In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter “the masterbatch process”) and mixing the masterbatch with further starch.

A production method comprising: (a) a step of melt-mixing a base resin containing a chlorinated polyethylene; an organic peroxide, an inorganic filler, and a silane coupling agent, in specific ratios, at a temperature equal to or higher than a decomposition temperature of the organic peroxide, to prepare a silane master batch; (b) a step of mixing the silane master batch obtained in the step (a) with a silanol condensation catalyst, and then forming the resultant mixture; and conducting at least one of the melt-mixing in the step (a) and the mixing in the step (b) is performed in the coexistence of a chloroprene rubber or a polyvinyl chloride; a heat-resistant chlorine-containing crosslinked resin formed body produced by the method, a silane master batch, a mixture and formed body thereof, and a heat-resistant product.

A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament from polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) comprises: (1) splitting the PTT stream extruded from the primary extruder into a number of polymer streams, each of the plurality of polymer streams having an associated spinning machine; (2) adding a colorant to each split polymer stream; (3) adding PET to the extruded polymer stream downstream of the primary extruder; (4) using one or more static mixing assemblies for each split polymer stream to substantially uniformly mix each split polymer stream and its respective colorant and PET; and (5) spinning each polymer stream with its substantially uniformly mixed colorant and any additives into BCF using the respective spinning machine.

A process for recovery and devulcanization of vulcanized rubber is provided. The process takes place in a plant including a mill for grinding vulcanized rubber into particles, a twin-screw extruder provided with a device for forced feeding of vulcanized rubber particles and a thermostatting device, a single-screw extruder arranged downstream of the twin-screw extruder and equipped with a thermostatting device, a filter for devulcanized rubber and an extrusion die shaped like a slot, from the which devulcanized rubber comes out in the form of a strip or sheet, and a cooling device for the devulcanized rubber strip or sheet. The twin-screw extruder operates at a temperature between 35 and 450° C., with a rotation speed of the screws between 15 and 600 rpm, and a torque density between 11 and 18 Nm/cm.sup.3, so that the shear rate remains constant for the entire longitudinal extension of the twin-screw extruder.

This patent describes formaldehyde free or formaldehyde reduced binders useful, for example, in a fiber based composite material such as glass or other mineral fiber insulation, non-woven fabric or wood-based board. In one example, melamine is used as an acidic solution or a salt. The salt or solution is used to create an aqueous binder with other components such as a polyol and a crosslinker. A preferred polyol is a nanoparticle comprising high molecular weight starch. In other examples, binders include mixtures of a polyol with urea and a crosslinker. In other examples, a multi-component nanoparticle is made by reacting a polyol such as starch in an extruder with an insolubilizer such as melamine or urea. The resulting particles are mixed with water, optionally with other components such as an additional crosslinker, to create an aqueous binder.

This patent describes formaldehyde free or formaldehyde reduced binders useful, for example, in a fiber based composite material such as glass or other mineral fiber insulation, non-woven fabric or wood-based board. In one example, melamine is used as an acidic solution or a salt. The salt or solution is used to create an aqueous binder with other components such as a polyol and a crosslinker. A preferred polyol is a nanoparticle comprising high molecular weight starch. In other examples, binders include mixtures of a polyol with urea and a crosslinker. In other examples, a multi-component nanoparticle is made by reacting a polyol such as starch in an extruder with an insolubilizer such as melamine or urea. The resulting particles are mixed with water, optionally with other components such as an additional crosslinker, to create an aqueous binder.

An adhesive composition contains a block copolymer hot melt adhesive and a vapor releasing vapor corrosion inhibitor mixed with the block copolymer hot melt adhesive, the vapor corrosion inhibitor being in the form of particles suspended in the adhesive composition, the particles preferably having a maximum dimension of less than about 30 microns. One improvement results from inclusion in the adhesive mixture of a titanium and/or zirconium containing coupling agent, either separately or as part of the VCI particles. Another improvement results from blending the adhesive mixture in a continuous process using for example a twin screw extruder. As a result, the adhesive mixture has better uniformity and superior viscosity properties during use.

To provide a polycarbonate resin composition excellent in the surface hardness, the heat resistance, the moldability and the flame retardancy. A polycarbonate resin composition comprising at least a polycarbonate resin (a) and a polycarbonate resin (b) having structural units different from the polycarbonate resin (a), which satisfies the following requirements: (i) the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (a) as specified by ISO 15184 is higher than the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (b) as specified by ISO 15184; (ii) the glass transition point Tg(a) of the polycarbonate resin (a) and the glass transition point Tg(b) of the polycarbonate resin (b) satisfy the relation of the following (Formula 1):
Tg(b)−45° C. <Tg(a)<Tg(b)−10° C.  (Formula 1):
and (iii) the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin composition as specified by ISO 15184 is higher by at least two ranks than the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (b) as specified by ISO 15184.

To provide a polycarbonate resin composition excellent in the surface hardness, the heat resistance, the moldability and the flame retardancy. A polycarbonate resin composition comprising at least a polycarbonate resin (a) and a polycarbonate resin (b) having structural units different from the polycarbonate resin (a), which satisfies the following requirements: (i) the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (a) as specified by ISO 15184 is higher than the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (b) as specified by ISO 15184; (ii) the glass transition point Tg(a) of the polycarbonate resin (a) and the glass transition point Tg(b) of the polycarbonate resin (b) satisfy the relation of the following (Formula 1):
Tg(b)−45° C. <Tg(a)<Tg(b)−10° C.  (Formula 1):
and (iii) the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin composition as specified by ISO 15184 is higher by at least two ranks than the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (b) as specified by ISO 15184.

The invention relates to an improved method and to an improved device for degassing polymer melts and for neutralizing the thus produced pollutants, characterised by the following characteristics: said pollutants are guided to a plasma source after removal from the degassing area and prior to adding to a filter step or a separator, said plasma source being built and/or formed such that in said plasma source, the pollutants are transformed, entirely or partially, in a plasma aggregate state.