Abstract: A meta-type wholly aromatic polyamide containing, as principal repeating units, meta-phenylenediamineisophthalamide units is dissolved in an amide compound solvent; the resultant polymer solution is subjected to a wet-spinning procedure wherein the polymer solution is extruded in the form of filamentary streams into a coagulation bath containing an amide compound-containing solvent and water but substantially not containing salts, through spinning orifices of a spinneret, to coagulate the extruded filamentary polymer solution streams in the coagulation bath; the coagulated porous undrawn filaments are subjected to a drawing procedure wherein the porous undrawn filaments are drawn in a plasticizing drawing bath containing an aqueous solution of an amide compound solvent; the resultant drawn filaments are washed with water, and then heat-treated (for example, further drawn at a draw ratio of 0.7 to 4.0 while being heated at a temperature of 250 to 400° C.

Abstract: An oriented film with a high degree of orientation may be manufactured even a width of master roll film is wider width, by a manufacturing method for an oriented film, comprising steps of stretching an un-oriented polyvinyl alcohol derived film in dry and in longitudinal uniaxial direction by applying tension produced by peripheral velocity difference between rolls, wherein a value of L/W is not more than 0.6 when a distance between rolls defined as L and a width of the un-oriented polyvinyl alcohol derived film is defined as W; and further heating at 60 to 160° C. after the stretching step.

Abstract: A method of producing a microporous membrane comprising the steps of: extruding a polymer at a temperature of from (polymer melting point +10° C.) to (polymer melting point +100° C.); drawing the extruded polymer at a rate of 5˜120 m/min in 10˜150° C. to obtain a polymer film; annealing the polymer film at a temperature of from (polymer melting point −100° C.) to (polymer melting point −5° C.) for 10 seconds to 1 hour; irradiating both surfaces of the annealed polymer film with an ion-particle amount of 102˜1020 ion/cm2 energized at 10−2˜107 KeV, at an irradiating distance of 5˜100 cm under a vacuum of 10−2˜10−[torr; cold stretching the irradiated polymer film at a temperature of from −20° C. to (polymer melting point −40° C.); hot stretching the cold stretched polymer film at a temperature of from (polymer melting point −40° C.) to (polymer melting point −5° C.

Abstract: A film made of a vinylidende-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 vinylidende-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: This invention relates to a novel composition for use in dental flosses or tapes. More particularly, it relates to novel compositions containing a base polymer, a block copolymer and a nonmigrating compatibilizer or plasticizer that, in combination in a blend, result in a floss or dental tape having good breaking strength, elongation, tenacity, nick resistance and gentleness to the gums.

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 radially expandable device having a body constructed of a generally inelastic, expanded fluoropolymer material is described. The body is deployable upon application of a radial expansion force from a reduced diameter, collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration having a pre-defined and fixed increased diameter. The body has a singular, unitary construction of generally homogenous material that is characterized by a seamless construction of expanded fluoropolymer material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and is preferably constructed through an extrusion and expansion process. The body is further characterized by a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils in which substantially all the nodes of the body are oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body.

Abstract: An oriented film of polyvinyl alcohol derived film that demonstrates a small dimensional change under a heated or humidified condition is obtained by a manufacturing method for an oriented film comprising the steps of; stretching in two to six times a non-stretched filmwith moisturepercentage adjusted to no more than 10% comprising polyvinyl alcohols or derivatives by heating at no less than 70° C.; and subsequently annealing by heating again at no less than 70° C. after once cooling at no more than 40° C.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of adhesive tape, by preparing a raw material of a biaxially or non-drawn, film or sheet on the back surface of which a release agent has been applied and to the which an adhesive agent has been applied, and subjecting the raw material to uniaxial drawing under heated conditions without deteriorating releasing and adhesive performance of the raw material, thus producing an adhesive tape having high-strength and low-elongation. The obtained adhesive tape has long and narrow bubbles elongated in the uniaxial drawing direction thereon.

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: The present invention is directed to absorbable, autoclaveable, monofilament fibers prepared from absorbable glycolide-rich polymers, in which the fibers are oriented in the total draw ratio range 4.1 to 5.6×, and are annealed at a temperature between about 165° C. and about 185° C.; to brachytherapy seed spacers manufactured from the absorbable, autoclaveable, glycolide-rich polymers, monofilament fibers; and to methods of manufacturing such fibers and brachytherapy seed spacers.

