Multiple layer interlayers having enhanced optical and acoustic properties are provided, along with methods of making and using the same. Interlayers as described herein may include at least two outer skin layers and an inner core layer, with one of the outer skin layers having a different thickness than the other at one or more locations along the interlayer. The multi-layer interlayer may also exhibit acoustic properties and, in some cases, may have an overall wedged thickness profile. Additionally, in some aspects, interlayers and laminates formed therefrom may also provide reduced infrared energy transmission, without sacrificing acoustic and/or optical performance.

A biomass-derived thermosetting polymer material being a product of processing a biomass feed material via a twin screw extruder having a length extending between an inlet and an outlet. Hot water from a water heater is injected into at least one inlet along the length of the twin screw extruder, the at least one inlet generally corresponding with a pressure boundary within the twin screw extruder. A pressure-sustaining valve is connected between the length of the twin screw extruder and the outlet, with the valve being adjusted to produce the biomass-derived thermosetting polymer material.

For the production of polymers in which there are fillers with particle sizes below 10 m incorporated and homogeneously distributed, a polymer starting material is input into a twin-screw extruder and is melted there to give a melt. In a conveying and mixing section, a suspension, which is formed of the fillers and of a carrier liquid, is injected into the melt. The melt viscosity is reduced by injection of the carrier liquid in the conveying and mixing section in that a cleavable polycondensate is used as polymer and low-molecular-weight cleavage product arising during the polycondensation is used as carrier liquid, and therefore the molten polymer is at least to some extent depolymerized within the conveying and mixing section. That the mixture, which is formed of the melt whose viscosity is reduced by cleavage, of the remainder of the carrier liquid and of the fillers, is homogenized.

A system comprising: (1) a grinding unit configured to receive and grind recycled PET bottles into a group of polymer flakes comprising up to about ten percent colored polymer flakes and balance substantially clear polymer flakes; (2) a washing unit configured to wash the group of polymer flakes; and (3) an extruder configured to extrude material in a plurality of different extrusion streams. The extruder may be further configured to: (1) receive a concentrate-polymer mixture comprising a mixture of the polymer flakes and a color concentrate; (2) melt the concentrate-polymer mixture to produce a polymer melt; (3) reduce a pressure within the extruder; and (4) pass the polymer melt through the extruder so that the polymer melt is divided into the plurality of extrusion streams. The system may then filter the polymer melt through at least one filter and form the polymer melt into bulked continuous carpet filament.

The present application discloses a continuous dynamic and efficient devolatilization method for a polymer/volatile system based on high mass transfer interfaces, including the following steps: providing a dynamic single-screw devolatilizer, feeding a polymer solution to the devolatilizer, wherein the polymer solution includes polymer and volatile substances with small molecule weight, and the volatile substances include organic solvents, residual monomers, water or reaction by-products; conveying and compressing polymer materials by the screw downstream a devolatilization section, and extruding the polymer materials out of the dynamic single-screw devolatilizer directly; or providing a side-feeding extruder downstream of the devolatilization section and feeding plastic additives into a devolatilized polymer melt, and then melt blending the plastic additives with the devolatilized polymer melt at an end of the dynamic single-screw devolatilizer before exiting the dynamic single-screw devolatilizer.