Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to additive manufacturing apparatus and methods. An exemplary additive manufacturing system may include an extruder, the extruder having an opening dimensioned to receive a material. The apparatus may also include an extruder output in fluid communication with the extruder, wherein the extruder output extends away from the extruder along a longitudinal axis. One or more heaters positioned along at least a portion of the extruder output may also be included, and, as the material passes through the extruder output, the one or more heaters may at least partially melt the material. The system may also include a gear pump in fluid communication with the extruder output for receiving the at least partially melted material, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the gear pump for depositing the at least partially melted material.

Compositions and methods of preparing amorphous drug formulations through hot melt extrusion which result in decreased decomposition of the desired drug are provided herein. Also provided are methods and compositions which further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable thermoplastic polymer. In some embodiments, these compositions comprise a therapeutically active agent which is only sparingly soluble in water.

A multilayered composite shape memory material includes a coextruded first polymer layer of a first polymer material and a second polymer layer of a second polymer material. The composite shape memory material after thermomechanical programming being capable of undergoing at least one temperature induced shape transition from a temporary shape to a permanent shape. The first polymer layer defines a hard segment of the shape memory material that provides the shape memory material with the permanent shape, and the second polymer layer defines a switching segment of the shape memory material that provides the shape memory material with the temporary shape.

The present invention relates to heat-stabilized polyamide 66-based compositions containing reinforcing materials based on at least one semiaromatic polyamide, at least one phenolic antioxidant and at least one polyhydric alcohol, to molding materials producible therefrom and in turn to injection-molded, blow-molded or extruded articles of manufacture producible therefrom.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to additive manufacturing apparatus and methods. An exemplary additive manufacturing system may include an extruder, the extruder having an opening dimensioned to receive a material. The apparatus may also include an extruder output in fluid communication with the extruder, wherein the extruder output extends away from the extruder along a longitudinal axis. One or more heaters positioned along at least a portion of the extruder output may also be included, and, as the material passes through the extruder output, the one or more heaters may at least partially melt the material. The system may also include a gear pump in fluid communication with the extruder output for receiving the at least partially melted material, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the gear pump for depositing the at least partially melted material.

A microvascular system includes a solid polymeric matrix and a woven structure in the matrix. The woven structure includes a plurality of fibers, and a plurality of microfluidic channels, where at least a portion of the microfluidic channels are interconnected. The microvascular system may be made by forming a composite that includes a solid polymeric matrix and a plurality of sacrificial fibers in the matrix, heating the composite to a temperature of from 100 to 250 C., maintaining the composite at a temperature of from 100 to 250 C. for a time sufficient to form degradants from the sacrificial fibers, and removing the degradants from the composite. The sacrificial fibers may include a polymeric fiber matrix including a poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and a metal selected from the group consisting of an alkali earth metal and a transition metal, in the fiber matrix, where the concentration of the metal in the fiber matrix is at least 0.1 wt %.

The invention relates to a process of preparing a polyolefin polylactic acid polymer blend comprising the steps of i) providing a polyolefin selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, and mixtures and copolymers thereof, ii) providing polylactic acid, iii) providing a polyolefin selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, and mixtures and copolymers thereof grafted with at least one epoxide-functional monomer, iv) providing a polylactic acid grafted with at least one carboxylic acid or carboxylic anhydride functional monomer, v) mixing the components i) to iv) at elevated temperature in a range from 150 C. to 260 C., and wherein component i) is provided in an amount of 5.0 to 50.0% by weight, component ii) is provided in an amount of 40.0 to 90.0% by weight, component iii) is provided in an amount of 1.0 to 20.0% by weight, and component iv) is provided in an amount of 1.0 to 15.0% by weight, calculated on the sum of components i) to iv).

A multilayered polymer composite film includes a water-soluble polymer matrix and a plurality of fibers embedded within the water soluble polymer matrix. The fibers include a water insoluble polymer material and at least one of a non-polymeric hydrophobic therapeutic agent or a non-polymeric hydrophobic cosmetic agent incorporated in the water insoluble polymer material. The fibers have a rectangular cross-section, and extend the entire length of the multilayered polymer composite film.

Polymer-based sheet materials having a variegated appearance are provided. The polymer-based-sheet material may have a core with one or more caps. The cap(s) may be on a first primary surface, a second primary surface, and/or sides. The variegation may be within and/or on the cap and/or the core. Methods, systems, articles, and materials effective for a polymer-based sheet material having a variegated appearance are provided.

A thermoplastic resin composition, a molded body, and first and second production methods are disclosed. The thermoplastic resin composition contains a polyolefin resin, a polyamide resin, and a modified elastomer and shows non-Newtonian properties in a fluidized state. The molded body includes the thermoplastic resin composition. The first production method includes molding the thermoplastic resin composition at a shear rate of 80 sec.sup.1 or more and a standby step in which resin composition is on standby at a shear rate of 0 sec.sup.1 or more but less than 80 sec.sup.1. The second production method includes molding the resin composition at a shear rate X.sub.1 to obtain part of a molded body and molding the resin composition at a shear rate X.sub.2 to obtain another part of the molded body, wherein an absolute value of a difference between X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is 200 sec.sup.1 or more.