A kneading apparatus for a thermoplastic resin, includes: a plasticizing cylinder which has a high pressure kneading zone and a pressure reduction zone; a screw in the plasticizing cylinder; a downstream side seal mechanism which shuts off communication between the high pressure kneading zone and the pressure reduction zone; and a pressure reduction zone pressure adjusting mechanism which is connected to the pressure reduction zone and which controls a pressure of the pressure reduction zone so that the pressure is not less than an atmospheric pressure and the pressure is not more than a maximum pressure of the high pressure kneading zone that is achieved when kneading a molten resin with a pressurized fluid, when the downstream side seal mechanism shuts off the communication between the high pressure kneading zone and the pressure reduction zone.

A kneading apparatus for a thermoplastic resin, includes: a plasticizing cylinder which has a high pressure kneading zone and a pressure reduction zone; a screw in the plasticizing cylinder; a downstream side seal mechanism which shuts off communication between the high pressure kneading zone and the pressure reduction zone; and a pressure reduction zone pressure adjusting mechanism which is connected to the pressure reduction zone and which controls a pressure of the pressure reduction zone so that the pressure is not less than an atmospheric pressure and the pressure is not more than a maximum pressure of the high pressure kneading zone that is achieved when kneading a molten resin with a pressurized fluid, when the downstream side seal mechanism shuts off the communication between the high pressure kneading zone and the pressure reduction zone.

Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a microwavable food container include: forming a wire mesh over a mold comprising a mirror image of the microwavable food container; immersing the wire mesh in a fiber-based slurry bath; drawing a vacuum across the wire mesh to cause fiber particles to accumulate at the wire mesh surface; and removing the wire mesh including the accumulated fiber particles from the slurry bath; wherein the slurry comprises a moisture barrier, an oil barrier, and a vapor barrier.

Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a microwavable food container include: forming a wire mesh over a mold comprising a mirror image of the microwavable food container; immersing the wire mesh in a fiber-based slurry bath; drawing a vacuum across the wire mesh to cause fiber particles to accumulate at the wire mesh surface; and removing the wire mesh including the accumulated fiber particles from the slurry bath; wherein the slurry comprises a moisture barrier, an oil barrier, and a vapor barrier.

A process for continuously preparing a polyolefin composition made from or containing a bimodal or multimodal polyolefin and one or more additives in an extruder device equipped with at least one hopper. The process includes the steps of supplying a bimodal or multimodal polyolefin in form of a polyolefin powder to the hopper; (a) measuring the flow rate of the polyolefin powder or (b) measuring the flow rate of the prepared polyolefin pellets; supplying one or more additives to the hopper; adjusting the flow rates of the additives supplied to the hopper in response to the measured flow rate of the polyolefin powder or adjusting the flow rate of the polyolefin powder in response to the measured flow rate of the polyolefin pellets; melting and homogenizing the polyolefin powder and additives within the extruder device; and pelletizing the molten polyolefin composition into the polyolefin pellets.

A process for continuously preparing a polyolefin composition made from or containing a bimodal or multimodal polyolefin and one or more additives in an extruder device equipped with at least one hopper. The process includes the steps of supplying a bimodal or multimodal polyolefin in form of a polyolefin powder to the hopper; (a) measuring the flow rate of the polyolefin powder or (b) measuring the flow rate of the prepared polyolefin pellets; supplying one or more additives to the hopper; adjusting the flow rates of the additives supplied to the hopper in response to the measured flow rate of the polyolefin powder or adjusting the flow rate of the polyolefin powder in response to the measured flow rate of the polyolefin pellets; melting and homogenizing the polyolefin powder and additives within the extruder device; and pelletizing the molten polyolefin composition into the polyolefin pellets.

A method for manufacturing an encapsulating material sheet for a solar battery of the invention includes a step of producing an additive-containing pellet by soaking an additive A into a pellet including a polyolefin-based resin as a main component, a step of injecting the additive-containing pellet into a cylinder from a supply opening in an extrusion molder, and melting and kneading a resin composition including the polyolefin-based resin and the additive A in the cylinder, and a step of molding by extrusion the resin composition from a die in the extrusion molder into a sheet shape.

A method of determining a recipe for providing a desired color and a desired effect, for example, a pearlescent effect, comprises: i. Providing a group of different effect materials, which suitably includes no more than 20 members, for inclusion in the recipe; ii. Selecting an effect from said group which is closest to the desired effect; iii. Directing a match prediction system to use the selected effect material to determine a recipe, wherein the match prediction system determines a recipe based on the selected effect material and color information relating to the color to be matched. A method of preparing a liquid color/effect formulation for addition to plastics is also described.

Installation for manufacturing cross-linkable polyethylene compounds which comprises a melting machine (101), a melt pump (102) and a filtration unit (103). The installation allows to produce cross-linkable polyethylene compounds that may be further used for manufacturing insulating parts of medium, high and extra-high voltage power cables. A method for manufacturing cross-linkable polyethylene compounds is further provided.

Installation for manufacturing cross-linkable polyethylene compounds which comprises a melting machine (101), a melt pump (102) and a filtration unit (103). The installation allows to produce cross-linkable polyethylene compounds that may be further used for manufacturing insulating parts of medium, high and extra-high voltage power cables. A method for manufacturing cross-linkable polyethylene compounds is further provided.