The present invention provides, among other things, compositions comprising nanofibrils, at least one maleic-anhydride (MA) copolymer and at least one matrix polymer, and methods of making such compositions. The provided methods and compositions allow for the production of composites with unexpectedly superior properties including improved impact resistance, tensile modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and flexural modulus of elasticity as compared to previously known composites. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including the steps of providing cellulose nanofibrils, associating the cellulose nanofibrils with a maleic-anhydride (MA) copolymer to form a nanofibril-MA copolymer blend, preparing the nanofibril-MA copolymer blend for addition to a matrix polymer, and forming a composite by associating the nanofibril-MA copolymer blend with the matrix polymer, wherein the amount of cellulose nanofibrils in the composite is between 3% and 50% by weight of the composite.

A reinforced polymer composite includes a polymer matrix and a strengthening agent. The strengthening agent includes highly crystalline cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and a stabilizing agent. The crystalline cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) have dimensions of about 3 to 5 nm in width and about 100 to 300 nm in length and a density of about 1.6 g/cm.sup.3 and the stabilizing agent may be one of Boehmite nanoclay (Boe) and Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) or a combination of both.

Described herein is a method for upcycling single use paper cups into value-added products such as loose fibre insulation as well as paper-plastic composite materials which can be tailored to be used for example as construction products such as flooring, decking, siding or cabinet films. This recycling-based technology reduces dependence on petroleum-based materials such as plastic resins for example, for production of flooring, decking and siding of wood-plastic composites with employing recycled paper cup content in composite materials.

A method of producing a thermoplastic resin composition containing a thermoplastic synthetic resin and a cellulose, in which at least one type of the thermoplastic synthetic resin is a resin having a group containing a partial structure of an acid anhydride in the polymer molecule; a molded article of a cellulose-reinforced resin; and a method of producing a molded article of a cellulose-reinforced resin.

A process for producing a precursor material comprising the steps of, agitating a polymer material and a fibre material in a blending device comprising a blending means operating at a velocity sufficient to bring about an increase of the temperature to at least a temperature beyond the VI CAT softening point or within or beyond the melting temperature range of the polymer material. Thereafter, maintaining the velocity of the blending means and, when the specific motor power needed to maintain the velocity of the blending means increases by a predetermined amount or reaches a predetermined value, reducing the velocity. Repeating the previous step as necessary, until the velocity falls below a first threshold value to form an intermediate material. Finally, comminuting the formed intermediate material in a comminuting device comprising a comminuting means operating at a velocity allowing a decrease in temperature, until the temperature falls below a second threshold value.

Fibrous materials, compositions that include fibrous materials, and uses of the fibrous materials and compositions are disclosed. For example, the fibrous materials can be operated on by a microorganism to produce ethanol or a by-product, such as a protein or lignin.

Bio-composite pultruded products (100, 104, 107, 110, 114, 117) either in I profile or Plate profile of higher cross sectional area where said products consisting essentially natural fibres selected from hemp, jute, sisal and. flex as core impregnated with a resin system comprise of at least one resin, curing system comprising a curing agent and an accelerator, a filler, a thinner, pigment or any other additives; encapsulated between bi-directionally and/or uni-directionally oriented synthetic fabric selected from polyester, carbon, aramid, glass, basalt and mixtures thereof impregnated with said resin system are provided. in another bio-composite pultruded products either of I profile or Plate profile of higher cross sectional area where said products consisting of plank of short fibers bagasse premixed with the said resin system as core is enclosed between the natural fibers selected from hemp, jute, sisal and flex impregnated with the resin system which is further enclosed between bi-directionally and/or uni-directionally oriented synthetic fabric selected from polyester, carbon, aramid, glass, basalt and mixtures thereof impregnated with the resin system. The system and method for the preparations of said bio-composite pultruded products, are also illustrated herein. These products lead to a significant reduction in weight and reduction in density with higher stiffness and bending strength. The present bio-composite products are encapsulated by fabrics in the peripheral area brings more integrity uniformity of jute materials. This leads to a significant cost reduction in a without sacrificing much tensile strength.

A sheet manufacturing method includes defibrating a defibration object into a defibrated material in the atmosphere, mixing, in the atmosphere, additive agents including resin into the defibrated material that has been defibrated, adding moisture to a mixture of the defibrated material and the additive agents after the mixing is completed, and heating the mixture that has been moisture-added.

To provide a resin molding and a method for producing the same.

Provided is a resin molding in which two types of substrates have a connection part constituted of a thin part provided from the one substrate to the other substrate with a boundary defined by end surfaces of the respective substrates, wherein the density of the one substrate in the connection part is higher than the density of a base part excluding the connection part. The resin molding can have a configuration in which the one substrate is a plate-like substrate including reinforcing fibers and a first thermoplastic resin binding the reinforcing fibers to each other and the other substrate is an injection-molded member connected along the plate face direction of the one substrate from an end surface of the one substrate. Moreover, it is preferred that the connection part have, on the side thereof closer to the other substrate, a section gradually thinned from a position at which the connection part extends and the connection interface be located at an intermediate part of the part that is gradually thinned. It is preferred that the reinforcing fibers be plant fibers, such as kenaf.

To provide a resin molding and a method for producing the same.

A resin molding includes a plate-like substrate including reinforcing fibers and a first thermoplastic resin binding the reinforcing fibers to each other, and an extension part that is constituted of an injection-molded member and is extended from an end surface of the substrate along the plate face direction of the substrate. It is preferred that the reinforcing fibers be plant fibers, such as kenaf. It is preferred that the substrate and the extension part be connected flush to each other on, of the one surface and the other surface of the connection part of the substrate and the extension part, at least the side of one surface. Moreover, the extension part may further be provided with a plate-like part that constitutes an outer edge part of the resin molding and forms a shape involute toward the other surface. The method for producing a resin molding includes a shaping step of shaping the substrate and an extension part formation step of forming the extension part by injection-molding.