Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a film web during which an initial film web made of thermoplastic polymer material with a polyethylene matrix, in which 1 to 70 parts by weight of polypropylene, with regard to 100 parts by weight of polyethylene matrix, are contained, is, after being heated, guided through a cooled roll gap (7, 8), whereby the initial film web is heated only until the polymer matrix material melts but not to a temperature at which the polypropylene melts.

Abstract: To provide a membrane capable of efficiently collecting fine particles for a long period of time, disclosed is a polytetrafluoroethylene microporous membrane wherein the mean pore size in the surface of the membrane is larger than the mean pore size in the back thereof and the mean pore size continuously changes from the surface toward the back.

Abstract: To provide a crystalline polymer microporous membrane including: a microstructure on the side of one surface of the membrane, the microstructure being composed of series of nodules interconnected with one another by fibrils, wherein the average pore diameter at the one surface of the membrane is larger than the average pore diameter at another surface of the membrane, and the average pore diameter continuously changes from the one surface toward the other surface, and wherein the nodules have an aspect ratio (length/width) of 25 or greater.

Abstract: A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calender rolls initially set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced: and c) once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip lowering the temperature in the nip to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and increasing the gap to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle. Apparatus for the performance of such a process is also described.

Abstract: A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calender rolls; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced. According to a highly preferred embodiment, initially, the nip is set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder and once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip the temperature in the nip is lowered to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and the gap increased to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle.

Abstract: A process of preparing an elastic thermally bonded nonwoven web, whereby the process is characterized by the following steps: (i) providing a thermally bonded nonwoven precursor web containing thermoplastic fibers, (ii) subjecting the precursor web of step (i) to a drawing treatment in a machine direction at a drawing rate of from 45 to 70%, and a strain rate within a range of from 1000 to 2400%/min at a temperature between the softening point and the melting point of the fibers for preparing the elastic thermally bonded nonwoven web.

Abstract: A cellulose ester film has a front retardation Re of from 20 nm to 100 nm relative to light having a wavelength of 590 nm at 25° C. and 60% RH; a retardation Rth in a film thickness direction of from 60 nm to 400 nm relative to light having a wavelength of 590 nm at 25° C. and 60% RH; and a shrinkage factor in a slow axis direction of less than 1% in the range of from a glass transition temperature to a temperature of 40° C. higher than a glass transition temperature.

Abstract: A method for producing a stretched film comprising supplying a film composed of a thermoplastic resin along a direction D1 that is different from a taking-up direction D2 of a post-stretch film, and obliquely stretching the film while transferring the film with the edges thereof being gripped by gripping devices, to produce the stretched film having an orientation angle ? being within 45±5° with respect to the taking-up direction.

Abstract: Apparatus's and methods of stretch-forming pre-preg material are provided. In one example embodiment a variable material stretch forming apparatus comprises a stretch-forming assembly configured to stretch-form at least one section along a width of a sheet of pre-preg material to a longer length than at least one other section along the width of the sheet of pre-preg material before the sheet of pre-preg material is applied to a tool.

Abstract: A wipe exhibiting many of the properties that consumers desire for a wipe, i.e. softness, strength, coverage, flexibility and a process of making a wipe at competitive costs are disclosed. The wipe comprises a sheet of fibrous material having regions of a first basis weight and regions of a second basis weight.

Abstract: The present application thus provides a composite composition comprising PTFE and zeolite. According to another aspect, the present application provides a method for making a composite article comprising bonding zeolite to PTFE. According to still yet another aspect of the present application, a method for separating components of the mixture comprising contacting the mixture with a composite composition comprising PTFE and zeolite is disclosed.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable film including at least one gas-barrier layer (A). The gas-barrier layer (A) is made of a stretched film of a polyamide resin which is obtained from a diamine component comprising 70 mol % or more of m-xylylenediamine and a dicarboxylic acid component comprising 80 to 98 mol % of ?,?-linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and 2 to 20 mol % of isophthalic acid. The polyamide resin has a moderate crystallization speed and does not cause whitening even when stretched at low temperature, to provide a heat-shrinkable film combining high heat shrinkability and high transparency.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously activating two or more portions of a web in different directions. The process involves feeding a web into an apparatus that includes a pair of intermeshing activation rolls having three dimensional surface features configured to simultaneously activate different portions a web in different directions. The three dimensional surface features are arranged in discrete regions on the rolls such that at least two of the regions provide different directions of activation. The rolls include one or more buffer regions positioned between the discrete regions on the roll that provide different directions of activation.

