The invention provides a roll of a white heat-shrinkable polyester-based film containing titanium oxide which can suppress occurrence of a processing trouble of a label or the like cut out from the roll, even when widening the roll. The roll of the white heat-shrinkable polyester-based film satisfies the following requirements: (1) the length of the film is 1,000-20,000 m and the width of the film is 400-10,000 mm, (2) the heat-shrinkage ratio in a main shrinkage direction is 50-85%, (3,4) the difference between the maximum and minimum heat-shrinkage ratio in the main shrinkage direction is 0-3% among samples which are sampled in each of the width and longitudinal directions of the film, and (5,6) the difference between the maximum and minimum apparent specific gravity is 0-0.01 g/cm.sup.3 among samples which are sampled in each of the width and longitudinal directions of the film.

The problem addressed by the invention lies in providing a method for producing an inorganic substance powder highly-oriented thin film sheet with which it is possible to produce a sheet of uniform thickness while preventing the generation of impurities, improving sheet surface properties, adjusting apparent specific gravity, and the like. The method for producing a thin film sheet comprises a step for preparing a predetermined inorganic substance powder, thermoplastic resin, and auxiliary agent, a step for exposing the starting materials mixed at a predetermined mixture ratio to high shear stress while kneading, a step for feeding the kneaded starting materials to a T die-type extrusion molding device and molding a sheet, and a step for adjusting the apparent gravity as desired by stretching under predetermined conditions.

The problem addressed by the invention lies in providing a method for producing an inorganic substance powder highly-oriented thin film sheet with which it is possible to produce a sheet of uniform thickness while preventing the generation of impurities, improving sheet surface properties, adjusting apparent specific gravity, and the like. The method for producing a thin film sheet comprises a step for preparing a predetermined inorganic substance powder, thermoplastic resin, and auxiliary agent, a step for exposing the starting materials mixed at a predetermined mixture ratio to high shear stress while kneading, a step for feeding the kneaded starting materials to a T die-type extrusion molding device and molding a sheet, and a step for adjusting the apparent gravity as desired by stretching under predetermined conditions.

The invention provides a roll of a white heat-shrinkable polyester-based film containing titanium oxide which can suppress occurrence of a processing trouble of a label or the like cut out from the roll, even when widening the roll. The roll of the white heat-shrinkable polyester-based film satisfies the following requirements: (1) the length of the film is 1,000-20,000 m and the width of the film is 400-10,000 mm, (2) the heat-shrinkage ratio in a main shrinkage direction is 50-85%, (3,4) the difference between the maximum and minimum heat-shrinkage ratio in the main shrinkage direction is 0-3% among samples which are sampled in each of the width and longitudinal directions of the film, and (5,6) the difference between the maximum and minimum apparent specific gravity is 0-0.01 g/cm.sup.3 among samples which are sampled in each of the width and longitudinal directions of the film.

The invention provides a roll of a white heat-shrinkable polyester-based film containing titanium oxide which can suppress occurrence of a processing trouble of a label or the like cut out from the roll, even when widening the roll. The roll of the white heat-shrinkable polyester-based film satisfies the following requirements: (1) the length of the film is 1,000-20,000 m and the width of the film is 400-10,000 mm, (2) the heat-shrinkage ratio in a main shrinkage direction is 50-85%, (3,4) the difference between the maximum and minimum heat-shrinkage ratio in the main shrinkage direction is 0-3% among samples which are sampled in each of the width and longitudinal directions of the film, and (5,6) the difference between the maximum and minimum apparent specific gravity is 0-0.01 g/cm.sup.3 among samples which are sampled in each of the width and longitudinal directions of the film.

The invention relates to novel processes for the lamination of semi-crystalline, high-melting point, low glass transition polymeric films, which are extruded and subsequently laminated on various thermally sensitive substrates to form laminated medical device constructs in a specific time interval to allow low processing temperatures to avoid polymer film and/or substrate degradation or heat-related distortions. Also disclosed are laminated medical device constructs made from such processes.

The invention relates to novel processes for the lamination of semi-crystalline, high-melting point, low glass transition polymeric films, which are extruded and subsequently laminated on various thermally sensitive substrates to form laminated medical device constructs in a specific time interval to allow low processing temperatures to avoid polymer film and/or substrate degradation or heat-related distortions. Also disclosed are laminated medical device constructs made from such processes.

Methods, systems, and devices for changing cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of flat braided sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The flat braided sutures can have a textile first cross-sectional shape that can be changed to a textile second cross-sectional shape. The systems can have a heater and a die. The flat braided sutures can be movable through the heater and the die. When the flat braided sutures are in the heater, the flat braided sutures can be heatable from a textile first temperature to a textile second temperature greater than the textile first temperature. When the flat braided sutures are at the textile second temperature, the textile first cross-sectional shape can be changeable to the textile second cross-sectional shape.

Methods, systems, and devices for changing cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of flat braided sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The flat braided sutures can have a textile first cross-sectional shape that can be changed to a textile second cross-sectional shape. The systems can have a heater and a die. The flat braided sutures can be movable through the heater and the die. When the flat braided sutures are in the heater, the flat braided sutures can be heatable from a textile first temperature to a textile second temperature greater than the textile first temperature. When the flat braided sutures are at the textile second temperature, the textile first cross-sectional shape can be changeable to the textile second cross-sectional shape.

A process for manufacturing pipes using thermoplastic pipe and tape (continuous fiber, fully wetted in a similar thermoplastic as the pipe) that embeds its fibers into pipe surface. The thermoplastic pipe is mechanically compressed prior fiber tape being applied. Outer diameter reduction of the pipe is at least partly maintained by the fiber tape being tightly wrapped around the pipe immediately after compression causes the pipe to contract. Then, an external heat source is applied to the pipe causing the thermoplastic to melt and the pipe to undergo thermal expansion. Fibers stretch less and are embedded into the molten layer of the pipe, creating a permanent bond between the fibers and the pipe. Individual pipes may be joined using couplers or butt welds.