A polymer composition for producing gel extruded articles is described. The polymer composition contains polyethylene particles combined with a plasticizer. The polyethylene polymer has a narrow molecular weight distribution. Polymer articles made in accordance with the present disclosure have enhanced strength properties. In one embodiment, the polymer composition is used to form a porous membrane for use as a separator in electronic devices.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer matrix comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are immiscible with each other, and a plurality of piezoelectric particles located in at least a portion of the polymer matrix. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer matrix. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

A multilayer sheet comprising first, second, and third layers is provided. The first layer consists of a co-polyester having an elongation at break of greater than 70%. The second layer consists of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having an elongation at break of greater than 200% and a hardness of about 60 A to about 85 D. The first layer has a hardness greater than the hardness of the second layer. A mold is provided and the multilayer sheet is thermoformed over the mold to form a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities configured to receive and position a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. Excess material is trimmed from the thermoformed multilayer sheet to form the multilayer dental aligner.

A food contact safe, germ repellent plastic selected from modified thermoplastic, vulcanized silicone rubber or modified base plastic. The plastic includes an anti-biofouling agent at approximately 1 to 20 wt. % to the total weight of the plastic; and one or more components of fillers, carrier agent, mold releasing agent, curing agent, and/or oil, at approximately 0.1 to 2 wt. % for each or more of the components to the total weight of the plastic, where the anti-biofouling agent forming a hydration layer on the plastic imparts germ repellency against bacteria including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus while optical and mechanical properties including transmittance, tensile strength, impact strength, hardness, and/or heat deflection temperature of the plastic is/are changed by less than 10% after being associated with the anti-biofouling agent and the one or more of the components other than the anti-biofouling agent.

An in-situ hydrophobically modified aramid nano aerogel fiber as well as a preparation method and uses thereof are provided. The preparation method includes: providing an aramid nano spinning solution; preparing a hydrophobically modified aramid nano aerogel fiber by using a spinning technology, wherein the coagulating bath adopted by the spinning technology includes a first organic solvent and a halogenated reagent including a monochloroalkane, a monochloroalkane, a dibromoalkane, a dichloroalkane and a trichloroalkane; and then drying to obtain the in-situ hydrophobically modified aramid nano aerogel fiber. The in-situ hydrophobically modified aramid nano aerogel fiber has a unique three-dimensional porous network structure, low heat conductivity, high porosity, high tensile strength and elongation at break, a certain spinnability and structure stability, and can be applied to the field of textiles. A fabric knitted with the hydrophobic fibers has a self-cleaning ability.

Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer material comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, and a plurality of piezoelectric covalently bonded to the at least one thermoplastic polymer and dispersed in at least a portion of the polymer material. The compositions are extrudable and may be pre-formed into a form factor suitable for extrusion. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles non-covalently interacting with at least a portion of a polymer material via π-π bonding, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions stronger than van der Waals interactions, or any combination thereof. The piezoelectric particles may be dispersed in the polymer material and remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The polymer material may comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer, optionally further including a polymer precursor. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.

Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.