Abstract: Provided herein are measurement systems including a micrometer assembly for receiving a length of tubing, the micrometer assembly including a plurality of non-contact optical micrometers disposed around the length of tubing for measuring an outer diameter (OD) at a first plurality of positions along a circumference of the length of tubing. The measurement system may further include a displacement gauge assembly for receiving the length of tubing from the optical micrometer assembly, the displacement gauge assembly including a plurality of non-contact gauges disposed around the length of tubing for measuring a wall thickness at a second plurality of positions along the circumference of the length of tubing. A controller receives the OD measurements and thickness measurements, and determines an inner diameter and a concentricity of the length of glass tubing based on an index of refraction of the length of glass tubing, the OD measurements, and the thickness measurements.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a separator, comprising the steps of: providing a nonporous precursor substrate; coating a heat-resistant slurry on a surface of the nonporous precursor substrate to form a heat-resistant coating layer, wherein the heat-resistant slurry comprises a binder and a plurality of inorganic particles; and stretching the nonporous precursor substrate with the heat-resistant coating layer formed thereon to generate a separator comprising a porous substrate and a heat-resistant layer; wherein the heat-resistant layer is disposed on the surface of the porous substrate in the range of 10% to 90% of the total surface area of the porous substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing a laminated glass pane that includes a first pane, a first laminating film, a polymer film, a second laminating film, and a second pane, in this order, wherein the polymer film is bonded to the two laminating films, in which method the starting material for the first and the second laminating film is in each case a laminating film in roll form, which, before being used to form the laminated glass pane, is subjected to a pretreatment, in which the laminating film is relaxed by a heat treatment in a non-tensioned state.

Abstract: A plastic barrier screen that is molded and drawn; the screen is formed from a process that uses the speed of injection molding to form a part that can be mechanically oriented in a second operation that is equally fast. The plastic barrier screen is first formed from injection molding a part with multiple square or hexagonal holes ½ to ? opening size in a uniform pattern, including longitudinal dividers between such holes of 2 to 6 times the final desired screen barrier cross sectional area of the longitudinals respectively. The molded part is then stretched along the longitudinal elements of the mold to molecularly orient at elevated temperature to produce a larger planar dimension of 2 to 6 times the original plastic screen with high strength molecularly oriented monofilament longitudinal elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layered microporous polyolefin film for a battery separator and a method for preparing the same. The microporous multi-layered film of the present invention has a characteristics to have both the low shutdown temperature conferred by the polyethylene and the high melt fracture temperature conferred by the polypropylene and heat-resistant filler. In addition, it has the high strength and stability conferred by the micropores prepared under wet process and the high permeability and high strength conferred by the macropores prepared under dry process. Therefore, this multi-layered film can be used effectively to manufacture a secondary battery with high capacity and high power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer film made of a polyamide composition comprising at least 80 weight percentage (wt. %) of a semi-crystalline semi-aromatic polyamide with a melting temperature (Tm) of at least 270° C., wherein the wt. % is relative to the total weight of the polymer composition, wherein the polymer film has an average coefficient of thermal expansion in plane in the temperature range of 20° C.-Tg, measured in plane with the method according to ASTM D969-08, of at most 40 ppm/K. The said film can be made from a polyamide moulding composition comprising said polyamide by film casting followed by biaxial stretching. The film has properties suitable for carrier films in flexible printed circuit boards.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for producing a plurality of nanostructures embedded in a host comprising the steps of: assembling a first preform, drawing said first preform into a first fiber, cutting said first fiber into a plurality of pieces, assembling said pieces of said first fiber into a second preform, and drawing said second preform into a second fiber. The host is made of a low thermal conductivity material such as a polymer or combination of polymers. The host can assume the form of a plurality of nanotubes which further reduces the host's thermal conductivity due to enhanced phonon scattering. The host can exhibit anisotropic thermal conductivity which reduces its thermal conductivity perpendicular to the direction in which it was drawn. The nanostructure-host composite can be cut into pieces and assembled into efficient thermoelectric devices for use in cooling or electric power generation applications. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Abstract: Flexible tubular film (10) is helically cut into a flat strip by unwinding the tubular film in flattened form by a tumbling unwinder (1), advancing the flat film tube to a tube expansion zone (17) in which the flat tube is expanded into a circular cylindrical tube and is passed axially over a hollow mandrel (14) slightly lower in external diameter than the diameter of the expanded tube to be cut by knife (18) helically while on the mandrel into a flat strip that is removed at an angle to the mandrel axis. The flat tube is longitudinally stretched by stretching rollers (107-112), which tumble with the tumbling unwinder. The apparatus further comprises stabilization means for stabilizing the orientation applied by the tumbling stretching rollers, applied to the helically cut film strip after it has been drawn from the mandrel.