Abstract: A method of producing a transparent thermoplastic film comprising transversely stretching a film by 1% to 200%, wherein a ratio (Lc/Wc) of a clutch length (Lc) of a chuck to a clutch depth (Wc) of the chuck in the transverse stretching zone is in the range of 3 to 50.

Abstract: Catheters, balloons, and methods of manufacturing balloons for balloon catheters using lasers are disclosed. A catheter with a shaft sized for use with a 0.014 inch guide wire includes a polymeric balloon having a body portion with an inflated outer diameter of more than 6 millimeters. An inflatable balloon includes an inflated outer diameter to inner waist diameter ratio of 12.5 to 1. An inflatable polymeric balloon that has a body portion with two regions that have different molecular orientations is also provided. A method of processing an elongate polymeric material includes heating a portion of the polymeric material with a laser while longitudinally stretching the portion of the polymeric material. A method of manufacturing a balloon includes heating and longitudinally stretching a first and second portion of an elongate polymeric tube to form first and second end portion. The remaining body portion is radially expanded to form the balloon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which uses activation members for incrementally stretching a web at a low strain rate. The activation members include an activation belt and a single activation member wherein the activation belt and single activation member comprise a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement and engage one another at a depth of engagement in a deformation zone. The depth of engagement can be controlled to increase linearly over at least a portion of the deformation zone such that a web interposed between the activation belt and the single activation member in the deformation zone is incrementally stretched at a low rate of strain.

Abstract: A stretchable sheet having a large stretch amount is produced by increasing a drawing amount given to the nonwoven fabric. A method for producing the stretchable sheet from a nonwoven fabric containing a plurality of types of fibers, that is the nonwoven fabric having a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction. The method includes a first drawing step of drawing the nonwoven fabric in the longitudinal direction by applying a tension in the longitudinal direction of the nonwoven fabric, and a second drawing step of drawing, in the longitudinal direction, the nonwoven fabric that has been drawn in the first drawing step with a plurality of teeth formed on outer circumferential faces of each of a pair of gear rolls, the drawing being performed by passing the nonwoven fabric through a gap between the gear rolls that rotate while the teeth are being engaged with one another.

Abstract: A method for producing a polarizing film comprising the step of dipping a polyvinyl alcohol film in/on which iodine is adsorbed and oriented in an aqueous solution containing boric acid wherein the aqueous solution has an absorbance of 0.13 or less at a wavelength of 450 nm. The produced polarizing film has a high contrast.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing oriented slit film tapes, comprising the following steps: extruding melt polymer through a die (2); simultaneous quenching and melt-drawing of the molten polymer in the cooling device to form a film sheet (3); slitting the initial film sheet into a plurality of relatively narrow slit film tapes (4); stretching (8) at elevated temperature, by passing the slit film tapes through a heating medium (7) at a temperature just below the softening temperature of the slit film tapes; y annealing and cooling the oriented slit film tapes (10, 11); winding the slit film tapes (13); characterized in that before the stretching step, it has a stage of pre-stretching (108) made by passing the slit film tapes through one set of heated holding rollers (107) turning at a given speed and one set of cooled pre-stretch rollers (109) turning faster than the heated holding rollers, wherein at least one of the rollers of the set of holding rollers is heated and at least one of the roller

Abstract: A method for producing a thermoplastic film, comprising cooling and solidifying a filmy thermoplastic melt resin, by holding it between a metallic presser and a metallic casting roll for cooling; wherein the temperature of the filmy thermoplastic resin just before being held between the metallic presser and the casting roll for cooling is from Tg+20° C. to Tg+90° C. and a difference between a surface temperature (Tt) of the metallic presser and a surface temperature (T1) of the casting roll for cooling satisfies the formula (1) and a contact length Q satisfies the following formula (2) 0.5° C.?T1?Tt?20° C.??(1) 0.1 cm?Q?8 cm??(2) The method provides a thermoplastic film having high thickness accuracy and surface smoothness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayer, antimicrobially modified, biaxially oriented polyester film that includes at least one base layer (B) and an outer layer (A) that has been applied to the base layer and that has also been antimicrobially modified, wherein the antimicrobially modified outer layer (A) comprises a silver-loaded zeolite, has a layer thickness <8 ?m, and the layer thickness is not greater than 1.3 times the median particle size of the zeolite. The invention further relates to a process for the production of the film, and to the use of the film.

