Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Calvin Lee Pavlicek

Mark Alan Barger

Joseph Dooley

Sam L Crabtree

Robert E Wrisley

Jeffrey M Robacki

Brian W Walther

Charles F Diehl

Anthony Charles Neubauer

Eung Kyu Kim

Weijun Wang

Mark A Spalding

Disclosed are multilayer film structures having annular profiles, and methods and apparatus of making the structures disclosed. The annular multilayer articles have a uniform thickness, at least four layers and comprise overlapped and non-overlapped circumferential areas; wherein the layer structure of the non-overlapped area is doubled in the overlapped layer. A method of making the structure includes providing a multilayer flow stream with at least four layers of thermoplastic resinous materials; feeding the multilayer flow stream to a distribution manifold of an annular die to form an annular multilayer flow stream; and removing the annular multilayer flow stream from the annular die to form the annular multilayer structure. Also disclosed is an apparatus, comprising: a feedblock, with optional layer multiplier, that provides a multilayer flow stream of at least four layers to the manifold of an annular die; and an annular die having at least one distribution manifold that extrudes a multilayer flow stream.

Multilayer structures having annular profiles

Multilayer structures having annular profiles and methods and apparatus of making the same

A reactive extrusion process for producing an ionomer is disclosed. The process comprising adding a polymer containing a carboxyl functionality to an extruder, then homogenously melting the polymer in a melting zone of the extruder. A first melt seal zone of the extruder is formed to separate the melting zone from an injection zone where an aqueous solution of metallic ions are added to the molten polymer. The first melt seal zone is formed by increasing the pressure in the melt seal zone to a pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the water at any point in the injection zone and the reaction zone. The aqueous solution of metallic ions is then mixed with the polymer containing the carboxyl functionality in a reaction zone of the extruder under conditions such that the metallic ions are substantially reacted with the carboxyl functionality. A pressure build-up zone is formed in the extruder, wherein the pressure build-up zone is located no earlier than at the end of the reaction zone wherein the pressure build-up zone is formed by increasing the pressure to a level such that the aqueous solution of metallic ions remains in the liquid phase for a time sufficient to allow for the desired reaction between the metallic ions and the carboxyl functionality of the polymer.

Process for producing high quality ionomers

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Calvin Lee Pavlicek