An ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition contains: (A) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer including two or more types of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers having different ethylene structural unit contents; and (B) an iron compound; wherein the iron compound (B) is present in an amount of 0.01 to 5 ppm on a metal basis based on the weight of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition. The ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition is substantially free from coloration and excellent in heat stability.

A solidifying device is for solidifying a substrate which includes a middle and two side portions. The thermostability of the middle portion is greater than that of the side portions. The solidifying device includes a housing, a heating member, a temperature control air-floating member and a conveyor. The housing defines a working space. The heating member is in the working space. The substrate has a heat receiving surface facing the heating member. The temperature control air-floating member is in the working space and below the heating member. The conveyor is for transporting the substrate into the working space and between the temperature control air-floating member and the heating member. The heating member is for providing heat to the substrate. The temperature control air-floating member is for supplying air towards the substrate to allow the substrate to float in the working space and form a high-temperature and two low-temperature areas.

A solidifying device is for solidifying a substrate which includes a middle and two side portions. The thermostability of the middle portion is greater than that of the side portions. The solidifying device includes a housing, a heating member, a temperature control air-floating member and a conveyor. The housing defines a working space. The heating member is in the working space. The substrate has a heat receiving surface facing the heating member. The temperature control air-floating member is in the working space and below the heating member. The conveyor is for transporting the substrate into the working space and between the temperature control air-floating member and the heating member. The heating member is for providing heat to the substrate. The temperature control air-floating member is for supplying air towards the substrate to allow the substrate to float in the working space and form a high-temperature and two low-temperature areas.

An ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition is substantially free from coloration, and contains: (A) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer; (B) a polyamide resin; and (C) an iron compound; wherein the iron compound (C) is present in an amount of 0.01 to 20 ppm on a metal basis based on the weight of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer composition.

A method and apparatus for the continuous sublimation of a substance includes cascading a material containing a substance capable of sublimation, such as water, between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within a processing zone provided within a processing chamber. A substantially atmospheric environment is maintained within the processing zone at a temperature whereby the substance sublimes forming a sublimate within the environment. The environment containing the sublimate is contacted with a drying agent such as a desiccant to maintain the environment whereby the substance sublimes at substantially atmospheric pressure and at the controlled temperature.

There is provided an apparatus for use in drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a means for providing a flow of heated fluid, and a means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid. The means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid is arranged operable with the means for providing a flow of heated fluid so that exposure of the sample to the flow of heated fluid facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while substantially preserving one or more chemical and/or physical properties of the portion.

There is provided an apparatus for use in drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a means for providing a flow of heated fluid, and a means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid. The means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid is arranged operable with the means for providing a flow of heated fluid so that exposure of the sample to the flow of heated fluid facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while substantially preserving one or more chemical and/or physical properties of the portion.

A coating device is provided with a stage on which a substrate is configured to be placed, an applicator movably arranged relative to the substrate placed on the stage and configured to discharge a coating liquid from a nozzle to form a coating film on the substrate, and a dryer having an air supply port with at least one porous member. The dryer is configured to dry the coating film formed on the substrate by the applicator by supplying air to the coating film from the air supply port. The at least one porous member is configured and arranged to suppress formation of local variations in an amount of air supplied from the air supply port.

A plant for drying and solid state polycondensing a granular moisture-containing polymeric material includes a conduit feeding material to be treated longitudinally, a treatment zone located along the conduit, a blower of an inert gas into the conduit, and a radiating device emitting an alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency band to dry and upgrade the material. The radiating device includes applicators, located at the treatment zone and external to the conduit in longitudinally offset positions, which are connected to the terminals of an electromagnetic wave generator and include pairs of opposed radiating elements that generate an alternating electromagnetic field in the conduit, with field lines at least partially parallel to the direction of feed of the material, and that define magnetic dipoles with opposite polarities along the conduit. A method of drying and solid state polycondensing a polymeric material in granular form obtained by polycondensation using the plant.

A plant for drying and solid state polycondensing a granular moisture-containing polymeric material includes a conduit feeding material to be treated longitudinally, a treatment zone located along the conduit, a blower of an inert gas into the conduit, and a radiating device emitting an alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency band to dry and upgrade the material. The radiating device includes applicators, located at the treatment zone and external to the conduit in longitudinally offset positions, which are connected to the terminals of an electromagnetic wave generator and include pairs of opposed radiating elements that generate an alternating electromagnetic field in the conduit, with field lines at least partially parallel to the direction of feed of the material, and that define magnetic dipoles with opposite polarities along the conduit. A method of drying and solid state polycondensing a polymeric material in granular form obtained by polycondensation using the plant.