Abstract: A method of producing a long roll retardation film comprising the sequential steps of: (a) casting a film forming material on an endless support to form a long roll film; (b) stretching the long roll film in a lateral direction of the long roll film while both edges of the long roll film are held employing a plurality of clips for each of the edges in a tenter (First Process); (c) reducing distances in the lateral direction between the clips holding the both edges of the long roll film while the edges of the long roll film are held continuously from First Process with the clips (Second Process); (d) enlarging the distances in the lateral direction between the clips holding the both edges of the long roll film while the edges of the long roll film are held continuously from Second Process with the clips (Third Process).

Abstract: According to the present invention, a cellulose acylate film having high thickness precision and no streaks can be formed by producing a film with a cellulose acylate resin by means of the polishing roller method, and a high-performance optical film, which is free from the retardation distribution, can be produced by subsequently stretching the cellulose acylate film thus obtained within a magnification range from 1 or more and 2.5 or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a stretched mechanical fastening web laminate (1) comprising a thermoplastic web layer (13) having two major surfaces, one of the major surfaces bearing a multitude of male fastening elements (14) suitable for engagement with a corresponding female fastening material, and on its other major surface a fibrous web layer (11), said method comprising the steps of (i) providing the fibrous web layer (11) having an initial basis weight, (ii) passing the fibrous web layer (11) through a nip formed by two rolls (101), (103), one of them having cavities (120) that are the negatives of a plurality of male fastening elements (14), introducing a molten thermoplastic resin into the cavities (120) in excess of an amount that would fill the cavities (120) which excess forms the thermoplastic web layer (13), allowing the resin to at least partially solidify and stripping of a precursor web laminate (10) thus formed comprising the fibrous web layer (11) and the the

Abstract: There is provided a pressure-responsive device (40) suitable for use in an inhaler, the pressure-responsive device (40) comprising a closed frame (42) over which is fixed a membrane (44), a tongue (46) being supported on the membrane (44). Two upstanding wings (50) are integrally moulded with the tongue (46) and incorporate square apertures (52). A method of manufacturing the pressure-responsive device (40) is also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a stretchable sheet which involves: passing a nonwoven fabric including a plurality of types of fibers through a gap between a pair of gear rolls and that rotate while a plurality of teeth and formed on an outer circumferential surface and of each of the pair of gear rolls and engage with one another; and drawing the nonwoven fabric in a circumferential direction of the gear rolls and by the teeth and. A circumferential velocity S of the gear rolls and is within a range of 50 to 300 m/min. A maximum value of distortion per unit time applied to the nonwoven fabric in the gap between the pair of gear rolls and is within a range of 5 to 100 sec?1.

Abstract: A system and method for drawing a preform. A draw tower includes a mount configured to suspend a preform. The method includes securing the preform to a mount and enclosing the preform in an enclosure. The enclosure has an external surface and defines an orifice through which material drawn from the preform can exit the enclosure. The preform is heated through the external surface is heated to a temperature suitable for drawing the material from the preform. Material is drawn from the preform through the orifice and collected.

Abstract: Thin PTFE layers are described having little or no node and fibril microstructure and methods of manufacturing PTFE layers are disclosed that allow for controllable permeability and porosity of the layers. In some embodiments, the PTFE layers may act as a barrier layer in an endovascular graft or other medical device.

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: An adhesive sheet (S) is expanded by expanding means (20) with a plate-like article (W) being mounted to a frame (F) after dicing of the plate-like article (W) to increase spacings between individual chips (T), an expanded state of the adhesive sheet (S) is maintained by expansion maintaining means (10), so that the plate-like article (W) is able to be conveyed together with the frame (F) with the spacings between the chips (T) being maintained, thereby preventing adjacent chips (T) from interfering with each other during the conveyance. This allows the plate-like article (W) after the dicing to be conveyed together with the frame (F) without edges of the adjacent chips (T) coming into contact with each other by vibration during the conveyance to cause chipping or microcracks in the edges.

