A composite and method for producing the composite by incorporating wood or wood pulp fibres with a suitable thermoplastic polymer and coupling agent are described. Homogeneous, void-free transparent/translucent thermoplastic materials in the form of pellets, films or three-dimensional moldable products are produced. The wood pulp fibres can be discrete natural fibres, and flexible assemblies of nano to micro elements, e.g., assemblies of aggregated carbon nanotubes. It is also possible to use our vacuum-assisted co-extrusion process to produce hybrid composites comprising the wood pulp fibre and a further rigid fibre, like glass or carbon fibres, and a flexible fibre or fibrillar network, like cellulose fibres or cellulose filaments. The thermoplastic resin can be, but not limited to, polyolefins, like polypropylene or polyethylene, or polyesters, like polylactic acid, or co-polymers, like acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer.

A method of manufacturing a dandelion latex shoe component. Dandelion rubber, CIS polybutadiene rubber (BR), and butadiene styrene rubber (SBR) are mixed together to form a first mixture. The dandelion rubber, CIS polybutadiene rubber (BR), and butadiene styrene rubber (SBR) are mixed at a temperature not less than 60° Celsius and not greater than 80° to form the first mixture. Silicon dioxide is then mixed with the first mixture to form a second mixture. The silicon dioxide is mixed with the first mixture at a temperature not less than 80° Celsius and not greater than 100° Celsius to form the second mixture. The dandelion latex shoe component is then formed from at least the second mixture via a molding process.

A method for producing a stabilizer composition for a polymer and a stabilizer composition produced by the method. At least one carboxylic acid is reacted with at least one metal compound, such as at least one metal hydroxide and/or at least one metal oxide and/or at least one metal carbonate, thereby forming a metal carboxylate of the carboxylic acid. The reaction of the carboxylic acid with the metal compound is carried out in a continuous manner in an extruder while reaction water being formed is discharged out of the extruder.

A plastics material transformation plant (100) comprises a transformation machine (10) for the plastics material by means of moulding or extrusion, a feeding hopper (13) which is positioned upstream of the transformation machine and a metering device (1) which is arranged to add a liquid additive to the transformation machine. The metering device (1) comprises a container (4) in which the liquid additive is contained, a metering pump (5) which is connected to the container in order to take the liquid additive and to supply it to the transformation machine (10), and a thermo-regulation system of the liquid additive which is arranged to maintain the temperature of the liquid additive in a range of 2° C. more or 2° C. less than a predetermined temperature value.

A process to form a “functionalized ethylene-based polymer” from a first composition comprising an ethylene-based polymer and at least one polar compound, and at least one peroxide, said process comprising at least the following: a) thermally treating the first composition, in at least one extruder comprising at least one barrel, to form the functionalized ethylene-based polymer; b) extruding the functionalized ethylene-based polymer, in melt form, to form an extrudate; c) cooling the extrudate; and d) pelletizing the extrudate; and wherein the “efficiency of the peroxide consumption, after the thermal treatment, is ≥91 wt % within the at least one extruder; and wherein the “normalized feed rate” at which the process is nm is ≥0.0018 (lbs/hr)/(mm).sup.3; and wherein, for step c), after the extrudate exits the extruder, and before the extrudate is pelletized, the extrudate is cooled in a cooling medium to a pelletization temperature, T.sub.pel in ° C.), ≤ the crystallization temperature T.sub.c (in ° C.) of the functionalized ethylene-based polymer.

A conveyance portion, a barrier portion, and a path are provided at places of a screw main body in which a kneading portion is provided. In at least one of the places, the path is provided inside the screw main body, and includes an entrance and an exit. The entrance is opened to urge the raw materials having the conveyance limited by the barrier portion to increase pressure on the raw materials, to flow in the entrance. The raw materials flowing from the entrance flow through the path in the same direction as a conveyance direction of the conveyance portion.

At a part of the screw main body at which the kneading portion is provided, conveyance portions, a barrier portion and a path are provided at a plurality of places. At least one of the places, the path is provided inside the screw main body, and includes an entrance and an exit. The entrance is opened in such a manner that the raw material whose pressure is enhanced by being restricted in conveyance by the barrier portion flows into the entrance. The path is formed in such a manner that the raw material flowing into the path from the entrance flows toward the exit in a direction opposite to the direction of conveyance.

An extruder screw conveying raw materials while kneading them includes a screw main body, conveyance portions, barrier portions, and paths. The conveyance portions convey the raw materials in an axial direction. The paths each include an entrance and an exit. The raw materials, the conveyance of which is limited by the barrier portions, flow in from the entrance. The raw materials flowing in from the entrance flow through the paths in the same direction as a conveyance direction of the conveyance portions. The exit is opened in the outer circumferential surface of the screw main body at a position outside the conveyance portions in which the entrance is opened.

A conveyance portion, a barrier portion, and a path are provided at places of a portion of a screw main body in which a kneading portion is provided. In at least one of the places, an entrance is opened to cause raw materials, conveyance of which is limited by a barrier portion to increase pressure on the raw materials, to flow in. The raw materials flowing in from the entrance flow through the path in the opposite direction to a conveyance direction of the conveyance portion. An exit is opened in an outer circumferential surface of the screw main body at a position outside the conveyance portion in which the entrance is opened.

A process for compounding a thermoplastic composition comprising performance additives for use in additive manufacturing.