A method of joining overlapping thermoplastic geomembrane components in which a first thermoplastic geomembrane component and a second thermoplastic geomembrane component are positioned in overlapping relationship between a pair of complementary molding surfaces, with one or more of the complementary molding surfaces being defined by an electrically conductive metal susceptor. Heat is generated in the metal susceptor and transferred by thermal conduction from the metal susceptor to overlapping portions of the first and second thermoplastic geomembrane components to locally melt and coalesce a portion or more of the thermoplastic material of the first thermoplastic geomembrane component and a portion or more of the thermoplastic material of the second thermoplastic geomembrane component. The molten thermoplastic material of the first and second thermoplastic geomembrane components forms a zone of coalesced thermoplastic material that, upon cooling, forms a solid weld joint.

A resin powder for three-dimensional molding includes ethylene-propylene copolymer particles. The volume average particle size of the ethylene-propylene copolymer particles is within a range of 5 to 200 μm. The ethylene content molar ratio (ethylene/(ethylene+propylene)) in the ethylene-propylene copolymer particles is within a range of 0.001 to 0.04. The melt flow rate (MFR) is within a range of 3 to 40 g/10 min at 230° C.

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.

Described herein are polymeric composites that can include a kaolin filler dispersed within a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The kaolin filler can exhibit an aspect ratio of from 20 to 50, as measured by laser scattering, a mean particle size of from 0.75 microns to 2 microns e.s.d., as measured by Sedigraph, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the kaolin filler exhibits a ratio of aspect ratio to mean particle size ranges from 4 to 5, as measured by laser scattering. In some embodiments, less than 30% by weight of the kaolin filler exhibits a particle size of less than 0.5 microns e.s.d., as measured by Sedigraph. The composites can exhibit improved mechanical properties such as flexural strength, tensile strength, and heat deflection temperature. The composites can be used to form articles, for example, by thermoforming.

A fiber-reinforced composite material having at least one reinforcement layer having one or more woven mats, unwoven mats, or bundle of fibers comprising a plurality of reinforcement fibers that has a binder-resin filling at least a portion of the voids of the reinforcement fibers. In some aspects, the binder-resin adheres to the reinforcement fibers and displaces the air voids at the interface between the reinforcement fibers and the binder-resin. The binder-resin has a relatively low viscosity less than at least about 20,000 centipoise at 176° C. and low molecular weight, which allows the reinforcement layer to maintain a low flex modulus while maintaining or increasing tensile modulus. The fiber-reinforced composite material can be utilized in various articles, such as a flexible fiber reinforced hose adapted for conveying fluids under pressure having at least one polymer layer that bonds to the binder-resin of the reinforcement layer, preferably being cross-linkable or cross-linked to the polymer layer.

A selective laser sintering composition and a selective laser sintering 3D printing method employing the same are provided. The selective laser sintering composition includes a nanoscale inorganic powder and a thermoplastic vulcanizate powder. The temperature difference (ΔT) between the onset temperature for melting the thermoplastic vulcanizate powder and the onset temperature at which the thermoplastic crystallizes vulcanizate powder is greater than or equal to 10° C. The thermoplastic vulcanizate powder includes a thermoplastic and a crosslinked polymer. The temperature difference (ΔT) between the onset temperature for melting the thermoplastic and the onset temperature at which the thermoplastic crystallizes is greater than or equal to 10° C. , and the weight ratio of the thermoplastic to the crosslinked polymer is from 1:1 to 1:4.

Process for producing a polymer composition, a polymer composition obtainable by said process and the use of said polymer composition as adhesive polymer composition and for the production of a multilayer structure, such as a three-layer metal pipe coating, with improved peel strength.

A non-conductive rubber hose is provided exhibiting lower conductivity compared to conventional EPDM hose, and reduced stiffness compared to conventional non-conductive thermoplastic hose. The hose is useful for applications such as in hydraulics for boom trucks, and for coolant in plasma cutting tools.

An apparatus for processing an elongated structure includes a mold within which an uncross-linked rubber material is placed, at least one heating unit configured to heat the mold, and a pressure device configured to press the rubber material using the mold heated by the heating unit to promote shaping the rubber material by the mold while proceeding the cross-linking of the rubber material. The heating unit includes a central heating device configured to heat a longitudinal central portion of the mold, multiple cooling devices configured to cool two longitudinal end portions of the mold, multiple intermediate heating devices configured to heat two intermediate portions between the longitudinal central portion and the longitudinal end portions of the mold, heat shield plates disposed between the central heating device and the intermediate heating devices, and heat shield plates disposed between the cooling devices and the intermediate heating devices.

An apparatus for processing an elongated structure includes a mold within which an uncross-linked rubber material is placed, at least one heating unit configured to heat the mold, and a pressure device configured to press the rubber material using the mold heated by the heating unit to promote shaping the rubber material by the mold while proceeding the cross-linking of the rubber material. The heating unit includes a central heating device configured to heat a longitudinal central portion of the mold, multiple cooling devices configured to cool two longitudinal end portions of the mold, multiple intermediate heating devices configured to heat two intermediate portions between the longitudinal central portion and the longitudinal end portions of the mold, heat shield plates disposed between the central heating device and the intermediate heating devices, and heat shield plates disposed between the cooling devices and the intermediate heating devices.