Abstract: Stretch film is treated by passing a web of tackifier-containing, unbloomed thin polymer film through a heater so that the web is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause tackifier bloom prior to the web reaching a next stage in an in-line process. Also, a pattern can be applied to a thin polymer film. An oriented web of thin polymer film is passed across at least one heated roller having the pattern engraved thereon to define face regions and relief regions collectively conforming to the pattern. As the web contacts each roller surface, portions of the web positioned over the relief regions receive less heat than portions of the web positioned over the face regions, thereby causing the respective portions of the web to undergo differential, heat-induced shrinkage which imparts the pattern to the thin polymer film.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a heat-shrinkable polyester film which is excellent in tearability along perforations and in break resistance after storage when used as labels of beverage bottles. The invention relates to a heat-shrinkable polyester film which is made of a polyester resin comprising ethylene terephthalate as the main constituent and containing at least 13 mol % of at least one monomer capable of forming an amorphous component in the whole polyester resin component and which has specific heat shrinkage characteristics and exhibits specific mechanical characteristics after heat shrinking treatment. The film can be produced by a sequential biaxial orientation process comprising longitudinal orientation step, intermediate heat treatment step, positive cooling step, transverse orientation step, and final heat treatment step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an oriented thermoplastic polyester resin sheet which is excellent in tensile strength, tencile modulas and heat resistance, and a light laminate-molded body using the same, which has a low linear expansion coefficient and is excellent in impact resistance, durability, easiness of handling, productivity, and others. A process for producing an oriented thermoplastic polyester resin sheet, which includes: pultrusion-drawing a thermoplastic polyester resin sheet in an amorphous state at a temperature from the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic polyester resin ?20° C. to the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic polyester resin +20° C.; and then drawing the resultant uniaxially at a temperature higher than the temperature for the pultrusion-drawing. A laminate-molded body, wherein a thermoplastic resin layer is laminated on each of the surfaces of the resultant oriented thermoplastic polyester resin sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polyimide film through a roll-to-roll method, and more specifically to a method for preparing a polyimide film with excellent optically isotropic properties through an annealing process during the manufacture of the polyimide film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stretched thermoplastic resin foam sheet that has excellent flexibility even compressed to a thickness as thin as about 0.05 mm, and a method for producing the same. The stretched thermoplastic resin foam sheet of the present invention is producible by stretching a thermoplastic resin foam sheet and has a compressive strength of 1 to 500 kPa as measured in accordance with JIS K6767 when compressed in a thickness direction thereof to a thickness of 0.05 mm. Accordingly, the stretched thermoplastic resin foam sheet has excellent flexibility even compressed to a thickness as thin as about 0.05 mm and is suitably used as a sealing material for a small electronic device such as mobile phones.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing polyethylene films which have high resistance to deformation or elongation under loading in tension. The method comprises orienting in the machine direction (MD) a high density polyethylene film at a draw-down ratio effective to give the film an MD tensile strength at yield greater than or equal to 50,000 psi, wherein the HDPE has a density greater than 0.940 g/cm3.

Abstract: Retardation expressibility of a transparent polymer film can be easily controlled by heat treatment of the film at a temperature T (unit, ° C.) satisfying a condition of the following formula (1): Tc?T<Tm0??Formula (1) wherein Tc represents the crystallization temperature (unit, ° C.) of the film before the heat treatment; and Tm0 represents the melting point (unit, ° C.) of the film before the heat treatment.

Abstract: A method for producing a transparent polymer film, comprising heat-treating a polymer film containing a polymer and a plasticizer having a number-average molecular weight of from 500 to 10000 and having a repetitive unit, at a temperature T (unit, ° C.) satisfying the following formula (1): Tc?T<Tm0??(1) wherein Tc means the crystallization temperature of the polymer film and Tm0 means the melting point of the polymer film.

