Aspects of triboelectric fibers and methods of manufacture of the fibers are described. In one example, a method of manufacture of a fiber for generating energy using the triboelectric effect includes forming a preform tube, heating the preform tube in a furnace, feeding a wire through the preform tube and the furnace during the heating, and pulling the wire through the furnace to form a fiber. The methods described herein can be relied upon to manufacture fibers long enough for industrial-scale textile manufacturing, including for use with industrial-scale looms. In one example, forming the preform tube can include providing a polypropylene tube and wrapping the polypropylene tube with a housing layer of amorphous film, such as acrylic film. The acrylic film can be relied upon to maintain the form and integrity of the polypropylene as the wire is pulled, and the acrylic film can be easily removed after the pulling.

A structure of aligned (e.g., radially and/or polygonally aligned) fibers, and systems and methods for producing and using the same. One or more structures provided may be created using an apparatus that includes one or more first electrodes that define an area and/or partially circumscribe an area. For example, a single first electrode may enclose the area, or a plurality of first electrode(s) may be positioned on at least a portion of the perimeter of the area. A second electrode is positioned within the area. Electrodes with rounded (e.g., convex) surfaces may be arranged in an array, and a fibrous structure created using such electrodes may include an array of wells at positions corresponding to the positions of the electrodes.

A casting apparatus for manufacturing polymer film includes a die for discharging a molten polymer and having discharge direction oriented at a discharge angle offset from horizontal. The apparatus includes a first chill roll having a first diameter and a second chill roll having a second greater diameter. There is a first gap between the first chill roll and the second chill roll. The discharge angle is of a predetermined magnitude to gravity assist delivery of the molten polymer to the first gap. The second chill roll is positioned to gravity support the film exiting the first gap along a first length of a first side of the film. A first polishing roll is positioned downstream first and second chill rolls. The first polishing roll engages and cools a second length of a second opposite side of the film. The first length is substantially equal to the second length.

A structure of aligned (e.g., radially and/or polygonally aligned) fibers, and systems and methods for producing and using the same. One or more structures provided may be created using an apparatus that includes one or more first electrodes that define an area and/or partially circumscribe an area. For example, a single first electrode may enclose the area, or a plurality of first electrode(s) may be positioned on at least a portion of the perimeter of the area. A second electrode is positioned within the area. Electrodes with rounded (e.g., convex) surfaces may be arranged in an array, and a fibrous structure created using such electrodes may include an array of wells at positions corresponding to the positions of the electrodes.

The film for glass lamination of the present disclosure comprises a polyvinyl acetal resin, a plasticizer, and a metal salt, wherein the film has an adhesion control effect of 8.5 kgf/cm.sup.2 or more per the metal salt in an amount of 10 ppm based on a total weight of the film.

The invention relates to a gluing process of an adhesive composition with the use of a gluing nozzle having an extrusion die for continuous extrusion of an adhesive composition over a predetermined width, the extrusion die (20) comprising a lower lip (22) and an upper lip (24), the upper and lower lips (24, 22) extending parallel to one another so as to form a transverse channel (28) for the longitudinal flow of the adhesive composition, the transverse channel extending longitudinally between: a supply opening (30) for supplying the adhesive composition; and an extrusion outlet (34) for extrusion of the adhesive composition (34); the channel (28) comprising a concave volume (32) for relaxation of the adhesive composition between the supply opening (30) and the gluing outlet (34).

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating carbon nanostructures by low voltage near-field electromechanical spinning (LV-NFEMS). Processes described herein can produce ˜2-5 nm carbon nanowires with ultrahigh electrical conductivity using top-down and controlled reductive techniques from a polymer. Configurations are also provided to allow for deposition control and fiber elongation/alignment. One embodiment uses a low voltage near-field electromechanical spinning process to produce a polymer fiber from a polymer solution. Another embodiment of the method uses pyrolysis to convert the produced polymer fiber into a ˜2-5 nm carbon nanowire. System configurations provide advancements in polymer droplet control and control of a sustained jet of polymer solution with the use low voltages. Systems and processes described herein can include use of an array of polymer precursor nanofibers suspended onto a silicon substrate and converted to carbon nanowires. In another embodiment, ultra-thin carbon fibers can be integrated onto a carbon electrode scaffold.

A die structure is provided. The die structure may have a die body, a mandrel having a magnet and/or one or more magnet assemblies, a first magnetic structure, a second magnetic structure and/or one or more magnetic structures. The first magnetic structure may be configured to apply a first magnetic force to the mandrel, in a first direction. The second magnetic structure may be configured to apply a second magnetic force to the mandrel, in a second direction opposite the first direction. The one or more magnetic structures may be configured to apply one or more magnetic forces to the mandrel. Application of the first magnetic force, the second magnetic force and/or the one or more magnetic forces to the mandrel supports the mandrel to be levitated within the die body and/or causes the mandrel to rotate and/or to maintain a position within the die body.

A multi-laminar electrospun nanofiber scaffold for use in repairing a defect in a tissue substrate is provided. The scaffold includes a first layer formed by a first plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers, and a second layer formed by a second plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers. The second layer is combined with the first layer. A first portion of the scaffold includes a higher density of fibers than a second portion of the scaffold, and the first portion has a higher tensile strength than the second portion. The scaffold is configured to degrade via hydrolysis after at least one of a predetermined time or an environmental condition. The scaffold is configured to be applied to the tissue substrate containing the defect, and is sufficiently flexible to facilitate application of the scaffold to uneven surfaces of the tissue substrate, and to enable movement of the scaffold by the tissue substrate.

A production line is, suitable for the production of medicinal products that include at least one active ingredient. The production line includes an extruder for producing an extrudate from the active ingredient and at least one excipient intended to form an encapsulating matrix of the active ingredient, and a cooling member for cooling the extrudate at the outlet of the extruder. The extruder includes a barrel and at least two parallel screws housed in the barrel and interpenetrating with one another to mix the or each active ingredient with the or each excipient. The barrel is oriented vertically and the footprint occupied by the production line is less than 0.5 m.sup.2.