A metal and X-Ray detectable polyurethane film having metallic particles blended into the polyurethane when in a liquid form and then having the film extruded so as to fully embed the metallic particles, such as iron oxide, across all areas of the film, which can be used in protective clothing, such as reusable aprons and sleeve covers, for example, in food processing applications. In this manner, the film permits easy detection, and thus removal of, damaged film portions that become detached from the protective garment and inadvertently introduced into the food being processed, before the final processing and packaging thereof.

A metal and X-Ray detectable polyurethane film having metallic particles blended into the polyurethane when in a liquid form and then having the film extruded so as to fully embed the metallic particles, such as iron oxide, across all areas of the film, which can be used in protective clothing, such as reusable aprons and sleeve covers, for example, in food processing applications. In this manner, the film permits easy detection, and thus removal of, damaged film portions that become detached from the protective garment and inadvertently introduced into the food being processed, before the final processing and packaging thereof.

Disclosed herein is a system comprising a first pump; a pelletization system that comprises an underwater pelletizer; where the pelletization system is located downstream of the first pump and is in fluid communication with it; a direct line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the direct line does not contain a pump or a heat exchanger; and a bypass line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the bypass line comprises a second pump; where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the direct line when the polymer has a melt viscosity greater than 10.sup.5 centipoise; and where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the bypass line when the polymer has a melt viscosity less than 10.sup.5 centipoise.

Disclosed herein is a system comprising a first pump; a pelletization system that comprises an underwater pelletizer; where the pelletization system is located downstream of the first pump and is in fluid communication with it; a direct line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the direct line does not contain a pump or a heat exchanger; and a bypass line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the bypass line comprises a second pump; where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the direct line when the polymer has a melt viscosity greater than 10.sup.5 centipoise; and where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the bypass line when the polymer has a melt viscosity less than 10.sup.5 centipoise.

A wire drawing process of a light storage wire includes a feeding step, a mixing step, a first drying step, a hot melt extrusion step, a first cooling step, a shaping/organizing wire step, a hot-temperature remodeling step, a stretching step, a second cooling step, a strand winding/rolling step, and a second drying step.

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating and utilizing segmented hollow fibers. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a hollow fiber. The method includes disposing injection needles at orifices of a die, loading the die with a pool of molten material, driving the molten material through the orifices of the die, and iteratively injecting a gas into the molten material at the orifices via the injection needles and pausing injecting the gas as the molten material is driven through the orifices of the die, resulting in discrete hollow chambers within molten material exiting the die. The method also includes cooling the molten material into a hollow fiber that includes the discrete hollow chambers.

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating and utilizing segmented hollow fibers. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a hollow fiber. The method includes disposing injection needles at orifices of a die, loading the die with a pool of molten material, driving the molten material through the orifices of the die, and iteratively injecting a gas into the molten material at the orifices via the injection needles and pausing injecting the gas as the molten material is driven through the orifices of the die, resulting in discrete hollow chambers within molten material exiting the die. The method also includes cooling the molten material into a hollow fiber that includes the discrete hollow chambers.

A method of forming a device having a compliant member includes applying heat to a thermoplastic elastomer to maintain the thermoplastic elastomer in a softened state. The thermoplastic elastomer is extruded in the softened state as a film of thermoplastic elastomer. One or more of a bobbin and a housing, each having and end, is positioned such that the end extends at least partially into the film of thermoplastic elastomer. The positioning occurs when the thermoplastic elastomer is in the softened state and/or the bobbin and/or housing is at a temperature that is greater than a temperature of the film of thermoplastic elastomer. The film is cooled so that the bobbin and/or housing are secured to the film and so that the thermoplastic elastomer is in a state that exhibits rubber-like properties.

A method of forming a device having a compliant member includes applying heat to a thermoplastic elastomer to maintain the thermoplastic elastomer in a softened state. The thermoplastic elastomer is extruded in the softened state as a film of thermoplastic elastomer. One or more of a bobbin and a housing, each having and end, is positioned such that the end extends at least partially into the film of thermoplastic elastomer. The positioning occurs when the thermoplastic elastomer is in the softened state and/or the bobbin and/or housing is at a temperature that is greater than a temperature of the film of thermoplastic elastomer. The film is cooled so that the bobbin and/or housing are secured to the film and so that the thermoplastic elastomer is in a state that exhibits rubber-like properties.

A system and method for reducing draw resonance of a plastic material in molten state, so-called melt, leaving an extrusion group of a plant for the production of plastic film, includes at least one thermostatically-controlled cylinder, having an embracement angle of the melt on the cylinder that is adjustable on the basis of the process rate, i.e., the linear movement speed of the plastic film, and/or on the basis of the temperature measured in the proximity of or in correspondence with the clamping area of the melt in a thermoforming, calibration and cooling group included in the plant and positioned downstream of the system.