Abstract: A multilayer oriented film comprising at least one layer (a) comprising one or more polyesters and/or copolyesters characterized by a % of crystallinity higher than 15, an adjacent layer (b) comprising one or more polyolefin-based adhesive resins, and a layer (c) comprising one or more co-polyesters characterized by a % of crystallinity lower than 15, is positioned between said two layers (a) and (b) in such a way that one of the two principal surfaces of layer (c) is directly adhered to layer (a) and the other is directly adhered to layer (b). The presence of a co-polyester layer (c) of relatively low % crystallinity positioned between (co)polyester layer (a) and adhesive layer (b) remarkably increases the bond between the two layers (a) and (b) and prevents delamination problems in the oriented structure.

Abstract: A laminated film for a reflecting plate is provided that comprises a layer A and a layer B, the layer A comprising a polyester that comprises substantially no antimony element and preferably comprises 1 to 25 wt % of inert particles having an average particle diameter of 0.3 to 3.0 ?m and the layer B being in contact with the layer A and comprising a polyester which preferably comprises 31 to 80 wt % of inert particles having an average particle diameter of 0.3 to 3.0 ?m. This laminated film has a practically satisfactory capability of reflecting visible light, can be produced stably even if inert particles are added in high concentration, hardly has streak-like defects, and can be suitably used as a substrate for a reflecting plate for a liquid crystal display or an internally illuminating electrical billboard.

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: A transparent polymer film satisfying Rth/Re??0.39, Re>0 and Rth<0 and having a moisture permeability of 100-2000 g/(m2·day) at 40° C. and a relative humidity of 90%, and not containing an additive composition that raises Rth by at least 8 nm.

Abstract: Provided is a polyester resin composition comprising a sulfonamide compound as a nucleating agent, in which polyester resin composition coloring is inhibited. The polyester resin composition according to the present invention is a polyester resin composition comprising, with respect to 100 parts by mass of a polyester resin, 0.01 to 30 parts by mass of a phosphorus-based antioxidant (A) and 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of a sulfonamide compound metal salt (B), wherein the sulfonamide compound metal salt (B) has a water content of 0.1% to 20% based on the mass ratio with respect to the sulfonamide compound metal salt and not higher than 3% based on the mass ratio with respect to the polyester resin composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a heat-resistant transparent container which involves the steps of: a primary stretching and heat-setting process wherein an amorphous polyethylene terephthalate sheet is heated, primarily stretched and then primarily heat-set and a secondary stretching and heat-setting process wherein the sheet treated in the primary stretching and heat-setting process is molded with heating in a mold of a thermoforming machine while secondary stretching is performed, followed by secondary heat-setting in the same mold.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film is transversely stretched, and then transported in a heat-treating zone (46) such that the ratio (G/D) of an inter-roll distance (G) to a roll lap length (D) is 0.01 to 3, and the ratio (V2/V1) of an exit-side transporting speed (V2) to an entry-side transporting speed (V1) is 0.6 to 0.999. The thermoplastic film is heat-treated in the heat-treating zone (46) at (Tg?20)° C. to (Tg+50)° C., in which Tg is the glass transition temperature of the film. The heat-treated thermoplastic film exhibits an Rth/Re ratio of at least 0.5 and less than 1, an Rth/Re ratio range of 0.01 to 0.1 in the width direction, and a thermal dimensional change of 0.001% to 0.3% under conditions of 80° C. and 200 hours.

