming core-sheath nanofibers that can include a core solution comprising a high performance polymer and sheath solutions comprising a solvent-soluble fluoropolymer or solvent-insoluble fluororesins and a sacrificial polymeric binder.

Abstract: A method for making a carbon nanotube-based device includes the steps of: providing a carbon nanotube yarn; preforming the carbon nanotube yarn into a predetermined shape; and heating the preformed carbon nanotube yarn so as to enable the carbon nanotube yarn to memorize the predetermined shape.

Abstract: The configuration of a feedstock material is controlled by bringing it into contact with at least a first gas moving against it at a location with an area and thickness of the feedstock liquid that forms drops or fibers of a selected size. In one embodiment, drops of agricultural input materials are formed for spraying on agricultural fields. In another embodiment, nanofibers of materials such as chitosan or metals are formed. In another embodiment seeds are planted with gel.

Abstract: PLA stereocomplex fibers are made by separately melting a high-D PLA starting resin and a high-L starting resin, mixing the melts and spinning the molten mixture. Subsequent heat treatment introduces high-melting “stereocomplex” crystallinity into the fibers. The process can form fibers having a high content of “stereocomplex” crystallites that have a high melting temperature. As a result, the fibers have excellent thermal resistance. The process is also easily adaptable to commercial melt spinning operations.

Abstract: An improved process for forming a PTFE mat is described. The process includes providing a dispersion with PTFE, a fiberizing polymer and a solvent wherein said dispersion has a viscosity of at least 50,000 cP. An apparatus is provided which comprises a charge source and a target a distance from the charge source. A voltage source is provided which creates a first charge at the charge source and an opposing charge at the target. The dispersion is electrostatically charged by contact with the charge source. The electrostatically charged dispersion is collected on the target to form a mat precursor which is heated to remove the solvent and the fiberizing polymer thereby forming the PTFE mat.

Abstract: The method of producing an islands-in-sea type composite spun fiber having an island component diameter of 1 ?m or less according to the present invention comprises drawing (superdrawing) with a total draw ratio of from 5 to 100 an undrawn islands-in-sea type composite spun fiber having been prepared by spinning at a spinning speed of from 100 to 1,000 m/min, at temperatures higher than the glass transition points of both the polymer forming the sea component and the polymer forming the island components of the composite spun fiber.

Abstract: Gel-spun multi-filament polyethylene yarns possessing a high degree of molecular and crystalline order, and to the drawing methods by which they are produced. The drawn yarns are useful in impact absorption and ballistic resistance for body armor, helmets, breast plates, helicopter seats, spall shields, and other applications; composite sports equipment such as kayaks, canoes, bicycles and boats; and in fishing line, sails, ropes, sutures and fabrics.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polymer yarns from ultra high molecular weight homopolymers or copolymers, wherein the process includes the following steps: (a) preparing a suspension of a homopolymer or copolymer and a spinning or gelling solvent of a non polar nature at a weight of homopolymer or copolymer to solvent ratio from 2/98 to 30/70, wherein said ultra high molecular weight homopolymer or copolymer is reactor bimodal or multimodal; (b) feeding said homopolymer or copolymer suspension to an extruder; (c) extruding said suspension under gel forming conditions, at a temperature in excess of 150° C., and under inert conditions; (d) spinning the gel obtained from the extrusion so as to obtain non-stretched filaments with diameters of at least 1 mm, at a temperature in excess of 150° C.

Abstract: A woven panel is formed from at least one first polymer yarn and at least one second polymer yarn wherein the second polymer yarn has a core. The core yarns provide mechanical strength for the woven material in supporting the coreless yarns when used in load bearing articles such as the seat or back portions of an article of furniture.

Abstract: A method of coating metal wire with extrudate using an extrusion system. The method includes the steps of advancing the metal wire through an extrusion die of the extrusion system and extruding molten extrudate over the metal wire as the metal wire is advanced through the extrusion die. Image data is generated, using one or several electronic cameras, concurrently with the advancing, and extruding to provide visual feedback indicative of the concentricity or non-concentricity of extrudate surrounding the metal wire as the metal wire exits the extrusion die.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polymer yarns from ultra high molecular weight homopolymers or copolymers which includes the steps of preparing a suspension of a homopolymer or copolymer and a spinning or gelling solvent, extruding the suspension with the formation of a gel, spinning the gel to obtain non-stretched filaments or yarns, cooling the non-stretched filaments or yarns, feeding the non-stretched filaments or yarns, to an extractor together with the feed of an organic extraction solvent, extracting the non-polar long chain solvent impregnated in the yarns, drying the non-stretched filament bundles or yarns, and stretching said dry yarns at a temperature in excess of 80° C.

Abstract: A method of forming PET fiber for carpet is disclosed. The method includes drying PET material so it has a water content of less than 50 ppm. Adding color to the PET material, heating the PET material to a temperature less than 330° C. so the PET has a viscosity between about 0.68 and 0.86, and extruding the PET through a spinneret to form fibers.

Abstract: There is provided a core-sheath bicomponent polyester monofilament, wherein a core component is composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a sheath component composed of PET having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) at least 0.2 lower than that of the core component, the polyester monofilament having a fineness of 3 to 8 dtex, a strength of 7.5 cN/dtex or more, a toughness (strength×elongation0.5) of 29 or more, and a longitudinal yarn fineness variation of 1.5% or less.

