A composition includes an infrared reflective additive having one or more infrared reflective colorants and a thermally emissive filler. The infrared reflective additive can be melt processed in a polymeric matrix.

The present disclosure provides a method of making a non-oxide ceramic part. The method includes obtaining a photopolymerizable slurry; selectively curing the photopolymerizable slurry to obtain a gelled article; drying the gelled article to form an aerogel article or a xerogel article; heat treating the aerogel article or the xerogel article to form a porous ceramic article; and sintering the porous ceramic article to obtain a sintered ceramic article. The photopolymerizable slurry includes non-oxide ceramic particles; at least one radiation curable monomer; a solvent; a photoinitiator; an inhibitor; and at least one sintering aid. Further, aerogels, xerogels, porous ceramic articles, and non-oxide ceramic articles are provided. In addition, methods are provided, including receiving, by a manufacturing device having one or more processors, a digital object comprising data specifying an article; and generating, with the manufacturing device by an additive manufacturing process, the article based on the digital object. A system is also provided, including a display that displays a 3D model of an article; and one or more processors that, in response to the 3D model selected by a user, cause a 3D printer to create a physical object of an article.

A method of fabricating a polymer composite material by mixing a polymer material with a planar material, depositing the mixture on a substrate, and stretching the resulting thin film, is described. Polymer composite materials produced using said method and ballistic resistant materials comprising said polymer composite materials are also described.

An installation for depositing a shaped filled roving intended to be used to manufacture a composite-material component, includes a device for feeding a fibrous roving impregnated with a composition including a binder and ceramic or carbon fillers, a die for shaping and draining the binder defined by at least one porous surface, the die having an evolving section between an inlet section and an outlet section, the inlet section being larger than the outlet section, a support in communication with the die outlet on which the shaped roving is to be deposited, and a first conveying device configured to convey the roving from the feed device through the die and to the support.

Nano-composite films and methods for their fabrication. The nano-composite films include a polymer matrix (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like) and a filler capable of exfoliation such as graphene or hexagonal boron nitride (e.g., TrGO). The filler provides reinforcement, increasing tensile strength, Young's modulus, or both for the resulting nano-composite film, as compared to what it would be without the filler. The nano-composite film may have a specific tensile strength that is greater than 1 GPa/g/cm.sup.3, a specific Young's modulus that is greater than 100 GPa/g/ccm.sup.3, or both. Tensile strength and modulus values of up to 3.7 GPa/g/cm.sup.3 and 125 GPa/g/cm.sup.3, respectively, have been demonstrated. The film maybe formed by combining powdered filler and polymer matrix powder in a solvent (e.g.,decalin), high-shear extruding the resulting solution to disentangle the polymer chains and exfoliate the filler, freezing the solution to form a solid film, and then drawing the film.

Thermally conductive polymer (TCP) resin compositions are described, comprising components (X) and (Y): 90 to 99.9% component (X) comprising components (I) and (II): 60 to 85% matrix polymer (I) comprising styrenic polymers (F) selected from: ABS resins, ASA resins, and elastomeric block copolymers of the structure (S(B/S)).sub.nS; 15 to 40% thermally conductive filler material (II) (D.sub.50 1 to 200 ), consisting of a ceramic material and/or graphite; 0.1 to 10% chemical foaming agent (Y). Shaped articles made thereof can be used for automotive applications, as a heat sink for high performance electronics, LED sockets or electrical and electronic housings.

An installation for depositing a shaped filled roving intended to be used to manufacture a composite-material component, includes a device for feeding a fibrous roving impregnated with a composition including a binder and ceramic or carbon fillers, a die for shaping and draining the binder defined by at least one porous surface, the die having an evolving section between an inlet section and an outlet section, the inlet section being larger than the outlet section, a support in communication with the die outlet on which the shaped roving is to be deposited, and a first conveying device configured to convey the roving from the feed device through the die and to the support.

A method for fabricating a thermal composite includes pouring a mixture including a plurality of magnetically susceptible particles and a thermosetting polymer into a mold, placing the mold containing the mixture in a chamber including a plurality of magnet arrays, and heating the mold containing the mixture in the chamber for a time and at a temperature sufficient to cure the thermosetting polymer. At least one of the plurality of magnet arrays includes a Halbach array.

A slurry composition for forming an article using additive manufacturing is provided. The slurry composition comprises a carrier having a viscosity of at least 0.001 cP at normal temperature and pressure. The carrier is adapted to be flowable through a nozzle. The slurry composition further comprises a material selected from the group of a metal-containing material, a ceramic-containing material, an inorganic carbon-containing material, a silica-containing material, and combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to the use of additive manufacturing as applied to radiation shielding. In particular, additive manufacturing formulations are described which provide shielding for neutron and photon radiation and which can extend the useful operation life of remote sensing devices utilized to conduct surveillance and inspection work where such radiation fields are present.