Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an extrusion nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to extruding the filament from the extrusion nozzle.

A system for production of a thermoplastic injection molding material granulate has at least one production unit for the production of a fiber reinforced plastic granulate from a thermoplastic granulate and natural fibers. to the system has at least one heat-treatment unit for the treatment of the fiber-reinforced plastic granulate providing heat such that an outer layer of each heated granulate grain of the fiber-reinforced plastic granulate is at least partially converted to a liquid physical state. The system has at least one applicator unit for applying a chemical foaming agent powder to at least some portions of each heated granulate grain, where the heat treatment unit is equipped to carry out the heat treatment such that a temperature of the molten outer layer of the respective granulate grain is below a reaction temperature of the foaming agent.

A system for production of a thermoplastic injection molding material granulate has at least one production unit for the production of a fiber reinforced plastic granulate from a thermoplastic granulate and natural fibers. to the system has at least one heat-treatment unit for the treatment of the fiber-reinforced plastic granulate providing heat such that an outer layer of each heated granulate grain of the fiber-reinforced plastic granulate is at least partially converted to a liquid physical state. The system has at least one applicator unit for applying a chemical foaming agent powder to at least some portions of each heated granulate grain, where the heat treatment unit is equipped to carry out the heat treatment such that a temperature of the molten outer layer of the respective granulate grain is below a reaction temperature of the foaming agent.

The present invention relates to a method for reducing an amount of glass filaments separating from pellets comprising a thermoplastic polymer sheath intimately surrounding the glass filaments. The method can include transporting the pellets through a piping system and/or by a vibrating conveyor means. The pellets have a length of at least 13 mm. The amount of glass filaments separating from the pellets when such pellets are subjected to repetitive mechanical loads in transportation is reduced as compared other pellets subjected to the same repetitive mechanical load, such that blocking caused by the glass filaments within the pellet transport system is reduced or eliminated as compared to transporting pellets having a length of less than or equal to 12.1 mm.

The present invention relates to a method for reducing an amount of glass filaments separating from pellets comprising a thermoplastic polymer sheath intimately surrounding the glass filaments. The method can include transporting the pellets through a piping system and/or by a vibrating conveyor means. The pellets have a length of at least 13 mm. The amount of glass filaments separating from the pellets when such pellets are subjected to repetitive mechanical loads in transportation is reduced as compared other pellets subjected to the same repetitive mechanical load, such that blocking caused by the glass filaments within the pellet transport system is reduced or eliminated as compared to transporting pellets having a length of less than or equal to 12.1 mm.

A polymer composite contains tubular particles, which contain at least one resin with fibres embedded. The tubular particles have an average length in the range of 0.5 mm to 60 mm and an average wall thickness in the range of 0.0005 mm to 30 mm, whereas the fibers have an average diameter in the range of 0.0005 mm to 5.0 mm. A process can be used to prepare the polymer composite containing tubular particles. The polymer composite can be used as a cushioning material, which can be formed into a cushioning article such as a shoe sole, a furniture cushion, a bed mattress, an automotive seat cushion, a flooring substrate, an outdoor/walking surface, a mat, a pad, and the like.

A polymer composite contains tubular particles, which contain at least one resin with fibres embedded. The tubular particles have an average length in the range of 0.5 mm to 60 mm and an average wall thickness in the range of 0.0005 mm to 30 mm, whereas the fibers have an average diameter in the range of 0.0005 mm to 5.0 mm. A process can be used to prepare the polymer composite containing tubular particles. The polymer composite can be used as a cushioning material, which can be formed into a cushioning article such as a shoe sole, a furniture cushion, a bed mattress, an automotive seat cushion, a flooring substrate, an outdoor/walking surface, a mat, a pad, and the like.

The present invention relates to a pellet of a liquid crystal polyester resin composition, including a liquid crystal polyester resin (A) and an inorganic filler (B), in which the pellet has voids with a sphere equivalent diameter of 10 μm to 1000 μm, an abundance ratio of voids having a sphere equivalent diameter of less than 400 μm in a total amount of the voids is in a range of 40% to 90%, and an average number of the voids in one pellet having a length of 1 mm to 5 mm and a maximum diameter of 1 mm to 3 mm is in a range of 4 to 9.

Molded parts for automobile interiors can be made from expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads. Processes can be used to produce the molded parts from thermoplastic polyurethane.

Molded parts for automobile interiors can be made from expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads. Processes can be used to produce the molded parts from thermoplastic polyurethane.