Abstract: An adhesive sheet (S) is expanded by an expanding mechanism (20) with a plate-like article (W) being mounted to a frame (F) after dicing of the plate-like article (W) to increase spacings between individual chips (T), an expanded state of the adhesive sheet (S) is maintained by an expansion maintaining device (10), so that the plate-like article (W) is able to be conveyed together with the frame (F) with the spacings between the chips (T) being maintained, thereby preventing adjacent chips (T) from interfering with each other during the conveyance. This allows the plate-like article (W), after the dicing, to be conveyed together with the frame (F) without edges of the adjacent chips (T) coming into contact with each other by vibration during the conveyance, thereby avoiding the causing of chipping or microcracks in the edges.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for producing polyimide film, including stretching, at 150° C. to 380° C. and a stretch ratio of 1.2 to 4.0, an unstretched polyimide film which is formed from a polyimide having a repeating unit represented by formula (1): (wherein R represents a tetravalent group derived from cyclohexane; and ? represents a divalent aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic group, or a combination thereof that has a total number of carbon atoms of 2 to 39 and may have at least one connecting group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —SO2—, —CO—, —CH2—, —C(CH3)2—, —OSi(CH3)2—, —C2H4O—, and —S—) and which has an organic solvent content of 0.5 wt. % or more and less than 30 wt. %. The produced polyimide film exhibits transparency, excellent heat resistance, and reduced dimensional changes.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising an alkali metal silicate, a wetting agent, and a hydrophilic antifog agent forms an antifog coating on a substrate.

Abstract: A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calender rolls; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced. According to a highly preferred embodiment, initially, the nip is set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder and once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip the temperature in the nip is lowered to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and the gap increased to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle.

Abstract: A mechanical activation system has a first activation member, a second activation member, an activation zone, and a non-slip zone. The first activation member has a first plurality of teeth, and the second activation member has a second plurality of teeth. The first plurality of teeth is capable of intermeshing with the second plurality of teeth. The activation zone includes a first portion of the first plurality of teeth and a first portion of the second plurality of teeth. The first portion of the first plurality of teeth and the first portion of the second plurality of teeth include teeth having continuous tips. The first non-slip zone includes a second portion of the first plurality of teeth or a second portion of the second plurality of teeth. The second portion includes a tooth having a discontinuous tip.

Abstract: A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calendar rolls initially set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced: and c) once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip lowering the temperature in the nip to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and increasing the gap to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle. Apparatus for the performance of such a process is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayer, white, biaxially oriented polyester film, which has a base layer B and at least one outer layer (A), where a) the base layer (B) includes, as sole whitening pigment, a concentration of from 5 to 25% by weight of barium sulfate, and b) the outer layer (A) includes, as sole whitening pigment, a concentration of from 5 to 25% by weight of barium sulfate, and also includes from 0.01 to 4% by weight of antiblocking agent whose median diameter (d50 value) is from 2 to 8 ?m.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously activating two or more portions of a web in different directions. The process involves feeding a web into an apparatus that includes a pair of intermeshing activation rolls having three dimensional surface features configured to simultaneously activate different portions a web in different directions. The three dimensional surface features are arranged in discrete regions on the rolls such that at least two of the regions provide different directions of activation. The rolls include one or more buffer regions positioned between the discrete regions on the roll that provide different directions of activation.

Abstract: A stretching apparatus for thermoplastic synthetic resin improved so as to ensure that a web can be easily stretched over its entire width. The stretching apparatus 2 for a thermoplastic synthetic resin web 1 comprises a plurality of first stretching members L arranged in a circumferential direction on a peripheral surface of a drum 6 rotating in a machine direction M. The drum 6 is provided around its rotating shaft 8 with rotatable members 7 adapted to rotate in synchronization with the drum 6 in the direction in which the drum 6 rotates. The rotatable members 7 are respectively provided with a plurality of second stretching members U operatively associated with the first stretching members U.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for raising the surface tension of biaxially-stretched films made of thermoplastic polymers. According to the method, a film is first treated on a surface by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma before being stretched transversally or simultaneously across the width thereof, and the film is additional a subjected to a second treatment by means of a corona or flame after being stretched transversally or simultaneously, the second treatment being done on the same surface which has already been plasma-treated.

