A composite material and process for forming composite material. The composite material comprises a quantity of plastinated plant distributed within a matrix material. The process comprises separating a plant material into plant fibers plastinating the plant fibers and combining the plastinated plant fibers with a matrix material. The plant fibers may be selected form the group consisting of bamboo, hemp and flax. The plant fibers may be formed by crushing a portion of a plant. The matrix material may comprise Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). The PET may be shredded and heated. The heated composite material may be formed into rebar and be arranged in a pattern within a concrete slurry.

A synthetic turf field includes a top layer of synthetic turf material, and a coconut crumb infill under the synthetic turf material. An infill material is made of coconut crumb material from inner shells of coconuts, the crumbs having a sized range of less than 10 millimeters.

Coconut crumb can serve as an infill material on synthetic turf fields in the place of tire crumb. The crumbs are less than 10 mm big and have smooth corners and edges. The process of producing the coconut crumb involves successive grinding or milling processes that reduce the inner hard shell of the coconut to particles of an appropriate size for infill, while screening out the unwanted material from being included in the infill.

Systems and methods for removing material, e.g., linters, from seeds, e.g., ginned cottonseeds, are provided. The systems and methods involve rotating the seeds in a rotatable drum having a plurality of longitudinal brushes. The centrifugal force created by the rotation of the drum and the plurality of longitudinal brushes urge the seeds against an interior surface of the drum that is lined with brushes or the like. In this way, work is performed that removes the material from the exterior of the seeds. A pre-conditioner may be used to prepare the seeds for introduction and a linter off-take chute may be used to remove linters. Other embodiments are presented.

Systems and methods for removing material, e.g., linters, from seeds, e.g., ginned cottonseeds, are provided. The systems and methods involve rotating the seeds in a rotatable drum having a plurality of longitudinal brushes. The centrifugal force created by the rotation of the drum and the plurality of longitudinal brushes urge the seeds against an interior surface of the drum that is lined with brushes or the like. In this way, work is performed that removes the material from the exterior of the seeds. A pre-conditioner may be used to prepare the seeds for introduction and a linter off-take chute may be used to remove linters. Other embodiments are presented.

This application provides, at least in part, a fiber refining machine and a method of using the same. The fiber refining machine includes a fiber feeding assembly, a rotary brush assembly and a rotary cutter assembly. The fiber feeding assembly comprises a feeding nip formed between a rotatable roll a nose bar and configured to feed a fibrous material through the nip. The rotary brush assembly includes a wire wheel positionable downstream of the feeding nip and configurable to comb the fed fibrous material to remove connective tissue and/or resinous coating therefrom and to separate the combed fibrous material into individual fibers. The rotary cutter assembly includes at least one rotatable knife and a stationary anvil, the rotary cutter assembly configurable to receive and cut the separated individual fibers into predetermined lengths.

This application provides, at least in part, a fiber refining machine and a method of using the same. The fiber refining machine includes a fiber feeding assembly, a rotary brush assembly and a rotary cutter assembly. The fiber feeding assembly comprises a feeding nip formed between a rotatable roll a nose bar and configured to feed a fibrous material through the nip. The rotary brush assembly includes a wire wheel positionable downstream of the feeding nip and configurable to comb the fed fibrous material to remove connective tissue and/or resinous coating therefrom and to separate the combed fibrous material into individual fibers. The rotary cutter assembly includes at least one rotatable knife and a stationary anvil, the rotary cutter assembly configurable to receive and cut the separated individual fibers into predetermined lengths.

A method and system for the production of fibers for use in biocomposites is provided that includes the ability to use both retted and unretted straw, that keeps the molecular structure of the fibers intact by subjecting the fibers to minimal stress, that maximizes the fiber's aspect ratio, that maximizes the strength of the fibers, and that minimizes time and energy inputs, along with maintaining the fibers in good condition for bonding to the polymer(s) used with the fibers to form the biocomposite material. This consequently increases the functionality of the biocomposites produced (i.e. reinforcement, sound absorption, light weight, heat capacity, etc.), increasing their marketability. Additionally, as the disclosed method does not damage the fibers, oilseed flax straw, as well as all types of fibrous materials (i.e. fiber flax, banana, jute, industrial hemp, sisal, coir) etc., can be processed in bio composite materials.

The present invention is directed to plant fiber-reinforced biocomposite thermoplastic and/or resin compositions and a method for reinforcing thermoplastic resins. The present invention provides a use for the cellulose portion of a plant material, which is the portion left over after processing the selected plant materials to separate the cellulose in a mechanical process that does not damage the internal molecular structure of the cellulose fraction, enabling the cellulose fraction to chemically bond with the thermoplastic resin to enhance the reinforcement of the resin or thermoplastic biocomposite composition.

A bladeless trimmer is used for trimming or harvesting plant and animal matter. The bladeless trimmer includes a tumbling receptacle, a base table, and an axle. The base table includes a support frame and a plurality of legs. The support frame braces the tumbling receptacle, while the plurality of legs elevates the tumbling receptacle so that the tumbling receptacle is free to rotate unimpeded. The tumbling receptacle is used to hold and trim plant or animal matter. The tumbling receptacle includes a first plate, a second plate, and a receptacle net. The first plate and the second plate are mounted onto the axle which rotates on the support frame. Together, the first plate, the second plate, and the receptacle net form an enclosure for holding items. At least one receptacle scraper is mounted to the support frame and is used to aid in trimming items by contacting the receptacle net.