A folded panel includes a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) substrate with an outer layer secured to and at least partially covering one major surface thereof and a polymer matrix covering an opposite major surface thereof. In one embodiment, the FRP substrate is folded about a fold line to create opposed plies on either side of the fold line with the polymer matrix of one of the opposed plies contacting the polymer matrix of the other of the opposed plies and with the outer layer forming a folded edge at the fold line that is continuous with the outer layer covering the opposed plies, and the folded FRP substrate is then consolidated with the polymer matrix. In another embodiment, a fiber or fibrous material substrate is positioned between the opposed plies and the combination of the folded FRP substrate and the fiber or fibrous substrate is consolidated with the polymer matrix.

In general, this disclosure relates to an apparatus that compresses lightweight plastic waste (e.g., used grocery bags, empty trash bags, food wrappers, etc.), and then applies a limited amount of heat to bake the compressed plastic into a brick of plastic. The plastic is compressed, and then heated enough to cause it to retain its compressed shape, without melting or substantial outgassing.

The pressing of an article is achieved with a closed-loop feedback press. The closed-loop feedback press is effective to measure an amount of pressure applied and adjust the pressure to achieve a prescribed amount of compression on the article. Further, the press may leverage a closed-loop feedback system to maintain a consistent temperature of one or more platens. The press is able to adjust a pressure applied one or more times during a pressing operation to accelerate a temperature change in the pressed article while reducing the pressure applied as the temperature approaches a target temperature to limit unintentional deformation and bleeding of the pressed material of the article.

The buffing dust waste/polystyrene thermal insulator is a polymer composite containing 0.1%-25% by weight buffing dust waste from a leather tannery, the balance being polystyrene. The composite has extremely low thermal conductivity (e.g., 0.0447 W/m-K for a composite 10% budding dust by weight), making it a good insulator, while still having relatively high mechanical properties. The thermal insulator is made by mixing the buffing dust with the polystyrene polymer in a twin-screw extruder and pouring the mixture into a steel mold. The mold is heated and compressed in a hot press machine, e.g., at 500 kg force at 180 C. for 20 minutes, which may be followed by 500 kg force at 125 C. for an additional 20 minutes. The resulting composite polymer is suitable for use as thermal insulation in buildings.

Disclosed is a friction-reducing and anti-wear composite material for a wading kinematic pair and a method of preparing the same. The friction-reducing and anti-wear composite material is prepared from carbon fiber (CF) among inorganic fillers, polyimide (PI) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK). These three materials are wet-mixed, dried and placed in a mold followed by curing by a heat press. The cured product is cooled and demolded to obtain the CF/PI/PEEK friction-reducing and anti-wear composite material for a wading kinematic pair. Tribological properties of the PEEK material are enhanced due to synergistic effect arising from hybrid organic-inorganic filling. The friction-reducing and anti-wear composite material provided in the invention has significantly reduced friction coefficient and wear volume loss under the seawater environment.

A composite material having physical characteristics equivalent to particle board materials bonded with resin-based adhesives that contain formaldehyde-urea is formed of reclaimed textile debris comprising fabric scraps and a latex based binder. The binder includes natural rubber latex, sulfur, an anti-oxidant agent and pH adjustment substances. The binder may also include selected amounts of zinc oxide, zinc diethyldithiocarbamate and a stabilizer. Production of the composite material includes mixing the constituents and vulcanization through the application of heat and compression. Cold compression is subsequently applied.

A manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method for a molded lens are provided. A substrate is located between a first molding core and a second molding core, and the first molding core is moved so that the substrate is formed into a lens. A distance sensor sends a plurality of press distance parameters of moving the first molding core, and the press distance parameters may form a press curve. The press curve and a reference press curve is compared for a difference by a processor and a comparator. The processor determines whether the difference is within an error range.

There is provided an apparatus for molding a thermoplastic material into a homogenous sample body having a predetermined shape, the apparatus comprising: (a) a main body (110) comprising a first opening (112), a second opening and a hollow bore (116) connecting the first opening (112) with the second opening, the hollow bore (116) being adapted to receive a separation foil shaped to cover at least a part of the hollow bore surface; (b) a piston (120) adapted to fit moveably into the hollow bore (116) containing the separation foil; (c) a base plate (130) comprising a protrusion, wherein the base plate (130) is adapted to be inserted into the first opening (112) in such a manner that the protrusion extends into a part of the hollow bore (116) containing the separation foil, and wherein the base plate (130) is adapted to transfer heat from a heating unit to a thermoplastic material (150) resting on the protrusion (132); (d) a vacuum connector (142) adapted to be connected to a vacuum source; (e) a lid (140) adapted to fit moveably into the second opening and adapted to apply a force to the piston (120) when the vacuum connector (142) is connected to the vacuum source such that the piston (120) applies a compressing force to the thermoplastic material (150) resting on the protrusion. There are further provided a method and a system for molding a thermoplastic material into a homogenous sample body having a predetermined shape.

A process for manufacturing an article made of recovered rubber crumb is provided. According to the process: a) crumb particles are mixed with particles of a solute; b) a molded article is produced by molding the mixture from step a) in a closed mold under predetermined temperature and pressure conditions; and c) the molded article is brought into contact with a solvent so as to dissolve at least one portion of the particles of said solute.

A method for producing an object made of a polymeric material, said polymeric material having a melting temperature (T.sub.F), comprises the steps of: melting the polymeric material; after the step of melting, cooling the polymeric material below the melting temperature (T.sub.F) in a cooling zone; severing a dose from a flow of polymeric material coming from the cooling zone by means of a severing element (5); obtaining said object by shaping the dose between a male forming element and a female forming element (10) which move towards one another with a mutual movement speed, the dose having a temperature lower than said melting temperature (T.sub.F). Between a start-of-forming configuration, in which the dose is in contact with both the male forming element and the female forming element (10), and a start-of-deceleration configuration, in which the male forming element and the female forming element (10) begin to decelerate relative to one another, the mutual movement speed is greater than 10 mm/s.