A device according to various embodiments for preparing wet grain can include at least a first screw configured to receive wet grain. A second screw receives the wet grain from the first screw. At least one of a compressing element and a dehydrating element is included with at least one of the first screw and the second screw to cause a physical property change to the wet grain.

A device according to various embodiments for drying wet grain can include a first screw configured to receive wet grain. A second screw receives the wet grain from the first screw. At least one mechanism is included within at least one of the first screw and the second screw to vaporize water content in the wet grain.

A device according to various embodiments for preparing wet grain can include at least a first screw configured to receive wet grain. A second screw receives the wet grain from the first screw. At least one of a compressing element and a dehydrating element is included with at least one of the first screw and the second screw to cause a physical property change to the wet grain.

The intention is to provide a thermally crosslinkable, polyacrylate-based composition which can be processed from the melt and is distinguished by long pot life and by rapid and complete or near-complete crosslinkability even at relatively low temperatures, which can be processed to a pressure-sensitive adhesive. This aim is accomplished with a composition which comprises a) at least one crosslinkable poly(meth)acrylate; b) at least one organosilane conforming to the formula (1)

R.sup.1Si(OR.sup.2).sub.nR.sup.3.sub.m(1), in which R.sup.1 is a radical containing a cyclic ether function, the radicals R.sup.2 independently of one another are each an alkyl or acyl radical, R.sup.3 is a hydroxyl group or an alkyl radical, n is 2 or 3 and m is the number resulting from 3-n; and c) at least one substance accelerating the reaction of the crosslinkable poly(meth)acrylate with the cyclic ether functions.

The patent application further provides a pressure-sensitive adhesive obtainable from the composition.

In a method of manufacturing a transparent resin composition, a molten resin mixture is produced by supplying polycarbonate resin and acrylic resin continuously to a twin-screw extruder. The molten resin mixture is supplied to a single-screw extruder including a screw in which a shear processing portion is provided. Further, a transparent resin composition is produced continuously by kneading the molten resin mixture in the shear processing portion which rotates at between 500 and 4000 rpm.

A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) adding one or more color concentrates to the flakes; (E) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 25 millibars; (F) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (G) forming the recycled polymer into bulked continuous carpet filament that consists essentially of recycled PET.

A method of recycling PET into PET nurdles, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 18 millibars; (E) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (F) forming the recycled polymer into PET nurdles. In various embodiments, the polymer melt is formed into PET nurdles using any suitable technique such as, for example, any suitable strand pelletizing or melt pelletizing techniques.

An extruder screw includes a screw main body, conveyance portions, barrier portions, and paths. The raw materials, the conveyance of which is limited by the barrier portions, flow in from the entrance. The raw materials flowing in from the entrance flow through the paths in an opposite direction to a conveyance direction of the conveyance portions. The exit is opened in the outer circumferential surface of the screw main body at a position on an upstream side in the conveyance direction in the conveyance portions in which the entrance is opened.

A method of recycling polymers and other plastics comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles (or other suitable recycled polymer) into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 5 millibars; (E) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (F) preparing the polymer melt for recycling into a new product. In various embodiments, the above process may be utilized in the recycling of, for example, polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), or any other suitable polymer or plastic.

A device according to various embodiments for drying wet grain can include a first screw configured to receive wet grain. A second screw receives the wet grain from the first screw. At least one mechanism is included within at least one of the first screw and the second screw to vaporize water content in the wet grain.