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.

For the production of polymers in which there are fillers with particle sizes below 10 μm incorporated and homogeneously distributed, a polymer starting material is input into a twin-screw extruder and is melted there to give a melt. In a conveying and mixing section, a suspension, which is formed of the fillers and of a carrier liquid, is injected into the melt. The melt viscosity is reduced by injection of the carrier liquid in the conveying and mixing section in that a cleavable polycondensate is used as polymer and low-molecular-weight cleavage product arising during the polycondensation is used as carrier liquid, and therefore the molten polymer is at least to some extent depolymerized within the conveying and mixing section. That the mixture, which is formed of the melt whose viscosity is reduced by cleavage, of the remainder of the carrier liquid and of the fillers, is homogenized.

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.

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.

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.

The invention relates to compositions comprising composite materials comprised of discontinuous fibers and one or more polymers and/or oligomers. The invention relates to methods of making the same. The composite materials can be in the form of compositions, composite sheets, laminates, pellets, and/or shaped composite products.

The invention relates to compositions comprising composite materials comprised of discontinuous fibers and one or more polymers and/or oligomers. The invention relates to methods of making the same. The composite materials can be in the form of compositions, composite sheets, laminates, pellets, and/or shaped composite products.

An installation for manufacturing cross-linkable polyethylene compounds which comprises a melting machine (101), a melt pump (102) and a filtration unit (103) to produce cross-linkable polyethylene compounds that may be further used for manufacturing insulating parts of medium, high and extra-high voltage power cables, and a method for manufacturing such cross-linkable polyethylene compounds.

An installation for manufacturing cross-linkable polyethylene compounds which comprises a melting machine (101), a melt pump (102) and a filtration unit (103) to produce cross-linkable polyethylene compounds that may be further used for manufacturing insulating parts of medium, high and extra-high voltage power cables, and a method for manufacturing such cross-linkable polyethylene compounds.

A cellulose-fiber dispersion polyethylene resin composite material, formed by dispersing a cellulose fiber into a polyethylene resin, wherein a proportion of the cellulose fiber is 1 part by mass or more and 70 parts by mass or less in a total content of 100 parts by mass of the polyethylene resin and the cellulose fiber, and wherein water absorption ratio satisfies the following formula; and a formed body and a pellet using the same, a production method therefor, and a recycling method for a cellulose-fiber adhesion polyethylene thin film piece.

(water absorption ratio)<(cellulose effective mass ratio).sup.2×0.01  [Formula].