Methods for making a microstructured tool having interspersed topographies are disclosed, and the production of articles therefrom. The article has a major surface including first microstructural features and second microstructural features arranged in a pattern visible at least when viewed normal to the first major surface. The first and second microstructural features are different relative to each other, and are selected from the group consisting of cones, diffraction gratings, lenticulars, segments of a sphere, pyramids, cylinders, fresnels, and prisms.

A method for producing a heat-shrinkable product is provided. First, a polymer composition containing a polymer, a crosslinking agent and a micro-encapsulated foaming agent uniformly dispensed therein is melt mixed. The foaming agent has a peak activation temperature which is higher than a temperature of the melt mixing. Next, the polymer composition is injection molded into a molded product. This carried out at the peak activation temperature to activate the foaming agent. Then, the molded product is crosslinked within the mold.

The disclosure provides a method for forming an information carrying card or a core layer of an information carrying card using a radiation curing, and an apparatus configured to provide such a radiation curing. The method includes providing a carrier layer that defines at least one cavity, providing an inlay layer supporting at least one electronic component, and positioning at least a portion of the inlay layer in the at least one cavity. The method further comprises dispensing a radiation crosslinkable polymer composition over the inlay layer, and irradiating the radiation crosslinkable polymer composition.

Provided are methods and systems for manufacturing and using heat-shrink elastomeric. An example method of manufacturing a heat-shrink elastomeric element comprises providing a thermoplastic elastomeric element having a first shape; modifying the thermoplastic elastomeric element to produce a thermoset elastomeric element having the first shape; heating the thermoset elastomeric element to a temperature of at least the glass transition temperature of the thermoset elastomeric element; adjusting the first shape of the thermoset elastomeric element to produce a second shape with at least one dimension greater than that of the first shape; and cooling the thermoset elastomeric element to a temperature below that of the glass transition temperature of the thermoset elastomeric element to produce the heat-shrink elastomeric element.

An article includes a layer including a melt proces sable fluoropolymer, wherein the fluoropolymer includes a copolymer of a tetrafluoroethylene and a perfluoroether, wherein the article has an ultraviolet transmittance of at least about 50% at a thickness of about 0.040 inches to about 0.062 inches when exposed to ultraviolet radiation of about 200 nm to about 280 nm. Further provided is a method of making the article and an apparatus for purifying water including an article, such as a flexible tube.

A method of continuously manufacturing a cured membrane includes continuously compounding and mixing a vulcanizable rubber composition in a mixing extruder while continuously removing gasses from the vulcanizable rubber composition during mixing with a vacuum. The vulcanizable rubber composition may be continuously extruded to form an extrudate, which may be continuously calendered to form a green membrane. The green membrane may be continuously cured, such as by a hot air conveyor curing system, to form a cured membrane.

A sintered article may be formed from a composition containing at least sinterable thermoplastic particles and a curable (meth)acrylate resin component, wherein the sinterable thermoplastic particles are insoluble in the curable (meth)acrylate resin component at 25° C. The curable (meth)acrylate resin component may be cured, thereby forming an intermediate article which may be converted into a sintered article using conditions effective to remove at least a portion of the matrix formed by the cured curable (meth)acrylate resin component and to sinter the thermoplastic particles.

Polyethylene compositions, having a density from about 0.900 g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.950 g/cm.sup.3, a MI (I.sub.2, 190° C., 2.16 kg) from about 0.1 g/10 min to about 10 g/10 min, an MIR (I.sub.21/I.sub.2) from about 25 to about 80, an Mz greater than or equal to about 150,000 g/mol, and either an M.sub.z/M.sub.n ratio greater than or equal to about 8.0, an M.sub.z/M.sub.w ratio greater than or equal to about 2.4, or an (I.sub.2*M.sub.z/M.sub.n) from about 3 to about 100, are provided. The polyethylene compositions are useful in wire and cable, tape, and filament applications. Methods for producing the same are also provided.

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement that is at least partially coated with a matrix, and a housing trailing from the head and configured to at least partially enclose the continuous reinforcement after discharge. The system may also include a heat source disposed at least partially inside the oven, and a support configured to move the head during discharging.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.