A vehicle interior panel includes a decorative skin layer and a backing layer. The backing layer can include a barrier material that helps prevent outgassing of a plasticizer of the decorative skin layer in a direction toward an underlying substrate of the panel. The backing layer can be formed by vacuum coating and/or formed while a slush molded layer remains on a slush molding tool surface on which it was formed. in some cases, a slush molding tool thus finds new uses in a vacuum coating process or in some other process apart from slush molding.

Methods and apparatuses for bonding polymeric parts are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, the polymeric parts are bonded by plastically deforming them against each other while they are below the glass transition temperatures.

Glue compositions and methods for their manufacture are provided. A glue composition contains a metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin wax present in an amount of at least 25 percent, by weight, and a tackifier present in an amount of at least 20 percent, by weight. The glue composition is solid at room temperature and is configured to provide an adhesive layer onto a substrate upon abrasion thereagainst.

The present disclosure relates to an oral, immediate release, abuse deterrent pill containing at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient susceptible to abuse which is homogenously spread throughout a carrier matrix used to deter abuse. The pill is prepared using hot melt extrusion and a forming unit through a continuous process. The formed pill is abuse deterrent to parenteral administration due at least to particle size, viscosity, or purity limitations.

The present invention describes compostable or biobased foams that are useful for fabricating foamed articles and methods for producing the same. The foams are produced using a compound comprising a compostable or biobased polyester and a blowing agent. Additives including plasticizers and chain extenders are optionally included in the compostable or biobased composition. These foams can be produced using conventional melt processing techniques, such as single and twin-screw extrusion processes. In one embodiment, foamed strand profiles are cooled and cut using conventional strand pelletizing equipment. In another embodiment, foamed beads are produced by cutting the foamed strand at the face of the extrusion die and the foamed bead or strand is subsequently cooled. The resulting compostable or biobased foamed bead has a density less than 0.15 g/cm.sup.3 and the foam is compostable, as determined by ASTM D6400.

The invention relates to the production of PSA in a planetary gear extruder. During filling and after passing a passage on a dispersing ring using a lateral arm extruder, the products are degassed.

Molded articles are disclosed herein, the molded article comprising a polysaccharide, wherein the polysaccharide comprises i) poly alpha-1,3-glucan; ii) poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan; iii) a graft copolymer that comprises (A) a backbone comprising dextran with a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of at least about 100000 Daltons, and (B) poly alpha-1,3-glucan side chains comprising at least about 95% alpha-1,3-glucosidic linkages; or iv) a composition comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ester compound as disclosed herein. Optionally, the molded articles can further comprise a plasticizer and/or starch. The molded articles can be useful as a container, a handle, packaging, a tray, a bottle, a cup, a sheet, a disposable food packaging item, an automotive part, a casing for an electronic device, or a toy.

A flushable tampon applicator product includes an outer tube for housing a tampon; an inner tube, at least a portion of which extends into the outer tube, wherein the outer tube includes an outer, body-contacting surface, wherein the inner tube is moveable relative to the outer tube and configured to expel a tampon from the outer tube, and wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube comprises a thermoplastic composition including partially-hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyethylene glycol (PEG), a plasticizer, and a hydrophobic polymeric component, wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube is a molded part; and a wrapper material configured for storage under high and low moisture storage conditions, the wrapper material having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 0.05 g/100 in2/day.

The present invention provides a hydrophobic thermoplastic starch and method for manufacturing the same, to be used as granules for making biodegradable composites. The hydrophobic thermoplastic Starch of the invention is in a granule type, has the melt flow index in the range of 0.26 g/10 min at 160 C. and has 6080 wt % of starch and the water content less than 9%.

A polyvinyl halide compound, alone or alloyed with thermoplastic polyurethane, is used as a flexible layer for over-molding a rigid polymer substrate. Selection of types and amounts of calcium carbonate for the overmolding layer improves peel strength to achieve cohesive failure of the flexible overmolding layer rather than adhesive failure of the interface between the flexible overmolding layer and the rigid polymer substrate.