Systems and methods are provided for composite part fabrication. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes selecting an end caul comprising a structure of sintered material surrounding volumes of unsintered particles, creating a laminate comprising fibers within a resin matrix, placing the end caul in contact with an end of the laminate, and processing the laminate.

A solid thermal balancing composite material with lightweight is formed by a reinforced composite material pressured by a molding machine after going through a powder filling equipment. The reinforced composite material is a mixture of inorganic filler powders and polymer adhesives after granulation. The specific gravity of the solid thermal balancing composite material is no greater than 2.0. In addition, the present invention is adjustable in different shapes for various applications of heat dissipation.

A panel that includes at least a substrate of thermoplastic material and a top layer with a printed decor and a translucent or transparent wear layer. The substrate substantially consists of three layers, including a lowermost layer, a central layer and an uppermost layer, all made from thermoplastic material. Additionally, the thermoplastic material of the lower most layer and the uppermost layer is more rigid than the thermoplastic material of the central layer.

An apparatus comprises a mould part having a forming chamber and a filling device for filling the forming chamber with a mouldable material. The filling device comprises an entry duct for a flow of mouldable material and air and a preliminary chamber communicating with the forming chamber. The entry duct opens into the preliminary chamber in a position such as to send the flow of mouldable material and air towards the forming chamber with a helicoidal movement, so as to separate the mouldable material from the air.

A valve head engageable and disengageable with a valve seat of a valve comprises a valve body that includes a recess, a disk at one axial end of the recess and a flange at the other axial end of the recess so that the recess is positioned axially between a portion of the disk and a portion of the flange. The outermost portion of the flange extends outwardly beyond the outermost portion of the disk. A covering made of a material different from and more elastic than the material forming the valve body entirely covers the disk. A portion of the covering is positioned in the recess to mechanically connect the covering to the valve body. The outermost portion of the flange is in direct contact with the covering.

Methods of forming solid carbon products include disposing a plurality of nanotubes in a press, and applying heat to the plurality of carbon nanotubes to form the solid carbon product. Further processing may include sintering the solid carbon product to form a plurality of covalently bonded carbon nanotubes. The solid carbon product includes a plurality of voids between the carbon nanotubes having a median minimum dimension of less than about 100 nm. Some methods include compressing a material comprising carbon nanotubes, heating the compressed material in a non-reactive environment to form covalent bonds between adjacent carbon nanotubes to form a sintered solid carbon product, and cooling the sintered solid carbon product to a temperature at which carbon of the carbon nanotubes do not oxidize prior to removing the resulting solid carbon product for further processing, shipping, or use.

The invention relates to a method for producing a plastic object (1) for surgical use, comprising the following steps: a) providing a plastic powder (2); b) heating and pressing the plastic powder (2) thus forming at least one intermediate piece (3); c) mechanically comminuting the at least one intermediate piece (3) to form a granulate (4); and d) joining the granulate (4) to form an integral base body (6). The invention also relates to an implant or to an auxiliary means having at least one base body (6) comprising a UHMWPE material.

The method of recycling carbon fiber prepreg waste and transparent thermoplastic waste includes shredding of a volume of transparent thermoplastic waste and a volume of carbon fiber prepreg waste, where the carbon fiber prepreg waste includes a colored backing film. The colored backing film may have a plurality of colors associated therewith, yielding a mixture of multi-colored shreds. A mold is filled with the shredded volume of transparent thermoplastic waste, and the mold is inserted and compressed in a hot press. The shredded volume of transparent thermoplastic waste is cured in the hot press to produce a transparent sheet. The shredded volume of carbon fiber prepreg waste is then heated, such as, for example, with hot air, and then spread on the transparent sheet. The heated, shredded volume of carbon fiber prepreg waste and the transparent sheet are hot pressed to form a colored sheet with a transparent protective layer.

A method and apparatus to manufacture a coherent bundle of scintillating fibers is disclosed. A method includes providing a collimated bundle having a glass preform with capillaries therethrough known in the industry as a glass capillary array, and infusing the glass capillary array with a scintillating polymer or a polymer matrix containing scintillating nanoparticles.

A method for making an object (e.g., a projectile) includes preparing a premixture of a first metal powder having a first particle size, a second metal powder having a second particle size, and a polymer binder; compressing the premixture in a mold at a pressure of about 75 psi to about 500 psi and a temperature of about 15 C. to about 40 C. to form a projectile preform; and heating the projectile preform at a temperature of about 80 C. to about 350 C. for about 0.5 minutes to about 30 minutes. The polymer binder may include a dry powder coat. The object may have a density between 1 and 4 g/cm.sup.3.