A thermoplastic elastomer tube can include a thermoplastic elastomer component disposed within a matrix. In an embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer component is disposed within the matrix in a thermoplastic elastomer phase having a number of domains. At least approximately 50% of the domains of the thermoplastic elastomer component have an aspect ratio of no greater than approximately 1.5. In a particular embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer tube comprises at least approximately 20 wt % of the thermoplastic elastomer component and no greater than approximately 50 wt % of a polyolefin component. In some embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component includes styrene.

A method for performing an infrared treatment includes the steps of receiving an extruded product and feeding the extruded product to an oven including at least one lamp unit. The lamp unit includes a lamp, a reflective surface enclosing a first side of the lamp and positioned to direct radiation from the lamp, and a glass disposed between a second side of the lamp and an extruded product, wherein the glass separates the lamp and the extruded product. The method further includes the step of creating cross-linking between layers of the extruded product by directing the radiation at the extruded product. Still further, the method includes the steps of directing a first gas flow at a surface of the product and directing a second gas flow at the glass.

A blown-film extrusion apparatus for manufacturing a tubular polymer film comprises an extruder; a solidification ring for solidifying a tubular element produced by the extruder and for forming the film by delivering cooling air on the tubular element at a given cooling height, and a film conveyor for conveying the film upwards. The apparatus also comprises a delivery device for projecting correction air on the tubular element, in order to locally correct the thickness of the film, comprising a distribution chamber; a plurality of air delivery members with delivery channels whose delivery mouths are arranged about said axis of the apparatus for projecting correction air partial streams on respective angular correction positions, between the die and the cooling height; flow control elements between the distribution chamber, and the inlet of respective air delivery members, configured for adjusting the flowrate of the respective correction air stream according to an adjustment signal. According to an aspect of the invention, a plurality of separate radial ducts is provided defining respective delivery channels and spaced apart, at an own end portion, by separation spaces, so that the correction air partial streams, after hitting the tubular element in the respective angular correction positions, can flow away from the tubular element through said separation spaces. According to another aspect of the invention, the distribution chamber is defined by an upper ring and by a lower ring connected to each other by means of tight fixed joints with a first substantially cylindrical wall and with a second substantially cylindrical wall arranged around the first cylindrical wall, wherein possible separate radial ducts of the air delivery members protrude from the first cylindrical wall.

Methods and apparatus for transporting or delivering elastomeric emitters and inserting elastomeric emitters into drip line are disclosed herein, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for manufacturing drip line to form an irrigation assembly or system. In one form, the apparatus comprises a feeder, conveyor, emitter drive mechanism and guide bar for insertion into an extruder to bond the elastomeric emitter to an inner surface of the extruded tube. Friction reducing apparatus and methods are further disclosed as well.

Molded plastic products having fine particles of copper-based compound with relatively low price, simple process and good economic feasibility and productivity, and method of manufacturing the products are provided. A chemical structure of the molded plastic products is Cu.sub.xM.sub.y, wherein M is any one selected from groups 15 to 17 of the periodic table, x/y is 0.5-1.5. Also the molded plastic products comprises thermoplastic resin which contains dispersed therein copper-based particles reacts copper sulfate with any one salt, selected from among sulfuric salt, hydrofluoric salt and hydrochloric salt, at a molar ratio of 1:1 in an aqueous solution at a temperature of 1080 C.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a molded plastic products having copper-based compound particulates. The method includes the steps of: reacting copper sulfate with sulfuric salt, at a molar ratio of 1:1 in an aqueous solution at a temperature of 1080 C., thereby synthesizing copper sulfide particulates; forming a sheet comprising the copper sulfide particulates dispersed in a thermoplastic resin.

The present disclosure provides a method of stiffening an outer layer of a wet extrudate, where the extrudate has a honeycomb cellular structure. The method includes extruding the extrudate through an extrusion apparatus and directing a substantially uniform flow of fluid onto the outer layer of the extrudate. The method also includes increasing the temperature of a binder material of the extrudate to its gelation point and stiffening at least the outer layer of the extrudate.

Method for making multiple durometer bulb seals and any other types of multiple durometer seals and moldings includes cooling separately at least one structural member and at least one sealing portion, which have different durometers and shapes. At least a first extrusion is drawn through an extruder, forming a structural member profile and the extruded material is pulled along a longitudinal axis to a first calibrator device and first cooling tank to cool the structural member profile to a predetermined temperature. Cooling medium directly contacts the outer and inner surfaces of the first profile. Downstream, the sealing portion is extruded and affixed onto the cooled structural member and pulled further downstream to a second calibrator device and through a second cooling tank to cool the final profile a predetermined amount. Disparity in cooling expansion and cooling differential between the multiple durometers and shapes is avoided or overcome.

Barrier films are prepared from a blend of two high density polyethylene blend components and a high performance organic nucleating agent. The two high density polyethylene blend components have substantially different melt indices. Large reductions in the moisture vapor transmission rate of the film are observed in the presence of the nucleating agent when the melt indices of the two blend components have a ratio of greater than 10/1. The resulting barrier films are suitable for the preparation of packaging for dry foods such as crackers and breakfast cereals.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.