A system and process for producing a homogenous extrudate powder coating composition having predetermined properties, the system comprising a color library database that is configured to store one or more input formulation data objects capable of use in controlling the inputs and operation of an electronically controlled homogenous extrudate mixer.

A system for producing a homogenous extrudate powder coating composition having predetermined properties, the system comprising a color library database that is configured to store one or more input formulation data objects capable of use in controlling the inputs and operation of an electronically controlled homogenous extrudate mixer.

A process for producing particles of a thermoplastic polymer in spherical form involves providing at least one thermoplastic polymer in a molten state and providing an aqueous solution of at least one surface-active substance. The aqueous solution is in a temperature range from 100 to 300° C. The process also involves dispersing the thermoplastic polymer in the aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous solution containing dispersed thermoplastic polymer, which is cooled down to a temperature below the solidification point of the thermoplastic polymer to obtain a suspension containing an aqueous solution and particles of the thermoplastic polymer suspended in a solid state and in spherical form. The particles can be separated from the suspension and, optionally, dried. The particles obtained from the process have a particle size distribution having a d[4,3] value of more than 10 μm and a d.sub.90.3 value of more than 20 μm.

A process for producing particles of a thermoplastic polymer in spherical form involves providing at least one thermoplastic polymer in a molten state and providing an aqueous solution of at least one surface-active substance. The aqueous solution is in a temperature range from 100 to 300° C. The process also involves dispersing the thermoplastic polymer in the aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous solution containing dispersed thermoplastic polymer, which is cooled down to a temperature below the solidification point of the thermoplastic polymer to obtain a suspension containing an aqueous solution and particles of the thermoplastic polymer suspended in a solid state and in spherical form. The particles can be separated from the suspension and, optionally, dried. The particles obtained from the process have a particle size distribution having a d[4,3] value of more than 10 μm and a d.sub.90.3 value of more than 20 μm.

An additive manufacturing system includes a heater for converting a filament of extrusion material into thermoplastic material. The heater has a channel configured to change the cross-sectional shape of the filament to a cross-sectional shape that has a greater surface area than the surface area of the filament before the heater receives the filament. The channel of the heater can also be configured to drive the center portion of the filament toward the heated walls of the channel and to mix thermoplastic material in the channel while exposing the center portion of the filament to the heated wall of the channel.

An additive manufacturing system includes a heater for converting a filament of extrusion material into thermoplastic material. The heater has a channel configured to change the cross-sectional shape of the filament to a cross-sectional shape that has a greater surface area than the surface area of the filament before the heater receives the filament. The channel of the heater can also be configured to drive the center portion of the filament toward the heated walls of the channel and to mix thermoplastic material in the channel while exposing the center portion of the filament to the heated wall of the channel.

A method for directly preparing a foamed polylactic acid (PLA) product from a PLA melt includes PLA melt preparation, feeding, and two-stage extrusion. In the two-stage extrusion, a pressure at an outlet of a first-stage twin-screw extruder is 15 MPa to 17 MPa, a PLA melt is fed at a rate of 250 kg/h, a foaming additive is fed at a rate of 7.5 kg/h to 10 kg/h, and a foaming gas is fed at a rate of 2.8 L/h to 7.5 L/h. The method can ensure both foamability and quality of a material and reduce more than ⅓ of energy consumption; and an obtained product has an adjustable foaming rate of 3 to 25, a crystallinity of 40.3% to 48.5%, a tensile strength of 8.7 MPa to 19.6 MPa, and an apparent density of 0.05 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.4 g/cm.sup.3.

There is provided a method for efficiently produce hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) having excellent flowability, where acetic acid in a reaction product mixture subjected to a wash and recovery step can be reduced. More specifically, there is provided a method for producing HPMCAS including an esterification step of esterifying hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) with acetic anhydride and succinic anhydride in acetic acid as a solvent to obtain a reaction product solution containing HPMCAS; a water addition step of adding water to the reaction product solution to obtain a water-added reaction product solution; an acetic acid removal step of removing at least a portion of both the solvent acetic acid and acetic acid derived from the acetic anhydride from the water-added reaction product solution to obtain a mixture having an acetic acid content reduced; and a wash and recovery step of washing the mixture and recovering the HPMCAS.

There is provided a method for efficiently produce hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) having excellent flowability, where acetic acid in a reaction product mixture subjected to a wash and recovery step can be reduced. More specifically, there is provided a method for producing HPMCAS including an esterification step of esterifying hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) with acetic anhydride and succinic anhydride in acetic acid as a solvent to obtain a reaction product solution containing HPMCAS; a water addition step of adding water to the reaction product solution to obtain a water-added reaction product solution; an acetic acid removal step of removing at least a portion of both the solvent acetic acid and acetic acid derived from the acetic anhydride from the water-added reaction product solution to obtain a mixture having an acetic acid content reduced; and a wash and recovery step of washing the mixture and recovering the HPMCAS.

A fluid-flow-modification plate comprises a monolithic body, having an inlet-side surface, an outlet-side surface, a first passage, a second passage, a third passage, and a fourth passage. The first passage, second passage, third passage, and fourth passage each extend between the inlet-side surface and the outlet-side surface. The first passage and second passage intersect each other at a first intersection boundary. The third passage and fourth passage intersect each other at a second intersection boundary. The first passage and third passage do not intersect each other. The first passage and fourth passage do not intersect each other. The second passage and third passage do not intersect each other. The second passage and fourth passage do not intersect each other. The first-passage-inlet-opening perimeter boundary has single-point contact with the fourth-passage-inlet-opening perimeter boundary. The second-passage-outlet-opening perimeter boundary has single-point contact with the third-passage-outlet-opening perimeter boundary.