Methods for determining the hardness and/or ductility of a material by compression of the material are provided as a first aspect of the invention. Typically, compression is performed on multiple sides of a geologic material sample in a contemporaneous manner. Devices and systems for performing such methods also are provided. These methods, devices, and systems can be combined with additional methods, devices, and systems of the invention that provide for the analysis of compounds contained in such samples, which can indicate the presence of valuable materials, such as petroleum-associated hydrocarbons. Alternatively, these additional methods, devices, and systems can also stand independently of the methods, devices, and systems for analyzing ductility and/or hardness of materials.

Methods for improved colorant dispersion in polymer materials using solid-state shear pulverization, as compared to mixing techniques of the prior art, to address concerns relating to colorant agglomeration, plating-out and the like.

A method for obtaining recyclate from thermosetting materials, comprising the following method steps: providing thermosetting starting materials to be recycled; breaking the thermosetting starting materials with a twin-shaft shredder to obtain a plurality of fragments; shredding the fragments with a single-shaft shredder to obtain a plurality of flakes; and fine grinding of the flakes with a grinding device to obtain a recyclate powder.

Methods for determining the hardness and/or ductility of a material by compression of the material are provided as a first aspect of the invention. Typically, compression is performed on multiple sides of a geologic material sample in a contemporaneous manner. Devices and systems for performing such methods also are provided. These methods, devices, and systems can be combined with additional methods, devices, and systems of the invention that provide for the analysis of compounds contained in such samples, which can indicate the presence of valuable materials, such as petroleum-associated hydrocarbons. Alternatively, these additional methods, devices, and systems can also stand independently of the methods, devices, and systems for analyzing ductility and/or hardness of materials.

A method for producing thermoplastic elastomer is disclosed and comprises the step of: blending a mixture including particles of vulcanized rubber material and a molten thermoplastic material such that the rubber material is subjected to mechanical shearing forces and the surfaces of the rubber particles undergo homolytic bond scission to form chains of free radicals which cross-link with the thermoplastic material. Apparatus for carrying out the method, elastomers produced by the method and articles produced from the elastomers are also disclosed.

Elastomer compositions comprising uncured elastomer and reclaimed elastomer are described. In one embodiment, the compositions comprise reclaimed elastomer material (micronized rubber powder) of broad particle size distribution, which is less expensive than traditional reclaimed elastomer material with narrow particle size distribution. Further, compositions comprising reclaimed elastomer materials with broad particle size distribution perform comparably to those comprising reclaimed elastomer materials with narrow particle size distribution. In other embodiments, the compositions comprise both vulcanized and devulcanized elastomer materials. Advantageously, by using a combination of vulcanized and devulcanized material, it is possible to incorporate a greater percentage by weight of reclaimed material in to an elastomer composition, thus providing additional cost savings while maintaining high levels of mechanical properties. Further, the use of the reclaimed material reduces landfill waste resulting in a more environmentally friendly product.

A cryogenic grinding apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a material charge, a low-temperature embrittling device for embrittling the charged ground material by supplying liquid low-temperature gas, a mill for grinding the low-temperature embrittled ground material in an atmosphere containing the low-temperature gas, and a separating device. The separating device has a wind classifier, a removal device to remove the ground material from the mill-output volumetric flow, and a directing device to feed the removed ground material into a classifier-input volumetric flow and to discharge excess mill-output gas of the mill-output volumetric flow. In addition, a cryogenic grinding process is provided in which the ground material is removed from the volumetric flow, excess grinding gas is discharged, removed ground material is feed into a classifier-input volumetric flow of a wind classifier and a classifier-input volumetric flow is classified for separating off a classifier-output volumetric flow containing the fine material.

A system and a method for producing a surface devulcanized crumb rubber from vulcanized crumb rubber. The method comprising applying a dose of microwave energy to micronized vulcanized crumb rubber sufficient to sever sulfidic cross-links in the surface of the micronized vulcanized rubber crumb to produce a devulcanized crumb rubber. In aspects, the method relates to a method for producing an end-of-life tire compound from vulcanized crumb rubber comprising obtaining a surface devulcanized crumb rubber; mixing the surface devulcanized crumb rubber with a plastic polymer and/or an oil to form a devulcanized rubber mixture; and extruding the mixture through an extruder to produce the end-of-life tire compound.

A method for manufacturing micronized rubber powders including grinding of a rubber granulated feedstock, size classification and storage of the micronized rubber powders thus obtained. A rubber formulation including at least one natural or synthetic rubber, a micronized rubber composition and optionally one or more of processing aids, antidegradants, fillers, accelerators and curatives. A method for manufacturing a rubber product, as well as to a solid rubber product.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for manufacturing micronized powder. The systems, methods, and apparatuses comprise pre-grinding processing, cryogenic freezing, and grinding of infeed material and warming, ferrous metal and fiber removal, accumulation, screening, and storage of micronized powder. Generally, the warming may involve recirculation of micronized powder through the warming apparatus. Further, the accumulation may permit the grinding and screening to occur at their respectively optimal rates, and the fiber removal, via use of a vibrating screener, may increase the purity of the micronized powder. In one embodiment, the micronized powder comprises micronized rubber powder (MRP).