A system for curing a composite part, includes a mandrel configured to receive and support the uncured composite part; a plurality of expandable pellets disposed on the uncured composite part; and a mold configured to hold the mandrel, the uncured composite part, and the plurality of expandable pellets, wherein the plurality of expandable pellets are configured to expand and apply a positive pressure to the uncured composite part according to a change in condition or triggering event, and wherein each of the plurality of expandable pellets includes a blowing agent, a polymer matrix configured to hold the blowing agent, and a flexible skin configured to encapsulate the polymer matrix and the blowing agent, wherein the flexible skin is at least partially permeable with respect to the blowing agent or a gas released by the blowing agent.

A liquid crystalline polymer composition for foam molding using a supercritical fluid as a foaming agent. The liquid crystalline polymer composition includes a liquid crystalline polymer and a scale-like inorganic filler, in which a content of the scale-like inorganic filler is 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the liquid crystalline polymer composition.

Composite articles comprising a porous prepreg or core layer and a powder coated layer thereon are described. In some instances, a thermoplastic composite article comprises a porous core layer comprising a web of reinforcing fibers held together by a thermoplastic material, and a powder coated layer disposed on the porous core layer, in which a particle size of the powder coated layer is selected to provide an interface between the powder coated layer and the porous core layer, wherein at least 50% by weight of the disposed powder coated layer is present above the interface.

The invention relates to a method for stabilizing thermoplastic recyclates or previously damaged plastic materials against oxidative, thermal and/or actinic degradation. According to the claimed method, at least one substituted sugar, selected from the group consisting of at least one ester and/or ether of an alditol or cyclitol, at least one ester of a saccharic acid, at least one amide and/or substituted amine of an amine sugar, and mixtures and combinations thereof, as the stabilizing component is introduced in a thermoplastic recyclate and optionally additionally at least one primary antioxidant and/or at least one secondary antioxidant is introduced in a thermoplastic recyclate.

Methods of making fiber reinforced composite articles are described. The methods may include treating fibers with a sizing composition that includes a polymerization compound, and introducing the treated fibers to a pre-polymerized composition. The combination of the treated fibers and pre-polymerized composition may then undergo a temperature adjustment to a polymerization temperature at which the pre-polymerized composition polymerizes into a plastic around the fibers to form the fiber-reinforced composite article. Techniques for introducing the treated fibers to the pre-polymerized composition may include pultrusion, filament winding, reactive injection molding (RIM), structural reactive injection molding (SRIM), resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), long fiber injection (LFI), sheet molding compound (SMC) molding, bulk molding compound (BMC) molding, a spray-up application, and/or a hand lay-up application, among other techniques.

An in-situ melt processing method for forming a fiber thermoplastic resin composite overwrapped workpiece, such as a composite overwrapped pressure vessel. Carbon fiber, or other types of fiber, are combined with a thermoplastic resin system. The selected fiber tow and the resin are prepared for impregnation of the tow by the resin. The resin is melted; and, carbon fiber is impregnated with the melted resin at the filament winding machine delivery head. The molten state of the composite is maintained and is applied, in the molten state, to the heated surface of a workpiece. The portion of the surface being wrapped is heated to the melting point of the thermoplastic resin so that the molten composite more efficiently adheres to the heated surface of the workpiece and so that the uppermost layer of fiber resin composite is molten when overwrapped resulting in better adherence of successive layers to one another.

Methods for manufacturing articles, including articles of footwear, apparel, and sporting equipment are provided. The methods comprise decorating a plurality of foam particles. The decorating can comprise applying a coating on the foam particles, or embossing or debossing the foam particles, or both. The decorating can comprise applying a coating on the foam particles by printing, painting, dyeing, applying a film, or any combination thereof. The plurality of foam particles are affixed utilizing aspects of additive manufacturing methods. 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 disclosure.

A water dispersible sulfo-polyamide is configured as a filament for use as an extrudable support material in the additive manufacture of a part comprising a non water dispersible polymer. The water dispersible sulfo-polyamide is a reaction product of a sulfo monomer, the water dispersible sulfo-polymer being dispersible in water resulting in separation of the water dispersible polymer from the part comprising the non water dispersible polymer.

The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene that may be useful as heat transfer compositions, aerosol propellants, foaming agents, blowing agents, solvents, cleaning agents, carrier fluids, displacement drying agents, buffing abrasion agents, polymerization media, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethane, gaseous dielectrics, extinguishing agents, and fire suppression agents in liquid or gaseous form. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to compositions comprising 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene, 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, or 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane, which may be useful in processes to produce 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.

A closed cell crosslinked polyolefin foam sheet comprises an opposing first surface region and second surface region, and an intermediate region disposed therebetween, wherein the intermediate region is configured to have a gel content lower than an average gel content of the first surface region and the second surface region to enable a controlled tear propagation within the intermediate region when a splitting force is applied to the closed cell crosslinked polyolefin foam sheet. For example, a ratio of a gel content of the intermediate region versus an average gel content of the first surface region and the second surface region may be about 75% or less, and a ratio of the average cell size of the intermediate region versus an average cell size of the first surface region and the second surface region may be about 125% or higher.