A film stretching apparatus includes: a pair of first and second link devices configured to be able to carry and stretch a film and each composed of a plurality of links coupled to form an endless chain; a heat treatment unit configured to cover a central portion of the first and second link devices and perform a heat treatment to the film; a sprocket (first link drive mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on an inlet side of the film and configured to drive the plurality of links; a sprocket (second link drive mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on an outlet side of the film and configured to drive the plurality of links; and a sprocket (link adjustment mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on the outlet side of the film and configured to reduce a pitch of the plurality of links.

A film stretching apparatus includes: a pair of first and second link devices configured to be able to carry and stretch a film and each composed of a plurality of links coupled to form an endless chain; a heat treatment unit configured to cover a central portion of the first and second link devices and perform a heat treatment to the film; a sprocket (first link drive mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on an inlet side of the film and configured to drive the plurality of links; a sprocket (second link drive mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on an outlet side of the film and configured to drive the plurality of links; and a sprocket (link adjustment mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on the outlet side of the film and configured to reduce a pitch of the plurality of links.

A system configured to produce smokable products including filter elements formed from multiple fibers is provided. The system includes a texturing apparatus configured to combine the fibers such that the fibers are at least partially entangled with each other and form a mixed fiber product. The entangled fibers may be sufficiently separated from one another such that plasticizer may be applied to the mixed fiber product without necessarily performing tow opening, crimp removal, or blooming operations. The fibers combined to form the mixed fiber product may define characteristics that differ or which are the same. Accordingly, filter elements may be produced that include different fibers that have respective desirable properties associated therewith. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.

A system configured to produce smokable products including filter elements formed from multiple fibers is provided. The system includes a texturing apparatus configured to combine the fibers such that the fibers are at least partially entangled with each other and form a mixed fiber product. The entangled fibers may be sufficiently separated from one another such that plasticizer may be applied to the mixed fiber product without necessarily performing tow opening, crimp removal, or blooming operations. The fibers combined to form the mixed fiber product may define characteristics that differ or which are the same. Accordingly, filter elements may be produced that include different fibers that have respective desirable properties associated therewith. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.

A film stretching apparatus includes: a pair of first and second link devices configured to be able to carry and stretch a film and each composed of a plurality of links coupled to form an endless chain; a heat treatment unit configured to cover a central portion of the first and second link devices and perform a heat treatment to the film; a sprocket (first link drive mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on an inlet side of the film and configured to drive the plurality of links; a sprocket (second link drive mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on an outlet side of the film and configured to drive the plurality of links; and a sprocket (link adjustment mechanism) arranged outside the heat treatment unit and on the outlet side of the film and configured to reduce a pitch of the plurality of links.

A tapered implantable device includes an ePTFE tubular member having a tapered length portion. The tapered length portion provides rapid recovery properties. The tapered length portion can feature a microstructure that includes a multiplicity of bent fibrils.

A tapered implantable device includes an ePTFE tubular member having a tapered length portion. The tapered length portion provides rapid recovery properties. The tapered length portion can feature a microstructure that includes a multiplicity of bent fibrils.

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.

Disclosed are biaxially stretched polyolefin films containing 10 to 45% by weight of a cycloolefin polymer with a glass transition temperature between 12 and 170 C., and 90 to 55% by weight of a semi-crystalline alpha-olefin polymer with a crystallite melting temperature between 15 and 170 C. The glass transition temperature of the cycloolefin polymer is less than or equal to the crystallite melting temperature of the alpha-olefin polymer, and the polyolefin film has a shrinkage at 130 C. after 5 minutes, as measured according to ISO 11501, of less than or equal to 2%. These polyolefin films are excellently suited as dielectrics for capacitors and are distinguished by a low shrinkage at high temperatures. The cycloolefin polymer preferably forms a co-continuous phase in a matrix of the semi-crystalline alpha-olefin polymer, providing improved mechanical and electrical properties including a dielectric strength from 500 to 750 V/m.