Composites containing one or more synthetic plastics, such as thermoplastics, one or more natural materials, such as plant/tree fibers, and biochar and/or torrefied material are described herein. The composite can contain additional additives, such as reinforcing agents and/or fibers, compatibilizers, etc. The composites have improved mechanical and/or physical properties, such as strength, impact strength, rigidity/modulus, heat deflection temperature, moldability/melt flow index, renewability, and lower cost compared to composites that do not contain the biochar and/or torrefied material. The presence of the biochar and/or torrefied material also serves to remove the odor often associated with natural fibers and other additives.

Thermoplastic compositions are described that exhibit resistance to hydrocarbon absorption. Methods for forming the thermoplastic compositions are also described. Formation methods include combining a polyarylene sulfide with a first impact modifier and a second impact modifier such that the impact modifiers are dispersed throughout the polyarylene sulfide. A crosslinking agent can be combined with the other components of the composition following dispersal of the additives throughout the composition to dynamically crosslink at least one of the first and second impact modifiers.

The present disclosure concerns effervescent compositions and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the disclosed effervescent compositions are formed from an input blend comprising an acid and a base by granulating the input blend in a twin-screw processor. The granules formed from the input blend can be formed by an in situ granulating agent, which can be a portion of the acid that melts during granulation. In some embodiments, the effervescent compositions can be made using a twin-screw processor comprising an intake zone for receiving an input blend comprising an acid and a base; a granulation initiation zone for melting only a portion of the acid to serve as an in situ granulating agent; a granulation completion zone for granulating the input blend; and an outlet for discharging the granules.

An EVOH resin composition excellent in inorganic compound dispersibility and a method of producing an EVOH resin composition excellent in productivity and inorganic compound dispersibility are provided. The EVOH resin composition contains an EVOH resin (A) and an inorganic compound (B), and has a crystallinity of not lower than 36%. The EVOH resin composition is produced by: feeding an EVOH resin (A), an inorganic compound (B) and water (C) into a kneading apparatus including a screw-type side feeder (3); melt-kneading the resulting EVOH resin mixture while driving the screw-type side feeder (3); and expelling water vapor from the screw-type side feeder (3) to reduce the water content of the EVOH resin mixture to lower than 5 weight % while suppressing leakage of the EVOH resin kneaded body from the screw-type side feeder (3).

The present disclosure concerns effervescent compositions and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the disclosed effervescent compositions are formed from an input blend comprising an acid and a base by granulating the input blend in a twin-screw processor. The granules formed from the input blend can be formed by an in situ granulating agent, which can be a portion of the acid that melts during granulation. In some embodiments, the effervescent compositions can be made using a twin-screw processor comprising an intake zone for receiving an input blend comprising an acid and a base; a granulation initiation zone for melting only a portion of the acid to serve as an in situ granulating agent; a granulation completion zone for granulating the input blend; and an outlet for discharging the granules.

A mixing and cooling system (1) includes a mixing and screw-extrusion machine (10) with a mixer (12) having a converging conical twin screw; a ram (30) that moves along the inside of an introduction hopper (24) of the machine; a roller nose system disposed just downstream of an outlet (25) of the mixer to form a sheet (112) of the mixture exiting the mixer; and a mobile sleeve or sleeves (34) that move in a linear movement relative to the outlet. The system also includes a cooling system with a spray installation(s) (102, 104) that delivers water at a predetermined rate to the sheet exiting the machine; a suction installation(s) proportionate to each spray installation; and at least one transport means (114, 116) that transports the sheet in a predetermined direction.

A mixing and cooling system (1) includes a mixing and screw-extrusion machine (10) with a mixer (12) having a converging conical twin screw; a ram (30) that moves along the inside of an introduction hopper (24) of the machine; a roller nose system disposed just downstream of an outlet (25) of the mixer to form a sheet (112) of the mixture exiting the mixer; and a mobile sleeve or sleeves (34) that move in a linear movement relative to the outlet. The system also includes a cooling system with a spray installation(s) (102, 104) that delivers water at a predetermined rate to the sheet exiting the machine; a suction installation(s) proportionate to each spray installation; and at least one transport means (114, 116) that transports the sheet in a predetermined direction.

The disclosure relates to oxygen scavenging compositions, methods of making the compositions, articles prepared from the compositions, and methods of making the articles. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to thermoformed webs that comprise polymer films having one or more thermoformed cavities contained therein, the polymer films comprising a polymer blend of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET), polyethylene furanoate (PEF), and a copolyester that comprises (a) dicarboxylic acid residues (e.g., dicarboxylic acid residues that comprise terephthalic acid residues and, optionally, one or more additional dicarboxylic acid residues) and (b) diol residues (e.g., diol residues comprising ethylene glycol residues and, optionally, one or more additional diol monomer residues). Other aspects of the disclosure pertain to methods of forming such thermoformed webs, packaged products comprising such thermoformed webs, and methods of recycling such thermoformed webs.

A continuous method of producing polyamide foams by an extrusion foaming process is disclosed. The polyamide foam includes a polyamide resin compounded with a composite chain extender including an epoxy chain extender and a maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) wax. The produced polyamide foams have improved properties, including a smooth surface, low density, and small cell size.