Abstract: A dryer operable in close proximity to and in series with an inkjet printhead comprises a heat source and an air bearing structure on one side of the predetermined path and having a pressurized air inlet and an air outlet adjacent to the drying position of the receiver medium. Air flow from the air bearing structure outlet forms an air bearing for the receiver medium. A microporous filter positioned at the outlet and being adapted to convert the air flow from the outlet to a diffuse flow, the microporous filter being formed of an inner layer of very fine screen for optimum air diffusion and an outer layer of courser woven screen to add rigidity and protection from scuffing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a polyphenylene sulfide multifilament yarn, a polyphenylene sulfide multifilament yarn and the use of a polyphenylene sulfide multifilament yarn. The process for producing a polyphenylene sulfide multifilament yarn is characterized in that only after time period between 0.1 sec and 0.3 sec after leaving the spinneret the filaments of the spun yarn are subjected to an active cooling stage. The Polyphenylene sulfide multifilament yarn having a filament linear density of 5 dtex to 30 dtex, an overall linear density of 500 dtex to 2500 dtex, a breaking tenacity in the range of 50 cN/tex to 80 cN/tex and an elongation at break of 8% to 16% for a yarn with a breaking tenacity in the range of 60 cN/tex to 80 cN/tex and an elongation at break of 16% to 30% for a yarn with a breaking tenacity in the range of 50 cN/tex to 60 cN/tex.

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: A rear end portion of a leading TAC film and a front end portion of a following TAC film are connected using a double-sided adhesive tape and a single-sided adhesive tape. A laser welding device emits a welding laser beam along a welding line onto the films. Owing to the welding laser beam, the leading and following TAC films are welded along the welding line. The laser welding device emits a cutout laser beam along a cutout line onto the films. Owing to the cutout laser beam, a part of the leading and following TAC films surrounded by the cutout line is cut out. The cut out part has the single-sided adhesive tape attached. Since the tape cannot be recycled, the cut out part is absorbed by an absorbing device and disposed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stretched thermoplastic resin foam sheet that has excellent flexibility even compressed to a thickness as thin as about 0.05 mm, and a method for producing the same. The stretched thermoplastic resin foam sheet of the present invention is producible by stretching a thermoplastic resin foam sheet and has a compressive strength of 1 to 500 kPa as measured in accordance with JIS K6767 when compressed in a thickness direction thereof to a thickness of 0.05 mm. Accordingly, the stretched thermoplastic resin foam sheet has excellent flexibility even compressed to a thickness as thin as about 0.05 mm and is suitably used as a sealing material for a small electronic device such as mobile phones.

Abstract: A process for the production of a polymeric film comprising a copolyester having an acid component and a diol component, said acid component comprising a dicarboxylic acid and a sulfomonomer containing a sulfonate group attached to the aromatic nucleus of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, said process comprising the steps of: (i) melt-extruding a layer of said copolyester; (ii) stretching the extrudate in at least one direction; (iii) heat-setting the film by raising the temperature of the stretched film to a temperature T1 in a first heating zone such that (TM-T1) is in the range of from 5 to 30° C., and then raising the temperature of the film to a temperature T2 in a second heating zone such that (TM-T2 is in the range of from 0 to 10° C.

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: The invention provides polylactic acid (PLA) films substantially free of plasticizers and methods of manufacturing same by blown film process are provided. PLA films are environmentally degradable and have applications in, at least, packaging and labeling.

Abstract: A porous polyethylene hollow fiber membrane having a pore-size gradient across the inner and outer surfaces thereof is prepared by introducing, during the cooling step of a melt-spun polyethylene hollow fiber, a nitrogen flow and a solvent having a boiling point in the range of 30 to 80° C. to the inner and outer surfaces of the melt-spun hollow fiber, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-component composite separate membrane and a method for preparing the same, and to a multi-component composite membrane comprising a support layer and active layers, wherein the support layer is located between the active layers.

Abstract: A method of producing a polyethylene terephthalate-based polyester fiber includes spinning polyethylene terephthalate based polyester to produce an undrawn yarn with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.83 or more and a density of 1338 g/cm3 or more, multi-stage drawing the undrawn yarn, heat-setting the drawn yarn, relaxing heat-set yarn, and winding the relaxed yarn to produce the resulting drawn yarn with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.83 or more and a density of 1.38 to 1.3865 g/cm3, so that the thusly produced industrial polyester yarn with high modulus and low shrinkage contributes to significantly improving strength retention (tenacity of a dip cord/tenacity of a grey yarn) of the dip cord, produced by treating the polyester yarn with an adhesive (RFL) and subsequently heat-treating the RFL-treated polyester yarn, to be useful as a tire cord.

