A device for fabricating a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments comprises first and second filament supply components for supplying first and second thermoplastic filaments and a filament cutting component for cutting each of the first and second thermoplastic filaments into segments. The device also includes first and second filament guide components for guiding the first and second thermoplastic filaments into position to be cut by the filament cutting component. The device further includes a filament segment joining section positioned after the filament cutting component to join the first and second thermoplastic filaments to form a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments. The first and second filament guide components are movable so as to alternatively and sequentially permit the first and second thermoplastic filaments to be cut by the filament cutting component.

A protective packaging formation device is disclosed herein. The device includes an inflation assembly that directs fluid between first and second overlapping plies of a web material. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes an arcuate web-support surface. The web-support surface includes a heater that defines a heating zone that is operable to heat the plies to create a longitudinal heat seal that seals the first and second plies together as the web is driven over the heating zone in a downstream direction. The web-support surface also includes a cooling zone disposed downstream of the heating zone operable to allow the heated plies to cool at the longitudinal heat seal as the web is driven over the heating zone in a downstream direction, such that the cooled longitudinal heat seal retains the fluid between the plies.

A protective packaging formation device is disclosed herein. The device includes an inflation assembly that directs fluid between first and second overlapping plies of a web material. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes an arcuate web-support surface. The web-support surface includes a heater that defines a heating zone that is operable to heat the plies to create a longitudinal heat seal that seals the first and second plies together as the web is driven over the heating zone in a downstream direction. The web-support surface also includes a cooling zone disposed downstream of the heating zone operable to allow the heated plies to cool at the longitudinal heat seal as the web is driven over the heating zone in a downstream direction, such that the cooled longitudinal heat seal retains the fluid between the plies.

A method for purifying a reclaimed polymer to a purer polymer is disclosed. In embodiments of the present invention, the method involves obtaining a reclaimed polymer, leaching various contaminants with a leaching solvent producing a leached polymer, extracting the leached polymer with a first fluid solvent to produce an extracted polymer, and then dissolving the extracted polymer in a solvent to produce a first solution comprising the dissolved polymer. The first solution is settled and then filtered. A purer polymer is separated from the resulting solution.

Breathable, thermoplastic films, laminates, and methods of making films having a basis weight less than or equal to 15 gsm and a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 500 grams H.sub.2O/24-hour/m.sup.2, wherein the film has a ratio of the MD load at break to the CD load at break of less than about 10, and at least one of a machine-direction notched Elmendorf tear strength of at least about 5 g or a machine-direction notched trapezoidal tear strength of at least about 15 g.

Embodiments of a thermoformed microcapillary sheeting and articles prepared by a process comprising the steps of (a) providing a thermoplastic sheeting comprising thermoplastic material, wherein the thermoplastic sheeting comprises at least one or more microcapillary channel disposed therein and having an initial volume of voidage, based on a total volume of the microcapillary sheeting; and (b) heating the thermoplastic sheeting to a temperature at which the thermoplastic material is deformable to form a thermoformed microcapillary sheeting with the at least one or more microcapillary channels disposed therein and having a final volume of voidage, based on a total volume of the microcapillary sheeting. The final volume of voidage of the at least one or more microcapillary channels of the thermoformed microcapillary sheeting is at least about 10 percent of the initial volume of voidage of the at least one or more microcapillary channels of the thermoplastic sheeting.

An optical shaping ink set comprises a composition (I) for a model material and a composition (II) for a support material. Composition (I) comprises 50 to 74 PBW (parts by weight) of a monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer (A), 26 to 50 PBW of a polyfunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer (B), and 2 to 20 PBW of a photopolymerization initiator (C) per 100 PBW of the total composition for the model material, and (B) contains an alkoxylated polyfunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, but does not contain an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a urethane group. Composition (II) comprises 20 to 50 PBW of a water-soluble monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a), 20 to 49 PBW of a polyalkylene glycol (b) containing EO and/or PO, 35 PBW or less of a water-soluble organic solvent (c), and 5 to 20 PBW of a photopolymerization initiator (d) per 100 PBW of the total composition for the support material.

I disclose a method for increasing a quantity of gas bubbles in a head of foam of a beverage in drink ware, comprising providing and sinking a portable nucleation accessory into the beverage. The nucleation accessory features a plurality of nucleation sites etched into a smooth outer surface of the accessory. Each nucleation site comprises a pit which pulls and aggregates gases out of solution until the gases forms a bubble. When the bubble becomes sufficiently buoyant, it detaches from the nucleation site and rises to an upper surface of the beverage. A plurality of nucleation sites producing bubbles in this way build a head of foam on the upper surface of the beverage. Nucleation sites may be arranged to appear as lines or areas to a naked eye.

Methods for extrusion of polyolefins (110) that utilize melt temperature to control molecular weight and also reduce gels. Disclosed herein is an example method for controlling polymer chain scission in an extrusion system (100), comprising: melting a polyolefin resin (110) in extruder (102) at a first melt temperature to form a first melt (112); passing the first melt (112) through a screen pack (106); forming the first melt 112) into a first polyolefin product (116, 118); melting additional polyolefin resin (110) of the same grade in the extruder (102) at a second melt temperature to form a second melt (112), wherein the second melt temperature differs from the first melt temperature by 5 C. or more to control chain scission in the extruder (102); passing the second melt (112) through the screen pack (106); and forming the second melt (112) into a second polyolefin product (116, 118).

The present invention relates to an automotive part (such as an exterior automotive part, a semi-exterior automotive part or an interior automotive part) prepared from a thermoplastic composition comprising: from 48-95 wt. % based on the weight of the composition of a heterophasic propylene copolymer; wherein said heterophasic propylene copolymer consists of i) a propylene-based matrix consisting of a propylene homopolymer and/or a propylene--olefin copolymer, said propylene -olefin copolymer consisting of at least 70 wt. %, and ii) a dispersed ethylene--olefin copolymer comprising ethylene and at least one C3 to C10 -olefin; from 0-20 wt. %, preferably from 1-20 wt. % ethylene--olefin elastomer comprising ethylene and a C3 to C10 -olefin; from 1-30 wt. % high aspect ratio; from 0.05-2 wt. % antioxidant additive selected from the group consisting of i) a tocopherol or a tocotrienol; or ii) a hydroxylamine from 0-3 wt. % an additional additive.