Foam slabs and methods and apparatus, including foaming dies, for making and using foam slabs.

The disclosure generally relates to a solid state non-proportional, adjustable, tapered drawing die and an oriented polymer article formed therefrom. More specifically, embodiments relate to a non-proportional draw die used to produce oriented, dimensionally accurate, symmetric or asymmetric polymer composite profiles having simple profiles or complicated profiles with multiple edges. Moreover, the draw die of the disclosure prevents natural flattening of the edges of the final profile during the solid state die drawing process of the oriented polymer composite.

Method and extrusion die (1030) for producing a three-dimensional polymeric strand netting, wherein a plurality of the polymeric strands (1070a, 1070b, 1070c) are periodically joined together in a regular pattern at bond regions throughout the array, wherein a majority of the polymeric strands (1070a, 1070b, 1070c) are periodically bonded to at least two (three, four, five, six, or more) adjacent polymeric strands, and wherein no polymeric strands are continuously bonded to a polymeric strand. Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting described herein have a variety of uses, including wound care, tapes, filtration, absorbent articles, pest control articles, geotextile applications, water/vapor management in clothing, reinforcement for nonwoven articles, self bulking articles, floor coverings, grip supports, athletic articles, and pattern coated adhesives.

A fluid application device having an applicator head, a slot die assembly and a securing mechanism for securing the slot die assembly to the applicator head is provided. The slot die assembly includes a die extruder comprising one or more fluid input ports configured to receive a fluid from the applicator head, a shim positioned adjacent to the die extruder, and a plate positioned adjacent to the shim on a side of the shim opposite from the die extruder. The securing mechanism includes a securing component at one of the applicator head and the slot die assembly and a corresponding securing component at the other of the applicator head and slot die assembly.

A sealant forming nozzle is disposed to seal an object that a sectional shape in a first plane is a stair shape. The sealant forming nozzle includes a shaping section and a guide section. The shaping section includes a shaping surface orthogonal to the first plane, and a sealant output hole to supply a sealant to a space surrounded by the object and the shaping surface. The guide section has a guide surface. The guide surface is orthogonal to the first plane and formed to have a line contact with a corner section of an upper step of the stair shape.

A cross-head die assembly for use with an extruder is described. The cross-head die assembly includes: an inlet section having an inlet for communicating flow from the extruder to one or more flow channels formed in a support block; and an outlet, a removably mounted die located at the outlet and in fluid communication with the one or more flow channels; said support block further comprising an interior slot extending from a first side of the support block to an outlet passageway; a removable cassette positioned in the interior slot, wherein the front end of the removable cassette is positioned to seal the outlet passageway of the slot so that the slot is isolated from the flow.

A fluid application device having an applicator head, a slot die assembly and a securing mechanism for securing the slot die assembly to the applicator head is provided. The slot die assembly includes a die extruder comprising one or more fluid input ports configured to receive a fluid from the applicator head, a shim positioned adjacent to the die extruder, and a plate positioned adjacent to the shim on a side of the shim opposite from the die extruder. The securing mechanism includes a securing component at one of the applicator head and the slot die assembly and a corresponding securing component at the other of the applicator head and slot die assembly.

The invention provides a coextrusion feedblock having a flow adjuster, a viscosity compensation device, an actuator, a central extrusion conduit, and a coextrusion conduit. The invention also provides a coextrusion profiling insert assembly constructed to be mounted in a coextrusion feedblock. The insert assembly has a flow adjuster, a viscosity compensation device, and an actuator. The insert assembly when mounted in the feedblock has a coextrusion conduit extending between the flow adjuster and the viscosity compensation device. The actuator is adjustable to apply force to bend the viscosity compensation device and thereby adjust a gap height of the coextrusion conduit. Also provided is a method of operating a feedblock having a viscosity compensation device comprising a flex region, a central extrusion conduit, and a coextrusion conduit. Force is applied to bend the flex region of the viscosity compensation device and thereby adjust a gap height of the coextrusion conduit.

A coextrusion adapter, including a central conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end and having bottom and top walls that define the height of the central conduit and side walls that define the width of the central conduit, as well as at least one coextrusion conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end. The outlet end feeds into the central conduit near or in the vicinity of the bottom and/or top wall thereof, downstream of the inlet end of the central conduit, and adjusting devices are provided, which are allocated to each outlet end of the at least one coextrusion conduit and are composed of a plurality of adjusting elements, which collectively extend across the width of the outlet end and by actuating drives, are adjustable independently of one another so that it is possible to change the inner width of the respective width section of the outlet end. Adjacent to the outlet end at least one of the side walls has a receiving bore into which it is possible to insert a displacing element that protrudes beyond the side wall into the central conduit.

The present application relates to artificial turf monofilaments (100) and to methods of their manufacture.