Abstract: A flat yarn of a high strength and a high modulus of elasticity, being excellent in solvent resistance, thermal stability and resistance to bending fatigue is provided. The flat yarn comprises polyoxymethylene copolymer containing 0.5 to 10 moles of specified oxyalkylene units per 100 moles of oxymethylene units in the polymer chain principally comprising repeating oxymethylene units and having a melt index at 190° C. with load of 2160 g of 0.3 to 20 g/10 min.

Abstract: A high-CHDM PET-based support for an imaging element can be annealed relatively rapidly to achieve acceptable core-set and post-process curl properties. The fast annealing response of this material allows effective in-line annealing of the film support, yielding a more efficient manufacturing process with less annealing-induced defects in the imaging support.

Abstract: A film made of a vinylidene-trifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene copolymer is uniaxially drawn to fabricate a uniaxially drawn film. Then, the uniaxially drawn film is thermally treated at a temperature within a temperature range of the Curie temperature through the melting point of the vinylidene-trifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene copolymer for five hours or over, to diffuse the molecular chains of the uniaxially drawn film along the orientation direction and thus, to remove the intertwining between the molecular chains.

Abstract: Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) tetrachannel cross-section staple fibers, as well as yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics made therewith. Also, the process of making such staple fibers, yarns, fiberfill webs, batts and products, and fabrics.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for properly implanting a stent in a body lumen generally comprising a catheter having an elongated shaft with an inflatable balloon formed of compliant material and a stent mounted on the working length of the balloon. The balloon material is compliant within the working range of the balloon to provide substantial radial expansion. The wingless radially expansive balloon expands in a uniform manner, thereby producing uniform expansion and implantation of the stent. Another embodiment is directed to a balloon catheter, having a semi-compliant balloon or a noncompliant balloon formed at least in part of a block copolymer.

Abstract: A method including forming a pseudo-gel of a semi-crystalline polymer material and a solvent. The pseudo-gel is shaped into a first form and stretched. A portion of the solvent is removed to create a second form. The second form is stretched into a microstructure including nodes interconnected by fibrils. A method including forming a first form of a pseudo-gel including an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material and a solvent; stretching the first form; removing the solvent to form a second form; stretching the second form into a microstructure including nodes interconnected by fibrils; and annealing the stretched second form. An apparatus including a body portion formed of a dimension suitable for a medical device application and including a polyolefin polymer including a node and a fibril microstructure. An apparatus including a body portion including an ultra-high molecular weight polyolefin material including a node and a fibril microstructure.

Abstract: Polyester multi-filamentary yarn, useful as tire reinforcement, is produced by melting polyester resin at 290° C. or below including at least 90 mol % of polyethylene terephthalate with intrinsic viscosity of 0.7-1.2; filtering the molten resin for filtering retention time of ten minutes or below; spinning the filtered, molten resin by extrusion through a nozzle which has 250-500 holes, each ranging in diameter from 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm with a length/diameter ratio from 2 to 5; primarily quenching the extruded yarn at a temperature of 100-195° C. in a zone of 50 mm or more distance directly below the nozzle; secondarily quenching the yarn with air at its glass transition temperature (Tg) or below; taking off the yarn at spinning stress of 0.3 g/d or greater; drawing taken-off yarn at total draw ratio of 1.3 or greater; and thermally treating the yarn at temperature 150-230° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for the manufacture of multifilament yarn, including the steps of extruding multifilaments of a polymer containing at least mole 85 percent L-lactide and not more than 15 mole percent glycolide, spinning the extruded multifilaments to form a spun yarn, passing the spun multifilament yarn through an orientation roll heated at a temperature of less than 98° C. and drawing the spun multifilament yarn to a draw ratio of at least 4:1 to form an oriented multifilament fiber, annealing the oriented multifilament yarn at a temperature greater than that of the orientation roll, and redrawing the annealed, oriented multifilament yarn by at least 10 percent at a temperature lower than the temperature of annealing.

