In a method for manufacturing blown film web on a blown film line, film is heated above the takeoff device and then treated mechanically. This allows the film to be brought from initial heat to an easy-to-process temperature level with little energy. A horizontally oriented treatment roll path is provided between the takeoff and a reversing device is arranged above the takeoff. In both aspects, controlling is performed to achieve a uniform film gauge after stretching.

A weatherable, low heat build-up capstock system comprising an acrylic cap, a pigment system that is IR transparent to a greater degree than existing pigment systems, an IR reflective substrate, and an extrusion system for same.

A micro-voided film comprising high density polyethylene having a molecular weight of at least about 200,000, and low aspect ratio filler having a mean particle size from about 1 to about 25 microns. The film has a thickness of from about 10 to about 75 microns and a void fraction of from about 0.60 to about 0.75. The micro-voided film is made by a process comprising extruding the composition into a film having a thickness of from about 50 to about 300 microns, and orienting the extruded film using a high stalk, blown film process. The process produces a stabilized high stalk for increasing the production rate of blown, high molecular weight polyethylene, while increasing the film's physical and mechanical properties. The high stalk can be stabilized by application of high velocity, low volume flow rate of air over the interior and exterior surfaces of the extruded film.

A device, and a corresponding method, for supporting and/or guiding a plastics profile in a calibration station and/or other downstream devices, has at least one support unit in the calibration station and/or in at least one of the downstream devices. The support unit has at least one support element, and the support element is disposed on a beam and can be moved in a parallel manner toward or away from the theoretical central axis, the extrusion axis.

An antislip, heat sealable plastic packaging bag, is formed from an antislip flexible packaging material whose wall has an average surface weight of at most 500 g/m.sup.2. The packaging material includes a multiplicity of randomly distributed, separate antislip protrusions of a first substance. The protrusion height is between 50 micrometres and 10000 micrometres, with an average of top-plan-view aspect ratios of the antislip protrusions being at most 5.0. Some antislip protrusions have a hidden surface portion being a portion of a free surface of the antislip protrusion, which the antislip protrusion covers from a viewer in a top plan view of the wall. The first substance is a thermoplastic polymer, and the wall's outer surface is of a substance at least somewhat different from the first substance. It is an important feature that the first substance has a melt mass flow rate of at least 0.6 g/10 min. An apparatus, for producing the packaging material, includes a film blowing die head, a cooling air ring, and a particle dispersing unit therebetween, for dispersing polymer particles on the bubble neck at a place in, or closely under, an expanding area where the bubble has a divergent shape.

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. A liner sheet may be attached to the feedstock sheet prior to, during, or after forming and can be peelable therefrom.

A method of making a flexible medical article or tube, for example, a sheath for a vascular access device, is provided. The method can include extruding a polymer, for example, a polycarbonate-urethane copolymer, to form a tube and annealing the extruded polymer. The method can further include cutting the extruded tube to a desired length before or after annealing, flaring one end of the annealed tube and over-molding the flared portion onto a hub, and forming the other end of the tube into a tip. A sheath formed by such a method is also provided.

A method for manufacturing a blown plastic film using an extruder, the method comprising extruding a tube of polymer resin; cooling air from a temperature of greater than 55 F. down to a temperature between about 35 F. about 50 F., to produce an intermediate cooled air stream; dehumidifying the intermediate cooled air stream to less than about 15% humidity, to produce a dehumidified intermediate cooled air stream; cooling the dehumidified intermediate cooled air stream to less than 35 F., to produce a super-cooled air stream; and directing the super-cooled air stream at the extruded tube of polymer resin.

An air ring has a main body including a plenum through which pressurized air enters the air ring, the main body including a generally circular interior that is unobstructed vertically above the main body. A generally circular forming-cone assembly is received in the generally circular interior of the main body, and includes at least one annular lip defining a passage through which pressurized air from the plenum exits the air ring for impingement upon the polymer tube. A plurality of fasteners secure the forming-cone assembly in the interior of the main body, the fasteners and forming-cone assembly being unobstructed vertically above the air ring, wherein the fasteners are accessible from vertically above the air ring and the forming-cone assembly is removable from the main body by vertical lifting without removal of other components from the air ring.

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing tubular films stretched in-line by blow molding with an extruder, a film blowing line, a lay-flat unit, an oscillating haul-off unit, and a stretching line for monoaxially stretching the film laid flat in machine direction. According to the invention, the stretching line is arranged above the extruder between the lay-flat unit and the oscillating haul-off unit.