A method for producing a microporous material comprising the steps of: providing an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE); providing a filler; providing a processing plasticizer; adding the filler to the UHMWPE in a mixture being in the range of from about 1:9 to about 15:1 filler to UHMWPE by weight; adding the processing plasticizer to the mixture; extruding the mixture to form a sheet from the mixture; calendering the sheet; extracting the processing plasticizer from the sheet to produce a matrix comprising UHMWPE and the filler distributed throughout the matrix; stretching the microporous material in at least one direction to a stretch ratio of at least about 1.5 to produce a stretched microporous matrix; and subsequently calendering the stretched microporous matrix to produce a microporous material which exhibits improved physical and dimensional stability properties over the stretched microporous matrix.

Starch-based packaging material and methods for making the material are described. The starch-based packaging material can comprise layers of expanded starch with a cellulosic web disposed between the layers. The expanded starch can be formed by extruding starch with water which acts as an expanding agent and causes the starch to expand resulting in an extrudate having a density of no more than about 5 lbs/ft.sup.3. An apparatus and methods for post-processing the expanded starch are described wherein the expanded starch is extruded as a tube that enters a funnel and is advanced forward by forced air. The tube passes over a blade where the tube is slit and subsequently opened up into a sheet by a second supply of forced air. The sheet then exits the funnel and can be calendered as well as stacked with subsequent lamination.

On-line synchronous registering co-extrusion SPC floor includes a base material layer, a decorative layer, and a wear-resistant layer. The decorative layer is arranged on the base material layer and provides patterns and designs. The wear-resistant layer is arranged on the decorative layer, is a transparent layer or a semi-transparent layer, and is provided with a concave-convex surface. The patterns or designs correspond to the concave-convex surface; the base material layer is composed of an elastic layer, a strength layer, and a stable layer, and shading is pressed on the bottom layer of the stable layer. Two co-extrusion lines are used for simultaneous extrusion to achieve an ABA three-layer effect of an SPC base material layer. A calender matches a synchronous registering system, and the patterns of the decorative layer are formed in a rolling manner.

The buffing dust waste/polystyrene thermal insulator is a polymer composite containing 0.1%-25% by weight buffing dust waste from a leather tannery, the balance being polystyrene. The composite has extremely low thermal conductivity (e.g., 0.0447 W/m-K for a composite 10% budding dust by weight), making it a good insulator, while still having relatively high mechanical properties. The thermal insulator is made by mixing the buffing dust with the polystyrene polymer in a twin-screw extruder and pouring the mixture into a steel mold. The mold is heated and compressed in a hot press machine, e.g., at 500 kg force at 180° C. for 20 minutes, which may be followed by 500 kg force at 125° C. for an additional 20 minutes. The resulting composite polymer is suitable for use as thermal insulation in buildings.

A drainage component having a continuous, extruded mat having an upper face and a lower face. The mat includes a plurality of patterned three-dimensional structures, each structure spaced from all adjacent structures, and the plurality of patterned three-dimensional structures are provided in a plurality of linear rows or columns in a first direction.

A production method for a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composite material, the method using a crosshead die (1) that has a maximum aperture height of 1 mm or more, wherein reinforcing fibers are supplied in a reinforcing fiber bundle to the crosshead die (1), the reinforcing fibers are conjugated with a melted thermoplastic resin, and the conjugate is brought into contact with a pressurization surface that is at or below the solidification temperature of the thermoplastic resin, is pressurized, and is shaped to have a thickness that is 50% or less of the aperture height.

In at least one embodiment, a microporous membrane having a moderate to high water vapor permeability and high liquid water penetration resistance is disclosed. The microporous membrane may be used in building applications, including as or as part of a building wrap, a rain screen, a roofing underlayment, a flashing, a sound proofing material, or an insulation material. The microporous membrane may include at least one thermoplastic polymer, at least one filler, and at least one processing oil. The microporous membrane may be flat or may have ribs. The microporous membrane may include at least one scrim component. A method for forming the microporous membrane is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a multi-layer, preferably co-extruded, plastic film with improved modulus properties, which is suitable, in particular, for producing three-dimensionally shaped articles.

A fastening tape having flexibility in a longitudinal direction of the fastening tape. The fastening tape includes a plurality of fasteners, a support, and magnetic material positioned on the support. The support defines a plurality of plateaus and a plurality of valleys. The magnetic material is positioned on at least a portion of one of the plurality of plateaus or the plurality of valleys of the support such that a height of the magnetic material varies in the longitudinal direction. Because the height of the magnetic material varies, the fastening tape is more flexible in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the fastening tape is also flexible in the lateral direction.

A continuous, wavy and intersecting pattern of filaments is deposited on a surface of a house wrap membrane using a plurality of hot melt nozzles and a controller that controls, positionally and temporally, the relative positions and flow of hot melt of the nozzles and the top surface of the membrane. Water drainage channels may be provided by depressions or viaducts.