Polymer-based sheet materials having a variegated appearance are provided. The polymer-based-sheet material may have a core with one or more caps. The cap(s) may be on a first primary surface, a second primary surface, and/or sides. The variegation may be within and/or on the cap and/or the core. Methods, systems, articles, and materials effective for a polymer-based sheet material having a variegated appearance are provided.

A method for producing thermally crosslinkable polymers in a planetary roller extruder is presented. The planetary roller extruder has a filling part and a compounding part made of a roller cylinder region that comprises at least two, preferably at least three coupled roller cylinders, planetary spindles of which are driven by a common central spindle. The polymers are supplied in a plasticized state. The filling part is supplied with a vacuum. The flow temperatures of the central spindle and the at least two roller cylinders under a vacuum are set such that the polymers to be degassed remain in the plasticized state. One or more liquids, such as thermal crosslinkers, crosslinking accelerators, dye solutions, or dye dispersions, are metered to the plasticized polymers downstream of the vacuum degassing, preferably in a continuous manner. Finally, the resulting mixture is directly supplied to a coating assembly.

Biodegradable drinking straws and methods of making biodegradable drinking straws. The drinking straws are thin and functional, having a tactile feel similar to conventional drinking straws, and are biodegradable in 12 months or less. The drinking straws use less material while maintaining high thickness uniformity, reducing cost and increasing structural integrity.

The invention relates to a method and a processing plant (1) for plastic material, for the recycling thereof. To this end, the processing plant (1) comprises a feed device (4), a processing unit (2) having a comminuting device (5) and a conveying device (6) adjoining the comminuting device (5), and an extrusion device (3) having an extruder screw (21). During its conveying movement along a first conveying section (9) toward a transfer region (8) by means of the conveying device (6), the comminuted plastic material is heated to a transfer temperature with a mean temperature value, which falls into the range of the softening temperature of the plastic material. In the transfer region (8), the comminuted plastic material is transferred to the extrusion device (3).

Polyarylene sulfide compositions are described that exhibit high strength and flexibility. Methods for forming the polyarylene sulfide compositions are also described. Formation methods include dynamic vulcanization of a polyarylene sulfide composition that includes an impact modifier dispersed throughout the polyarylene sulfide. A crosslinking agent is combined with the other components of the composition following dispersal of the impact modifier throughout the composition. The crosslinking agent reacts with the impact modifier to form crosslinks within and among the polymer chains of the impact modifier. The compositions can exhibit excellent physical characteristics at extreme temperatures and can be used to form, e.g., tubular member such as pipes and hoses and fibers.

Polymer-based sheet materials having a variegated appearance are provided. The polymer-based-sheet material may have a core with one or more caps. The cap(s) may be on a first primary surface, a second primary surface, and/or sides. The variegation may be within and/or on the cap and/or the core. Methods, systems, articles, and materials effective for a polymer-based sheet material having a variegated appearance are provided.

The disclosure relates to various measures for increasing the cooling effect on a planetary roller extruder section/module. Those measures include a choke being arranged at an outlet of the planetary roller extruder section or module, a distance between centerlines of adjacent planetary spindles being at least equal to an outer diameter of the planetary spindles, providing a pressurized melt supply, having a cooling section composed of several sections/modules, providing at least one section/module in which a flow, during melt supply is converse to the conveying direction of the extruder, and providing cooling tubes arranged within the central spindle.

A method for forming an object made of a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material has a melting temperature (Tf), comprising the following steps: melting the polymeric material; cooling the polymeric material below the melting temperature (Tf); extruding the polymeric material into a tubular shaped body (H); inserting the tubular body (H) into a mould (60) having an internal cavity; closing off the tubular body (H) at a first end thereof; blowing air into the tubular body (H) through a second end, in order that the tubular body (H) adheres to the internal cavity of the mould (60).

A machine for applying hot-melt products having a structural body (1) provided longitudinally on the inside with a recess (2) extending between a supply inlet (3) for the product in solid state and a discharge outlet (4) through which the product exits in fluid state for its application, the recess (2) having a spindle (5) fitted with a helical blade (9) for conveying the product through a feeding zone, a melting zone and/or a compression zone, wherein the recess (2) has a conical zone (2.1) with a narrowing separating the feeding zone from the melting zone for compacting the hot-melt product, and on the inner periphery of the conical zone (2.1) having a plurality of indentations (8).

Disclosed are a polypropylene composite material capable of blasting at a low temperature, and a preparation method therefor and application thereof. The polypropylene composite material comprises the following components in parts by weight: 35-75 parts of special polypropylene A, 3-10 parts of special polypropylene B, 15-30 parts of a filler, 2-10 parts of a special toughening agent, 15-25 parts of a toughening agent, 0.1-0.3 part of a lubricant, 0.1-0.3 part of a photostabilizer, and 0.2-0.6 part of an antioxidant, wherein the special toughening agent comprises ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and a metallocene ethylene-propylene copolymer. The polypropylene composite material that is capable of blasting at a low temperature and has good rigidity is prepared by using the special polypropylene A, the special polypropylene B, and the special toughening agent in combination with the normal filler and the normal toughening agent, and the polypropylene composite material has a wide application prospect.