The invention relates to a method for producing a biodegradable thermoplastic starch-based article intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. In this method, the semi-crystalline starch granules are transformed into a homogeneous and almost amorphous material, called thermoplastic starch, by the addition of plasticizers at high temperatures and under shear. Thermoplastic starch is modified with organic acid during melt processing to prevent the retrogradation of starch. Moreover, cellulose derivatives are used as the reinforcement filler of thermoplastic starch. The article is produced using hot-pressing and then coating by immersion in a waterproofing solution.

An ear plug includes an elongated body sized and shaped to be partially inserted into an ear canal of a wearer, in which the body includes a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) polymer foam material having a Poisson's ratio of between 0 and −1. A mouth guard includes an arc-shaped element sized to be received into a mouth of a wearer. The arc-shaped element has an outer wall, an inner wall, and a biting wall connecting the outer wall and the inner wall. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the biting wall define a channel that is sized to receive upper teeth of the wearer or lower teeth of the wearer. The outer wall, the biting wall, or both includes a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) material having a Poisson's ratio between 0 and −1.

An electronic device of the present invention comprises: an exterior housing including a first surface facing a first direction, and a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction; a display of which at least a part is exposed through the first surface; and a polymer plate which forms at least a part of the second surface of the housing. The polymer plate comprises: at least one opaque layer; at least one polymer layer that is translucent or transparent and is disposed on the at least one opaque layer; and a coating layer that is disposed on the at least one polymer layer and has a hardness greater than or equal to a selected hardness. Each of the at least one opaque layer, the at least one polymer layer, and the coating layer may comprise a first surface, and a second surface extending from the first surface so that at least a part thereof is bent. Other embodiments are also possible.

Provided is a sheet molding compound having excellent thick portion-molding properties that can inhibit the occurrence of internal cracks even during the molding of a thick portion and enables a carbon fiber composite material molded article to be excellently released from a die. Also provided is a carbon fiber composite material molded article. The sheet molding compound of the present invention contains a fiber substrate (A) containing carbon fiber and a thermosetting resin composition (B), in which an average fiber length of the carbon fiber is 5 mm or more, and a volumetric molding shrinkage rate of the thermosetting resin composition (B) is 0.5% or more and 4.4% or less. Furthermore, the carbon fiber composite material molded article of the present invention has a thick portion having a thickness of 10 mm or more, in which the thick portion is formed of a cured material of the sheet molding compound of the present invention.

Described is a rosin press system for extracting rosin (oil) from plant material. The rosin press system includes a male plate with a male protrusion and a female plate formed to matingly receive the male protrusion. The plates can be heated such that when plant material is pressed between the plates, rosin is pressed from the plant material and allowed to drain from a drain hole positioned at the middle of the female plate.

A guidance system for a slide assembly for a mold for a plastic and/or silicone processing machine is presented. The processing machine comprises at least two mold halves with at least one slide assembly mounted to at least one mold half. The slide assembly is movable parallel to the plane of the parting line of the two mold halves and generally perpendicular to the direction of the plane of separation of the two mold halves after a part has been formed. The slide assembly comprises a carrier for holding cavity forming parts, gibs that secure the carrier to the mold half, and a series of rollers arranged to engage with the carrier such that the rollers roll with the movement of the carrier parallel to the parting line of the two mold halves. The rollers do not bear any of the compression force used to press the two mold halves together.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a molded body from a waste material including at least one of food waste and seaweed, the method comprising: preparing dry powder made from at least the waste material; and forming a molded body by pressurizing the dry powder in a state in which the dry powder is heated to a predetermined temperature.

Molded articles are disclosed herein, the molded article comprising a polysaccharide, wherein the polysaccharide comprises i) poly alpha-1,3-glucan; ii) poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan; iii) a graft copolymer that comprises (A) a backbone comprising dextran with a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of at least about 100000 Daltons, and (B) poly alpha-1,3-glucan side chains comprising at least about 95% alpha-1,3-glucosidic linkages; or iv) a composition comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ester compound as disclosed herein. Optionally, the molded articles can further comprise a plasticizer and/or starch. The molded articles can be useful as a container, a handle, packaging, a tray, a bottle, a cup, a sheet, a disposable food packaging item, an automotive part, a casing for an electronic device, or a toy.

The disclosure is to improve quality of a processed molded product. A processing apparatus is a processing apparatus for a composite material in which fibers and a thermoplastic resin are compounded. The processing apparatus includes a heating device configured to heat the composite material to a temperature higher than or equal to the melting point of the resin contained in the composite material; a mold configured to press the composite material; and a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust the temperature of the mold. While the mold presses the composite material, the temperature adjustment unit maintains the temperature of the mold at a predetermined temperature at which a time required for solidification of the resin contained in the composite material matches a desired time.

A method of manufacturing a medical component includes molding a first member of the medical component from an elastomeric material. The first member includes a first end defined by a closed base wall, an opposing second end which is an open end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an internal recess to receive at least one electronic device. The method further includes positioning the electronic device within the recess of the first member to form an assembly, such that the electronic device is received in an inverted open cavity defined by the sidewall. The method further includes applying a protective film on the second end of the first member, such that the protective film covers an exposed surface of the electronic device. In addition, the method includes overmolding the assembly with the elastomeric material to form the medical component having the electronic device embedded therein.