Provided is a rubber composition for producing a rubber molded article that is improved in fouling resistance while being reduced in tackiness and frictional force despite the presence of the rubber in its surface. The rubber composition includes: a rubber A; and a plastic B, in which: the rubber A includes a non-fluorine-based rubber material; a difference in elastic modulus between the rubber A and the plastic B is 50 MPa or more; a sea-island structure having a sea portion containing the rubber A and a plurality of island portions each containing the plastic B is formed; the plastic B is contained at a content of more than 0 vol % and 50 vol % or less with respect to a total amount of the rubber A and the plastic B; and 90% or more of the plurality of island portions each have a volume of 4,000 m.sup.3 or less.

Method for treatment of pellets (1) comprising a thermoplastic polymer sheath (2) surrounding glass filaments (3), which glass filaments are covered at least in part with an impregnating agent and extend in a longitudinal direction of the pellets, the method comprising maintaining the pellets for a period of time at an elevated temperature. The method results in an improved impregnation of glass filaments in the pellets resulting in (a) lower amounts of glass separating from the pellets when such are subjected to repetitive mechanical loads and (b) less agglomerations of glass filaments in moulded products manufactured from the pellets.

The present invention relates to a process for continuous production of partly crystalline polycondensate pellet material, comprising the steps of forming a polycondensate melt into pellet material; separating the liquid cooling medium from the pellet material in a first treatment space, wherein the pellets after exit from the first treatment space exhibit a temperature T.sub.GR, and crystallizing the pellet material in a second treatment space, wherein in the second treatment space fluidized bed conditions exist, and in the second treatment space the pellets are heated by supply of energy from the exterior by means of a process gas.

A polymer composition suitable for manufacturing of isotropic three-dimensional printed articles, the composition including: a matrix phase including a propylene-based polymer or copolymer; and a dispersed phase in the matrix phase, the dispersed phase including an ethylene-based copolymer having a C3-C12 comonomer, wherein the dispersed phase has a different composition than the matrix phase, wherein the matrix phase has a crystallization half-time of less than 60 minutes.

Poly(ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) polymers having an average molecular weight of at least 300,000 g/mol and a melt enthalpy of at least 57 J/g are provided. The ETFE polymer may include at least one additional comonomer. The ETFE polymer is used to form a porous tape or membrane that has a node and fibril structure. A porous ETFE tape may be formed by lubricating the ETFE polymer and subjecting the lubricated polymer to pressure at a temperature below the melting point of the ETFE polymer. Optionally, the ETFE tape may be expanded at a temperature below the melting temperature of the ETFE polymer to form an expanded ETFE membrane. Alternatively, the ETFE polymer may subjected to heat and pressure without the addition of a lubricant to form a dense preform. The dense preform may be subsequently slit in a length direction and stretched to form a dense ETFE fiber.

This invention involves a new and better solution to the problems associated with the premature softening of PLA filaments in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles. It is based upon the finding that poly(lactic acid) filaments with high crystallinity offer much better resistance to heat-induced softening. The crystalline poly(lactic acid) filament of this invention can accordingly be used in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without encountering the problems associated with premature softening, such as poor quality and printer jamming. The crystalline poly(lactic acid) filaments of this invention can also be used in additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without compromising the quality of the ultimate product, reducing printing speed, increasing cost, or leading to increased printer complexity. This invention more specifically discloses a filament for use in three-dimensional printing which is comprised of crystallized poly(lactic acid), wherein said filament has a diameter which is within the range of 1.65 mm to 1.85 mm.

A resin powder for solid freeform fabrication includes resin particles having a significantly pillar-like form including resin particles having a concave portion on the circumferential side surface.

The present invention relates to a process for continuous production of partly crystalline polycondensate pellet material, comprising the steps of forming a polycondensate melt into pellet material; separating the liquid cooling medium from the pellet material in a first treatment space, wherein the pellets after exit from the first treatment space exhibit a temperature T.sub.GR, and crystallizing the pellet material in a second treatment space, wherein in the second treatment space fluidized bed conditions exist, and in the second treatment space the pellets are heated by supply of energy from the exterior by means of a process gas.

A method for preparing an aliphatic polyester resin powder includes the steps of a) heat dissolving a crystalline aliphatic polyester resin in an organic solvent to obtain an aliphatic polyester resin solution; b) cooling the aliphatic polyester resin solution to precipitate a solid, thereby obtaining a solid-liquid mixture; c) optionally adding an adjuvant to the solid-liquid mixture and mixing; and d) conducting solid-liquid separation and drying to obtain an aliphatic polyester resin powder suitable for selective laser sintering. The crystalline aliphatic polyester resin powder obtained has good antioxidant property, good powder flowability, moderate size, smooth surface, suitable bulk density, and suitable dispersibility and particle size distribution. The aliphatic polyester resin powder is particularly suitable for selective laser sintering method.

A composite fusion filament is disclosed that includes a polymer encasement and one or more mesogenic reinforcement bodies contained within the polymer encasement. The polymer encasement is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer, which has a melting temperature, and each of the one or more mesogenic reinforcement bodies is comprised of a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, which has a clearing temperature. The melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer included in the polymer encasement is less than the clearing temperature of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer included in the one or more mesogenic reinforcement bodies. Additionally, the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer of each mesogenic reinforcement body has a plurality of organized crystalline fibrils that are aligned lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the polymer encasement. A method of using the composite fusion filament to form a bond with a substrate that includes a thermoplastic polymer is also disclosed.