Three-dimensional polymeric article (100) having first (101) and second (102) opposed major surfaces, a base body (103) having a first dimension, a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension, and a thickness, wherein the thickness is orthogonal to the first and second dimensions, wherein the base body (103) comprises a plurality of alternating, adjacent first (107) and second (108) polymeric regions along the first dimension, wherein the second dimensions of the first (107) and second (108) regions extend at least partially across the second dimensions, wherein the first regions (107) have a first crosslink density, wherein the second regions (108) have a second crosslink density, wherein the second crosslink density of the second regions (108) are less than the first crosslink density of the first regions (107), wherein the first and second regions extend perpendicularly in two directions from a central plane (115) in the base body (103) parallel to the first and second dimensions of the polymeric article (100), and wherein the second regions (108) extend in each of said two directions further than does the first regions (107). Embodiments of the three-dimensional polymeric article described herein are useful for providing a dual sided, textured wrapping film such that greater grip is realized both on an item wrapped by the film and the wrapped item itself.

The present invention discloses a new and efficient heating tank for the fusion splicer and a fusion splicer, which comprises a heating tank body and a heating tank upper cover, among which, the said heating tank body is used to accommodate a heat shrinkable tube wrapped with a fiber welding point and heated to shrink the heat shrinkable tube, and the said heating tank body comprises a heating side surface and a heating bottom surface, while the said heating side surface and the heating bottom surface are connected with each other, and the heat shrinkable tube is in contact with at least either the heating side surface or the heating bottom surface during the preheating and thermal shrinkage; the said heating tank upper cover comprises a pressing portion, while the said pressing portion is narrower than the opening of the said heating tank body, and comes into contact with the heat shrinkage tube and exerts an acting force during the preheating and thermal shrinkage of the tube. The invention can speed up the thermal shrinkage process, reduce the heat shrinkage time, greatly improve the heat conduction efficiency, and reduce the cost, be more environment-friendly.

A method of activating the shrink characteristic of a multi-layered film (1), the method comprising the steps of providing a multi-layered film comprising at least a base layer film (2) that comprises a shrinkable film, and a photothermic layer (3), associated with the base layer film, and comprising a photothermic material, exposing the multi-layered film (1) to electromagnetic radiation in order for the photothermic material to generate heat and shrink the multi-layered film (1), wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises UV-light having a peak wavelength between 200 nm and 399 nm, and at least 90% of the UV-light is within a bandwidth of 30 nm of the peak wavelength.

A method of activating the shrink characteristic of a multi-layered film (1), the method comprising the steps of providing a multi-layered film comprising at least a base layer film (2) that comprises a shrinkable film, and a photothermic layer (3), associated with the base layer film, and comprising a photothermic material, exposing the multi-layered film (1) to electromagnetic radiation in order for the photothermic material to generate heat and shrink the multi-layered film (1), wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises UV-light having a peak wavelength between 200 nm and 399 nm, and at least 90% of the UV-light is within a bandwidth of 30 nm of the peak wavelength.

An apparatus for heating an elongate tubular article, such as a heat shrinkable sleeve applied around a welded pipe joint during pipeline construction. The apparatus is in the form of a frame which can be disposed around the article, the frame having a heater device having both longitudinally disposed heating zones and radially disposed heating sectors, each of which can be independently controlled. Alternatively, or in combination, the apparatus can have an air circulation system. Also, a method for shrinking a heat shrinkable sleeve comprising use of said apparatus.

An apparatus for heating an elongate tubular article, such as a heat shrinkable sleeve applied around a welded pipe joint during pipeline construction. The apparatus is in the form of a frame which can be disposed around the article, the frame having a heater device having both longitudinally disposed heating zones and radially disposed heating sectors, each of which can be independently controlled. Alternatively, or in combination, the apparatus can have an air circulation system. Also, a method for shrinking a heat shrinkable sleeve comprising use of said apparatus.

A multilayer composite is disclosed comprising a heat shrinkable polymer layer and a nanofiber layer. Methods of forming the composite and uses thereof are also described.

A method for creating an opening in a sheath, made of stretch film, that retains a goods stack arranged on a pallet. The pallet comprising an upper-side deck surface as support for the goods stack and lower-side support feet. The sheath engages under the support feet arranged in the region of the four outer edges of the pallet. At least one opening is in the sheath between two support feet . At least one opening is generated such that the sheath is first heated, the heated sheath is retracted from the pallet and then, still in the heated state, displaced upward. The upwardly displaced sheath is secured in its upwardly displaced position by cooling. The invention also relates to a shaping apparatus, and additionally to at least one heating device for carrying out the method.

The present disclosure provides a dual layer heat shrink tube having: an inner polymeric layer with a thickness t.sub.1 and an outer diameter D.sub.1; and an outer, expanded polymeric layer with a thickness t.sub.2 and an outer diameter D.sub.2 obtained by expanding a polymer tube from D.sub.2 to D.sub.2 and t.sub.2 to t.sub.2 at a selected temperature so that D.sub.2-2 (t.sub.2)>D.sub.1, wherein a ring cut from a cross-section of the dual layer heat shrink tube, slit into a rectangle and gripped at cut ends by tension grips within a DMA, and subjected to a temperature sweep of 3? C./min at a frequency of 1 Hz from the onset of a melting endotherm of the inner polymeric layer to that of the outer, expanded polymeric layer is greater than 1? C. and less than 12? C. The disclosure further provides associated methods for preparing and using such tubes, as well as to products comprising such tubes.

One embodiment is a shrink labeler for use to shrink a shrink label onto a bottle including: a containment wall having a gas/steam inlet; and a showerhead container capable of holding the bottle in close proximity to orifices disposed therein and having an aperture through which the bottle may be introduced thereinto; wherein the gas/steam inlet is coupled to a plenum disposed between the containment wall and the showerhead container.