A method for forming foamed beads includes: saturating pellets with a blowing agent to form saturated pellets; and depressurizing the saturated pellets in a pressure vessel to form the foamed beads. The pellets include: a matrix polymer component, and from 0.01 wt% to 2 wt%, based on the weight of the pellets, of a nanostructured fluoropolymer, a nanostructured fluoropolymer encapsulated by an encapsulating polymer, or a combination thereof.

Provided is a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane in which an absolute value of a difference in lightness between one principal surface and the other principal surface is 1.0 or more, where the lightness is lightness L* of CIE 1976 (L*, a*, b*) color space specified in JIS Z8781-4: 2013. The porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane may be colored black or gray. The porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane provided can have properties with a reduced coloring-induced deterioration.

A system and method for manufacturing composite parts has been developed which offers the ability to produce composite parts in an infusion resin process without the use of expensive preforms or tools. In addition, the methods of manufacturing composite parts described herein offer the ability to produce composite parts having complex structures without the need for complex tooling. The method of manufacturing and systems described herein typically include printing a part skeleton using an additive manufacturing process followed by infusing the part skeleton with resin and curing the resin infused part skeleton to form the composite part.

A system for producing a homogenous extrudate powder coating composition having predetermined properties, the system comprising a color library database that is configured to store one or more input formulation data objects capable of use in controlling the inputs and operation of an electronically controlled homogenous extrudate mixer.

A method for bonding thermoplastic fiber-composite parts comprises providing surface texture on one or both parts being bonded, and/or providing both parts with engagement features. Such surface textures and engagement features have a specific geometry and fiber alignment that facilitate fibrous interlock between the two parts at a bonding interface via in-situ consolidation.

A method for bonding thermoplastic fiber-composite parts comprises providing surface texture on one or both parts being bonded, and/or providing both parts with engagement features. Such surface textures and engagement features have a specific geometry and fiber alignment that facilitate fibrous interlock between the two parts at a bonding interface via in-situ consolidation.

Thin PTFE layers are described having little or no node and fibril microstructure and methods of manufacturing PTFE layers are disclosed that allow for controllable permeability and porosity of the layers. In some embodiments, the PTFE layers may act as a barrier layer in an endovascular graft or other medical device.

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes the steps of forming an inner layer of a first polymeric material, forming a plait matrix layer including a second polymeric material about the inner layer, and forming an outer layer of a third polymeric material about the plait matrix layer. The plait matrix layer includes a braided wire mesh partially or fully embedded within the second polymeric material, which is different from at least one of the first polymeric material forming the inner layer and the third polymeric material forming the outer layer. The second polymeric material has a higher yield strain and/or a lower hardness than at least the first polymeric material, and preferably both the first and the third polymeric materials. The first polymeric material and the third polymeric material may be different or the same. The catheter shaft may be formed by stepwise extrusion, co-extrusion, and/or reflow processes.

A method of manufacturing a covered stent is disclosed. The method includes winding a first PTFE tape around a cylinder body of a jig, winding a second PTFE tape around a stent including the jig fitted therein, heating the stent in an oven, fitting the stent into upper and lower elastic members, fitting the elastic members into a mold, pressing the upper elastic member to bond the PTFE tapes to each other and to thus form a first film at a cylindrical body of the stent, taking the elastic members out of the mold, taking the stent out of the elastic members, removing the jig from the stent, forming a silicone coating layer at an expansion portion of the stent, and sewing the spaces in the expansion portion, the second PTFE tape, and the silicone coating layer to form a second film at the expansion portion.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.