An earplug assembly includes a first earplug, a second earplug, and a cord including a first end, a second end, each earplug including a stem and a sound attenuating body. A method for preparing the earplug assembly includes attaching the first and second ends of the cord to the first and second earplugs, respectively, by contacting a hot tip to the proximal end of the stem of the earplug to form an attachment point, removing the hot tip, and contacting or inserting the end of the cord to the attachment point to thermally bond the end of the cord to the stem of the earplug.

An earplug assembly includes a first earplug, a second earplug, and a cord including a first end, a second end, each earplug including a stem and a sound attenuating body. A method for preparing the earplug assembly includes attaching the first and second ends of the cord to the first and second earplugs, respectively, by contacting a hot tip to the proximal end of the stem of the earplug to form an attachment point, removing the hot tip, and contacting or inserting the end of the cord to the attachment point to thermally bond the end of the cord to the stem of the earplug.

Injection molded articles having improved scratch resistance and reduced gloss change after heat and UV aging are disclosed. The article is formed from a molding composition having a melt flow index of 50-350 g/10 (230 C., 2.16 kg) as measured by ASTM D1238-04, the composition consisting essentially of: a) 15-80 wt. % of a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer having a melt index of at least 12 grams/10 minutes according to ASTM D1238 at 230 C. and 2.16 kg weight; b) 10-60 wt. % of a polypropylene having a melt flow index greater than 300 g/10 min, measured under 230 C./2.16 kg according to ISO 1133-1; and c) 5-25 wt. % of a thermoplastic vulcanizate having a Shore A hardness from 60-90 (15 sec, 23 C.) as measured according to ISO 868. The article has a gloss increase after 10 days of aging at 120 C. of less than 100%, relative to an initial gloss, as determined by PSA D47 1850.

A laser welding member that has a high laser transmittance at a welding region and exhibits an excellent laser welding processability, and a molded article obtained by laser welding using this laser welding member. The laser welding member is obtained by injection molding of a thermoplastic polyester resin material, wherein a region to be laser welded in the member is at a location separated by a distance of at least 15 mm from a gate of an injection molding mold and has at least 30% of a light transmittance of laser light with a wavelength of 940 nm.

A laser welding member that has a high laser transmittance at a welding region and exhibits an excellent laser welding processability, and a molded article obtained by laser welding using this laser welding member. The laser welding member is obtained by injection molding of a thermoplastic polyester resin material, wherein a region to be laser welded in the member is at a location separated by a distance of at least 15 mm from a gate of an injection molding mold and has at least 30% of a light transmittance of laser light with a wavelength of 940 nm.

The invention relates to a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, to a vulcanizate thereof and to a vehicle tire. The sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture contains at least the following constituents: at least one diene rubber; and 10 to 300 phr of at least one silica; and 1 to 22 phf of at least one silane A having general empirical formula A-I)

(R.sup.1).sub.oSiR.sup.2(SR.sup.3).sub.qS.sub.x(R.sup.3S).sub.qR.sup.2Si(R.sup.1).sub.o; and A-I) 0.5 to 30 phf of at least one silane B having general empirical formula B-I)

(R.sup.1).sub.oSiR.sup.2(SR.sup.3).sub.uSR.sup.2Si(R.sup.1).sub.0 B-I) wherein x is an integer from 2 to 10, q is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and u is 1, 2 or 3.

The invention relates to a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, to a vulcanizate thereof and to a vehicle tire. The sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture contains at least the following constituents: at least one diene rubber; and 10 to 300 phr of at least one silica; and 1 to 22 phf of at least one silane A having general empirical formula A-I)

(R.sup.1).sub.oSiR.sup.2(SR.sup.3).sub.qS.sub.x(R.sup.3S).sub.qR.sup.2Si(R.sup.1).sub.o; and A-I) 0.5 to 30 phf of at least one silane B having general empirical formula B-I)

(R.sup.1).sub.oSiR.sup.2(SR.sup.3).sub.uSR.sup.2Si(R.sup.1).sub.0 B-I) wherein x is an integer from 2 to 10, q is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and u is 1, 2 or 3.

Techniques for inlaying a composite material within a tooling shell are disclosed. In one aspect, an additively manufactured tooling shell is provided, into which a composite material is inlaid and cured. A surface of the tooling shell is provided with indentations or another mechanism to enable adherence between the composite material and the tooling shell. The resulting integrated structure is used as a component in a transport structure.

A composition for use as a binder system for road marking formulations and methods for making thereof is disclosed. The binder system is provided as pellets. The method provides for making the pelletized binder system, and mixing the pelletized binder system with fillers and other components, heating the mixed ingredients forming into a molten mixture for applying on a road surface. The pelletized binder system comprises at least a resin and an elastomer in one embodiment; at least a resin and a plasticizer in a second embodiment; and at least a resin, an elastomer, and a plasticizer in a third embodiment.

Provided are: a laminate having an outer surface thereof that is highly adhesive to a rubber material, and having sufficient gas barrier properties, interlayer adhesiveness and flex resistance; a multilayered structure including such a laminate; and a method for producing the same. A laminate including: a plurality of gas barrier layers (A) formed from a polymer including a gas barrier resin; and an elastomer layer (B) including at least one adhesive layer (B1), wherein a sum of number of the gas barrier layers (A) and number of the elastomer layer (B) is 5 or greater and 300 or less, the adhesive layer (B1) is laminated as at least an outermost layer, and the adhesive layer (B1) includes a styrene elastomer and is formed from a polymer having an iodine value of 200 or greater and 300 or less.