A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite is disclosed. The method includes distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphite successively with each event until at least 50% of the graphite is exfoliated to form a distribution in the molten polymer phase of single- and multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along the c-axis direction.

The invention relates to wood plastic composite compositions comprising a wax composition, wherein the wood plastic composite composition has superior properties in the processing thereof. The wax composition is characterized by its dynamic viscosity at 120° C., congealing point, content of molecules in which the carbon chain is linear and content of oxidized hydrocarbons.

Disclosed herein is a thermoplastic molding composition, including: a) 30 to 99.85 wt % of at least one thermoplastic polyamide as component A; b) 0.1 to 10 wt % of at least one polyhydric alcohol having more than 6 hydroxyl groups, and having a number average molecular weight M.sub.n of more than 2000 g/mol as component B; c) 0.05 to 3 wt % of at least one sterically hindered phenol antioxidant as component C; d) 0 to 3 wt % of at least one polycarboxylic compound having more than 3 carboxylic acid groups and/or carboxylate groups, and having a number average molecular weight M.sub.n of more than 300 g/mol as component D; e) 0 to 50 wt % of at least one fibrous and/or particulate filler as component E; and f) 0 to 25 wt % of further additives as component F; where the total of wt % of components A to F is 100 wt %.

A polymer comprising one or more chalcogenide elements and one or more crosslinking moieties. The crosslinking moieties may be organic, inorganic, or both. Also disclosed is the related method for making a polymer comprising purifying a chalcogenide polymer powder comprising one or more chalcogenide elements, melting the purified chalcogenide polymer powder, adding one or more crosslinking moieties to the melted chalcogenide polymer, and curing the modified chalcogenide polymer at a temperature between 150 and 200° C.

A method of melt blending a flame-retardant composition includes the steps: (a) heating a polymeric brominated flame retardant to a temperature of 5° C. or greater above the polymeric brominated flame retardants glass transition temperature as measured by Differential Scanning calorimetry, wherein the polymeric brominated flame retardant has a Temperature of 5% Mass Loss from 300° C. to 700° C. as measured according to Thermogravimetric Analysis; (b) mixing a polyolefin into the polymeric brominated flame retardant after step (a); and (c) mixing an inorganic filler into the polyolefin and polymeric brominated flame retardant after step (b) to form the flame-retardant composition.

A static homogenizing apparatus for blending a fluid additive with a polymer melt includes: (a) a homogenizing conduit; and (b) a plurality of homogenizing elements in the conduit for flow of the melted resin and fluid additive through the homogenizing elements in series. The plurality of homogenizing elements includes a plurality of mixing elements and at least one amplifier element. Each mixing element has a quantity of mixing channels passing therethrough, and each amplifier element has a quantity of amplifier channels passing therethrough. The quantity of amplifier channels is greater than the quantity of mixing channels.

Provided is a resin molded body production method that enables production of a resin molded body in which mechanical strength is good, anisotropy of physical properties is low, and little warpage is developed. This production method is for a resin molded body containing a thermoplastic resin (A) and a cellulose nanofiber (B), the production method including: a step for preparing a main supply material (a1) containing the thermoplastic resin (A) and the cellulose nanofiber (B) and an auxiliary supply material (a2) that is a product of melting treatment of the main supply material (a1); a resin composition formation step for obtaining a resin composition (b) by melting and mixing of the main supply material (a1) and the auxiliary supply material (a2); and a step for obtaining the resin molded body by molding the resin composition (b).

A method for modifying the properties of balsa wood comprises infiltrating a protein ionic liquid comprising polymerized dopamine into delignified balsa wood. A method of making an optically active protective coating comprises mixing protein ionic liquid comprising polymerized dopamine with ethyl acetate-based or water-based nail polish. A method of making a thermoplastic having biological activity comprises melting a thermoplastic; and blending a protein ionic liquid with the thermoplastic; and cooling the thermoplastic protein ionic liquid blend to a solid state. The thermoplastic is a hot glue stick. The protein ionic liquid comprises antibodies, enzymes, or fluorescent proteins. A method of making a chymotrypsin protein ionic liquid/thermoplastic material comprises mixing cationized chymotrypsin and anions of poly(ethylene glycol) 4-nonylphenyl 3-sulfopropyl ether to form a chymotrypsin and anion complex; lyophilizing and melting the cationized chymotrypsin and anion complex to form a water-free ionic liquid; blending the chymotrypsin ionic liquid with molten hot glue/thermoplastic.

A method for modifying the properties of balsa wood comprises infiltrating a protein ionic liquid comprising polymerized dopamine into delignified balsa wood. A method of making an optically active protective coating comprises mixing protein ionic liquid comprising polymerized dopamine with ethyl acetate-based or water-based nail polish. A method of making a thermoplastic having biological activity comprises melting a thermoplastic; and blending a protein ionic liquid with the thermoplastic; and cooling the thermoplastic protein ionic liquid blend to a solid state. The thermoplastic is a hot glue stick. The protein ionic liquid comprises antibodies, enzymes, or fluorescent proteins. A method of making a chymotrypsin protein ionic liquid/thermoplastic material comprises mixing cationized chymotrypsin and anions of poly(ethylene glycol) 4-nonylphenyl 3-sulfopropyl ether to form a chymotrypsin and anion complex; lyophilizing and melting the cationized chymotrypsin and anion complex to form a water-free ionic liquid; blending the chymotrypsin ionic liquid with molten hot glue/thermoplastic.

Heating of rubber products during processing produces odours which may be abated by commingling the rubber product with fabric softener. The fabric softener may be commingled with the rubber product via a dip tank filled with fabric softener solution, by applying fabric softener to the rubber product prior to heating/processing the rubber product, by injecting the fabric softener into an extruder that is heating/processing the rubber product, and by treating the by-product exiting the side stream of the extruder.