Abstract: A process for the manufacture of fibre-reinforced intermediates useful in thermoplastic processing methods, including compounding and moulding, which comprises impregnating continuous fibres with a resin composition comprising at least one radiation-polymerizable component, exposing the impregnated fibres to radiation to effect polymerization of such component, and cutting the product to form thermoplastically processible intermediates which, optionally, may be mixed with other polymer and/or additives during mixing or moulding. A process described as above but in which the uncut radiation polymerized fibre-resin product is blended with a least one polymer and/or additive in a continuous mixer, such as an extruder; and the resulting blended product is cut to form thermoplastically processible intermediates, such as mouldable pellets.

Abstract: Uncured thermoset composite reactants containing ultraviolet curable reagents may be effectively cured by pultrusion using a unique molding die which uniformly irradiates the uncured composites contained within the die. The die includes strategically positioned passageways communicating through the chamber walls of the die to the die chamber. The passageways are equipped with fiber optic cables connected to an ultraviolet generator at one cable end and ultraviolet discharging end for discharging ultraviolet radiation within the die chamber at an opposite cable end. Ultraviolet light conducted to the die chamber by the fiber optic cables uniformly initiates and catalyzes the uncured reactants to produce a fully cured thermoset composite. Uncured composite reactants may be continuously fed to the die as the cured composites are continuously withdrawn from the die.

Abstract: A rigid three-dimensional preform is made by moving a plurality of webs of fibrous reinforcement material superposed and coplanar to a cutter, the webs being coated with an electromagnetic energy-curable binder and pressed together. Prior to cutting a blank in a two-dimensional development of the three-dimensional preform from the webs, the webs are tacked together at spaced local zones by locally curing the binder at those zones by locally applying the appropriate electromagnetic radiation (microwave, ultraviolet, electron) so that the webs travel as one to the cutter. After cutting of the blank, the blank is loaded into a mold to replicate the three-dimensional shape of the preform and the remainder of the binder is cured in the mold by the application of the appropriate electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Conventionally produced edible tubular casing is improved in its mechanical properties by being exposed to ultraviolet spectra in the range of 180 nm to 420 nm. The so treated casing is humidified, collapsed and wound onto a reel. The reel of tubular casing may be transported to a point of use where it is unwound, inflated, shipped and cut into lengths as desired.

Abstract: High molecular weight polyethylene products of high strength, good thermal resistance and creep resistance process in which the polyethylene is melt drawn in a multiple-stage drawing process in which the polyethylene extrudate is treated sequentially by a first drawing process which uses an elongating draw at an elongation strain rate of from about 0.03 to 0.5 S.sup.-1, a subsequent stage of elongating draw at a lower elongational strain rate, whilst subjecting the extruded polyethylene to UV crosslinking during the subsequent stage of elongating draw at lower elongational strain rate.