Thin PTFE layers are described having little or no node and fibril microstructure and methods of manufacturing PTFE layers are disclosed that allow for controllable permeability and porosity of the layers. In some embodiments, the PTFE layers may act as a barrier layer in an endovascular graft or other medical device.

It is provided that a method for producing a biaxially oriented polyester film that can be used for industrial and packaging applications. A method for producing a biaxially oriented polyester film, comprising: a step of feeding a polyester resin into an extruder, a step of extruding the molten polyester resin from an extruder to obtain a molten resin sheet at 250 to 310° C., a step of attaching the molten resin sheet closely to a cooling roll by an electrostatic application method to obtain an unstretched sheet, and a step of biaxially stretching the unstretched sheet, wherein the polyester resin fulfills the following (A) to (C): (A) the polyester resin comprises a polyethylene furandicarboxylate resin composed of a furandicarboxylic acid and ethylene glycol; (B) an intrinsic viscosity of the polyester resin is 0.50 dL/g or more; (C) a melt specific resistance value at 250° C. of the polyester resin is 3.0×10.sup.7 Ω.Math.cm or less.

A method for the active adjustment of the profile of a film produced with blown extrusion technology, a film obtained with such method and a reel resulting from the winding of the film.

Provided is a microporous film which has a surface A and a surface B opposite to the surface A. In one embodiment, the microporous film has a ratio (F.sub.B/F.sub.A) of a dynamic friction coefficient F.sub.B of the surface B to a dynamic friction coefficient F.sub.A of the surface A of 1.2 to 20. In another embodiment, the microporous film is a single layer having a thickness of 3-18 μm, a number N.sub.A of pores on the surface A is 10-100/μm.sup.2, a number N.sub.B of pores on the surface B is 20-200/μm.sup.2, and N.sub.A/N.sub.B is 0.2-0.96. In addition, a total area S.sub.A of pores on the surface A is 0.02-0.5 μm.sup.2/μm.sup.2, a total area S.sub.B of pores on the surface B is 0.01-0.3 μm.sup.2/μm.sup.2, and S.sub.A/S.sub.B is 1.1-10. Furthermore, in another embodiment, a number W.sub.B of protrusion-like bodies on the surface B is 0.2-1000/100 μm.sup.2.

A method of manufacturing a film (F1) including cavities and formed from a polymer in which a cavitating agent is dispersed, said method including a step of extruding the polymer through an extrusion die equipped with adjustment actuators for adjusting thickness of the extruded film, and a step of stretching (Str1) the film, as well as establishing a mapping function of the film on the basis of mass-per-unit-area profiles of the film before and after the stretching step, establishing a stretch profile of the film as stretched on the basis of said mapping function and of said transverse mass-per-unit-area profiles, and establishing a characteristic transverse profile that is characteristic of the film on the basis of said stretch profile and of a transverse profile of the concentration by mass of cavitating agent in the film as stretched that makes it possible to take into account the distribution of the cavities in the film; in which method said adjustment actuators are controlled as a function of said characteristic transverse profile.

The invention concerns a film based on a binary polymer composition having at least a first polymer and a second polymer. The film is oriented by extruding and stretching the film in at least the machine direction. The glass-transition temperature (Tg) of the first polymer is greater than the orientation temperature and the glass-transition temperature (Tg) of the second polymer is lower than the orientation temperature. Furthermore, a method and use related thereto are described.

A system for controlling the temperature of a film before and/or during application, the system including: a heat source for heating a film; and stretch rollers; wherein the heat source heats the film from an ambient temperature to a temperature from about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the ambient temperature, wherein the film is heated prior to or simultaneous to being stretched by the stretch rollers, and wherein the ambient temperature is below 15° C. The preheating system may be used to enhance binding and sealing properties of stretch films used for wrapping palletized products in a reduced temperature environment. Other embodiments of the preheating film system, and methods for its use, are described herein.

A new dielectric material for a communication cable has a dielectric base with strength members embedded therein. By a new process, vacuum voids are formed in the dielectric base and at least partially contain or abut the strength members. The material is particularly well suited for a first dielectric tape, where the cable includes a first insulated conductor, the first dielectric tape and a second insulated conductor, with the first insulated conductor being twisted with the second insulated conductor with the first dielectric tape residing between the first insulated conductor and the second insulated conductor. The material is also suitable for a separator of the cable serving to separate twisted pairs from each other within the cable, as well as other components of the cable, such as an insulation layer of one or more of the insulated conductors of the twisted pairs.

Disclosed herein are ethylene-based polymers having low densities and narrow molecular weight distributions, but high melt strengths for blown film processing. Such polymers can be produced by peroxide-treating a metallocene-catalyzed resin.

An advanced siding panel that combines a traditional siding appearance with improved insulation, structural integrity, and improved thermal characteristics.