In a first embodiment, a coal treatment process includes exposing a material comprising coal to ionic liquid(s) to form a first mixture, isolating a residue from the first mixture, forming a second mixture comprising the residue, and electrospinning the second mixture to form a carbon fiber precursor material. In a second embodiment, a coal treatment process includes exposing a material comprising coal to ionic liquid(s) to form a mixture comprising solids and a liquid fraction, separating and filtering the liquid fraction from the mixture, and isolating one or more compounds from the liquid fraction. In a third embodiment, a coal treatment process includes exposing a material comprising coal to ionic liquid(s) to form a first mixture comprising residues, exposing the first mixture to (a) an acid, (b) a solvent, or (c) both to form a second mixture, and isolating rare earth elements and rare earth element compounds.

The present invention relates to a polyolefin fiber comprising polymeric structures, wherein the polymeric structures individually comprise a polycondensate and a functionalized polymer, and the polyolefin fiber is a gel-spun high-performance polyethylene fiber that has a tenacity of at least 1 N/tex. The polymeric structures are immiscible with and dispersed in the polyethylene fiber. The gel-spun high-performance polyethylene fiber is a gel-spun ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber. The present invention further relates to a process for making the polyolefin fiber comprising the steps of: melt-mixing the polycondensate or a polycondensate containing at least one additive, the functionalized polymer, and optionally the thermoplastic polymer and/or the at least one additive, to form polymeric structures; mixing polyolefin powder, the polymeric structures and a solvent to form a mixture; and spinning and drawing the mixture obtained in step ii) to form the polyolefin fiber comprising the polymeric structures.

The present invention relates to a polyolefin fiber comprising polymeric structures, wherein the polymeric structures individually comprise a polycondensate and a functionalized polymer, and the polyolefin fiber is a gel-spun high-performance polyethylene fiber that has a tenacity of at least 1 N/tex. The polymeric structures are immiscible with and dispersed in the polyethylene fiber. The gel-spun high-performance polyethylene fiber is a gel-spun ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber. The present invention further relates to a process for making the polyolefin fiber comprising the steps of: melt-mixing the polycondensate or a polycondensate containing at least one additive, the functionalized polymer, and optionally the thermoplastic polymer and/or the at least one additive, to form polymeric structures; mixing polyolefin powder, the polymeric structures and a solvent to form a mixture; and spinning and drawing the mixture obtained in step ii) to form the polyolefin fiber comprising the polymeric structures.

The invention discloses a method for preparing wheat gluten nanofibers, which comprises steps of: (1) dissolving wheat gluten and glycerol monolaurate in a solvent to obtain a spinning solution; the solvent is an aqueous acetic acid solution; a volume percentage concentration of the aqueous acetic acid solution is 40-60%; in the spinning solution, a mass percentage concentration of wheat gluten is 20-30%; (2) carrying out electrospinning with the spinning solution to obtain wheat gluten nanofibers. The wheat gluten nanofibers of the present invention have water stability and antibacterial function, and are obtained by electrospinning with wheat gluten as a raw material, so the wheat gluten nanofibers have good biocompatibility and biodegradability.

Ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials are a desired solution for lightweight and high temperature applications. CMC materials can be reinforced with polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) fibers, which advantageously possess intrinsic thermal stability and high mechanical strength. Carbon-rich SiOC and SiOCN fibers were synthesized via hand-drawing and electrospinning polymer pyrolysis of a hybrid precursor materials with the aid of a spinning reagent. The prepared fibers are crosslinked and pyrolyzed for polymer-to-ceramic conversion.

Ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials are a desired solution for lightweight and high temperature applications. CMC materials can be reinforced with polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) fibers, which advantageously possess intrinsic thermal stability and high mechanical strength. Carbon-rich SiOC and SiOCN fibers were synthesized via hand-drawing and electrospinning polymer pyrolysis of a hybrid precursor materials with the aid of a spinning reagent. The prepared fibers are crosslinked and pyrolyzed for polymer-to-ceramic conversion.

A method of manufacturing artificial turf creating a liquid polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a two-phase system. A first one of the phases includes a first polymer and a first dye, and a second one of the phases of the polymer mixture includes a second polymer and a second dye. The second dye has a different color than the first dye, the second polymer being of the same or of a different type as the first polymer. The first and the second phase are immiscible, the first phase forming polymer beads within the second phase. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament including a marbled pattern of the first and second color; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber; and incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.

A method of manufacturing artificial turf creating a liquid polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a two-phase system. A first one of the phases includes a first polymer and a first dye, and a second one of the phases of the polymer mixture includes a second polymer and a second dye. The second dye has a different color than the first dye, the second polymer being of the same or of a different type as the first polymer. The first and the second phase are immiscible, the first phase forming polymer beads within the second phase. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament including a marbled pattern of the first and second color; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber; and incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.

Elasticized nonwoven laminates including high recovery power polyurethane elastic fiber, articles of manufacture with these elasticized nonwoven laminates and methods for production of the elasticized laminates and articles of manufacture are provided.

A method for making crystalline graphite composite includes the following steps: additives are dry blended with a melt-flowable polylignin to form a blend. The blend is heated to create a melted flowable polylignin with the additives dispersed therein. The melted flowable polylignin is then solidified to a grindable form or to a shaped article of polylignin with dispersed additives, after which sufficient heat is provided to thermoset and carbonize the polylignin with dispersed additives. Additional heat is then provided to graphitize the carbonized polylignin and form a crystalline graphite matrix with uniformly dispersed additives.