Abstract: A process of making polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, including (a) providing polytrimethylene terephthalate, (b) melt spinning the melted polytrimethylene terephthalate at a temperature of 245-285° C. into filaments, (c) quenching the filaments, (d) drawing the quenched filaments, (e) crimping the drawn filaments using a mechanical crimper at a crimp level of 8-30 crimps per inch (3-12 crimps/cm), (f) relaxing the crimped filaments at a temperature of 50-120° C., and (g) cutting the relaxed filaments into staple fibers having a length of about 0.2-6 inches (about 0.5-about 15 cm), and polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fibers, yarns and fabrics. Further, a process of optimizing the crimp take-up of a polytrimethylene terephthalate staple fiber including determining the relationship between denier and crimp take-up and manufacturing staple fibers having a denier selected based upon that determination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of forming bioabsorbable, multifilament yarn from Lactide-rich copolymers, including the steps of extruding and spinning a Lactide-rich copolymer to form a spun multifilament yarn, pre-tensioning the spun multifilament yarn to form a pre-tensioned yarn, heating the pre-tensioned yarn to form a pre-tensioned, preheated yarn, annealing and drawing the pre-tensioned, preheated yarn for a first time, annealing and drawing the yarn for a second time, cooling the twice-drawn yarn to a lower temperature, and taking-up the cooled multifilament yarn, to yarns prepared by the process and to medical devices prepared from such yarns.

Abstract: A method including forming a semi-crystalline polymer material into a lamella; and stretching the lamella into a polymer including a node of folded lamella and a fibril orientation. A method including extruding a pseudo-gel including an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material into a lamella; stretching the lamella into a polymer including a node of folded lamella and a fibril orientation; and annealing the polymer at a temperature sufficient to define the node and fibril orientation. An apparatus including a body portion formed of a dimension suitable for a medical device application and including a semi-crystalline polymer arrayed in a node of folded lamella and a fibril orientation. An apparatus including a body portion including an ultra-high molecular polyethylene material arrayed in a node of folded lamella and a fibril orientation.

Abstract: A process for forming a rod of bioabsorbable polymeric material includes extruding the material at a temperature above its melting point at a controlled rate of between 0.4 to 20 feet per minute to form a continuous rod. The continuous rod is then cooled by passing the rod through a cooling bath to cause nucleation. The continuous rod is passed through a first puller running at least at the same speed as the extruder. A second puller is provided which is moving faster than the first puller so that the continuous rod is elongated at a ratio of between 2 and 12 times. During this elongation, the rod is heated to a temperature of between 55° C. and 140° C. in an oven located between the first and second pullers. The rod is annealed at a temperature of between 70° C. and 110° C. after being elongated but prior to exiting the second puller. Upon exiting the second puller, the tension in the rod is released and the continuous rod is then allowed to cool.

Abstract: A method for producing a biaxially stretched film is provided, in which the method comprises, stretching a film made mainly of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 15 to 70 mol % and a saponification degree of 80 mol % or more under heating; cooling the film; and subjecting the cooled film to a heat treatment; wherein a heating temperature during the stretching is 60 to 160° C., a cooling temperature is a temperature 30 to 100° C. lower than the heating temperature during the stretching, and a temperature for the heat treatment is 150 to 190° C. The thus obtained biaxially stretched film of the present invention has a small bowing coefficient.

Abstract: Highly crimped, fully drawn bicomponent fibers, prepared by melt-spinning, followed by gas-flow quenching, heat treatment and high speed windup, are provided, as are fine-decitex and highly uniform polyester bicomponent fibers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of making biodegradable films and biodegradable precursor films having enhanced breathability and ductility. The method includes blending a water soluble polymer and a biodegradable polymer to form a blended polymer mixture. The biodegradable polymer is preferably a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, and the water-soluble polymer is preferably polyethylene oxide and/or polyethylene glycol. The blended polymer mixture is formed into a precursor film. The precursor film is further processed to form a breathable biodegradable film.

Abstract: A process for making load limiting yarn comprising making block copolymer and then spinning the block copolymer into yarn. The process employs a twin screw extruder and comprises (A) forwarding aromatic polyester melt to an injection position in a twin screw extruder, (B) injecting lactone monomer into the molten aromatic polyester, (C) dispersing the monomer into the aromatic polyester melt so that a uniform mixture forms in less than about thirty seconds, and (D) reacting the uniform mixture resulting from step (C) at a temperature from about 250° C. to from a block copolymer. Steps (A) through (D) occur in less than about four minutes residence time in the twin screw extruder. The process is advantageous because high IV starting aromatic polyester can be used and the short reaction time at high temperature results in block copolymer with minimum transesterification, a high melting point, and a high melt viscosity.