A multilayer composite structure is disclosed. The multilayer composite structure has at least one polymer-based cap layer containing, for example, an acrylic, styrenic or acrylonitrile polymer and at least one polyester-based inner or substrate layer. Also disclosed are methods of forming the multilayer composite structure to improve and control the level of adhesion between the layers. Optional tie layers can be used to improve and control the level of adhesion between the layers. An optional exterior layer over the cap layer can contain polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers. The multilayer composite structure combines the attributes of both polymersthe high UV stability, scratch resistance, and excellent appearance of the polymer-based outer cap layer and the strength and impact resistance of the polyester-based interior layer.

An integral geogrid includes a plurality of interconnected, oriented strands having an array of openings therein that is produced from a coextruded multilayer polymer sheet starting material. By virtue of the construction, the coextruded multilayer sheet components provide a crystalline synergistic effect during extrusion and orientation of the integral geogrid, resulting in enhanced material properties that provide performance benefits to use of the integral geogrid in soil geosynthetic reinforcement.

An extrusion die includes a die and a core, and the core includes a movable core portion that is movable along an extrusion direction and a fixed core portion. The movable core portion has non-similar cross-sectional shapes at front and rear two positions along the extrusion direction. A first portion of the elongated weather strip is molded in a state where the movable core portion is disposed at an advance position, and a second portion of the elongated weather strip is molded in a state where the movable core portion is disposed at a retreat position. During the molding of the second portion, a supply amount per unit time of a material for the sealing portion to a molding space for the hollow sealing portion that is secured between the core and the die is set to be larger than that during the molding of the first portion.

An extrusion die includes a die and a core, and the core includes a movable core portion that is movable along an extrusion direction and a fixed core portion. The movable core portion has non-similar cross-sectional shapes at front and rear two positions along the extrusion direction. A first portion of the elongated weather strip is molded in a state where the movable core portion is disposed at an advance position, and a second portion of the elongated weather strip is molded in a state where the movable core portion is disposed at a retreat position. During the molding of the second portion, a supply amount per unit time of a material for the sealing portion to a molding space for the hollow sealing portion that is secured between the core and the die is set to be larger than that during the molding of the first portion.

Apparatus and methods for improved composition of floor coverings, utilizing bio-renewable materials, is disclosed. Floor coverings, or tacky mats, may be used in cleanroom environments to capture particulate matter from foot and equipment traffic. Bio-renewable materials may include thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends made from sustainable raw materials such as corn, tapioca, or the like. These bio-renewable materials may be blended and coextruded with synthetic or petro-based polymers. This reduces the environmental impact on production and disposal of the floor mat, while maintaining the physical and mechanical properties demonstrated by pure synthetic polymers.

An improved backsheet used in the construction of solar panels is disclosed. A method of manufacturing the backsheet and solar panel comprising the backsheet, including coextrusion processes are also disclosed. Additionally, a photovoltaic solar panel module comprising the backsheet of the invention is disclosed. The backsheet of the instant invention may comprise an exterior layer having inner and outer surfaces, a middle layer, having inner and outer surfaces, and an interior layer having inner and outer surfaces. In one embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the middle layer may be adjoined to the inner surface of the exterior layer, and the inner surface of the middle layer may be adjoined to the outer surface of the interior layer. The exterior layer, middle layer, and interior layer may be adjoined via a co-extrusion process, thereby eliminating the need for the use of adhesives for bonding the layers of the backsheet together. The backsheet of the invention improves upon the efficiency, strength, weather resistance, cost, and useful life of the solar panels in which the backsheet is incorporated.

Multilayered polymer films are configured so that successive constituent layer packets can be delaminated in continuous sheet form from the remaining film. The new films are compatible with known coextrusion manufacturing techniques, and can also be made without the use of adhesive layers between layer packets that are tailored to be individually peelable from the remainder of the film. Instead, combinations of polymer compositions are used to allow non-adhesive polymer layers to be combined in such a way that delamination of the film is likely to occur along a plurality of delamination surfaces corresponding to interfaces between particular pairs of layers for which the peel strength is reduced relative to the peel strength at other layer interfaces within the film. The absence of an adhesive between peelable layer packets results in the delamination being irreversible.

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for applying a mixture of a first compound and a second compound, the apparatus comprising a first extruder for processing a first compound and a second extruder for processing a second compound, wherein the outlet from the first extruder is in fluid communication with a first channel of a housing, and the outlet from the second extruder is in fluid communication with a second channel of the housing, wherein a gear pump is positioned in each channel, wherein a nozzle is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first channel and an outlet of the second channel, and a coextruded continuous strip is produced. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound may be adjusted instantaneously.

The present invention provides an optical film containing an additive. The optical film includes a high concentration portion containing the additive, and a low concentration portion containing the additive at a concentration lower than the high concentration portion. The low concentration portion is provided on both sides of the high concentration portion in a thickness direction of the optical film, and the low concentration portion is provided on both sides of the high concentration portion in a width direction of the optical film.

A feedblock including a first packet creator that forms a first packet including a first plurality of polymeric layers, the first plurality of layers including at least four first individual polymeric layers; and a second packet creator that forms a second packet including a second plurality of polymeric layers, the second plurality of layers including at least four second individual polymeric layers, wherein the first and second packet creators are configured such that, for each packet creator, respective individual polymeric layers of the plurality of polymeric layers are formed at approximately the same time. The feedblock may include a packet combiner that receives and combines the first and second primary packets to form a multilayer stream. In some examples, at least one of the first and second primary packets may be spread in the cross-web direction prior to being combined with one another.