This disclosure relates to an article (e.g., a vapor-permeable, substantially water-impermeable multilayer article) that includes a nonwoven substrate and a film supported by the nonwoven substrate. The film includes a polyolefin, a nanoclay, and a pore-forming filler.

Extrusion-to-sheet production line and method comprise first and second rolls set to a predetermined gap through which a continuously-extruded sheet of molten plastic material passes to calender the sheet to a predetermined thickness. The sheet passes through a nip formed between the second roll and a continuous belt looped around a third roll and a fourth roll. The belt comprises an embossing pattern of optical element shapes that is an inverse pattern of optical element shapes to be embossed at a first major surface of the sheet. The sheet remains in contact with the second roll until the sheet passes through the nip, where the pattern of optical element shapes on the belt is embossed into the first major surfaces of the sheet. Downstream of the third roll is a cooling area through which the belt passes.

Extrusion-to-sheet production line and method comprise first and second rolls set to a predetermined gap through which a continuously-extruded sheet of molten plastic material passes to calender the sheet to a predetermined thickness. The sheet passes through a nip formed between the second roll and a continuous belt looped around a third roll and a fourth roll. The belt comprises an embossing pattern of optical element shapes that is an inverse pattern of optical element shapes to be embossed at a first major surface of the sheet. The sheet remains in contact with the second roll until the sheet passes through the nip, where the pattern of optical element shapes on the belt is embossed into the first major surfaces of the sheet. Downstream of the third roll is a cooling area through which the belt passes.

Method of making a polymeric multilayer films (115) having an array of openings by coextrusion. Embodiments of polymeric multilayer films made as described herein are useful, for example, filtration and acoustic absorption.

Multi-layer films include at least one cavitated core layer that is microporous and breathable, and at least one skin layer. The cavitated core layer includes a polyolefin and an inorganic filler dispersed in the polyolefin. Methods for forming polymeric films and articles of manufacture prepared therefrom are described.

The present invention provides: a fiber-reinforced resin sheet that exhibits a higher tensile strength; and a method for manufacturing said fiber-reinforced resin sheet. The fiber-reinforced resin sheet comprises: multiple reinforcing fibers that are arranged so as to be oriented in one direction; and a thermoplastic resin with which the reinforcing fibers are impregnated. A coefficient of variation of the standard deviation of orientation angles of the multiple reinforcing fibers is 17.0% or less.

A calendering and stretching plant for producing a stretched mono-material polymer film, including a flat extrusion head placed upstream of a calender, and a stretching unit placed downstream of the calender. The calender includes at least a pair of calendering rollers, including a first calendering roller, or casting roller, and a second calendering roller. or pressing roller. The flat extrusion head is placed at an operating distance X from the calender of between 100 mm and 1000 mm with reference thicknesses of between 500 micron and 50 microns. The greater the thickness, the smaller is the distance X and vice-versa. The casting roller and the pressing roller are provided with a controlled cooling/heating system.

This method for producing a crystalline resin sheet includes press-rolling a sheet-shaped molten crystalline resin composition between a pair of pinch rolls. The crystalline resin composition includes a crystalline resin and a soluble nucleating agent. When the radius of the pair of pinch rolls is denoted by R, the average thickness of the sheet after press-rolling is denoted by L, and the sheet take-up speed in the pair of pinch rolls is denoted by V, an adjustment is performed so as to control the average elongational strain rate (R, L, V) in the sheet elongation direction represented by a specific formula to be more than 30 s.sup.1 but no more than 80 s.sup.1.

A plant produces plastic films subjected to stretching. The plant includes a flat extrusion head made of polyethylene-based plastic material, first and second rollers forming a rolling press, and a third cooling/stabilizing roller. Molten plastic material/melt exiting the flat head passes through the first and second rollers before being directed onto the third cooling/stabilizing roller. The extrusion head has a width of 1,000-5,000 mm, the first and second rollers each have a diameter of 200-800 mm. The third roller has a diameter of 400-1,000 mm. The first and second rollers are made of ferrous material, with a conductive heat transfer coefficient of at least 15 W/(mK). The ferrous material is a construction steel with a chrome-plated and mirror-polished surface, having a roughness (Ra)<1 m, copper coatings, or coatings having thermal-conductivity and surface-roughness values corresponding to the rollers. The first and/or second roller has a deformable and non-stick coating.