A temperature sensor (10) for measuring a temperature of a mixture being mixed in an internal mixer includes a fixed part having a substantially cylindrical body (12) and a removable part (16) of domed shape arranged inside a conduit of the body. The temperature sensor also includes a blowing stem (14) in communication with a source of compressed air that extends along a conduit (12c) of the body and terminates at an outlet end (14a) disposed in the removable portion (16), whereby the compressed air exits the blowing stem (14) and passes uninterruptedly through a temperature measuring element or elements at a contact end (16b) of the removable portion. A combination of an internal mixer and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a mixture being mixed in the internal mixer is also disclosed.

In the manufacturing method and manufacturing arrangement according to the invention for a silicone composition the mixer mixing the different subcomponents of the silicone composition are removed for the duration of downtime and cooled to a temperature, in which the chemical reaction between the different subcomponents of the silicone composition stops. In the manufacturing method of the invention the mixer is reconnected to the manufacturing apparatus arrangement after downtime without cleaning it from the silicone composition subcomponents remaining in the mixer.

Compositions include a plurality of polymer particulates comprising a matrix polymer and one or more types of nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of biopolymer nanoparticles, biomineral nanoparticles excluding biomineralized silica alone, and any combination thereof. Illustrative examples of such nanoparticles may include cellulose nanoparticles, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, or any combination thereof associated with the matrix polymer. The polymer particulates may be prepared by melt emulsification. Methods include depositing such polymer particulates in a powder bed; and heating a portion of the powder bed to consolidate a portion of the polymer particulates into a consolidated part having a specified shape. The matrix polymer may be biodegradable and lose at least about 40% mass in six days in a phosphate buffer solution (0.2 M, pH 7.0) containing 0.2 mg/mL of lipase obtained from Pseudomonas cepacia (30 U/mg) and incubated at 37 C.

A silica-containing rubber mixture is produced from a rubber, a sulphur-containing alkoxysilane, a crosslinking agent, a silica-containing filler, and 0.1 to 15 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber, of a silicon-free polysulphide additive of the formula (I)
A-S-(S).sub.x-S-B
where x is 0-4, and A and B are the same or different, are alkyl or aryl, and contain at last one oxygen, which may be in the form of a carboxyl group.

A graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition is provided for forming graphene-PET containers. The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition includes a continuous matrix comprising polyethylene terephthalate and a dispersed reinforcement phase comprising graphene nanoplatelets. The graphene nanoplatelets range in diameter between 5 m and 10 m with surface areas ranging from about 15 m.sup.2/g to about 150 m.sup.2/g. In some embodiments, the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate comprises a concentration of graphene nanoplatelets being substantially 3% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate. The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate is configured to be injection molded into a graphene-PET preform suitable for forming a container. The graphene-PET preform is configured to be reheated above its glass transition temperature and blown into a mold so as to shape the graphene-PET preform into the container.

Disclosed herein are methods of preparing composites from solid elastomer(s) and wet filler(s), as well as products, including composites, vulcanizates, and articles therefrom. The wet filler can have a liquid content of at least 15%. A resulting composite comprises the filler dispersed in the elastomer at a loading of at least 20 phr with a filler yield loss of no more than 10%, wherein the composite has a liquid content of no more than 10% by weight based on total weight of said composite.

Disclosed herein are methods of preparing composites from solid elastomer(s) and wet filler(s), as well as products, including composites, vulcanizates, and articles therefrom. The wet filler can have a liquid content of at least 15%. A resulting composite comprises the filler dispersed in the elastomer at a loading of at least 20 phr with a filler yield loss of no more than 10%, wherein the composite has a liquid content of no more than 10% by weight based on total weight of said composite.

Disclosed herein are methods of preparing composites from solid elastomer(s) and wet filler(s), as well as products, including composites, vulcanizates, and articles therefrom. The wet filler can have a liquid content of at least 15%. A resulting composite comprises the filler dispersed in the elastomer at a loading of at least 20 phr with a filler yield loss of no more than 10%, wherein the composite has a liquid content of no more than 10% by weight based on total weight of said composite.

A method for producing a powder comprising at least one polymer for use in a method for the additive manufacture of a three-dimensional object is described. The method includes the step of mechanically treating the powder in a mixer with at least one rotating mixing blade, wherein the powder is exposed to a temperature T.sub.B and T.sub.B is at least 30 C. and is below the melting point T.sub.m of the polymer (determined according to DIN EN ISO 11357) if the polymer is a semi-crystalline polymer, or wherein T.sub.B is at least 30 C. and wherein T.sub.B is at most 50 C. above the glass transition temperature T.sub.g of the polymer (determined according to DIN EN ISO 11357) if the polymer is a melt-amorphous polymer. Compared to a time before the start of the treatment, it may be achieved that after the treatment, the bulk density of the powder is increased by at least 10% (or in the case of polymer, copolymer or polymer blend of polyamide at least 2% and more) and the BET surface area is decreased by at least 10%, and optionally also the pourability is improved by at least 10%.

A machine learning method includes: acquiring a state variable including at least one first evaluation parameter related to performance evaluation of a kneaded product and at least one kneading condition; calculating a reward for a decision result of the at least one kneading condition based on the state variable; updating a function for deciding the at least one kneading condition from the state variable based on the reward; and by repeating the update of the function, deciding a kneading condition under which the reward obtained becomes maximum, in which the at least one first evaluation parameter includes at least one of physical properties and shape characteristics related to the kneaded product.