An expansion device, including: an installation unit in which a thermally expandable sheet is disposed; an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the thermally expandable sheet placed on the installation unit with light; and a control unit configured to perform processes described below, wherein after an expansion process to expand the thermally expandable sheet by irradiating the thermally expandable sheet placed on the installation unit with light by the irradiation unit, a cooling process to cool the thermally expandable sheet by a predetermined cooling unit while maintaining the state in which the thermally expandable sheet is placed on the installation unit.

A low-weight carpet tile and process for making the same, wherein the carpet tile comprises a facecloth having a plurality of face yarns tufted through a primary backing, an extruded polymer secondary backing layer, and a reinforcing scrim layer partially un embedded within the extruded polymer secondary backing layer. The top surface and bottom surface of the carpet tile are defined by the facecloth and the reinforcing scrim layer, respectively. A polymer-based resin is extruded onto the facecloth to form an at least substantially uniform secondary backing layer, and the reinforcing scrim layer is laid onto the extruded polymer secondary backing layer while the extruded polymer secondary backing layer remains above a softening temperature for the resin. The entire multi-layer web is then passed through a nip to embed the reinforcing scrim layer into the extruded polymer secondary layer, and the entire web is chilled.

Provided is a stretchable film having excellent stretchability and excellent air permeability. Also provided is an article including such stretchable film. The stretchable film of the present invention includes an olefin-based resin and a filler.

A low-weight carpet tile and process for making the same, wherein the carpet tile comprises a facecloth having a plurality of face yarns tufted through a primary backing, an extruded polymer secondary backing layer, and a reinforcing scrim layer partially embedded within the extruded polymer secondary backing layer. The top surface and bottom surface of the carpet tile are defined by the facecloth and the reinforcing scrim layer, respectively. A polymer-based resin is extruded onto the facecloth to form an at least substantially uniform secondary backing layer, and the reinforcing scrim layer is laid onto the extruded polymer secondary backing layer while the extruded polymer secondary backing layer remains above a softening temperature for the resin. The entire multi-layer web is then passed through a nip to embed the reinforcing scrim layer into the extruded polymer secondary layer, and the entire web is chilled.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods related to a packaging laminate comprising: a first polymeric layer comprising a polypropylene copolymer or a high density polyethylene (HDPE) resin; and a second polymeric layer comprising a high density polyethylene (HDPE) resin or linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) resin with a coextruded ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) compatibilizer. Also disclosed herein are packaging containers formed of the packaging laminates.

A form birefringent optical element includes a structured layer and a dielectric environment disposed over the structured layer. At least one of the structured layer and the dielectric environment includes a nanovoided polymer, the nanovoided polymer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Actuation of the nanovoided polymer can be used to reversibly control the form birefringence of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

[Problem] To provide a cavity-containing polyester film which exhibits excellent concealability, degree of whiteness and printability, and which is still free from the occurrence of a wrinkle, distortion and the like in cases where, for example, the cavity-containing polyester film is used for a roll label, and a label is delivered therefrom or wound around a product.

[Solution] A cavity-containing polyester film which comprises a layer A that internally contains a cavity, and layers B that are arranged on both surfaces of the layer A, wherein: the layer A is formed of a composition A that contains a polyester resin A and a polypropylene resin; the layers B are formed of a composition B that contains inorganic particles and a polyester resin B; and the amount of self-weight deflection of the film is from 60 mm to 100 mm at least in one direction.

A recyclable, easily tearable packaging laminate having a good barrier effect and low density, including a first laminate layer and a second laminate layer. The first laminate layer is a co-extruded, stretched composite consisting of a cavitated substrate layer having 5-30 wt. % cavitating agent and a PE proportion of at least 60 wt. %, a connecting layer and a barrier layer consisting of a barrier polymer, preferably polyamide or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, with a thickness of at most 20% of the overall thickness of the first laminate layer. The connecting layer is arranged between the substrate layer and the barrier layer, and the first laminate layer is connected by its barrier layer to the second laminate layer.

A housewrap is a multi-layer drainage wrap. A nonwoven base web has a three-dimensional pattern embossed therein on one surface of the web. This embossed web is then extrusion coated with a polymer coating. The coating is extrusion-coated on to embossed side of the nonwoven base web. The nonwoven base web has the three-dimensionally embossed and coated side as its outward facing surface. The coated base web is then activated by stretching to provide moisture vapor permeance at a rate that allows a building to breathe. The result is a housewrap that is textured on both the inside and outside faces of the housewrap. The texture and weather resistive coating on exterior side facilitates both drainage of water off of the outside face of the housewrap and the circulation of air and moisture around and through the inside face of the housewrap and promotes a tighter seal and better adhesion to flashing tapes reducing further the points of entry for water into the structure.

The present disclosure provides a process. The process includes (A) providing at least 6 film layers, each film layer being a pearlized biaxially oriented polypropylene; (B) applying a solvent-less adhesive at a coat weight of 2.0 g/m.sup.2 to 3.5 g/m.sup.2 between each film layer; and (C) forming a laminate, the laminate having a thickness of at least 300 μm. The solvent-less adhesive contains (i) a polyol component including at least one polyol selected from a polyester polyol, a polyether polyol, and combinations thereof; and (ii) an isocyanate component including an isocyanate prepolymer that is the reaction product of at least one isocyanate monomer and at least one polyol selected from a polyester polyol, a polyether polyol, and combinations thereof. The present disclosure also provides a laminate formed by said process.