The invention relates to a process for producing a biaxially oriented pipe by a) forming a polyethylene composition into a tube, wherein the polyethylene composition comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE) and a second polyethylene selected from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and a combination of LLDPE and LDPE and b) stretching the tube of step a) in the axial direction and peripheral direction to obtain the biaxially oriented pipe.

A polyetheretherketone pipe of length greater than 250 meters and a residual stress of less than 5 MPa may be made using a calibrator device 2 which includes a cone shaped opening 6 arranged to receive a molten extruded pipe shaped polymer. Attached to the front member 4 is a vacuum plate 14a and successive vacuum plates 14b-14h are attached to one another to define an array of vacuum plates, the vacuum plates being arranged to allow a vacuum to be applied to a pipe precursor passing through opening 16. The vacuum plates 14 also include temperature control means for heating or cooling the plates and therefore heating or cooling a pipe precursor passing through the openings. With a vacuum applied to opening 6, 16 and heating/cooling the plates, an extruded hot plastics pipe is inserted into calibrator 2 via opening 6 and conveyed through opening 16 in plates 14, whereupon it is urged by the vacuum against the cylindrical surface defined by plates 14 to maintain its shape and the temperature of each plate is controlled to control the rate of cooling of the pipe precursor passing through. The pipe may be cooled at a relatively slow rate so that a pipe made from a relatively fast crystallising polymer crystalises and the crystallinity of the pipe along its extent and throughout its thickness is substantially constant.

A polyetheretherketone pipe of length greater than 250 meters and a residual stress of less than 5 MPa may be made using a calibrator device 2 which includes a cone shaped opening 6 arranged to receive a molten extruded pipe shaped polymer. Attached to the front member 4 is a vacuum plate 14a and successive vacuum plates 14b-14h are attached to one another to define an array of vacuum plates, the vacuum plates being arranged to allow a vacuum to be applied to a pipe precursor passing through opening 16. The vacuum plates 14 also include temperature control means for heating or cooling the plates and therefore heating or cooling a pipe precursor passing through the openings. With a vacuum applied to opening 6, 16 and heating/cooling the plates, an extruded hot plastics pipe is inserted into calibrator 2 via opening 6 and conveyed through opening 16 in plates 14, whereupon it is urged by the vacuum against the cylindrical surface defined by plates 14 to maintain its shape and the temperature of each plate is controlled to control the rate of cooling of the pipe precursor passing through. The pipe may be cooled at a relatively slow rate so that a pipe made from a relatively fast crystallising polymer crystalises and the crystallinity of the pipe along its extent and throughout its thickness is substantially constant.

Disclosed herein is an article including a path that extends across at least a portion of a surface of the article, the path being defined by at least one channel that traverses at least a portion of the surface or a first plurality of spaced features disposed on or in at least a portion of the surface; the spaced features arranged in a plurality of groupings; the groupings of features comprising repeat units; the spaced features within a grouping being spaced apart at an average distance of about 1 nanometer to about 500 micrometers to define a path that traverses the plurality of spaced features; each feature having a surface that is substantially parallel to a surface on a neighboring feature; each feature being separated from its neighboring feature; the groupings of features being arranged with respect to one another so as to define a tortuous pathway.

Disclosed herein is an article including a path that extends across at least a portion of a surface of the article, the path being defined by at least one channel that traverses at least a portion of the surface or a first plurality of spaced features disposed on or in at least a portion of the surface; the spaced features arranged in a plurality of groupings; the groupings of features comprising repeat units; the spaced features within a grouping being spaced apart at an average distance of about 1 nanometer to about 500 micrometers to define a path that traverses the plurality of spaced features; each feature having a surface that is substantially parallel to a surface on a neighboring feature; each feature being separated from its neighboring feature; the groupings of features being arranged with respect to one another so as to define a tortuous pathway.

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for providing a durable and thermally insulated duct network. A duct network may be provided by coupling two or more foam ducts to each other. In one example, a system includes a plurality of foam ducts and a plurality of foam bellows configured to couple the foam ducts to each other. The foam bellows include one or more bellow folds to allow an expansion and contraction of the foam ducts. A plurality of structural fastening systems couple the duct network to a structure of a vessel. The structural fastening systems allow for an axial movement of the duct network as the foam ducts expand and contract. Additional systems and methods are also provided.

A fiber-reinforced member includes: a base member having a tubular region with an outer circumferential surface extending along and substantially in parallel with an axial direction; and a fiber-reinforced resin layer constituted of a tow prepreg wound in an overlapping manner to cover the outer circumferential surface of the base member along a predetermined direction crossing the axial direction when viewed in a radial direction of the base member, the tow prepreg serving as a widened tape-like member. The tape-like member constituting the fiber-reinforced resin layer has a portion having a fiber line extending along a direction crossing the predetermined direction. A size of a width of the tape-like member constituting the fiber-reinforced resin layer is not less than 100 times and not more than 400 times as large as a size of a thickness of the tape-like member constituting the fiber-reinforced resin layer in the radial direction.

A fiber-reinforced member includes: a base member having a tubular region with an outer circumferential surface extending along and substantially in parallel with an axial direction; and a fiber-reinforced resin layer constituted of a tow prepreg wound in an overlapping manner to cover the outer circumferential surface of the base member along a predetermined direction crossing the axial direction when viewed in a radial direction of the base member, the tow prepreg serving as a widened tape-like member. The tape-like member constituting the fiber-reinforced resin layer has a portion having a fiber line extending along a direction crossing the predetermined direction. A size of a width of the tape-like member constituting the fiber-reinforced resin layer is not less than 100 times and not more than 400 times as large as a size of a thickness of the tape-like member constituting the fiber-reinforced resin layer in the radial direction.

A wire harness and an electric wire protecting pipe that can prevent holes from being formed by flying gravel while the vehicle is moving and includes a bending pipe portion that can be bent easily. The electric wire protecting pipe is a resin pipe into which electric wires are insertable, and includes a bending pipe portion that is easily bent and is provided with protruding portions and recessed portions that are alternately continuous with each other in an axial direction, and a straight pipe portion that is flat and is not easily bent in the axial direction. A thickness of a lower wall portion that is disposed on a lower side when the electric wire protecting pipe is attached to a vehicle is greater than a thickness of a left wall portion and a right wall portion.

A wire harness and an electric wire protecting pipe that can prevent holes from being formed by flying gravel while the vehicle is moving and includes a bending pipe portion that can be bent easily. The electric wire protecting pipe is a resin pipe into which electric wires are insertable, and includes a bending pipe portion that is easily bent and is provided with protruding portions and recessed portions that are alternately continuous with each other in an axial direction, and a straight pipe portion that is flat and is not easily bent in the axial direction. A thickness of a lower wall portion that is disposed on a lower side when the electric wire protecting pipe is attached to a vehicle is greater than a thickness of a left wall portion and a right wall portion.