A process to manufacture a solution of aramid includes: i) combining a solvent and a base to result in a solvent-base mixture, ii) adding aramid material to the solvent-base mixture to obtain a composition, and iii) mixing the composition to obtain a solution of aramid, wherein at least 1 Mol of base per liter of solvent is added to obtain the solvent-base mixture. An aramid solution, processes to further process the solution, and a continuous aramid fiber with high elongation.

A fractional lobe processor is disclosed. The fractional lobe processor comprises an intake zone comprising at least one deep flighted shovel element on each intermeshing screw for receiving a input blend comprising an active substance and an excipient; a granulation zone consisting of only fractional lobe elements, and having a provision for introducing moisture or a binder solution, for granulating the active substance and the excipient; an optional, drying zone for drying the wet granules; and a discharge zone for discharging the granules; wherein the granulation zone is located before the discharge zone and after the intake zone; wherein the drying zone has one or more fractional lobe elements on each shaft; and wherein the granulation zone has a plurality of fractional lobe elements on each shaft.

A fractional lobe processor is disclosed. The fractional lobe processor comprises an intake zone comprising at least one deep flighted shovel element on each intermeshing screw for receiving a input blend comprising an active substance and an excipient; a granulation zone consisting of only fractional lobe elements, and having a provision for introducing moisture or a binder solution, for granulating the active substance and the excipient; an optional, drying zone for drying the wet granules; and a discharge zone for discharging the granules; wherein the granulation zone is located before the discharge zone and after the intake zone; wherein the drying zone has one or more fractional lobe elements on each shaft; and wherein the granulation zone has a plurality of fractional lobe elements on each shaft.

A method in which a stream of dry cementitious powder from a dry powder feeder passes through a dry cementitious powder inlet conduit to feed a first feed section of a fiber-slurry mixer. An aqueous medium stream passes through at least one aqueous medium stream conduit to feed a first mixing section the fiber-slurry mixer. A stream of reinforcing fibers passes from a fiber feeder through a reinforcing fibers stream conduit to feed a second mixing section of the fiber-slurry mixer. The stream of dry cementitious powder, aqueous medium stream, and stream of reinforcing fibers combine in the fiber-slurry mixer to make a stream of fiber-cement mixture which discharges through a discharge conduit at a downstream end of the mixer.

A dispersive mixing element for co-rotating twin screw extruder is disclosed. The element for co-rotating twin screw extruder comprises of a continuous flight helically formed thereon having a lead L, wherein either the flight transforms at least once from an integer lobe flight into a non-integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L and transforms back to an integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L or the flight transforms at least once from a non-integer lobe flight into an integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L and transforms back to a non-integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L.

An element for a co-rotating twin screw processor, the element having a lead L and at least one continuous flight helically formed thereon and, wherein the flight transforms at least once from a first non-integer lobe flight into a second non-integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L and transforms back to the first non-integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L.

A kneading apparatus having a kneading unit made up of a plurality of segment parts detachably mounted on a shaft disposed in the barrel includes a first segment part having a first length L1 related to an outer diameter D, a second segment part having a second length L2 shorter than the first length L1, and a third segment part having a third length L3 longer than the first length L1; the first length L1 is [the outer diameter D?a coefficient a]; the second length L2 is [the first length L1/a coefficient b]; the third length L3 is [the first length L1?the coefficient b]; the third length L3 is [L1+L2]; and the kneading unit has a segment pattern made up of a plurality of segment parts and mounted on the shaft interchangeably with another segment pattern.

A process for extruding plastic compositions is provided. The process comprises providing a multi-screw extruder with screw elements and conveying, kneading, mixing, degassing or compounding the plastic compositions in the multi-screw extruder using the screw elements.

A dispersive mixing element for co-rotating twin screw extruder is disclosed. The element for co-rotating twin screw extruder comprises of a continuous flight helically formed thereon having a lead L, wherein either the flight transforms at least once from an integer lobe flight into a non-integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L and transforms back to an integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L or the flight transforms at least once from a non-integer lobe flight into an integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L and transforms back to a non-integer lobe flight in a fraction of the lead L.

High Specific Mechanical Energy extruder screw assemblies (14, 88, 98) and complete extruders (10, 86, 96) are provided, which include wide-flight intermediate screw sections (104) having axial flight widths greater than the flight widths of the inlet and outlet screw sections (102, 106) on opposite sides of the intermediate sections (104). The intermediate sections (104) provide increased friction and shear serving to enhance the SMEs imparted to comestible food materials during processing thereof.