Abstract: The vinyl-type conducting polymer precursor is dissolved in solution containing volatile solvent such as methanol, and the precursor fibers are produced by electrospinning. The vinyl-type conducting polymer fibers are produced by heat treatment of the precursor fibers at certain temperature and time in a vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere, or by zone reaction method, followed by doping with dopant.

Abstract: A method for producing a continuous filament made up of nanofibers is disclosed. A ribbon-shaped nanofiber web is prepared by electrospinning a polymer spinning solution onto a collector 7 applied with a high voltage, the collector 7 consisting of (I) an endless belt type nonconductive plate 7a with grooves having a predetermined width (u) and depth (h) formed at regular intervals along a lengthwise direction and a conductive plate 7b inserted into the grooves of the nonconductive plate, and then the nanofiber web is isolated (separated) from the collector 7, focused, drawn and wound. A continuous filament (yarn) made up of nanofibers can be produced by a simple and continuous process by providing a method for continuously producing a filament (yarn) by an electrospinning technique without a spinning process. The focusability and the drawability can be greatly improved by orienting nanofibers well in the fiber axis direction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of making continuous filament by electrospinning, wherein electrospun nanofibers are collected on a multi-layer type collector consisting of two or more, rotating disk-shaped conductive materials by electrospinning a polymer dope onto the multi-layer collector with a high voltage applied thereto and which rotates at a rotational linear velocity of 5 m/sec or more, through nozzles having a high voltage applied thereto, and then collecting the nanofibers on the collector in the form of a continuous filament by the use of a collecting roller, and conveying the nanofibers to a canvas through a traverse, or dried, drawn, and wound consecutively.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing spun-bonded nonwoven fabrics that can reduce the diameter of a filament without decreasing productivity and can stably produce nonwoven fabrics, comprising: quenching a multiple number of continuous melt-spun filaments through spinning nozzles with quench air fed to a quenching chamber, drawing the filaments, and depositing the filaments on a moving collector surface, wherein the quench air fed to the quenching chamber is divided into at least 2 streams in vertical direction, and an air velocity of the quench air in the lowermost stream is set higher than that of the 50 quench air in the uppermost stream. The invention also provides an apparatus for manufacturing spun-bonded nonwoven fabrics, wherein quench air fed to the quenching chamber is divided into at least 2 streams in the vertical direction, wherein the velocities of the quench air are independently controllable in the respective streams.

Abstract: A woven panel is formed from at least one first polymer yarn and at least one second polymer yarn wherein the second polymer yarn has a core. The core yarns provide mechanical strength for the woven material in supporting the coreless yarns when used in load bearing articles such as the seat or back portions of an article of furniture.

Abstract: Methods for preparation of high strength yarns having superior yarn-to-yarn uniformity of denier, tenacity and tensile modulus and uniform unidirectional fibrous sheets. Ballistic composites prepared from these yarns and fibrous sheets have improved uniformity of ballistic resistance. The drawn yarns, fibrous sheets and articles made therefrom are more uniform than the prior art and are useful in applications requiring impact absorption and ballistic resistance, such as body armor, helmets, breast plates, helicopter seats, spall shields; composite sports equipment such as kayaks, canoes, bicycles and boats; and in fishing line, sails, ropes, sutures and fabrics.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing a fiber, comprising: melt-extruding polyhydroxyalkanoic acid; solidifying the polyhydroxyalkanoic acid by quenching it to its glass transition temperature +15° C. or less, to form an amorphous fiber; cold-drawing the amorphous fiber at its glass transition temperature +20° C. or less; and subjecting the fiber to heat treatment under tension. The present invention can provide: a process for producing a fiber with high strength, and the fiber produced through the process; and a process for producing a fiber with high strength and high modulus of elasticity and the fiber with high strength and high modulus of elasticity produced through the process, regardless of molecular weights of PHAs varying depending on origins such as a wild type PHAs-producing microorganism product, a genetically modified product, and a chemical product.

Abstract: Rotary spinning processes, more particularly processes for making hydroxyl polymer-containing fibers using a rotary spinning die, hydroxyl polymer-containing fibers made by the processes and webs made with the hydroxyl polymer-containing fibers are provided.

Abstract: Absorbable polyester fibers, braids, and surgical meshes with improved handling properties have been developed. These devices are preferably derived from biocompatible copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate. These devices provide a wider range of in vivo strength retention properties than are currently available and have a decreased tendency to curl, in the preferred embodiment, due to the inclusion of relaxation and annealing steps following methods are characterized by the following physical properties: (i) elongation to break from about 17% to about 85% (ii) Young's modulus of less than 350,000 psi, (iii) knot to straight ratio (knot strength/tensile strength) of 55-80% or (iv) load at break from 1100 to 4200 grams.

Abstract: A composition of matter suitable for spinning polyaniline fiber, a method for spinning electrically conductive polyaniline fiber, a method for exchanging dopants in polyaniline fibers, and methods for dedoping and redoping polyaniline fibers are described.