The invention relates to an extrusion apparatus for the continuous production of solid food supplements, feed additives or pharmaceutical preparations, which comprise nutritional or pharmaceutical actives homogeneously dispersed in a carrier material matrix. The invention also relates to a method for the production of such preparations by extrusion.

Condoms, condom formers, and methods for forming condoms are disclosed. A condom includes an open end, a closed end, a tubular sheath extending from the open end to the closed end, a tip portion adapted to cover a glans of a penis, disposed adjacent to the closed end, and a plurality of raised features disposed on the tubular sheath, having a top surface area and a base surface area, wherein the total raised top surface area is greater than the total base surface area of the condom.

Provides is a waterproof sound-permeable membrane (10) adapted to permit passage of sound and prevent entry of water. The waterproof sound-permeable membrane (10) includes a sound-permeation region (11) having a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane (20). The polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (20) has an average pore diameter of 0.02 m or more and 0.1 m or less as measured according to ASTM F316-86 and has a porosity of 5% or more and 25% or less. The waterproof sound-permeable membrane (10) is suitable for application to an electronic device containing an acoustic device.

A carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer latex includes a carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer including: 65.5 wt % to 82.5 wt % of a conjugated diene-based monomer-derived unit, 15 wt % to 30 wt % of an ethylenic unsaturated nitrile-based monomer-derived unit, and 2.5 wt % to 4.5 wt % of an ethylenic unsaturated acid monomer-derived unit, wherein the carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer latex satisfies General Formula 1:
1.0 mm.sup.2/sCV.sub.03.0 mm.sup.2/s[General Formula 1] wherein CV.sub.0 represents a capillary viscosity of the carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer latex which is measured in a swollen state in a methyl ethyl ketone solvent.

An apparatus and a method are provided for a latex-based packaging material configured to provide a dust-free alternative to vermiculite packaging materials. The latex-based packaging material comprises a portion of a latex-based waste formulated into a recycled latex emulsion, and a portion of particulate material into which the recycled latex emulsion is mixed so as to form a latex-based pulp. In some embodiments, additional components, such as any of various plasticizers, coloring agents, or hardeners, may be included in the latex-base pulp. The latex-based pulp is dispensed and dried so as to form the latex-based packaging material in a variety of desired shapes. Drying may be accomplished by way of unaided atmospheric evaporation, or by way of various conventional drying methods. In some embodiments, the desired shape of the packaging material comprises latex-based packaging peanuts suitable for separating and cushioning forces between containers during transportation in a larger container.

A water-based hydrogel polymer coating and a method of application to natural rubber or other elastomeric latex products are provided. The water-based hydrogel polymer is mixed with a blend of at least one elastomeric material to provide a hydrogel polymer blend composition. The water-based hydrogel polymer blend composition is applied in a single application to an elastomeric article, such as gloves, without additional solvents in the polymer blend composition and without a separate acid or chemical priming step. The water-based hydrogel coating herein provides increased lubricity to facilitate improved wet and dry donning of the elastomeric article.

A method for producing multi-layered elastomeric film or article, the method comprising: (i) dipping a mould into a composition for producing an elastomeric film having a total solids content of between 5%-40% to produce a layer of elastomeric film composition on the mould, (ii) partially drying the layer of elastomeric film composition on the mould to reduce the total water content of the elastomeric film composition to a level of not less than 22%, (iii) dipping the mould coated with the partially dried layer of elastomeric film composition into a composition for producing an elastomeric film having a total solids content of between 5%-40% to produce a further layer of elastomeric film composition on the mould, (iv) optionally repeating the partial drying step (ii) and the further dipping step (iii), and (v) drying and curing the layers of elastomeric film composition on the mould.

A method for producing multi-layered elastomeric film or article, the method comprising: (i) dipping a mould into a composition for producing an elastomeric film having a total solids content of between 5%-40% to produce a layer of elastomeric film composition on the mould, (ii) partially drying the layer of elastomeric film composition on the mould to reduce the total water content of the elastomeric film composition to a level of not less than 22%, (iii) dipping the mould coated with the partially dried layer of elastomeric film composition into a composition for producing an elastomeric film having a total solids content of between 5%-40% to produce a further layer of elastomeric film composition on the mould, (iv) optionally repeating the partial drying step (ii) and the further dipping step (iii), and (v) drying and curing the layers of elastomeric film composition on the mould.

The use of magnetic fields in the production of porous articles is generally described. Certain embodiments are related to methods of producing porous articles in which magnetic fields are applied to an emulsion to align emulsion droplets. In some embodiments, after the emulsion droplets have been aligned, the emulsion droplets and/or the medium surrounding the emulsion droplets can be removed to leave behind a porous article. According to certain embodiments, polyvinyl alcohol can be used, for example, to stabilize the emulsion droplets and/or bind together components of the porous article. In some embodiments, water-soluble liquid alcohol can be used, for example, to stabilize the suspension of electronically conductive material within a phase of the emulsion.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of discrete solid extruded particles comprising emulsion droplets, to such particles as well as to the use of such particles in food, feed, pharmaceutical and personal care applications.