A polymer optical fiber is provided which shows improved hydrolytic stability. This fiber comprises a polymeric optical core and cladding layer, surrounded by a polymeric overcladding layer which comprises a miscible blend of one or more hydrolytically stable amorphous polymers. By varying the ratios of the component polymers in the overcladding blend, the glass transition temperature and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the overcladding layer may be tuned to optimize the attenuation and bandwidth of the plastic optical fiber.

Provided is a copolymer which has a mass average molecular weight (Mw) of 240,000 or greater and 3,500,000 or less, a structural unit derived from an acrylate (B1) and a structural unit derived from aromatic vinyl (B2), and a branched structure.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing high-melt-strength polylactide resin by two-step reaction, which comprises the following steps: mixing polylactide resin and GMA to obtain a premix; mixing multifunctional reactive monomer, a peroxide initiator and organic solvent to obtain a monomer mixture; and adding the premix and the monomer mixture into a screw extruder in sections, after melting, blending, extruding, cooling, pelletizing and drying to obtain a high melt strength polylactide resin. The method of the present invention has a simple production process, can be adapted to large-scale industrial production, the graft modification reaction is rapid and controllable, and the obtained product is safe without residue and high in purity. The high-melt-strength polylactide resin has a low melt flow index, high complex viscosity and storage modulus, and is a green polymer material with wide application prospects.

A chaff resistant and economically recyclable dunnage tray is disclosed. In one aspect, the dunnage tray includes a base portion formed from a first material and a top portion formed from a second material. The top portion is secured to the base portion, and defines at least one cavity or recess for supporting a machine component. The first and second materials are high density polyethylene (HDPE) materials with the second material including polyethylene elastomers, or plastomers. In one example, the dunnage tray is formed by thermoforming a co-extruded sheet including a first layer corresponding to the bottom structural portion and a second layer corresponding to the elastomer or plastomer portion. In one example, the dunnage tray is formed by thermoforming an extruded sheet to form the base portion and by attaching separately formed top portions with polyethylene elastomers, or plastomers to the thermoformed base portion. This invention provides solutions to chaffing or chipping of polyethylene dunnage trays, control of coefficient of friction and softness to minimize parts from sliding/abrading dunnage surfaces, and eliminates requirements for disassembly of dunnage trays and separation of materials prior to recycling.

A planetary extruder for producing and processing polymers includes a degassing section. The extruder includes a housing and a bushing arranged therein. The bushing has an internal toothing with a pitch diameter and a root circle. An externally toothed central spindle is arranged within the housing. Planetary spindles rotate about the central spindle between the central spindle and the bushing. A heat transfer fluid is guided through fluid channels which extend helically along an outer surface of the bushing and guide the heat transfer fluid axially. A degassing opening is provided to which a negative pressure is applied for degassing. A minimum radial thickness (t) of the bushing between the root circle of the internal toothing on an inside of the bushing and a bottom of the fluid channels on an outside of the bushing is selected based on the pitch diameter (d) of the internal toothing.

An extrusion apparatus includes a diagnostic system with a material processing section and an extruder screw disposed for rotation in a barrel and surrounded by a shroud assembly. The apparatus includes a temperature control system with heater sand cooler. The apparatus includes a speed control apparatus that has a drive unit and a speed variation device that is coupled to the extruder screw. The apparatus includes a diagnostic system in communication with the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus. The diagnostic system includes a sensor system in communication with the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus; and a computer processor in communication with the sensor system and a computer. The computer processor includes a computer readable medium that employs one or more algorithms and that are executable by the computer to generate signals characterizing performance of the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus.

A fractional lobe processor comprises a barrel with heating and cooling means having two parallel intersecting bores of equal diameter, wherein the centre distance between the two bores is lesser than the diameter of the bore; a shaft coupled with a plurality of screw elements to form a screw within each bore, wherein the screws are intermeshing and form at least three zones within the barrel, the zones comprising an intake zone comprising at least one deep flighted shovel element on each intermeshing screw for receiving a feed comprising an active substance and/or an excipient, a melt zone consisting of only fractional lobe elements for melting the active substance and/or an excipient to form a viscous mass or melt, and a discharge zone, wherein the melt zone is located before the discharge zone and after the intake zone; and wherein the melt zone has a plurality of fractional lobe elements on each shaft.

The present invention concerns a chemical mechanical polishing pad having a polishing layer. The polishing layer contains an extruded sheet. The extruded sheet is prepared by extruding a compounded photopolymerizable composition followed by exposure to UV light.

A laminate comprising: a gas barrier layer (I) comprising a modified starch (A) having an average amylose content of 45% by mass or more and a water-soluble polymer (B); and a substrate (II) adjacent to the gas barrier layer (I), wherein the laminate exhibits a degree of biodegradation of 80% or more in a biodegradability test in accordance with ISO 14855-1.

The present disclosure provides processes for producing polyethylene resins. In at least one embodiment, a polyethylene has: a density of from about 0.91 g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.94 g/cm.sup.3; a value of Mz of about 1,500,000 g/mol or greater; and a ratio of Mz to Mw of about 7 or greater. A process includes introducing a first feed stream having ethylene monomer and a first free radical initiator to a first inlet of a first reaction zone, where the first reaction zone has a first inlet temperature. The process further includes introducing a second feed stream having ethylene monomer and a second free radical initiator to a second inlet of a second reaction zone, where the second reaction zone has a second inlet temperature that is the same or different than the first inlet temperature.