Carbon fibre precursors for use in the formation of carbon fibre materials. The carbon fibre precursors comprise fibres of polymeric material which have a coating layer thereon, the coating layer comprising a material susceptible to dielectric heating, for example carbon nanotubes. The carbon fibre precursors may be suitable for forming into carbon fibres using a dielectric heating step, despite the fibres of polymeric material not being susceptible to dielectric heating, without adversely affecting the structure and physical properties of the main body of the carbon fibre so formed. A method of preparing a carbon fibre precursor for a carbon fibre formation process and a method forming a carbon fibre are also disclosed.

A fibre drawing method for forming a fibre from a low Young's modulus material.

The present invention relates to a biodegradable container comprising a thermoformable structural layer with tear resistance and low cost, and optionally an adhesive barrier layer, an adhesive active layer and/or a layer in direct contact with the product, all of which are based on biodegradable polymers. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the method for obtaining same and to use thereof for contact, transport and/or storage of perishable products.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

The present invention relates to a multicomponent plastic product comprising at least two different thermoplastic materials, wherein a first thermoplastic material comprises a first thermoplastic polymer, and a second thermoplastic material comprises at least a second thermoplastic polymer and at least one degrading enzyme able to degrade the first thermoplastic polymer. The second thermoplastic material has a transformation temperature lower than the transformation temperature of the first thermoplastic material, and the first and second plastic materials are at least partially adjacent in the multicomponent product.

The invention provides polyester binder fibers comprising: a component comprising polyester and a melting point-reducing additive, wherein at least 80 wt % of the polyester is recycled polyester.

A thermoplastic acrylic resin is provided. The thermoplastic acrylic resin is a graft copolymer in which a stem polymer is an acrylic resin containing acrylonitrile and another ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and a branch polymer is a polymer composed of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The acrylonitrile is contained in an amount of 35 mass % or more and 84.5 mass % or less, the other ethylenically unsaturated monomer is contained in an amount of 15 mass % or more and 64.5 mass % or less, and the polymer composed of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer is contained in an amount of 0.5 mass % or more and 40 mass % or less. Thus, provided are a thermoplastic acrylic resin having improved melt-processability without compromising heat resistance, a method for producing the thermoplastic acrylic resin, a thermoplastic acrylic resin composition, a molded body, an acrylic fiber, and a method for producing the acrylic fiber.

Provided is a hollow fiber membrane that is excellent in water vapor separation performance immediately after production and water vapor separation performance after repeated use with compressed air. A hollow fiber membrane comprising a polyarylate resin, wherein the hollow fiber membrane includes a skin layer on at least one of inner and outer surfaces, has a tensile strength of 7 MPa or more and an elongation at break of 15% or more, and has an internal pressure water permeability of less than 100 L/(m.sup.2.Math.atm/h) as measured using pure water at 25° C.

Provided is a bone fixation material that does not deteriorate in properties even by an electron beam sterilization treatment performed before or during use as a bone fixation material, has fatigue resistance, wear resistance, and dimensional stability at excellent levels, also has biocompatibility, and offers excellent osteoconnectivity. The bone fixation material according to the present invention includes a nonwoven fabric made of PEEK fibers. The bone fixation material according to the present invention preferably has an average pore size of 3 to 280 μm and preferably has a porosity of 15% to 70%. The PEEK fibers preferably have an average fiber diameter of 10 μm or less.

A grafted polyvinyl alcohol polymer has a balance between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. The grafted polyvinyl alcohol polymer has a chemical functionality that allows for adsorption onto the pulp fibers, polymer film formation upon drying, repelling water upon wetting, polymer film swelling and breaking for prolonged wetting by water. When incorporated into paper products, the polymer can provide a paper having improved wet strength, temporary water repellency, and/or is dispersible in aqueous solutions.