A method of manufacturing a nanocomposite includes exposing dry nanoparticles to a dry, solid matrix material or pellets in a container to form a combination which is then agitated by rotating about an axis transverse to a direction of gravity, at room temperature and without grinding objects, to cause a tumbling action between the pellets and the nanoparticles to thereby evenly disperse and coat the nanoparticles directly on outer surfaces of the pellets which remain in a solid phase and of the same size throughout rotating. The method also includes processing the resulting combination, particularly polypropylene pellets and carbon black nanoparticles, by heating to form a viscous combination which is then drawn to form a nanocomposite fiber having carbon black nanoparticles dispersed evenly throughout the polypropylene, with a resulting fiber having a diameter of 30 m-100 m and tensile strength of 300-1500% greater than a similar polypropylene fiber produced without the nanoparticles.

An equal channel angular extrusion tool comprising a punch assembly, a die set assembly, a base assembly, and a bottom slider assembly. The punch assembly comprises a punch, a punch nose, and a punch trolley. The die set assembly comprises an inlet channel and a removable core. The base assembly comprises a lifting mechanism which further comprises a die lift cylinder and a hold down ram. The bottom slider assembly comprises an ejection ram. The tool also includes a billet. The billet may be disposed in the bottom slider assembly. Severe plastic deformation is applied to the billet in the bottom slider assembly.

Compositions including recycled resin components and medical devices and components made form such compositions are disclosed. The compositions and medical devices are characterized as biocompatible and sterilization stable. In one or more embodiments, the compositions include a recycled resin component and may include one or more of an anti-oxidant component, slip additive component, anti-static component, impact modifier component, colorant component, acid scavenger component, X-ray fluorescence agent component, radio opaque filler component, surface modifier component, melt stabilizer component, clarifier component, processing aid component and reinforcing agent component. Methods of forming medical articles and components are also disclosed.

There is disclosed a multi-material extruder and extrusion method for 3D printing, and more particularly to an apparatus and method that is adapted to extrude a wide range of materials for printing 3D structures. In an aspect, the apparatus comprises a frame adapted to receive a removable syringe or cartridge with a depressible piston in an extended position, the syringe or cartridge containing material to be extruded. An extrusion motor is under the control of an extruder logic module to determine how quickly the piston of the syringe or cartridge is to be depressed to achieve a desired rate of extrusion of the material. A flexible length of tubing connects the tip of the syringe or cartridge to an extruder nozzle, which nozzle is mounted to a stylus which may be hand-held or mounted to a chassis of a 3D printing device. A feedback signal is used to provide a feedback signal to the extruder logic module to determine the rate of extrusion of material. The syringe or cartridge may include a label containing information on the type of material in the syringe or cartridge, and one or more extrusion parameters to be used with the material in the syringe or cartridge.

The invention relates to compositions comprising composite materials comprised of discontinuous fibers and one or more polymers and/or oligomers. The invention relates to methods of making the same. The composite materials can be in the form of compositions, composite sheets, laminates, pellets, and/or shaped composite products.

In a cost-effective and qualitatively better method for producing spacers for a winding unit of an electrical high-voltage device, at least two starting components are mixed together in a mixing chamber under vacuum to form a component mixture. The component mixture is transferred to an extrusion housing, likewise under vacuum, of an extruder in which a transport device is arranged and which is equipped with a mouthpiece delimiting an outlet opening. The extrudate exiting from the mouthpiece is cured by the addition of heat in a vacuum in order to obtain the spacers.

A method for forming particles having a ridge portion includes inducing flow of a slurry of particles and a reactant through one or more orifices, detaching an amount of the slurry from the slurry flow following exit from the one or more orifices, the detached amount forming a slurry body, forming the slurry body into a particle shape, contacting the particle shaped slurry body with a coagulation solution to form a stabilized particle having the ridge portion, and drying and/or sintering the particle having the ridge portion.

A die and method for extruding an extrudable material to form an extruded member is described. In one embodiment, the die comprises a barrier member comprising a plurality of feed channels that extend through the barrier member. Furthermore, the die incorporates a passage forming member extending from the barrier member substantially in the direction of extrusion. The feed channels are arranged with respect to the passage forming member to allow the extrudable material to substantially flow about the passage forming member to form a corresponding passage in the extruded member.

A batch mixer is equipped with a plunger for pushing material from the batch mixer. The batch mixer includes a mixer tank structured to accommodate material. The mixer further includes a mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank. The mixer further includes a plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank.

A batch mixer is equipped with a plunger for pushing material from the batch mixer. The batch mixer includes a mixer tank structured to accommodate material. The mixer further includes a mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank. The mixer further includes a plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank.