A melting device includes a container capable of melting a material supplied in a free-flowing state and storing the material in a liquid state. The container includes a first storage section for storing the material in the free-flowing state, a second storage section for storing the material in the liquid state, and a dividing section provided between the first storage section and the second storage section and configured to hold back the material, when the material is in a non-molten or free-flowing state and to allow passage of the material from the first storage section into the second storage section, when the material is in a molten or liquid state.

An improved process for dispersing filler particles in a resin composition is disclosed. The filler particles, for instance electrically conductive or metal particles, are mixed with a resin material or blend of materials including a resin material to form a mixture that is subjected to an acceleration force. The acceleration force can be generated by passing the mixture through a static nozzle having particular dimensions to generate an acceleration of the mixture in the nozzle in excess of 400,000 m/sec.sup.2. The treated particles become uniformly dispersed in the resin composition and a reduction in average particle size of the filler material can be achieved.

Multi-component fluid mixing devices and methods of manufacturing and using such multi-component fluid mixing devices are provided. The multi-component fluid mixing devices include one or both of a serpentine flow path and an attachment point decoupled from an inlet of the multi-component fluid mixing devices. The method of use includes switching between multi-component fluid mixing devices with different length flow paths, while retaining a constant position of the outlet of the multi-component fluid mixing devices. A manufacturing method includes fusing two halves of a multi-component fluid mixing device together with mixing elements in a serpentine flow path captured in a mixer wall formed between the two halves of the multi-component fluid mixing device.

A static mixer is provided. The static mixer includes a plurality of static mixer elements. Each static mixer element includes a core extending axially along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. Each static mixer element includes at least one blade around an outside of the core. At least a first one of the plurality of static mixer elements includes a first keying feature. At least a second one of the plurality of static mixer elements including a second keying feature configured to engage the first keying feature to prevent relative rotation between the first one of the plurality of static mixer elements and the second one of the plurality of static mixer elements about the longitudinal axes of the first one and the second one of the plurality of static mixer elements. Methods of forming the static mixer are also provided.

The present invention provides an apparatus for preparing a composite, the apparatus comprising: a first container containing a resin; a second container containing a hardener, wherein at least one of the first or second container contains nanoparticles; a metering unit arranged to receive the resin from the first container and the hardener from the second container and configured to output a treating mixture, wherein the metering unit controls a ratio of the resin and the hardener in the treating mixture; and a treatment device arranged to receive a filament and the treating mixture, and treat the filament with the treating mixture to produce the composite.

An alginate-polyacrylamide IPN hydrogel formulation for 3D printing using a dual syringe system where the components that initiate polymerization of each network remain separated until printing. The dual syringe system may use a single motor and mixing head to combine both parts of the hydrogel formulation for controlled polymerization of the material. The elastic and time-dependent viscoelastic properties (stress relaxation) are tuned to match mammalian tissues by changing the crosslink density and monomer concentration. The fracture energy of the material may be increased by soaking in a calcium chloride solution. The resulting IPN polymer material may find application in soft tissue medical simulation devices, particularly because the mechanical properties may be tuned to mimic the elastic and viscoelastic properties of muscle tissue and may be 3D printed in the shape of anatomical parts.

A device adapted to deliver an insulation enhancing polyurethane foam within profiles used in doors, windows and related applications comprising an insulating material supply member (1) extending into a polyurethane forming and discharge member (2) adapted to enter and move linearly along a chamber (25, 35) of a thermally insulated sash or frame profile assembly and deliver therein a polyurethane foam that absolutely abuts onto the walls of the chamber without exerting undesirable stresses thereupon. The insulating material supply member (1) comprises independent pipes (8, 9) delivering a polyol constituent (A) and an isocyanate constituent (B) that are mixed together with a supply of air within a mixing compartment (4) of the polyurethane forming and discharge member (2) to produce the desired insulating material. The polyurethane supplying assembly starts injection at one end of the profile bar having an industrial standard length and moves reawards to fill the chamber with the polyurethane insulating material.

A device (1) and method for the production of plastic parts (2), having a first plastic feed device (3a) for feeding a first liquid plastic starting component (K1); a second plastic feed device (3b) for feeding a second liquid plastic starting component (K2); a mixing device (5) with a mixing chamber (6), wherein in the mixing chamber the liquid plastic starting components that can be fed by the plastic feed devices can be mixed to form a plastic mixture (KG); a discharge nozzle (7) for discharging the plastic mixture; and a cooling device (8) for the mixing device, wherein a drying device (9) surrounding the mixing device at least in regions is provided, wherein the drying device has a separating device (10), a drying chamber (T) formed between the separating device and the mixing device, and a desiccant feeding device (11) opening into the drying chamber are disclosed.