The disclosure relates to oxygen scavenging compositions, methods of making the compositions, articles prepared from the compositions, and methods of making the articles. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

A method for manufacturing pellets from polymer, comprising: (1) melting polymer flakes in a first section of a melt processing unit to create a first single stream of polymer melt; (2) separating the first single stream of polymer melt into multiple streams of polymer melt by means of a separation element; (3) passing the multiple streams through a multiple stream section of said melt processing unit and exposing the multiple streams to a pressure within the multiple stream section of the melt processing unit as the multiple streams pass through the multiple stream section; (4) recombining the multiple streams into at least one combined stream of polymer melt; and (5) cooling the polymer melt and forming said pellets from the at least one combined stream. The intrinsic viscosity of the at least one combined stream may be determined and, in response, the chamber pressure within the multiple stream section adjusted.

A method for manufacturing pellets from polymer, comprising: (1) melting polymer flakes in a first section of a melt processing unit to create a first single stream of polymer melt; (2) separating the first single stream of polymer melt into multiple streams of polymer melt by means of a separation element; (3) passing the multiple streams through a multiple stream section of said melt processing unit and exposing the multiple streams to a pressure within the multiple stream section of the melt processing unit as the multiple streams pass through the multiple stream section; (4) recombining the multiple streams into at least one combined stream of polymer melt; and (5) cooling the polymer melt and forming said pellets from the at least one combined stream. The intrinsic viscosity of the at least one combined stream may be determined and, in response, the chamber pressure within the multiple stream section adjusted.

In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to thermoformed webs that comprise polymer films having one or more thermoformed cavities contained therein, the polymer films comprising a polymer blend of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET), polyethylene furanoate (PEF), and a copolyester that comprises (a) dicarboxylic acid residues (e.g., dicarboxylic acid residues that comprise terephthalic acid residues and, optionally, one or more additional dicarboxylic acid residues) and (b) diol residues (e.g., diol residues comprising ethylene glycol residues and, optionally, one or more additional diol monomer residues). Other aspects of the disclosure pertain to methods of forming such thermoformed webs, packaged products comprising such thermoformed webs, and methods of recycling such thermoformed webs.

This application is directed to polymer blends of polyethylene naphthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene naphthalate, for use in fibers, such as carpet fibers, and other applications. This application is also directed to methods of producing such polymer blends and fibers.

This application is directed to polymer blends of polyethylene naphthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene naphthalate, for use in fibers, such as carpet fibers, and other applications. This application is also directed to methods of producing such polymer blends and fibers.

A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament from recycled polymer. In various embodiments, the method includes: (1) reducing recycled polymer material into polymer flakes; (2) cleansing the polymer flakes; (3) melting the flakes into a polymer melt; (4) removing water and contaminants from the polymer melt by dividing the polymer melt into a plurality of polymer streams and exposing those streams to pressures below 25 millibars or another predetermined pressure; (5) recombining the streams; and (6) using the resulting purified polymer to produce bulked continuous carpet filament.

A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament from recycled polymer. In various embodiments, the method includes: (1) reducing recycled polymer material into polymer flakes; (2) cleansing the polymer flakes; (3) melting the flakes into a polymer melt; (4) removing water and contaminants from the polymer melt by dividing the polymer melt into a plurality of polymer streams and exposing those streams to pressures below 25 millibars or another predetermined pressure; (5) recombining the streams; and (6) using the resulting purified polymer to produce bulked continuous carpet filament.

A method and a facility produce polylactide (PLA) by polymerization, in which a lactide mixture is mixed with at least one catalyst, is introduced into a modular planetary roller extruder and the finished PLA is then removed. The lactide mixture continuously passes through segments of the extruder. The course of the reaction is measured and controlled in the segments in a targeted manner such that the temperature can be set by heating and/or cooling. The pressure can be variably set depending on pressure values to be checked by a controllable gas extraction and/or a controllable extruder speed and/or static variability of the planetary rollers and/or a variable metering speed of the lactide mixture and/or a variable mixing ratio of the lactide mixture. Flammable gas is removed in an explosion-protected zone in a partial region of the extruder. Additives are introduced into the extruder during the rolling process.

A method and a facility produce polylactide (PLA) by polymerization, in which a lactide mixture is mixed with at least one catalyst, is introduced into a modular planetary roller extruder and the finished PLA is then removed. The lactide mixture continuously passes through segments of the extruder. The course of the reaction is measured and controlled in the segments in a targeted manner such that the temperature can be set by heating and/or cooling. The pressure can be variably set depending on pressure values to be checked by a controllable gas extraction and/or a controllable extruder speed and/or static variability of the planetary rollers and/or a variable metering speed of the lactide mixture and/or a variable mixing ratio of the lactide mixture. Flammable gas is removed in an explosion-protected zone in a partial region of the extruder. Additives are introduced into the extruder during the rolling process.