Methods of forming solid carbon products include disposing a plurality of nanotubes in a press, and applying heat to the plurality of carbon nanotubes to form the solid carbon product. Further processing may include sintering the solid carbon product to form a plurality of covalently bonded carbon nanotubes. The solid carbon product includes a plurality of voids between the carbon nanotubes having a median minimum dimension of less than about 100 nm. Some methods include compressing a material comprising carbon nanotubes, heating the compressed material in a non-reactive environment to form covalent bonds between adjacent carbon nanotubes to form a sintered solid carbon product, and cooling the sintered solid carbon product to a temperature at which carbon of the carbon nanotubes do not oxidize prior to removing the resulting solid carbon product for further processing, shipping, or use.

A bone fixation device made of polysaccharide particles or microspheres fused into a solid structure is provided herein. The bone fixation device may be in the form of an orthopedic screw, orthopedic pin, or orthopedic plate. Methods of making the bone fixation devices described herein are provided as are methods of treating patients in need of bone repair or replacement by implanting a bone fixation device described herein in the patient at a site of bone damage, ligament damage, or bone deformity.

A bone fixation device made of polysaccharide particles or microspheres fused into a solid structure is provided herein. The bone fixation device may be in the form of an orthopedic screw, orthopedic pin, or orthopedic plate. Methods of making the bone fixation devices described herein are provided as are methods of treating patients in need of bone repair or replacement by implanting a bone fixation device described herein in the patient at a site of bone damage, ligament damage, or bone deformity.

Improved soles and insoles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. In an aspect, a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with at least a first and a second surface region is provided. The first surface region comprises expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (“TPU”). The second surface region is free from expanded TPU.

Improved soles and insoles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. In an aspect, a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with at least a first and a second surface region is provided. The first surface region comprises expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (“TPU”). The second surface region is free from expanded TPU.

The application relates to methods for manufacturing an object from a powder by selective sintering. More particularly, the methods described herein involve the step of selecting a polymer wherein the density of the crystalline phase of said polymer is equal to or lower than the density of the amorphous phase of said polymer.

A method of manufacturing an object is provided. The method comprises depositing a first layer of construction material on a build platform. The method comprises depositing binder onto the first layer of construction material to bind at least a region of the first layer together to form a support layer. The method comprises depositing a second layer of construction material on the support layer to form a spacer layer. The method comprises depositing a third layer of construction material on the spacer layer. The method comprises depositing binder selectively onto the third layer to bind one or more regions of the third layer together to form a first layer of the object. Also provided are data processing methods, program carriers, data processing apparatus and manufacturing apparatus for implementing the method.

A method of manufacturing an object is provided. The method comprises depositing a first layer of construction material on a build platform. The method comprises depositing binder onto the first layer of construction material to bind at least a region of the first layer together to form a support layer. The method comprises depositing a second layer of construction material on the support layer to form a spacer layer. The method comprises depositing a third layer of construction material on the spacer layer. The method comprises depositing binder selectively onto the third layer to bind one or more regions of the third layer together to form a first layer of the object. Also provided are data processing methods, program carriers, data processing apparatus and manufacturing apparatus for implementing the method.

An UHMWPE film having a tensile strength of at least 2.0 GPa, a tensile energy to break of at least 30 J/g, an Mw of at least 500 000 gram/mole, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6, and a film width of at least 5 mm. The film may be manufactured via a process which comprises subjecting a starting UHMWPE with a weight average molecular weight of at least 500 000 gram/mole, an elastic shear modulus determined directly after melting at 160° C. of at most 1.4 MPa, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6 to a compacting step and a stretching step under such conditions that at no point during the processing of the polymer its temperature is raised to a value above its melting point. The film may be used as starting material in any applications where high tensile strength and high energy to break are important. Suitable applications include ballistic applications, ropes, cables, nets, fabrics, and protective applications.

An UHMWPE film having a tensile strength of at least 2.0 GPa, a tensile energy to break of at least 30 J/g, an Mw of at least 500 000 gram/mole, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6, and a film width of at least 5 mm. The film may be manufactured via a process which comprises subjecting a starting UHMWPE with a weight average molecular weight of at least 500 000 gram/mole, an elastic shear modulus determined directly after melting at 160° C. of at most 1.4 MPa, and a Mw/Mn ratio of at most 6 to a compacting step and a stretching step under such conditions that at no point during the processing of the polymer its temperature is raised to a value above its melting point. The film may be used as starting material in any applications where high tensile strength and high energy to break are important. Suitable applications include ballistic applications, ropes, cables, nets, fabrics, and protective applications.