Abstract: A method of making a radially expandable device having a body constructed of a generally inelastic, expanded fluoropolymer material. The body is deployable upon application of a radial expansion force from a reduced diameter, collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration having a pre-defined and fixed increased diameter. The body has a singular, unitary construction of generally homogenous material that is characterized by a seamless construction of expanded fluoropolymer material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and is preferably constructed through an extrusion and expansion process. The body is further characterized by a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils in which substantially all the nodes of the body are oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body.

Abstract: Disclosed are polyester multi-filamentary yarn useful as a reinforcement for tires and a dipped cord formed therefrom. The polyester multi-filamentary yarn comprises at least 90 mol % of polyethylene terephthalate and has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.70-1.2 and a tenacity of 5.5-8.5 g/d with an intermediate elongation difference (E1−E0) between intermediate elongations E0 and E1 amounting to 6% or greater. The polyester dipped cord is produced by subjecting at least two strands of polyester multi-filamentary yarn to first twisting and second twisting, the polyester multi-filamentary yarn comprising 90 mol % of polyethylene terephthalate; forming the strands into a fabric; and treating the fabric with blocked isocyanate and resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL), wherein the cord satisfies the following characteristics: a) a tenacity of 5.0 g/d or greater, b) a dimensional stability index (E4.5+SR) of less than 7.

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: A method for making heat-retaining fiber and fabrics. According to the present invention, the white conductive particles and the white particles with good radiating efficiency of far-infrared radiation are added in fiber-forming polymers to obtain the mixed composition. The fiber and fabrics made of the mixed composition is characteristic of excellent effect of heat-retaining usable for the use of requiring good heat-retaining effectiveness.

Abstract: A method for making bioabsorbable block copolymer includes extruding a mixture of first polymeric component particles with second polymeric component particles under conditions sufficient to cause transesterification. The resulting block copolymer filaments can be used to form surgical sutures.

Abstract: A polyolefin porous material is produced by synthesizing silica particles, polysiloxane particles or crosslinked vinyl polymer particles having an average particle diameter of 0.01 to 0.1 &mgr;m in a molten polyolefin to obtain a polyolefin composition. The polyolefin composition is subsequently subjected to molding and stretching to obtain a polyolefin porous material. The obtained polyolefin porous material contains fine particles dispersed therein, substantially without forming agglomerates, and has an average pore diameter of 0.005 to 0.1 &mgr;m. The small pore diameter allows the material to be used as a liquid/liquid separation membrane, a base material for precision filtration, or a separator for batteries.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing thermoplastic resin film which allows a biaxially oriented polyester film to be formed at a high speed of 400 m/min or more. In the method, a molten thermoplastic resin film is brought into contact with a cooling medium, to be cooled and solidified, for producing a cast film. The method is characterized by keeping the surface temperature of the cooling medium in the region immediately before the melt reaching position at not lower than the glass transition temperature and not higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin. The apparatus is characterized by a cooling medium having a heater and a cooler to ensure that the surface temperature of the cooling medium in the region immediately before the melt reaching position is kept at the requisite temperature, and by a surface temperature of the cooling drum in the region immediately before the film leaving position being maintained lower than the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: A for the production of polymeric fibers in the form of a tow includes drawing and heat setting, with and without crimping, in which the tow has a constant denier per inch during the processing. The process permits very large drawn tows to be produced having a thickness of at least 150,000 denier per inch of width during processing through the production equipment/apparatus. The production apparatus includes a conventional stacker, followed by drawing apparatus, followed by heat setting apparatus, and optionally followed by crimping apparatus. Positioning the stacker before the drawing apparatus allows very large tows to be produced using drawing and heat setting apparatus having rolls significantly shorter than is conventionally known.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heat setting a traveling tow of synthetic filaments utilizing a high pressure dewatering nip roll mechanism to remove moisture from the tow prior to heat setting. The high pressure dewatering nip roll mechanism includes a pair of nip rollers exerting a pressure of between about 500 and 2000 pounds per linear inch of transverse nip contact on the traveling tow prior to the tow entering a heat setting apparatus such as a calender apparatus. Moisture content of the traveling tow is reduced to less than 10% moisture by weight and preferably less than 5%. Reducing the moisture content of the tow prior to heat setting reduces the energy required to heat set the tow and, contrary to the prevailing wisdom in the art, does not damage the unheat set filaments of the tow.