This disclosure relates to a continuous solution polymerization process where ethylene interpolymer products having an improved color index; for example, products having higher whiteness (Whiteness Index (WI)) and lower yellowness (Yellowness Index (YI)). Product color was improved by adjusting selected solution polymerization reaction conditions. The disclosed ethylene interpolymer products have improved color relative to comparative polyethylene compositions.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite articles that have a macro textured surface. The composite articles include at least two different PTFE membranes in a layered or stacked configuration. The composite article has a macro textured surface characterized by a plurality of strands raised from the surface of the PTFE membrane. The strands may be formed of either interconnected nodes of PTFE or of at least one nodal mass of PTFE and have a length equal to or greater than about 1.5 mm. The macro textured surface provides a topography to the first PTFE membrane. The composite articles have a bubble point from about 3.0 psi to about 200 psi, a thickness from about 0.01 to about 3.0 mm, and a bulk density from about 0.01 g/cm.sup.3 to about 1.0 g/cm.sup.3.

A process for the production of expanded material based on sulfone polymers includes an extrusion step in an extruder of virgin sulfone polymer with the injection of at least one expanding agent and in the presence of at least one nucleating agent, and a recycling step of part of the expanded material, which provides a recycled product used as raw material fed to the extruder in combination with the virgin sulfone polymer.

A thermoplastic composite sheet may be composed of a polymer material matrix and a lightweight material that is disposed throughout the polymer material matrix. The polymer material matrix may extend continuously throughout a length, width, and thickness of the thermoplastic composite sheet. The polymer material matrix may be a fully polymerized thermoplastic material. The lightweight material may be fully saturated by the thermoplastic material of the polymer material matrix. The thermoplastic composite sheet may include between 50 and 99 weight percent of the thermoplastic material and between 1 and 50 weight percent of the lightweight material. The thermoplastic composite sheet may be free of reinforcing fibers.

A method for producing low density polyester foam utilizing low I.V. polyester feedstock includes providing a low intrinsic viscosity raw material. The low intrinsic viscosity raw material includes between 25% to 100% of a post consumer polyester and has an intrinsic viscosity of less than 0.8 dl/g. The intrinsic viscosity of the low intrinsic viscosity raw material is increased via a de-condensation reaction configured to support foaming. The intrinsic viscosity of the low intrinsic viscosity raw material is increased to 1.1 dl/g or greater. A starting formulation is created including the low intrinsic viscosity raw material with the increased intrinsic viscosity. The starting formulation is foamed to create the polyester foam. Wherein, the polyester foam produced has a specific gravity of less than 0.65 g/cc.

Provided are a film having an excellent balance between heat seal strength and opening strength, a method of producing the film, and a bag obtained by heat-sealing the film. According to the present invention, there is provided a film containing a resin, wherein a resin density of the film is 860 kg/m.sup.3 or more and less than 900 kg/m.sup.3, and on at least one surface of the film, an arithmetic mean height Sa satisfies the following Expression [1]:

0.10 μm≤Sa≤0.50 μm  [1], and a minimum autocorrelation length Sal satisfies the following Expression [2]:

0.2 μm≤Sal≤10.4 μm  [2].

A method of forming a low-density three-dimensional article is provided. The method includes printing a low-density composition on a substrate to form at least one layer comprising the low-density composition. The low-density composition includes a (P) polymer component and (M) a microsphere component in a ratio by volume (P):(M). The method also includes selectively controlling a density of the low-density composition during printing to give the at least one layer on the substrate. Selectively controlling the density of the low-density composition includes varying the ratio (P):(M) during printing. The method further includes repeating the printing and selectively controlling the density of the low-density composition to form additional layer(s), thereby forming the low-density three-dimensional article. A low-density three-dimensional article prepared in accordance with the method is also provided.

Molded-in-color thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) compositions useful for making automotive components, such as injection molded parts, as well as other articles of manufacture are described. The molded-in-color composition has a ΔE* value≤2.0 (compared to a painted color master), a gloss measured at 60° from about 76 to about 90 GU, a density ranging from about 0.9 to about 0.97 g/cm.sup.3, a melt mass flow rate from about 15 to about 40 g/10 min (ASTM D 1238, 230° C./2.16 kg), a flexural modulus between about 600 to about 2000 MPa, and an as-molded shrinkage between about 0.6% and about 1.4%. The compositions can be used to prepare molded-in-color components that can undergo additional clear coating steps as required by the automotive application. The clear coated molded-in-color components have a gloss measured at 20° from about 85 to about 95 GU and a gloss retention after mar between about 85% and about 93%.

A system and method for controlling an additive manufacturing system to form a multi-material component. Operating parameter values may be determined for the additive manufacturing system based on a first material and a second material used to form the multi-material component to ensure a requisite level of bonding between particles of a gradient between the first and second materials. Data or models for the first and second materials, along with observed data from a plurality of sample multi-material components formed from the first and second materials may be utilized to determine the operating parameter values. In some cases, the operating parameter values may be tuned to form a multi-material component having predetermined values for parameter objectives along the gradient of the multi-material component. The additive manufacturing system may be a selective laser melting system.

The present invention is related to a foam fabric and method of making it.