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.

Method and apparatus for drying granular resin material by heating compressed air to a temperature prescribed for gas separation membrane operation, presenting the heated compressed air to a membrane separating out oxygen-size and smaller molecules to provide a stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size at a pressure substantially that of the compressed air, heating the stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size to a temperature at which dew point of the stream is no higher than −40 degrees F., and introducing the heated stream of gas molecules into a chamber for upward flow to atmosphere through granular resin material in the chamber.

A method and an apparatus for rapid and efficient heating of polymer pellets in preparation for processing in a plastifier. For introduction of heat energy, a gas, preferably dried air, is introduced into the polymer pellets flow so as not to be in direct countercurrent thereto. The gas is preferably introduced in its still hottest state in a targeted fashion, for the purpose of rapid energy input, at a freely selectable location. This preferably takes place at the material output of the booster hopper. The gas is preferably conducted by way of cascades, which can be of a variable design, and flows through the bulk material at least twice. The speed of the flow can be influenced.

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.

A method of manufacturing an core product includes heating the resin pellet at a temperature higher than 25° C. for 24 hours or longer, the resin pellet being formed of a thermosetting resin composition including epoxy resin, a curing agent, accelerator, and a release agent. The method includes holding a core body having a resin formation region, which is a region in which a resin is to be formed by injection of a melted resin, between a pair of holding members, and disposing the heated resin pellet in a resin pot formed in at least one of the pair of holding members. Additionally, the method includes melting the resin pellet in the resin pot and injecting the melted resin into the resin formation region through a resin channel extending from the resin pot in communication with the resin formation region, and curing the melted resin injected into the resin formation region.

An apparatus for drying granular resin material in a hopper including a first sub-system, including a membrane and a heater receiving drying gas from the membrane to be heated, the first sub-system supplying dried heated gas to a first portion of the hopper; and a second sub-system, including a mixing device and a heater for receiving drying gas from the mixing device to be heated, the mixing device inducing withdrawal of gas from the hopper and mixing the withdrawn gas with gas supplied from the first subsystem, the mixed gases being heated and supplied to a second portion of the hopper, the improvement comprising a gas separation membrane for separating inert gases from air supplied to the apparatus and providing the separated inert gas in the first subsystem; a heater for heating air supplied to the apparatus; and a thermostat for controlling the heater and thereby maintaining the supplied air at a selected temperature.

The biodegradable composite insulation material is made from date palm leaf fibers and powdered okra. The date palm leaf fibers have a concentration of between 50 wt % and 90 wt % of the biodegradable composite insulation material, and the powdered okra has a concentration of between 10 wt % and 50 wt % of the biodegradable composite insulation material. The biodegradable composite insulation material is prepared by mixing date palm leaf fibers and powdered okra, in the above concentrations, to form a mixture. This mixture is then wetted with water, added to a mold, and heated under pressure to form a compressed article. The compressed article is then dried to form the biodegradable composite insulation material.

The biodegradable composite insulation material is made from date palm leaf fibers and powdered okra. The date palm leaf fibers have a concentration of between 50 wt % and 90 wt % of the biodegradable composite insulation material, and the powdered okra has a concentration of between 10 wt % and 50 wt % of the biodegradable composite insulation material. The biodegradable composite insulation material is prepared by mixing date palm leaf fibers and powdered okra, in the above concentrations, to form a mixture. This mixture is then wetted with water, added to a mold, and heated under pressure to form a compressed article. The compressed article is then dried to form the biodegradable composite insulation material.

The invention provides a composition comprising a seaweed extract in an amount of 50-90% by weight, a water-soluble cellulose derivative in an amount of 10-40% by weight and water in an amount of 1-20% by weight, of the total weight of the composition. The invention also provides products, including packaging material, formed from the composition, a method of dissolving, composting and biodegrading the composition or the products, a method of producing the composition and the products, and a method of re-working the composition.