Thermoplastic compositions useful for roadway markings may be produced using a continuous systems and process methods that can reduce costs and improve product quality. Systems may comprise a feed system comprising a plurality of feeders and a mixing system comprising a mixer and a smoothing system. Each feeder may be configured to discharge a material at a feed rate according to a selected product formulation The mixing system may be configured to receive, heat, and combine the materials to produce a thermoplastic material, and discharge the thermoplastic material at a determined discharge rate.

A substantially continuous stream of aqueous fluid and a substantially continuous stream of gel having a first concentration are combined to form a substantially continuous stream of gel having a second concentration. The second concentration is substantially lower than the first concentration. The gel having the second concentration may thereafter be utilized in conjunction with a well fracturing operation.

A method for processing pharmaceutical powders, which comprises providing a feeder module including a plurality of feeder units each with a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end, connecting the storage hopper to a refilling system with a refilling valve, connecting the refilling valve to a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve, connecting the discharge end to a common receiving container, refilling the storage hopper with a powder intermittently 40 to 80 times per hour, storing data during refilling, transporting powder from the storage hopper with the respective conveyer, and discharging powder from each feeder unit into the common receiving container. During each refilling of the storage hopper, the refilling valve dispenses powder into the storage hopper and, during the step of transporting the powder from the storage hopper, the conveyer is operated according to the data collected during previous refills.

A system has a first fluid dispenser containing a biocompatible polymer, a second fluid dispenser containing a biocompatible curing agent selected to form a highly viscous mixture with the biocompatible polymer, a pair of diverging surfaces having a contact point, the first fluid dispenser and the second fluid dispenser positioned to dispense a first fluid and a second fluid at the contact point, and an actuator connected to the first fluid dispenser, the second fluid dispenser and the pair of diverging surfaces, the actuator configured to cause the first fluid dispenser and the second fluid dispenser to dispense the fluids at the contact point, and to cause the diverging surfaces to move through the contact point and then diverge, causing the mixture to form filaments until the filaments break up to form a spray. A method of forming a spray includes dispensing a biocompatible polymer solution and a curing agent onto a pair of diverging surfaces to form a mixture, moving the two diverging surfaces counter to each other to cause the mixture to form filaments between the two diverging surfaces as the diverging surfaces move away from each other, moving the two diverging surfaces further counter to each other to cause the filaments burst into droplets, and directing the droplets onto a surface. A composition of matter comprising a biocompatible polymer and a biocompatible curing agent.

A method includes feeding a heated polymer additive at a first temperature into a continuous mixer at a first feed rate. The method includes feeding a heated abrasive solid material at a second temperature into the continuous mixer at a second feed rate. The heated abrasive solid material and the heated polymer additive are mixed in the continuous mixer to form a first mixture.

A process and associated system for creating color effects using extrudable material, such as plastic and metal for example, are presented. Flows of first and second viscous materials of respective colors are provided and then combined in a predetermined pattern to form a stream of combined viscous material. A dynamic mixer is the then used to apply a predetermined dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to partially mix the first viscous material and the second viscous material, such that upon exiting the dynamic mixer, the first material of the first color and the second material of the second color form a color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. The dynamic mixer has elements configured for acquiring a specific radial orientation in a range of radial orientations that may be varied during the application of the dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to cause variations in the color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. Sheets of extruded material may be created using such process and system and used in the manufacturing of many different products including, but not limited to, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, garden furniture and many others. In some embodiments, the sheets may be characterized by color bands extending diagonally with reference to a longitudinal extent of the sheet.

The present invention relates to a method for changing material in an extrusion device comprising at least two supply devices for supplying feedstock for an extruder, comprising the following steps: identifying a change request for changing the material in the extrusion device, preparing the supply devices for changing the material, separating at least two supply devices from the feed of feedstock to the extruder, discharging feedstock from the separated supply devices, filling subsequent material into the empty supply devices.

The present invention relates to a method for production of terephthalic acid using high polymerization degree polyethylene terephthalate, which includes: (i) introducing high polymerization degree polyethylene terephthalate having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.75 dl/g or more into a continuous reactor, and then heating and pressurizing the same to prepare a fluidal polyethylene terephthalate; (ii) introducing a mixed slurry prepared by mixing an alkaline material containing an alkali-metal, a weak acid salt of the alkali-metal and ethylene glycol together into an internal position of the continuous reactor, through which the fluidal polyethylene terephthalate passes, and implementing neat reaction of the fluidal polyethylene terephthalate with the mixed slurry in the continuous reactor to prepare alkali-metal terephthalate; and (iii) dissolving the prepared alkali-metal terephthalate in water, removing foreign substances through filtration and centrifugation, adding acid to the alkali-metal terephthalate dissolved in water and reacting the same, thereby producing terephthalic acid.

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.

A production method of producing a fiber-reinforced resin molding includes: kneading, in a kneader, molten thermoplastic resin with opened reinforcing fibers obtained by opening a bundle of reinforcing fibers, to produce a kneaded mixture; and placing or charging the kneaded mixture into a molding device to produce a fiber-reinforced resin molding.