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.

A solid-state manufacturing system having a sleeve having a hollow portion for receiving a feedstock material; a friction die rotatably coupled adjacent an end of the sleeve, the friction die and the sleeve being rotatable relative to each other along a rotation axis and configured to generate frictional heat to heat at least a portion of the feedstock material within the hollow portion of the sleeve to a malleable state; a propulsion system operably coupled to the sleeve configured to urge the feedstock material in a processing direction along the rotational axis; and an extrusion hole configured to permit the malleable feedstock material to be extruded from the extrusion hole in response to the propulsion system. A solid-state manufacturing method similarly configured is provided.

A solid-state manufacturing system having a sleeve having a hollow portion for receiving a feedstock material; a friction die rotatably coupled adjacent an end of the sleeve, the friction die and the sleeve being rotatable relative to each other along a rotation axis and configured to generate frictional heat to heat at least a portion of the feedstock material within the hollow portion of the sleeve to a malleable state; a propulsion system operably coupled to the sleeve configured to urge the feedstock material in a processing direction along the rotational axis; and an extrusion hole configured to permit the malleable feedstock material to be extruded from the extrusion hole in response to the propulsion system. A solid-state manufacturing method similarly configured is provided.

Provided is a process for producing an elastic heat spreader film, the process comprising: (a) providing a layer of an aggregate or cluster of multiple graphene sheets; (b) impregnating an elastomer or rubber into the aggregate or cluster as a binder material or a matrix material to produce an impregnated aggregate or cluster, wherein the multiple graphene sheets are bonded by the binder material or dispersed in the matrix material and the elastomer or rubber is in an amount from 0.001% to 20% by weight based on the total heat spreader film weight; and (c) compressing the impregnated aggregate or cluster to produce the heat spreader film wherein the multiple graphene sheets are substantially aligned to be parallel to one another and wherein the elastic heat spreader film has a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 100% and an in-plane thermal conductivity from 200 W/mK to 1,750 W/mK.

A method of forming a component for a vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, forming the component of an ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) and a stiffening filler. A bracket and a running board assembly are also disclosed.

A method of forming a component for a vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, forming the component of an ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) and a stiffening filler. A bracket and a running board assembly are also disclosed.

In a method and a corresponding device for producing an extrudate, starting products are introduced into an extrusion container, heated, and homogeneously intermixed by dual asymmetric centrifugation of the extrusion container. The extrusion container is rotated about a primary rotation axis that extends outside the extrusion container, and is simultaneously rotated about a secondary rotation axis that extends through the extrusion container and is situated at an acute angle with respect to the primary rotation axis. Lastly, the intermixed starting products are jointly extruded from the extrusion container. The method and the corresponding device are particularly suitable for processing small and very small substance quantities.

In a method and a corresponding device for producing an extrudate, starting products are introduced into an extrusion container, heated, and homogeneously intermixed by dual asymmetric centrifugation of the extrusion container. The extrusion container is rotated about a primary rotation axis that extends outside the extrusion container, and is simultaneously rotated about a secondary rotation axis that extends through the extrusion container and is situated at an acute angle with respect to the primary rotation axis. Lastly, the intermixed starting products are jointly extruded from the extrusion container. The method and the corresponding device are particularly suitable for processing small and very small substance quantities.

Provided is a method for extruding molten resin in a charging space from a head by converting a rotational motion of an electric motor into a linear motion of a piston disposed in the charging space through a ball screw and thus causing the piston to move vertically, the charging space being a space into which the molten resin can be charged and formed in an accumulator, the head having an extrusion port at a lower end thereof. The method includes a step of separating an upper plate from a lower plate and retracting the upper plate upward by a rotational motion of the electric motor and then charging the molten resin into the charging space with a sufficient charging pressure to push up the piston against weights of the lower plate and the piston in the charging space, the lower plate being disposed over the accumulator and coupled to the piston from above, the upper plate being engaged with the electric motor through a screwing relationship and disposed over the lower plate so as to be able to surface-contact the lower plate and a step of extruding the molten resin from the extrusion port by moving the upper plate downward with the upper plate and the lower plate surface-contacting each other by a rotational motion of the electric motor and thus moving the piston downward in the charging space.

Provided is a method for extruding molten resin in a charging space from a head by converting a rotational motion of an electric motor into a linear motion of a piston disposed in the charging space through a ball screw and thus causing the piston to move vertically, the charging space being a space into which the molten resin can be charged and formed in an accumulator, the head having an extrusion port at a lower end thereof. The method includes a step of separating an upper plate from a lower plate and retracting the upper plate upward by a rotational motion of the electric motor and then charging the molten resin into the charging space with a sufficient charging pressure to push up the piston against weights of the lower plate and the piston in the charging space, the lower plate being disposed over the accumulator and coupled to the piston from above, the upper plate being engaged with the electric motor through a screwing relationship and disposed over the lower plate so as to be able to surface-contact the lower plate and a step of extruding the molten resin from the extrusion port by moving the upper plate downward with the upper plate and the lower plate surface-contacting each other by a rotational motion of the electric motor and thus moving the piston downward in the charging space.