A method and system for manufacturing and using a self-supporting structure in processing unit for adsorption or catalytic processes. The self-supporting structure has greater than 50% by weight of the active material in the self-supporting structure to provide an open-celled structure providing access to the active material. The self-supporting structures, which may be disposed in a processing unit, may be used in swing adsorption processes and other processes to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons.

A method for producing a flexible mold for casting a ceramic core, the ceramic core used for an investment casting, is presented. The method includes forming a consumable master tool by 3D-printing, producing the flexible mold from the master tool, allowing the flexible mold to cure, and removing the consumable master tool. The master tool includes a negative surface geometry representative of the flexible mold to be produced.

A method for molding a ceramic material includes: mixing a ceramic powder, a resin, a curing agent and a solvent to obtain a raw material slurry for a ceramic material; injecting the raw material slurry into an elastic container; curing the resin in the raw material slurry injected into the elastic container to form a molded body having a desired shape; and demolding the molded body from the elastic container.

The invention relates to a process for fabricating complex mechanical shapes from metal or ceramic, and in particular to fabricating complex mechanical shapes using a pressure-assisted sintering technique to address problems relating to variations in specimen thickness and tooling, or densification gradients, by 3-D printing of a sacrificial, self-destructing powder mold is created using e.g. alumina and swellable binders such as polysaccharides. The binder-free sintering powder that forms the manufactured item is injected into the mold, and high pressure is applied. The powder assembly can then be sintered by any pressure assisted technique to full densification and the self-destructing mold allows the release of the fully densified complex manufactured item.

A method of casting a product includes the steps of: creating a finished photopolymer mold; introducing liquid into the mold; hardening the liquid; and removing the photopolymer mold. A casting mold and a method of making a casting mold, are also disclosed.

Providing a surface treatment agent for a wax pattern containing solvent; boron nitride; and a surface-active agent.

The present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating a ceramic composite components. The method may include providing at least a first layer of reinforcing fiber material which may be a pre-impregnated fiber. An additively manufactured component may be provided on or near the first layer. A second layer of reinforcing fiber, which may be a pre-impregnated fiber may be formed on top the additively manufactured component. A precursor is densified to consolidates at least the first and second layer into a densified composite, wherein the additively manufactured material defines at least one cooling passage in the densified composite component.

The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a composite construction element using a mould fabricated by a computer-controlled apparatus. The method comprises the steps of fabricating the mould having one or more receiving portions dimensioned to receive one or more respective objects responsive to computer instructions relating to the mould geometry, positioning the one or more objects in respective receiving portions, covering at least a portion of the mould and the one or more objects with settable material, and at least partially curing the settable material, thereby forming the composite construction element having the one or more objects embedded therein.

Heat storage devices and circuits suitable for storing solar energy, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. Representative systems can include a solar energy collection system having a first solar field coupled between a first working fluid source and a target heat user via first fluid network, at least one heat storage device, and a second solar field coupled to the at least one heat storage device via a second fluid network. The second fluid network carries a second working fluid and is isolated from fluid communication with the first fluid network. At least one heat exchanger is coupled to the first and second fluid networks to provide thermal communication between the first and second fluid networks.

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional fired body includes (a) a step of producing a shaping mold using an organic material, the shaping mold having a shaping space which has the same shape as a shaped body having a hollow portion that opens to an outer surface thereof, in which a core corresponding to the hollow portion is integrated with the shaping mold; (b) a step of producing the shaped body in the shaping mold by pouring a ceramic slurry into the shaping space and solidifying the ceramic slurry; (c) a step of drying and then degreasing the shaped body, in which the shaping mold is eliminated in any one of the following stages: before drying, during drying, after drying and before degreasing, during degreasing, and after degreasing of the shaped body; and (d) a step of firing the shaped body to obtain a three-dimensional fired body.