A thermoplastic prepreg includes a mat, web, or fabric of fibers and hollow glass microspheres that are positioned atop the mat, web, or fabric of fibers or dispersed therein. The thermoplastic prepreg also includes a thermoplastic polymer that is fully impregnated through the mat, web, or fabric of fibers and the hollow glass microspheres so that the thermoplastic prepreg has a void content of less than 3% by volume of the thermoplastic prepreg. The thermoplastic material is polymerized monomers and oligomers in which greater than 90% by weight of the monomers or oligomers react to form the thermoplastic material.

A system for forming an article includes at least one print head assembly comprising a printer head, a printer nozzle, and at least one hopper. The system also includes a drying assembly having at least one dryer and a dispenser. The dryer is for drying a plurality of polymer pellets of one or more polymer resin formulations. The dispenser is positioned above and separate from the print head assembly for dispensing the dried plurality of pellets directly from the drying assembly and into the hopper of the print head assembly before or during printing. Further, the printer head is configured to melt the dried plurality of polymer pellets. The printer nozzle is configured for depositing and printing the melted plurality of polymer pellets onto a substrate to form the article. The system also includes a controller for controlling and automating the system.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a cellulose product having a flat or non-flat product shape by a pressure moulding apparatus comprising a forming mould. The forming mould has a forming surface defining said product shape, The method comprises the steps of: arranging a cellulose blank containing less than 45 weight percent water in said forming mould; heating said cellulose blank to a forming temperature in the range of 100° C. to 200° C.; and pressing said cellulose blank by means of said forming mould with a forming pressure acting on the cellulose blank across said forming surface, said forming pressure being in the range of 1 MPa to 100 MPa.

A 3D printing device having at least one printing nozzle for applying a print material intended for the manufacture of a component to be printed. In particular, the 3D printing device comprises at least one moisture sensor designed to produce a signal depending on a moisture content of the print material fed in the direction of the at least one printing nozzle.

A 3D printing device having at least one printing nozzle for applying a print material intended for the manufacture of a component to be printed. In particular, the 3D printing device comprises at least one moisture sensor designed to produce a signal depending on a moisture content of the print material fed in the direction of the at least one printing nozzle.

A pellet production method comprising: an operation in which a strand comprising a composition containing thermoplastic resin and reinforcing material is extruded from an orifice at a die; an operation in which the strand is drawn into water within a tank and is cooled; and an operation in which the cooled strand is cut to obtain a pellet; wherein at least one first guide roller for guiding the strand within the tank is provided within the tank, and an angle made by portions of the strand that are ahead of and behind that first guide roller which is in an upstreammost location is not less than 90° but is less than 180°; and wherein a ratio of a diameter of the pellet to a diameter of the orifice (diameter of the pellet/diameter of the orifice) is 0.45 to 0.80.

A method for manufacturing a cellulose product, comprising the steps: dry forming a cellulose blank in a dry forming unit; arranging the cellulose blank in a forming mould; heating the cellulose blank to a forming temperature in the range of 100° C. to 200° C.; and pressing the cellulose blank in the forming mould with a forming pressure of at least 1 MPa.

The invention relates to a solution for reducing and removing moisture from plastic pellets by means of absorption and condensation, in which energy consumption is reduced and the process is simplified, making use of infrared wavelength efficiency, and comprising the following steps: 1. a supply phase using a dosing tank; 2. a distribution phase using a pellet levelling and dispensing device, a conveyor belt and a vibrating motor on the conveyor belt; 3. a moisture-removal phase using one or more infrared wave emitters disposed in parallel, a ventilated or cooled motor for a set of emitters, an air-recirculation passage for a set of emitters, an input temperature probe, an output temperature probe, and a moisture control probe; and 4. a discharge phase in which the material from which the moisture has been removed is discharged using a thermally-insulated collector tank.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.