A process for forming a biofilm carrier suitable for use in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is presented. A blowing agent is mixed with a plastic material to form a blended material. The blended material is then heated to a temperature where the blowing agent liberates gas by decomposition. The heated blended material is extruded through a die to provide the extrudate with a profile of the biofilm carrier. Advantageously, biofilm carriers produced in this manner have increased effectiveness when compared to conventional biofilm carriers.

Method of manufacturing a regenerated cellulosic molded body, wherein the method comprises supplying a starting material which comprises cellulose and at least one foreign matter, transferring at least a part of the starting material with at least a part of the at least one foreign matter into a spinning mass which additionally contains a solvent for solving at least a part of the cellulose of the starting material in the solvent, and extruding the spinning mass to the molded body, and subsequently precipitating in a spinning bath, wherein thereby the molded body is obtained, wherein the molded body comprises cellulose and at least a part of the at least one foreign matter.

Method of manufacturing a cellulose-regenerated-molded body, wherein the method comprises supplying a starting material which is manufactured by a lyocell-method and which comprises cellulose, which is manufactured by solving a cellulose source in a solvent for manufacturing a spinning mass, by extruding the spinning mass and by subsequently precipitating in a spinning bath, solving the starting material which comprises cellulose, in a solvent for manufacturing a spinning mass, and extruding, and subsequently precipitating the spinning mass in a spinning bath, wherein thereby the molded body is obtained.

A pellet production method comprising: an operation in which a strand comprising a glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide resin composition containing 50 mass % to 80 mass % of glass fiber is extruded from an orifice at a die; an operation in which the strand is drawn into water within a tank and is cooled; and an operation in which the cooled strand is cut to obtain a pellet; wherein an angle of incidence at which the strand enters the water within the tank is not less than 70° but is less than 90°; and wherein a ratio of a diameter of the pellet to a diameter of the orifice (diameter of the pellet/diameter of the orifice) is 0.65 to 0.97.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for directed to synthetic block copolymer proteins, expression constructs for their secretion, recombinant microorganisms for their production, and synthetic fibers (including advantageously, microfibers) comprising these proteins that recapitulate many properties of natural silk. The recombinant microorganisms can be used for the commercial production of silk-like fibers.

A new dielectric material for a communication cable has a dielectric base with strength members embedded therein. By a new process, vacuum voids are formed in the dielectric base and at least partially contain or abut the strength members. The material is particularly well suited for a first dielectric tape, where the cable includes a first insulated conductor, the first dielectric tape and a second insulated conductor, with the first insulated conductor being twisted with the second insulated conductor with the first dielectric tape residing between the first insulated conductor and the second insulated conductor. The material is also suitable for a separator of the cable serving to separate twisted pairs from each other within the cable, as well as other components of the cable, such as an insulation layer of one or more of the insulated conductors of the twisted pairs.

In a production method for a conductive composite material for an extruder that continuously discharges a kneaded product produced by kneading a raw material using a screw, the screw has a the screw body, the raw material transported along an outer circumferential surface of the screw body receives increased pressure by a barrier part in a transport part and is introduced to a passage from an inlet, and while the kneaded product is continuously discharged, the raw material transported along the outer circumferential surface of the screw body flows in the passage of the extruder and then is guided to the transport part via an outlet provided in the screw body, the raw material contains a conductive filler and a thermoplastic elastomer.

A regenerated cellulosic molded body of cellulose and at least a part of at least one foreign matter, and is produced by supplying a starting material which comprises cellulose and at least one foreign matter, transferring at least a part of the starting material with at least a part of the at least one foreign matter into a spinning mass which additionally contains a solvent for solving at least a part of the cellulose of the starting material in the solvent, and extruding the spinning mass to the molded body, and subsequently precipitating in a spinning bath.

Systems and methods for forming insulation on magnet wire are provided. An extruder that includes one or more rotating screws may receive a thermoset polymeric material and process the thermoset polymeric material to increase its pressure and temperature. An extrusion crosshead assembly in fluid communication with the extruder may receive the thermoset polymeric material and press extrude the thermoset polymeric material as insulation onto a magnet wire. A curing device may then cure the extruded insulation material.

The notched Izod impact toughness and tensile elongation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-homopolymers are increased by about 2 to about 4 times by blending therewith a PLA-copolymer having a difunctional flexible middle segment such as a polysiloxane or a polyether from about 0.6 wt. % to about 20 wt. %. The PLA-homopolymer-PLA-copolymer blend having a difunctional flexible polymer from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % is thermally annealed to provide impact toughness of at least about 5 kJ/m.sup.2 and tensile elongation of greater than 12%. This exceptional improvement observed in the PLA blend is a synergistic effect of the addition of the difunctional flexible polymer of the copolymer and thermal annealing. The improvement observed in the mechanical properties with high PLA homopolymer content above about 90 to about 98 wt. % is unusual and results in an increased scope of molding and thermoforming applications. The annealed PLA-copolymers having a difunctional flexible middle segment have also been found to have improved notched Izod impact properties.