The invention relates to the use of special polymer layers as barriers, in particular as barrier layers in composite materials. Suitable polymers for the polymer layer are copolymers consisting of ethylene and vinyl alcohol or consisting of ethylene and carbon monoxide or consisting of ethylene and carbon monoxide and propylene. These barrier layers exhibit a selective barrier effect with respect to different gases, the barrier effect being especially effective with respect to HFOs. On account of these properties, such barrier layers can positively affect insulating properties, for example in thermally insulated pipes.

The invention pertains to a process for the manufacture of a fluoropolymer film, to the fluoropolymer film obtainable therefrom and to use of said fluoropolymer film in electrochemical and photo-electrochemical devices.

A method of making a flexible pipe layer, which method comprises: commingling polymer filaments and carbon fibre filaments to form an intimate mixture, forming yarns of the commingled filaments, forming the yarns into a tape, and applying the tape to a pipe body to form a flexible pipe layer.

A multilayer tube is provided which includes a layer including a specific aliphatic polyamide composition and a layer including a semi-aromatic polyamide composition including a semi-aromatic polyamide with a specific structure, these layers being adjacent to each other, wherein the aliphatic polyamide composition includes an aliphatic polyamide having a specific ratio of the number of methylene groups to the number of amide groups, a polyamide having a specific difference in absolute value of solubility parameter SP from the aliphatic polyamide, and an elastomer polymer including a structural unit derived from an unsaturated compound having a carboxyl group and/or an acid anhydride group.

A method for producing a water-tight, water-vapour-permeable segment, having a three-dimensional contour, for a shoe shaft, an item of clothing or a rucksack or for producing a shoe shaft, an item of clothing or a rucksack, the segment being free of connection points in its surface, and the method for producing the segment being a thermoforming process in which the two-dimensional flat structure obtained is completely laminated in its entirety, the segment being free of connection points in its surface. Also, a water-tight, water-vapour-permeable segment of a three-dimensional functional laminate for introduction into a shoe or shoe shaft, an item of clothing or a rucksack, the segment being dimensionally stable under its own weight, of a single piece and free of connection points in its surface.

A sealing device includes a functional layer having a first major surface and a second major surface and a barrier layer directly or indirectly connected to the second major surface of the functional layer, wherein the functional layer has a surface roughness having a waviness factor W.sub.f. Also disclosed is a method for producing a sealing device and the use of a sealing device for waterproofing of a substrate.

To provide a process for producing a film excellent in water vapor barrier property, tensile elongations, and transparency. A resin material containing polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) is melted and extruded into a film from an extrusion die, the extruded product is brought into contact with a cooling roll having a surface temperature of at most 120° C. in a state such that the surface temperature of the extruded product is higher than the crystallization temperature of PCTFE to form a film web, and the film web is subjected to heat treatment at from 80 to 200° C. to obtain a film.

A transparent heat-insulating film is provided, wherein the transparent heat-insulating film includes a base layer including a first surface and a second surface, a hard-coat layer, a silver nanowire layer, and a protective layer including an inner surface and an outer surface. The hard-coat layer and the silver nanowire layer are disposed between the first surface of the base layer and the inner surface of the protective layer. A temperature of the second surface of the base layer is T1 (° C.), a temperature of the outer surface of the protective layer is T2 (° C.), and a temperature difference between T1 and T2 (T1−T2) is ΔT. When T1=50-100° C. and the base layer and the protective layer reach thermal equilibrium, ΔT=0.15T1−0.35T1.

In an embodiment, a multifunctional material system is provided and can include a variable-permeability layer, a desiccant containing layer, and a vapor-permeable supporting layer. The variable-permeability layer can have a vapor permeability that increases with increasing relative humidity. The desiccant containing layer can be adjacent the variable-permeability layer. The vapor-permeable supporting layer can be positioned adjacent at least one of the variable-permeability layer and the desiccant containing layer. Water moves in a first direction from the variable-permeability layer to the desiccant layer when relative humidity is greater adjacent the variable-permeability layer than the desiccant layer. Water moves a second, opposing direction, from the desiccant containing layer to the variable-permeability layer when the relative humidity is greater adjacent the desiccant containing layer than the variable-permeability layer. The rate of water motion in the first direction is greater than the second direction when the humidity gradient is reversed.

The present invention provides stretchable laminates with a flat appearance on the visible surface. The laminates comprise a textile layer, a functional layer, and a plurality of elastic fibers. The plurality of elastic fibers are in a substantially parallel arrangement and the internal distance between adjacent fibers does not exceed the maximum fiber spacing, which depends on laminate thickness in a stretched state. Also provided are garments and footwear comprising the stretchable laminates and methods of producing the stretchable laminates.