| abstract |
The manufacture of a signal transmission tube (10a) comprising a polymeric tube (12) having an interior surface (14) with a thin layer of reactive material (18) disposed on the interior surface (14) is rendered more efficient and less costly by the use of reclaim polymeric material obtained from pre-existing signal transmission tubes. The reclaim material is obtained by deactivating the pre-existing tube, e.g., by initiating a signal in the tube to deactivate the reactive material. Alternatively, deactivation may be achieved by thermally degrading the reactive material or physically removing the material from the interior of the pre-existing tube. The reclaim material is then used to extrude the new tube (12), reducing the consumption of virgin polymeric material. When the reclaim material is obtained from a multi-layered tube, it may comprise a blend of polymeric materials and may advantageously be used as a tie layer (26) between layers (20', 24') that comprise materials present in the blend. |