The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Additionally, at least one cooling element is provided, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas.

The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Additionally, at least one cooling element is provided, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas.

Heterophasic propylene copolymer compositions may include a polymer matrix of a random propylene copolymer and an elastomeric copolymer dispersed in the polymer matrix in an amount ranging from about 10 to 35 wt. %, relative to the weight of the composition. The random propylene copolymer may include one or more comonomers in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to 8.0 wt. % of the random propylene copolymer. The elastomeric copolymer may include propylene and one or more comonomers, where the one or more comonomers are present in an amount ranging from about 15 to 60 wt. % of the elastomeric copolymer. Films may be formed from heterophasic propylene copolymer compositions. Methods of preparing heterophasic propylene copolymer compositions may include performing a multistage polymerization.

The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unidirectional cooling element having a unidirectional cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube. The unidirectional cooling element operably expels cooling gas in a path with the flow of the molten film tube toward an exit gap formed between the unidirectional cooling interface and the molten film tube. The minimum gap between the unidirectional cooling interface and the molten film tube occurs at the exit gap, and advantageously, the unidirectional cooling interface is provided with one or more compound angles to maximize stability and cooling efficiency.

Various embodiments provide for bistable collapsible tubular mast (Bi-CTM) booms. Various embodiments provide CTM booms that may be bistable in nature, thereby achieving intrinsic benefits bistability may bring. Bistability may be achieved in various embodiments through specific combinations of the thin-shell cross-section geometry and the composite laminate selected for each thin-shell segment. Additionally, in various embodiments, the thin-shell geometry of each boom half may be different. Various embodiments may include combinations of circular, ellipsoidal, or parabolic segments that form each shell.

The present teachings include a method of measuring an entire film thickness. The method may include forming a polymeric film (10) and measuring the thickness of the film (10) with a camera (20) collecting spatial and spectral images of a plurality of points at one time. The camera may collect a line image from a line of the film. The camera may be a hyperspectral near-infrared camera. In analyzing raw data collected during the measuring step, fringes of the raw data may be corrected using a classical least squares analysis.

A system and method are presented in which a flow of plastic is extruded to obtain nano-sized features by forming multiple laminated flow streams, flowing in parallel through the non-rotating extrusion system. Each of the parallel laminated flow streams are subjected to repeated steps in which the flows are compressed, divided, and overlapped to amplify the number of laminations. The parallel amplified laminated flows are rejoined to form a combined laminated output with nano-sized features. The die exit is formed to provide a tubular shape.

The present disclosure relates to multi-layer film structures and methods of manufacturing the same. The films can be oriented and heat shrinkable. The films can include an ethylene vinyl alcohol layer. In certain instances, the films do not include an individual polyamide layer.

The invention relates to a method for producing a compound or a film containing thermoplastic starch, an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid ROHCOOH, in which R is CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.3CH.sub.2, in an amount of from 0.1 to 5, preferably 0.1 to 3, particularly preferably 0.1 to 1 wt. % in relation to the thermoplastic starch, and a thermoplastic polymer, in which method the compound or the film is exposed during or after its extrusion to an additional heating step to 100-140° C. A thermoplastic starch usable for the production of the compound, a compound produced by the method, and a transparent film produced from such a compound are also described.

The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas (i) in a path opposing the flow of the molten film tube toward a first exit gap and (ii) in a path with the flow of the molten film tube toward a second exit gap. A minimum gap between the divergent cooling interface and the molten film tube occurs at the first exit gap and/or the second exit gap. Advantageously, the divergent cooling interface is provided with one or more compound angles to maximize stability and cooling efficiency. Additionally, multiple cooling elements can preferably be arranged in a stackable configuration to achieve higher throughput rates. Operation is characterized by improved film holding forces without the presence of high noise levels or detrimental vibration, flutter, and drag. Additionally, employing simplified single air delivery channels, and a stackable design, significantly reduces complexity and manufacturing costs.