A composite film material usable in a data carrier card body includes a first outer plastic layer, an inner plastic layer and a second outer plastic layer, all the layers together forming a co-extruded composite. The plastic material of the first outer layer is a polyethylene terephthalate glycol copolymer (PETG) or contains a PETG, the plastic material of the inner layer is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPC) or containes a TPC, and the plastic material of the second outer layer is a PETG or contains a PETG.

Processes for increasing the chemical resistance of a surface of a formed article are disclosed. The formed article is produced from a polymeric composition comprising a photoactive additive containing photoactive groups derived from a monofunctional benzophenone. The surface of the formed article is then exposed to ultraviolet light to cause crosslinking of the photoactive additive and produce a crosslinked surface. The crosslinking enhances the chemical resistance of the surface. Various means for controlling the depth of the crosslinking are also discussed.

A belt and a method for manufacturing a belt is provided. The belt includes a plurality of lengthwise-extending tension members and a jacket. The jacket substantially retains the plurality of tension members. The jacket has a first side region, a second side region, and a center region between the first and second side regions. The first and second side regions of the jacket are more fire retardant than the center region of the jacket.

The present invention relates to a mold for a multi-layer container. The mold includes a cold-half portion containing a cavity, and a hot-half portion containing a first resin flow path for connecting an interior of a first injection cylinder to the cavity, a second resin flow path for connecting an interior of a second injection cylinder to the cavity, and a junction portion of the first resin flow path and the second resin flow path. The junction portion in the hot-half portion is positioned upstream of a gate portion opened to the cavity included in the cold-half portion, the second resin flow path contains an inhibitor for partially inhibiting a resin flow.

A rigid polymer porous material sheet is produced by feeding a slurry of polymer mixture comprising ultrafine polyvinylchloride particle, non-phthalate plasticizer, foaming agent and thermal stabilizer, polymer chips, fillers and fire retardant chemicals into a heated mold and pressing the mixture with high applied pressure. The temperature of the mold is below 190 C. to soften the polymer mixture and decompose the foaming agent forming the closed cell polyvinylchloride foam with 10 to 40% density with closed air cells. The thermal resistance of the rigid polymer porous sheet and sound attenuation properties are significantly improved. The rigid polymer porous sheet can be bent at sharp angles without crack formation facilitating its use as wall boards. The sheets produced may be embossed or molded to produce decoration boards, advertising boards, cabinet doors and furniture with decorative features. They can also be used in aeronautical applications as acoustic thermal insulation systems.

A method for producing an extruded polystyrene foam in which when a foamable melted product, obtained by heat-melting a styrene resin composition and adding a foaming agent thereto in an extruder provided with a die slit section having an opening a (mm) in the thickness direction, is extrusion-foamed through the die slit section into a low pressure zone to form a plate-shaped foam, thereby obtaining an extruded polystyrene foam having a density of 20 kg/m.sup.3 or more and 45 kg/m.sup.3 or less, a closed cell ratio of 90% or more, and a thickness A (mm) of 10 mm or more and 150 mm or less, a foaming agent containing hydrofluoroolefin and other organic foaming agent is used, a thickness extension ratio A/a of an opening a in the thickness direction of the die slit section and a thickness A of the extruded polystyrene foam is adjusted to 18 or less, and a foamable melted product, just before the extrusion from the die slit section, is pressurized to 4.5 MPa or more and 10.0 MPa or less.

A composite film material usable in a data carrier card body includes a first outer plastic layer, an inner plastic layer and a second outer plastic layer, all the layers together forming a coextruded composite. The plastic material of the first outer layer is a polyethylene terephthalate glycol copolymer (PETG) or contains a PETG, the plastic material of the inner layer is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPC) or contains a TPC, and the plastic material of the second outer layer is a PETG or contains a PETG.

The present invention provides a flame retardant composition including a flame retardant that is extracted from a plant and can exhibit high flame retardancy. The flame retardant composition includes a flame retardant compound represented by Formula (1) and polybutylene terephthalate. The content of the flame retardant compound is 12% by weight or more and 15% by weight or less based on the total weight of the flame retardant compound and the polybutylene terephthalate.

##STR00001##

In Formula (1), R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 represent substituents.

A belt and a method for manufacturing a belt is provided. The belt includes a plurality of lengthwise-extending tension members and a jacket. The jacket substantially retains the plurality of tension members. The jacket has a first side region, a second side region, and a center region between the first and second side regions. The first and second side regions of the jacket are more fire retardant than the center region of the jacket.

A method of foaming and shaping a thermoplastic sheet comprising a poly(phenylene ether), a polyetherimide, or a combination thereof includes foaming the thermoplastic sheet with supercritical carbon dioxide to form a foamed thermoplastic sheet, and shaping the foamed thermoplastic sheet to form a shaped foamed thermoplastic sheet. The shaping step includes compressing the foamed thermoplastic sheet between a first metal plate and a secondi metal plate, each of which has a grooved surface facing the thermoplastic sheet. The first metal plate and the second metal plate are connected by a flexible, compressible linkage capable. When the flexible, compressible linkage is in its uncompressed state, only the second (lower) metal plate is in contact with the shaped foamed thermoplastic sheet. When the flexible, compressible linkage is in its compressed state, both the first (upper) and second (lower) metal plates are in contact with the shaped foamed thermoplastic sheet.