The disclosure is directed to a solid part, and a device and process of making the solid part. The process includes introducing a glass fiber filled polymeric material to a hopper of an injection molding machine, where the glass fibers have a pre-molding length, melting the glass fiber filled polymeric material to form a melt in a plasticizing unit, pressurizing the plasticizing unit of the injection molding machine with a blowing agent, dissolving the blowing agent into the melt, injecting the melt into a mold cavity up to 100% of volume, and forming the solid part.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compositions, methods for producing TPU compositions, methods of using TPU compositions, and apparatuses produced therefrom are disclosed. Disclosed TPU compositions include a thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, a heat stabilizer, a flow agent, and a filler material. The filler may be a glass fiber. Disclosed TPU compositions have improved thermal stability and improved flow properties suitable for injection molding of articles of manufacture having a large plurality of fine openings or pores. Articles produced from the composition have superior thermal stability, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance. Example articles include screening members for vibratory screening machines.

A braided thermoplastic ribbon is disclosed having fully impregnated filaments. The ribbon is formed by a thermoplastic prepreg having a plurality of continuous fibers that are substantially oriented in a longitudinal direction, the continuous fibers constituting from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg, a first resinous matrix that contains a first set of one or more thermoplastic polymers and within which the continuous fibers are embedded, wherein the thermoplastic polymers constitute from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg, and a second resinous matrix that contains a second set of one or more thermoplastic polymers, wherein the second set of thermoplastic polymers constitute from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg.

A non-conductive rubber hose is provided exhibiting lower conductivity compared to conventional EPDM hose, and reduced stiffness compared to conventional non-conductive thermoplastic hose. The hose is useful for applications such as in hydraulics for boom trucks, and for coolant in plasma cutting tools.

The present disclosure relates to polyamide compositions and resulting injection-molded articles that can be plated, e.g., metal coated, to form structurally aesthetic injection-molded articles. The polyamide compositions may include from 40 wt. % to 80 wt. % of a polyamide, from 0.5 wt. % to 40 wt. % of an etchable filler, from 5 wt. % to 30 wt. % of glass fiber, optionally less than 40 wt. % of a semi-structural mineral, and optionally from 0.1 wt. % to 13 wt. % of additive. The polyamide composition imparts very good surface appearance and excellent mechanical properties to injection-molded articles that are substantially free of visual defects.

A three-dimensional printing formulation can include polymeric powder. The polymeric powder can include high aspect ratio composite particles including glass fibers coated with an encapsulating polymer in an amount from about 5 wt % to about 80 wt % based on a total weight of the polymeric powder, and low aspect ratio filler particles in an amount from about 20 wt % to about 95 wt % based on a total weight of the polymeric powder. The high aspect ratio composite particles can have an aspect ratio from about 7:1 to about 30:1 and the low aspect ratio filler particles can have an aspect ratio from 1:1 to less than 7:1.

In one embodiment, the component comprises a light reflective housing. The housing comprises a matrix material of a light-transmittive plastic and particles of a glass ceramic embedded therein. The particles comprise a mean diameter of at least 5 μm. The particles comprise a glass matrix and crystallites. A refractive index difference between the glass matrix and the crystallites is at least 0.5, and the crystallites exhibit a mean diameter between 20 nm and 0.5 μm, inclusive.

A method for producing a component from two or more sub-components includes the steps of: producing each of the sub-components using an additive manufacturing process in which a resin, which is radiant-energy-curable, is partially cured using a selective application of radiant energy, wherein each sub-component includes a joint surface in which the resin is partially cured which is cured to a lesser degree than the remainder of the respective sub-component, so as to leave the joint surfaces in a condition suitable for bonding; assembling the sub-components with their respective joint surfaces in mutual contact; and performing a secondary cure of the partially-cured resin at the joint surfaces using an application of radiant energy, so as to further cure the partially-cured resin and bond the sub-components to each other, thereby forming the component.

A method of connecting together two unit elements (4, 4′) of a fluid transport pipe, each unit pipe element being made of metal alloy and being covered in an outer insulating coating (6, 6′) made of a thermoplastic material, with the exception of an end portion that does not have an outer insulating coating, the method comprising a step of butt-welding together two unit pipe elements at their end portions having no outer insulating coating, a step of mechanically assembling at least two rigid shells (14, 16) made of a thermoplastic material on the end portions of the unit pipe elements not having an outer insulating coating, and a step of keeping the shells sealed against the outer insulating coating of the two unit pipe elements.

A thermoplastic composite sheet may be composed of a polymer material matrix and a lightweight material that is disposed throughout the polymer material matrix. The polymer material matrix may extend continuously throughout a length, width, and thickness of the thermoplastic composite sheet. The polymer material matrix may be a fully polymerized thermoplastic material. The lightweight material may be fully saturated by the thermoplastic material of the polymer material matrix. The thermoplastic composite sheet may include between 50 and 99 weight percent of the thermoplastic material and between 1 and 50 weight percent of the lightweight material. The thermoplastic composite sheet may be free of reinforcing fibers.