A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours.

This invention relates to methods for forming a polymer, including continuously depositing a polymer extrudate that is above its glass transition temperature onto a lower molding surface of a first mold in a manner that reduces shear stress in the polymer extrudate, heating the lower molding surface to maintain the polymer extrudate above the glass transition temperature, applying an upper molding surface of a second mold to at least the exposed upper surface of the polymer, allowing the polymer to transition to below the glass transition temperature while within or between the upper and lower molding surfaces, and providing heat sinks spaced relative to each other through the pressure forming zone, wherein a heat sink more advanced through the pressure forming zone is controlled to a lower temperature to progressively reduce the temperature of the polymer as it advances through the pressure forming zone.

An apparatus and method for fabricating a panel from a molten composite material, and a panel product fabricated accordingly. Two platens in spaced relation define a gap which decreases uniformly from first ends of the platens toward second ends of the platens. Molten composite material is moved through the decreasing gap to compress the material between the platens. Cooling drums cool the composite panel shortly after extrusion. A mesh is rolled into a surface of the extruded panel; the screen remains partially exposed on the panel surface to provide a panel surface amenable to the application of adhesives.

Provided are a crystalline and easily recyclable polyester heat shrinkable film, having a three-layer structure of layer A/layer B/layer C, in which the layer A is prepared by raw materials consisting of polyethylene terephthalate glycol copolymer (PETG), a functional master batch and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the layer B is prepared by raw materials consisting of a modified PET, PET, a nucleating agent, a chain extender, and a foaming agent.

Disclosed are cast films and extrusion-coated substrates, and their methods of making. The cast films and coatings on the substrates are made from a composition containing an ungrafted ethylene-based polymer, a nanocomposite containing a polyamide and montmorillonite, and a compatibilizer comprising a maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-based polymer. These films and coatings can have improved optical and/or mechanical properties compared to films and coatings made without the nanocomposite.