A device includes a heating zone having an inlet, and an outlet, a pump upstream of and in fluid communication with the heating zone, and capable of generating above-atmospheric pressure in the heating zone; an element for heating the heating zone; an expansion zone with an inlet and an outlet, said inlet of the expansion zone being connected to the outlet of the heating zone in such a way that a pressure drop is created, such that the expansion zone is at a lower pressure than the heating zone; and a back pressure generator downstream of the expansion zone configured to create a variable counter pressure in the expansion zone.

A method for making a colorant film providing eye care includes following steps of providing a plurality of microcapsules containing hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution; mixing a hydrophilic monomer, a cross-linking agent, and an initiator to form a mixture; mixing the microcapsules, the mixture, a pigment, and a solvent to form a colorant material; printing the colorant material into a mold; and heating or irradiating the colorant material in the mold to copolymerize the hydrophilic monomer, the initiator, and the cross-linking agent. A colorant film, and the manufacture of an ophthalmic lens are also provided.

An apparatus including: (a) a steam generator having a power output of less than or equal to about 6 boiler horsepower; (b) a steam conduit in fluid communication with the steam generator; (c) a fluid material conduit in fluid communication with a source of a fluid material, wherein the fluid material includes unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres; (d) a treatment zone in fluid communication with the steam generator via the steam conduit, and with the fluid material conduit, such that the fluid material is contacted by steam within the treatment zone; and (e) a back pressure generator in fluid communication with the treatment zone, capable of increasing pressure in the treatment zone, which results in expansion of the expandable polymeric microspheres when the fluid material exits the treatment zone.

Feedstocks for additive manufacturing are provided. The feedstock may include a matrix material, and one or more capsules disposed in the matrix material, wherein the one or more capsules are configured to be removable from a surface portion when the matrix material is solidified to form one or more cavities in the surface portion. Methods of depositing the feedstocks and objects formed from the feedstocks are also provided.

A method for producing a heat-shrinkable product is provided. First, a polymer composition containing a polymer, a crosslinking agent and a micro-encapsulated foaming agent uniformly dispensed therein is melt mixed. The foaming agent has a peak activation temperature which is higher than a temperature of the melt mixing. Next, the polymer composition is injection molded into a molded product. This carried out at the peak activation temperature to activate the foaming agent. Then, the molded product is crosslinked within the mold.

Methods of forming a lightweight reinforced thermoplastic core layer and articles including the core layer are described. In some examples, the methods use a combination of thermoplastic material, reinforcing fibers and bicomponent fibers to enhance retention of lofting agents in the core layer. The processes permit the use of less material while still providing sufficient lofting capacity in the final formed core layer.

An insulated panel includes a first layer defining an inner surface; a corrugated medium defining a plurality of peaks, the plurality of peaks attached to the inner surface, a plurality of flutes defined between the corrugated medium and the inner surface; and an insulation material at least partially filling a flute of the plurality of flutes.

A method of making a syntactic-foam part that includes loading a first pre-made component into a mold such that an interstitial space is defined between the first pre-made component and at least one of a second pre-made component within the mold and an inner perimeter of the mold. The first pre-made component includes low-density spheres embedded in a first resin that has been solidified. The method also includes introducing a second resin into the interstitial space. The method further includes solidifying the second resin after the second resin is introduced into the interstitial space.

A method of making a syntactic-foam part includes positioning at least one thermally-conductive media layer within a mold such that at least a portion of the at least one thermally-conductive media layer is spaced apart from an interior surface of the mold. The method also includes loading low-density spheres into the mold so they surround the at least one thermally-conductive media layer. The method further includes introducing a resin into the mold so that the at least one thermally-conductive layer and the low-density spheres are embedded within the resin. The at least one thermally-conductive media layer has a thermal conductivity that is greater than a thermal conductivity of the low-density spheres and the resin. The method additionally includes solidifying the resin after the resin is introduced into the mold. The method also includes transferring heat through the at least one thermally-conductive media layer when the resin is being solidified.

Examples of the present disclosure include an apparatus that includes a syntactic-foam part. The syntactic-foam part includes low-density spheres at least partially embedded in a resin. The syntactic-foam part includes an elongated member partially embedded in the resin and including a first end and a second end. At least the first end is located relative to the syntactic-foam part such that the first end is exposed to an exterior of the syntactic-foam part at an exterior surface of the syntactic-foam part.