Abstract: A polyester filament nonwoven ply is suitable for roofing and roof-sealing webs and has a latent shrinkage force which counteracts drafting forces which may subsequently occur as the result of stresses or during thermal processing operations. The roofing webs thus remain dimensionally stable even when exposed to heat. The shrinkage force is obtained according to the claimed process by drafting the ply accordingly in a drafting mechanism arranged after a dryer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a shaped part of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) comprising melt processing, wherein UHMW-PE a) is annealed at a temperature between 130° C. and 136° C., preferably at about 135° C. for at least one hour, b) is converted into a shaped part at a temperature above 142° C.; and c) is cooled down to a temperature below 135° C. The invention further relates to a part like a fiber made with the process and the use of the fiber in a bio medical application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multifilament crimped yarn comprising an aliphatic polyester and methods for producing thereof, and to carpets that are manufactured by using the crimped yarn. The present invention provides an aliphatic polyester multifilament crimped yarn for the carpets comprising an aliphatic polyester having a melting point of equal to or higher than 130° C., said multifilament crimped yarn having crimp elongation rate of the multifilament crimped yarn after being processed with boiling water of 3-35% and breaking strength of 1-5 cN/decitex.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an optical film which exhibits low hygroscopicity, high transparency, high heat resistance and markedly lowered brittleness, and particularly to provide an optical film which is appropriately employed as a polarizing plate protective film for large liquid crystal display devices and outdoor liquid crystal display devices. The above optical film is characterized in that acrylic resin (A) and cellulose ester resin (B) are incorporated at a weight ratio of 95:5-30:70, weight average molecular weight Mw of aforesaid acrylic resin (A) is at least 80,000, total substitution degree (T) of the acyl group of aforesaid cellulose ester resin (B) is 2.0-3.0, the substitution degree of the acyl group having 3-7 carbon atoms is 1.2-3.0, and weight average molecular weight Mw of aforesaid cellulose ester resin (B) is at least 75,000. It is characterized that the total substitution degree of the acyl group other than carbon atoms of 3-7 of the cellulose ester resin (B) is at most 1.3.

Abstract: A low profile, short, tapered distal tip catheter and methods for its manufacture are provided. The catheter tip is configured to have a taper over a relatively short length resulting in a low profile that is useful when navigating the catheter tip into tight passages such as the Papilla of Vater. The configuration of the tip and process for making it can be employed in any medical catheter but are found to be most useful in a multilumen papillotome catheter used in biliary procedures.

Abstract: A multi-calender process for forming a high modulus, high strength component for use in ballistic-resistant articles. The process includes forming ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene powder into a uniform sheet at a low pressure. Multiple calender units mold and draw the uniform sheet into a non-fibrous, monolithic, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The multi-calender process and subsequent draw stages stretch the non-fibrous UHMWPE tape to a total draw of at least 100 to 1 to produce a high modulus, high strength UHMWPE component with a modulus of 1,400 grams per denier or greater. The multi-calender process of the present invention enables production of a high-strength, high-modulus UHMWPE component for ballistic-resistant articles and other applications at significantly higher rates and at a lower unit cost.

Abstract: Necked nonwoven webs having improved cross-directional uniformity are made by a process which includes the step (prior to neck stretching) of corrugating the nonwoven web to reduce its width from an initial width A to a reduced corrugated width B. The cross-directional uniformity is optimized as the corrugated width B approaches the ultimate width C of the necked nonwoven web.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for production of a stretched multilayer film obtained by stretching a multilayer structure comprising a layer containing (A) side chain 1,2-diol-modified vinyl alcohol-based resin and a layer containing (B) thermoplastic resin having a melting point of 125 to 300° C. laminated on each other through a layer of (C) adhesive resin. The method enables to produce a stretched multilayer film which shows excellent appearance even when the film is stretched at a high stretching magnitude. In the method, the (C) adhesive resin employs a thermoplastic resin having a melting point higher than the stretching temperature of the multilayer film, and therefore, a stretched multilayer film having the above-mentioned structure and having excellent appearance can be produced.

Abstract: Medical device polymeric tubing segments suitable for forming catheter shafts or as balloon parisons are formed with discrete regions having different orientation relative to each other. Wall thickness may also be varied of the length of the segment.

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.