Gas-permeable barrier films include a polyolefin and an inorganic filler dispersed in the polyolefin. Methods for forming polymeric films and articles of manufacture prepared therefrom are described.

A method of recycling a PET-containing material comprises: (1) providing a polymer crystallizer comprising at least one heating element, and at least one blower; (2) providing an MRS extruder having an MRS section comprising a plurality of satellite screws; (3) providing a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the MRS section; (4) grinding and washing the PET-containing material; (5) heating the PET-containing material in the crystallizer to at least partially dry the PET-containing material; (6) shearing the PET-containing material in the MRS extruder to produce a PET-containing melt; (7) increasing a surface area of the PET-containing melt by distributing the PET-containing melt across a plurality of satellite screws in the MRS extruder; (8) drawing off vapors from the PET-containing melt by reducing the pressure in the MRS section with the vacuum pump; (9) collating the PET-containing melt in the MRS extruder; and (10) extruding a recycled PET-containing material.

A ram extrusion apparatus including a die having several thermal zones, a hopper for introducing a granular polymer resin to the die, and a ram for moving the granular polymer resin through the thermal zones of the die and out from an outlet end thereof at a temperature above the crystalline melt temperature of the polymer resin. The hopper may be designed to deliver the polymer resin into a resin inlet of the die in a plurality of specifically metered amounts which may vary across a width of the resin inlet end of the die. The apparatus may further include one or more finishing tables positioned after the outlet end of the die for receiving and moving the extruded resin away from the outlet end of the die so that there is no backpressure on the extruded resin, and which provide compression force and even cooling to the extruded resin.

A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) washing a plurality of flakes of recycled PET; (B) providing a PET crystallizer; (C) after the step of washing the plurality of flakes, passing the plurality of flakes of recycled PET through the PET crystallizer; (D) at least partially melting the plurality of flakes into a polymer melt; (E) providing a multi-rotating screw (MRS) extruder having an MRS section; and a vacuum pump in communication with the MRS section; (F) using the vacuum pump to reduce a pressure within the MRS Section; (G) after the step of passing the plurality of flakes through the PET crystallizer, passing the polymer melt through the MRS Section; and (H) after the step of passing the polymer melt through the MRS extruder, forming the polymer melt into bulked continuous carpet filament.

Gas-permeable barrier films include a polyolefin and an inorganic filler dispersed in the polyolefin. Methods for forming polymeric films and articles of manufacture prepared therefrom are described.

A medical tube includes a distal portion provided on one end side having a first outer diameter, a first inner diameter, and a first thickness; a proximal portion provided on the other end side having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter, and a second thickness greater than the first thickness; and an intermediate portion provided between the distal portion and the proximal portion and having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, and a thickness which gradually vary. Thus, a medical tube is provided having improved operability and which reduces the likelihood of bending during an operation.

A customizable polyamide polymer, in particular Nylon 66, Nylon 6, and copolyamides, having a high molecular weight, excellent color, and low gel content is disclosed. In particular, disclosed is a polymer having a relative viscosity greater than 50 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution; consistent viscosity with a standard deviation of less than 1; a gel content no greater than 50 ppm as measured by insolubles larger than 10 micron; an optical defect content of less than 2,000 parts per million (ppm) as measured by optical control system (OCS). The polymer can be made into monofilaments or a multifilament yarn.

The invention relates to a gluing process of an adhesive composition with the use of a gluing nozzle having an extrusion die for continuous extrusion of an adhesive composition over a predetermined width, the extrusion die (20) comprising a lower lip (22) and an upper lip (24), the upper and lower lips (24, 22) extending parallel to one another so as to form a transverse channel (28) for the longitudinal flow of the adhesive composition, the transverse channel extending longitudinally between: a supply opening (30) for supplying the adhesive composition; and an extrusion outlet (34) for extrusion of the adhesive composition (34); the channel (28) comprising a concave volume (32) for relaxation of the adhesive composition between the supply opening (30) and the gluing outlet (34).

A method of producing a film in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: a first kneading and forming step of forming a composition obtained by kneading a polyolefin resin and a plasticizer; a stretching step of stretching the composition; a composition cleaning step of immersing the composition in a cleaning solvent and removing the plasticizer; a separation step of separating, from the cleaning solvent which has been used in the cleaning step, the plasticizer which has been eluted in the cleaning solvent; and a second kneading and forming step of forming a composition obtained by kneading a polyolefin resin and the plasticizer which has been separated in the separation step.

A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) washing a plurality of flakes of recycled PET; (B) providing a PET crystallizer; (C) after the step of washing the plurality of flakes, passing the plurality of flakes of recycled PET through the PET crystallizer; (D) at least partially melting the plurality of flakes into a polymer melt; (E) providing a multi-rotating screw (MRS) extruder having an MRS section; and a vacuum pump in communication with the MRS section; (F) using the vacuum pump to reduce a pressure within the MRS Section; (G) after the step of passing the plurality of flakes through the PET crystallizer, passing the polymer melt through the MRS Section; and (H) after the step of passing the polymer melt through the MRS extruder, forming the polymer melt into bulked continuous carpet filament.