A method of forming a composite material includes mixing granules of thermoplastic(s) and granules of reinforcing material(s) using a mixer with an interior friction coating. The friction generated by interaction between the granules and friction coating causes granules of at least one of the thermoplastic(s) to be heated to a liquid or semi-liquid state. The liquid/semi-liquid thermoplastic(s) act a binder for the mixed material. A system for forming such a composite material includes such a mixer with an interior friction coating. The system may also include a mould and/or a press for forming material produced by the mixer into a finished shape. The method and system may use post-consumer and post-industrial material as an input allowing such material to be recycled. In some cases, cross-contaminated or mixed post-consumer/post-industrial material may be recycled, potentially reducing environmental impacts.

There are provided processes for recycling waste such as polystyrene thermoplastic polymer waste and/or polystyrene thermoplastic copolymer waste as well as recycled polystyrene thermoplastic polymer and/or recycled thermoplastic copolymer that may, for example, be obtained from such processes. The processes can comprise the use of a reducing agent.

A highly loaded and well-dispersed masterbatch composition and process for making thereof from a split stream process. The masterbatch composition includes a colorant, a thermoplastic carrier, a metallocene polymer processing aid, and optionally an additive. The split stream may be formed of a primary feed and a secondary feed. The primary and second feeds are combined by at least one of the following: supplying the secondary feed in either the same feed port as the primary feed, in a stream located upstream the primary feed, in a stream located downstream the primary feed, or a combination thereof.

A method of bonding two surfaces by delivering to at least one of the surfaces an adhesive composition comprising: (a) at least one active bonding component; and (b) a carrier in an amount effective to at least partially solvate or at least partially emulsify said active bonding component, said carrier comprising monochlorotrifluoropropene, and then forming a bond between the surfaces.

Functionalized substrates with properties that can control cell-substrate interactions, induce cellular processes and decisions by means of passive and active control to enhance cell proliferation, cell migration and wound healing are provided. By including a sensing electrode on the substrate, it is possible to measure the metabolites of cells or follow the migration of additives like drug molecules in real-time. The present technology provides a new cell culture and imaging platform composed of a transparent and chemically and topographically customized latex film with electrodes that enable real-time measurement of e.g. pH and ion concentration in the cell medium as well as the metabolic states of the cells.

The invention relates to a process for coating plastics or plastic surfaces with metals, especially plastics composed of acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymers (ABS) and composed of mixtures of these copolymers with other plastics (e.g. ABS blends), wherein the process comprises the pretreatment of the plastic surfaces with a composition C (etch solution) comprising at least two different ionic liquids IL1 and IL2.

The present relates to flame-retardant expandable polymers and to polymer foams and to the use thereof. These flame-retardant expandable polymers and polymer foams can be contained in one or several pressurized containers. According to the present, at least one of the following phosphorus compounds is used as a flame retardant: phosphorus compound according to formula (Ia): (Ia) 10-hydroxy-9, 10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO-OH); or the salts thereof according to formula (Ib): (Ib) (DOPO-OR); or the ring-opened hydrolysates thereof according to formula (Ic): (Ic).

A method of preparing a solution capable of etching a platable plastic. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an electrolyte comprising a solution of manganese(II) in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid to an electrolytic cell; (b) applying a current to the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anode and a cathode; and (c) oxidizing the electrolyte to form manganese(III) ions, wherein the manganese(III) ions form a metastable sulfate complex. Thereafter, a platable plastic may be immersed in the metastable sulfate complex for a period of time to etch the platable substrate prior to subsequent plating steps.

This invention relates to compositions comprising 1,2-dichloro-1,2-difluoroethylene (i.e., CFO-1112) and an additional component. The compositions described herein may be useful, for example, in foam blowing applications.

Provided are solvent cement formulations comprising some or all of tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, a thermoplastic resin, silica, and, a solvent soluble acrylic copolymer associative thickener. The disclosed formulations contain a reduced complement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) relative to conventional cement formulations, yet are capable of meeting the requirements for regular-, medium-, and heavy-duty applications. The use of specialized associative thickener components confers a required degree of viscosity while enabling a reduction in the concentration of VOCs, such as tetrahydrofuran.