Abstract: A device for internal centrifugation of mineral fibers including a centrifuge equipped with a peripheral band perforated with orifices distributed in a plurality of annular zones arranged on top of each other, assuming that the centrifuge is in centrifugation position. The device also includes at least two annular zones whose number of orifices per unit of surface area differs by a value greater than or equal to 5%, in particular greater than or equal to 10%, and even 20%.

Abstract: A process is provided for issuing material from a nozzle in a rotor rotating at a given rotational speed wherein the material is issued by way of a fluid jet. The material can be collected on a collector concentric to the rotor. The collector can be a flexible belt moving in the axial direction of the rotor. The collected material can take the form of discrete particles, fibers, plexifilamentary web, discrete fibrils or a membrane.

Abstract: A system and method for extruding composite material and the composite material therefrom. The composite material consists of a filler mixed with a binding agent. The composite material is extruded as billets with enhanced physical properties, such as color, texture, electrical conductivity and fire retardancy, and contains a dispersion pattern of the filler material. A system and method are also provided for drawing the composite material through a die and a composite material produced thereby. The drawn composite material exhibits a density reduction over the density of the starting material and enhanced physical properties. A particularly useful tongue and groove arrangement are also provided for joining adjacent strips of a composite material made according to the extrusion process.

Abstract: Novel window and patio door frame members are formed by an extrusion process that provide these members with at least one channel and with an outer weather resistant surface and an internal imitation wood surface together with integrated sealing strips formed in the channels for the doors, these components being fully integrated. The process is carried out by extruding a foamed profile with a channel through a first die therein having reduced dimensions where a protective shell is desired, co-extruding a plastic with said foamed profile in a second die to form a protective shell where the reduced dimensions occur, passing the co-extrusion though a calibration die, and then heating the co-extrusion at selected location where weather stripping is desired and then passing the co-extrusion through a final die where plastic weather stripping is extruded therewith and then cooling the integrated member.

Abstract: A spinner disc for fiberizing a molten thermoplastic fiberizable material in a rotary fiberization process includes a base plate, an annular peripheral sidewall, and an upper annular reinforcing flange. The annular peripheral sidewall of the disc has a plurality of annular extending rows of fiberizing holes therein for fiberizing thermoplastic materials by centrifugal force. At least an uppermost row of the annular extending rows of fiberizing holes is interrupted by a plurality of spaced apart generally vertically extending holeless retaining bands for maintaining the upper annular reinforcing flange connected to the annular peripheral sidewall when the annular peripheral sidewall cracks along one of the annular extending rows of fiberizing holes due to the hole wear and enlargement that occurs during service.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulose ester film having a dry thickness of 20 to 60 &mgr;m, wherein the cellulose ester film is manufactured according to a solution cast film manufacture process comprising the steps of providing a cellulose ester dope, casting the cellulose ester dope on a support to form a cellulose ester web, peeling the cellulose ester web at a peel position from the support, transporting the peeled web to a dryer, drying the peeled web therein to form a cellulose ester film, and winding the cellulose ester film around a spool, the residual solvent content at the winding step of the cellulose ester film being not more than 0.05% by weight.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of making lyocell fibers. In particular, the process includes reducing the average degree of polymerization of a pulp to about 200 to 1100 without substantially reducing the hemicellulose content of the pulp, and reducing the copper number to less than 2.0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the internal centrifugation of fine mineral fibres, a method for forming fine mineral fibres, and paper containing fine mineral fibres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing fibrous materials from thermoplastic material, wherein thermoplastic material is molten and fed into a rotating reactor to form a molten film and the fibers are formed on and stretched out along an open edge of the reactor. The fibers are formed on the reactor edge without using nozzles or ducts that are susceptible to clogging so that the rotating reactor is heated in such a way that the molten film has a temperature close to decomposition temperature of the thermic plastic material and the reactor is rotated on the edge at an orbital speed of no less than 10 m/s.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of making lyocell fibers. In particular, the process includes reducing the average degree of polymerization of a pulp to about 200 to 1100 without substantially reducing the hemicellulose content of the pulp, and reducing the copper number to less than 2.0.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a powder coating composition, wherein 5-90% by weight of at least one monomeric compound selected from glycidyl group-containing unsaturated compounds and methylglycidyl group-containing unsaturated compounds is copolymerized with 95-10% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer in methanol to obtain a resin solution. The resin solution is spray-dried to obtain a powdery resin. Alternatively, the resin solution is fed to an extruder having a die and a plurality of vent ports and extruded through the die, while removing volatile matters through the vent ports, to obtain extrudates. The extrudates are pulverized to obtain a powdery resin.

Abstract: A biodegradable, water dispersible shaped core product useful in winding or rolling and storage of paper goods is provided by extruding starch which has a particle size of 800 to 1200 microns into an expanded, closed cell starch product.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for the manufacture of a composite fibrous strand comprising glass fibers. Glass fibers and an additive fibrous material (e.g., thermoplastic polymeric fibers) are each introduced separately into a substantially rotationally symmetric zone that is closed circumferentially except for a longitudinal introduction locale. The glass fibers and the fibers of the additive fibrous material are subjected to a vortex to form a homogeneous composite fibrous strand. Good admixture of the fibrous components is made possible thereby facilitating the ultimate production of composite articles wherein the glass fibers are disposed as reinforcement in a highly uniform manner. Such homogeneity and uniformity provides improved mechanical properties to the end user.

Abstract: Fibers are produced a from molten thermoplastic fiberizable material in a rotary fiberizing process by passing the fiberizable material through rows of fiberizing holes in an annular sidewall of a fiberizing disk. A first manifold supplies a combustible gas or gaseous mixture into the fiberizing disk where the combustible gas or gaseous mixture combusts to help maintain the fiberizing disk and the molten fiberizable material supplied to the fiberizing disk within a desired temperature range for fiberization. A second manifold supplies a combustible gas or gaseous mixture externally of the fiberizing disk where the combustible gas or gaseous mixture combusts. The products of combustion from the burning of the combustible gases or gaseous mixtures discharged from the first and second manifolds heat an annular fiber attenuation zone surrounding the disk sidewall and help attenuate fibers in the heated attenuation zone.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus including at least one conical stator, and at least one conical rotor. The rotor is adapted for defibering or orienting a plastic material. The apparatus has an opening for receiving an elongate product or mandrel. The product or mandrel may be disposed in the apparatus such that, with the product or mandrel received in the opening, an extrusion conduit is defined in the opening between the product or mandrel and the rotor and stator. The rotor and stator are disposed with respect to one another to form a supply opening wherein the plastic material flows between the stator and rotor and is pressed into the extrusion conduit.

Abstract: Hydrophobic polyolefin fibers are provided with an internal hydrophobic polysiloxane of the formula in which X, Y, R1, and R2, which may be the same or different, or substituted or unsubstituted independently of each other, are aliphatic groups having not more than about sixteen carbon atoms, R1 and R2 also being selected from among aryl groups, and z being a positive number sufficiently high that the polysiloxane is hydrophobic (z is generally a least 10). The invention also provides a novel polymer melt for spinning these hydrophobic fibers. The fibers can be cut into staple lengths and carded and bonded to form hydrophobic woven and nonwoven products suitable for use in hygiene devices such as diapers. Such devices are improved by these fibers, which, as spun, present a greater hydrophobicity than melt-spun polyolefin fibers lacking the internal siloxane lubricant, the improved hydrophobicity is evidenced by an advancing contact angle for the as-spun fibers of at least about 95°.