The present invention is a flame-retardant polyolefin/thermoplastic polyurethane formulation made from or containing a polyolefin, a thermoplastic polyurethane, and an intumescent, polyphosphate flame retardant composition. The invented system achieves elongations >400% and tensile strengths >1500 psi while the same polyolefin only achieved 100% elongation and <1000 psi tensile strength. Also, the present invention shows improved tape extrusion performance versus a comparable TPU only composition, indicating improved melt rheology/fabrication capability for extrusion applications.

The present invention is a flame-retardant polyolefin/thermoplastic polyurethane formulation made from or containing a polyolefin, a thermoplastic polyurethane, and an intumescent, polyphosphate flame retardant composition. The invented system achieves elongations >400% and tensile strengths >1500 psi while the same polyolefin only achieved 100% elongation and <1000 psi tensile strength. Also, the present invention shows improved tape extrusion performance versus a comparable TPU only composition, indicating improved melt rheology/fabrication capability for extrusion applications.

Membrane systems incorporating silicone polymers are described for use in implantable analyte sensors. Some layers of the membrane system may comprise a blend of a silicone polymer with a hydrophilic polymer, for example, a triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) polymer. Such polymeric blends provide for both high oxygen solubility and aqueous analyte solubility.

Membrane systems incorporating silicone polymers are described for use in implantable analyte sensors. Some layers of the membrane system may comprise a blend of a silicone polymer with a hydrophilic polymer, for example, a triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) polymer. Such polymeric blends provide for both high oxygen solubility and aqueous analyte solubility.

A polyethylene composition having increased environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) is comprised of a polymer blend of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The PEG is present in the polymer blend in an amount of from 0.5 wt. % to 15 wt. % by total weight of the polymer blend. The PEG may have an average molecular weight of from 2000 to 40,000. In a method of forming a polyethylene composition having increased ESCR, a HDPE is modified by combining the HDPE with PEG in a polymer blend, the PEG being present in an amount of from 0.5 wt. % to 15 wt. % by total weight of the polymer blend. The polymer blend can be formed into an article of manufacture, such as a bottle cap.

A polyethylene composition having increased environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) is comprised of a polymer blend of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The PEG is present in the polymer blend in an amount of from 0.5 wt. % to 15 wt. % by total weight of the polymer blend. The PEG may have an average molecular weight of from 2000 to 40,000. In a method of forming a polyethylene composition having increased ESCR, a HDPE is modified by combining the HDPE with PEG in a polymer blend, the PEG being present in an amount of from 0.5 wt. % to 15 wt. % by total weight of the polymer blend. The polymer blend can be formed into an article of manufacture, such as a bottle cap.

Membrane systems incorporating silicone polymers are described for use in implantable analyte sensors. Some layers of the membrane system may comprise a blend of a silicone polymer with a hydrophilic polymer, for example, a triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) polymer. Such polymeric blends provide for both high oxygen solubility and aqueous analyte solubility.

Membrane systems incorporating silicone polymers are described for use in implantable analyte sensors. Some layers of the membrane system may comprise a blend of a silicone polymer with a hydrophilic polymer, for example, a triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) polymer. Such polymeric blends provide for both high oxygen solubility and aqueous analyte solubility.

A foamable poly carbonate composition comprising 5 to 95 wt % of a poly(siloxane) block copolymer comprising a poly(carbonate-siloxane) comprising 50 to 99 wt % of bisphenol A carbonate units and 1 to 50 wt % of dimethylsiloxane units, each based on the weight of the poly(carbonate-siloxane), a poly(ester-carbonate-siloxane) comprising bisphenol A carbonate units, isophthalate-terephthalate-bisphenol A ester units, and 5 to 200 dimethyl siloxane units, or a combination thereof; 5 to 95 wt % of an auxiliary component comprising a poly(alkylene ester), a poly(ester-carbonate), or a combination thereof, and optionally, a homopolycarbonate; optionally, up to 10 wt % of an additive composition, wherein the composition has a glass transition temperature of 140° C. and below measured using differential scanning calorimetry, and wherein a foamed sample of the composition has an average cell size of 10 nanometers to 20 micrometers.

A foamable poly carbonate composition comprising 5 to 95 wt % of a poly(siloxane) block copolymer comprising a poly(carbonate-siloxane) comprising 50 to 99 wt % of bisphenol A carbonate units and 1 to 50 wt % of dimethylsiloxane units, each based on the weight of the poly(carbonate-siloxane), a poly(ester-carbonate-siloxane) comprising bisphenol A carbonate units, isophthalate-terephthalate-bisphenol A ester units, and 5 to 200 dimethyl siloxane units, or a combination thereof; 5 to 95 wt % of an auxiliary component comprising a poly(alkylene ester), a poly(ester-carbonate), or a combination thereof, and optionally, a homopolycarbonate; optionally, up to 10 wt % of an additive composition, wherein the composition has a glass transition temperature of 140° C. and below measured using differential scanning calorimetry, and wherein a foamed sample of the composition has an average cell size of 10 nanometers to 20 micrometers.