Solvay Sa

Unitec S.p.a.

Andrea Zucchelli

Julio A Abusleme

Giambattista Besana

Mattia Bassi

Christine Hamon

Maria Letizia Focarete

Manuel Amadori

Maria Elena Fantoni

Luca Furieri

Marco Marian

Xhoan Papadhimitri

Chiara Gualandi

A unit for transferring horticultural products between at least one tank, in which the horticultural products float on a fluid mass, and at least one collection container, including a head provided with a plurality of walls normally arranged vertically. The head is movable between at least one collection position, in which the walls are interposed between respective horticultural products, which float on the fluid mass at a respective predefined section of the tank, and at least one unloading position, in which the walls face and are proximate to the collection container. In an active configuration, the transverse elements protrude transversely from the space occupation of the walls to ensure mechanical interference with the fall of the horticultural products as a consequence of the subsequent lifting of the head and of its transfer toward said unloading position.

Unit for transferring horticultural products, and related method

The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing one or more fluoropolymer fibers, said process comprising the following steps: (i) providing a liquid composition [composition (C1)] comprising: &#x2014;at least one fluoropolymer comprising at least one hydroxyl end group [polymer (F)L and &#x2014;a liquid medium comprising at least one organic solvent [solvent (S)]; (ii) contacting the composition (C1) provided in step (i) with at least one metal compound [compound (M)] of formula (I) here below: XAY(I) wherein X is a hydrocarbon group, optionally comprising one or more functional groups, m is an integer from 1 to 4, A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti and Zr, and Y is a hydrolysable group selected from the group consisting of an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group and a hydroxyl group, thereby providing a liquid composition [composition (C2)]; (iii) submitting to at least partial hydrolysis and/or polycondensation the composition (C2) provided in step (ii) thereby providing a liquid composition [composition (C3)] comprising at least one fluoropolymer hybrid organic/inorganic composite; (iv) processing the composition (C3) provided in step (iii) by electrospinning thereby providing one or more fluoropolymer fibers; (v) drying the fluoropolymer fiber(s) provided in step (iv); and (vi) optionally, submitting to compression the fluoropolymer fiber(s) provided in step (v) at a temperature comprised between 50&#xb0; C. and 300&#xb0; C. The invention also pertains to a process for the manufacture of said fluoropolymer fiber(s) and to uses of said fluoropolymer fiber(s) in various applications.

Fluoropolymer fibre

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Crevalcore, Italy

Andrea Zucchelli