A masterbatch composition including glass bubbles and a toughening agent in a blend of syndiotactic 1,2-poly-butadiene and cis-1,4-polybutadiene is disclosed. The glass bubbles are present in an amount of at least 25 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the masterbatch composition. A method of making a rubber composition from the masterbatch composition is disclosed as well as a rubber composition and vulcanized rubber made from the masterbatch composition. A rubber composition that includes syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, cis-1,4-polybutadiene, a toughening agent that includes at least one of a fluoroplastic or an organic or ceramic fiber, and glass bubbles in an amount up to 25 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the rubber composition, is also disclosed.

A chloroprene polymer latex containing: a chloroprene polymer, at least one selected from the group consisting of rosin acid, sodium rosinate, and potassium rosinate; and at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, in which a toluene insoluble content of the chloroprene polymer is 10% by mass or less, and a weight average molecular weight of a toluene soluble content is 5,000 to 200,000.

An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects includes at least one photon source configured to direct photons into a build medium. The apparatus further includes a vat configured to retain the build medium. The vat includes a window that permits photons to reach the build medium. The apparatus also has a build platform configured to translate vertically and an actuator configured to cause the build platform to move relative to the vat. The apparatus further includes a vibrator connected to the apparatus. The vibrator provides a mechanical force for moving the vat or the build platform.

An apparatus for producing an easy-to-tear plastic film comprising a pattern roll rotatably supported by a pair of stationary frames, an anvil roll moving along a pair of movable frames, a first driving unit for rotating the movable frames, and second driving units each mounted to the movable frame to move the anvil roll up and down; high-hardness, fine particles projecting from a rolling surface of the pattern roll having such average height and maximum height as enabling the formation of unpenetrating fine pores in a plastic film; with the anvil roll inclined to the pattern roll in a horizontal plane by the operation of the first driving unit, large numbers of unpenetrating fine pores being formed transversely uniformly in the plastic film passing through a gap of both rolls.

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.

In at least some implementations, a blow molding apparatus provides that portions of the parison are engaged by one or more clamping devices disposed on or adjacent to the blow mold parts, and that the blow mold is opened whereby the parison is torn apart between the clamping devices, into two or more pieces of the parison. In other implementations, the clamping devices may be moved relative to the blow mold to tear the parison, or the parison may be torn by a combined movement of the blow mold parts and clamping devices.

A lead-acid battery separator with ultralow resistivity results from high porosity, controlled pore (10) size distribution, and an ionic surfactant (14) with a long alkyl side chain (18) that is anchored to the polymer matrix (12) of a silica-filled polyethylene separator. The surfactant cannot be easily removed or washed away and thereby imparts sustained wettability to the separator. Controlling the number of, and volume occupied by, the pores (i.e., porosity) and pore size distribution of the separator contributes to a reduction in electrical (ionic) resistivity.

A method of making a film by coextruding a multi-layer structure comprising at least one skin layer comprising a metallocene-based polypropylene random copolymer. A coextruded multi-layer film comprising at least one skin layer comprising a metallocene-based polypropylene random copolymer, and a flexible package compromising such a coextruded multi-layer film are also provided.

A method for the manufacture of a polymer foam composite includes forming a polymer foam that is at least partially uncured; contacting the formed polymer foam with a fibrous mat including a plurality of nonwoven fibers having an average diameter of 100 um or less under conditions effective to infiltrate a portion of the polymer foam into the mat, to provide a pre-composite; and curing the pre-composite to form the polymer foam composite. The pre-composite includes a polymer foam layer and an intermixed layer including the fibrous mat and the same polymer as the polymer of the polymer foam layer. The polymer foam composite includes a cured polymer foam layer and an intermixed layer integrally bonded to the first layer, wherein the intermixed layer includes the fibrous mat and a cured polymer the same as the polymer of the cured polymer foam layer.

Provided is a single material plastic push-through blister pack for food and pharmaceutical packaging and a method of making thereof. The blister package may be produced by thermoforming polymer films for the cavity and a cavitated polymer film made from the same class of polymer comparatively lower thickness for the substrate or lid. To facilitate the push through breaking, the polymer film used as the lidding film may be modified to a microcavitated film by creating micro-voids/cavities and micro-brittleness within the polymer matrix. These micro-voids/cavities, and/or embedded microcrystalline particles present in the polymer matrix of the lidding film, may create internal cracks in the film by application of a small external force, which may then result in rupturing of the lid film to dispense a product from the cavity of the blister pack.