Example approaches are disclosed for manufacturing composite or fiber reinforcement preforms. Liquid, fibrous, binding and potentially other materials are mixed into a composite mixture slurry in a slurry container. A porous tool having a specific porous outer surface portion approximating a specific exterior surface portion of a spatial shape of a final product is immersed in the slurry container. A suction pressure is applied to draw a portion of the fibrous material intermixed with a corresponding portion of the binding material in the slurry onto the specific outer surface portion. The porous tool attached with the wet preform is removed from the slurry container. The wet preform is partially dried into a partially dried preform attached to the porous tool. The partially dried preform is dried, solidified and/or consolidated and/or injected with a resin and cured into a solid composite preform of the spatial shape of the final product.

The present disclosure describes methods of treating fibrous cellulosic materials with sucrose fatty acid ester containing particles (carrier systems) that allow for modifications of surfaces, including making such surfaces water resistance and/or oil/grease resistance. The methods as disclosed provide combining at least one saccharide fatty acid esters (SFAE) with a polymer (e.g., latexes) to form micellular particles and applying such particles to substrates including fibrous cellulose-based materials (e.g., pulp) to form, inter alia, molded products. Compositions comprising combinations of SFAE, a latex and optionally a mineral or other additives are also disclosed.

The present disclosure describes methods of treating fibrous cellulosic materials with sucrose fatty acid ester containing particles (carrier systems) that allow for modifications of surfaces, including making such surfaces water resistance and/or oil/grease resistance. The methods as disclosed provide combining at least one saccharide fatty acid esters (SFAE) with a polymer (e.g., latexes) to form micellular particles and applying such particles to substrates including fibrous cellulose-based materials (e.g., pulp) to form, inter alia, molded products. Compositions comprising combinations of SFAE, a latex and optionally a mineral or other additives are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming and subsequently applying topical coatings fiber-based food containers. The slurry includes one or more of an embedded moisture barrier, vapor barrier, and oil barrier, and the topical coating comprises one or more of a vapor barrier, a moisture barrier, an oil barrier, and an oxygen barrier. For food containers having deep sidewalls, a spray coating system includes a first nozzle for applying a full cone spray pattern to the bottom surface of the container, and a second nozzle for applying a hollow cone spray pattern to the inside surfaces of the side walls.

Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming and subsequently applying topical coatings fiber-based food containers. The slurry includes one or more of an embedded moisture barrier, vapor barrier, and oil barrier, and the topical coating comprises one or more of a vapor barrier, a moisture barrier, an oil barrier, and an oxygen barrier. For food containers having deep sidewalls, a spray coating system includes a first nozzle for applying a full cone spray pattern to the bottom surface of the container, and a second nozzle for applying a hollow cone spray pattern to the inside surfaces of the side walls.

The present disclosure describes methods of treating fibrous cellulosic materials with sucrose fatty acid ester containing particles (carrier systems) that allow for modifications of surfaces, including making such surfaces water resistance and/or oil/grease resistance. The methods as disclosed provide combining at least one saccharide fatty acid esters (SFAE) with a polymer (e.g., latexes) to form micellular particles and applying such particles to substrates including fibrous cellulose-based materials (e.g., pulp) to form, inter alia, molded products. Compositions comprising combinations of SFAE, a latex and optionally a mineral or other additives are also disclosed.

The present disclosure describes methods of treating fibrous cellulosic materials with sucrose fatty acid ester containing particles (carrier systems) that allow for modifications of surfaces, including making such surfaces water resistance and/or oil/grease resistance. The methods as disclosed provide combining at least one saccharide fatty acid esters (SFAE) with a polymer (e.g., latexes) to form micellular particles and applying such particles to substrates including fibrous cellulose-based materials (e.g., pulp) to form, inter alia, molded products. Compositions comprising combinations of SFAE, a latex and optionally a mineral or other additives are also disclosed.

According to examples, an apparatus may include a forming tool to be positioned within a volume of a slurry of fiber material, in which a wet part composed of liquid and fiber material is to be formed on the forming tool. The apparatus may also include a transfer tool to be moved with respect to the forming tool to position the wet part between the transfer tool and the forming tool. The apparatus may further include a microwave energy source that may apply microwave energy onto the wet part while the wet part is positioned between the forming tool and the transfer tool.

According to examples, an apparatus may include a forming tool to be positioned within a volume of a slurry of fiber material, in which a wet part composed of liquid and fiber material is to be formed on the forming tool. The apparatus may also include a transfer tool to be moved with respect to the forming tool to position the wet part between the transfer tool and the forming tool. The apparatus may further include a microwave energy source that may apply microwave energy onto the wet part while the wet part is positioned between the forming tool and the transfer tool.

The present invention is directed to methods and systems for manufacturing molded fiber products using a pulp slurry and apparatus submerged in pulp slurry. The system utilizes a vacuum and mesh shaping of the product to pull fiber from the pulp slurry to the mesh shape while sucking the water through the mesh shape. The molded fiber product is then pressed to bolster the strength and structure of the product. The product is then coated using centripetal force to uniformly spread the coating across the selected area of the product. After coating, the product is pressed again to ensure the waterproof and airproof structure of the product. The materials used in manufacturing the molded fiber product are biodegradable, and the apparatus to form the molded fiber product is shaped according to the desired shape and size of the product.