Systems, devices, and methods are provided for producing a 3d-printable composite material for large scale printing. A method can include receiving a first component comprising a (meth)acrylic monomer or a (meth)acrylic oligomer, or a combination thereof. The method can include receiving a second component comprising a photoinitiator and a third component comprising a polymerization enhancer. The method can include mixing the first component, second component, and third component with a mixing reactor to form a mixture. The method can include filtering the mixture with a filtration unit and removing a solid residue from the mixture. The method can include curing the filtered mixture with a radiation unit into a gel component and a liquid component. The method can include separating the gel component with a phase separation unit and then milling the gel component. And the method can include mixing the gel component, the photoinitiator, the mineral filler and optionally the recycled previously printed composite material to form the composite material.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for producing a 3d-printable composite material for large scale printing. A method can include receiving a first component comprising a (meth)acrylic monomer or a (meth)acrylic oligomer, or a combination thereof. The method can include receiving a second component comprising a photoinitiator and a third component comprising a polymerization enhancer. The method can include mixing the first component, second component, and third component with a mixing reactor to form a mixture. The method can include filtering the mixture with a filtration unit and removing a solid residue from the mixture. The method can include curing the filtered mixture with a radiation unit into a gel component and a liquid component. The method can include separating the gel component with a phase separation unit and then milling the gel component. And the method can include mixing the gel component, the photoinitiator, the mineral filler and optionally the recycled previously printed composite material to form the composite material.

A process for drying granular polymeric material, comprising the steps of: dehumidifying the granular polymeric material by means of a first flow of gas at a first temperature of between 100° C. and 150° C.; heating the dehumidified granular polymeric material to a second temperature, greater than the first temperature; drying the granular polymeric material heated to the second temperature, by applying a predefined vacuum level; and transferring the dried granular polymeric material to a feed hopper (40) provided upstream of a working machine (100).

A process for drying granular polymeric material, comprising the steps of: dehumidifying the granular polymeric material by means of a first flow of gas at a first temperature of between 100° C. and 150° C.; heating the dehumidified granular polymeric material to a second temperature, greater than the first temperature; drying the granular polymeric material heated to the second temperature, by applying a predefined vacuum level; and transferring the dried granular polymeric material to a feed hopper (40) provided upstream of a working machine (100).

A method of manufacturing an article comprises etching an etched feature on a surface of a first polymeric sheet, and forming a fluid-filled bladder element from the first polymeric sheet, with the fluid-filled bladder element having a sealable internal cavity that retains fluid. The method includes assembling the bladder element in the article so that a first portion of the bladder element having the etched feature is exposed to view, and a second portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by the article. An article includes the bladder element with the etched feature.

A method of manufacturing an article comprises etching an etched feature on a surface of a first polymeric sheet, and forming a fluid-filled bladder element from the first polymeric sheet, with the fluid-filled bladder element having a sealable internal cavity that retains fluid. The method includes assembling the bladder element in the article so that a first portion of the bladder element having the etched feature is exposed to view, and a second portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by the article. An article includes the bladder element with the etched feature.

A system for controlling the temperature of a film before and/or during application, the system including: a heat source for heating a film; and stretch rollers; wherein the heat source heats the film from an ambient temperature to a temperature from about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the ambient temperature, wherein the film is heated prior to or simultaneous to being stretched by the stretch rollers, and wherein the ambient temperature is below 15° C. The preheating system may be used to enhance binding and sealing properties of stretch films used for wrapping palletized products in a reduced temperature environment. Other embodiments of the preheating film system, and methods for its use, are described herein.

Preparing hybrid-treated plastic particles from waste plastic includes combining waste plastic particles with bio-oil to yield a mixture, irradiating the mixture with microwave radiation to yield oil-treated plastic particles, and contacting the oil-treated plastic particles with carbon-containing nanoparticles to yield hybrid-treated plastic particles. The hybrid-treated plastic particles have a bio-oil modified surface and a coating comprising carbon-containing nanoparticles on the bio-oil modified surface of the plastic particle. In some examples, a diameter of the plastic particle is in a range between 250 m and 750 m, and a thickness of the coating is in a range of 1 nm to 20 nm. A modified binder includes an asphalt binder or a concrete binder and a multiplicity of the treated plastic particles. The modified binder typically includes 5 wt % to 25 wt % of the hybrid-treated plastic particles.

Preparing hybrid-treated plastic particles from waste plastic includes combining waste plastic particles with bio-oil to yield a mixture, irradiating the mixture with microwave radiation to yield oil-treated plastic particles, and contacting the oil-treated plastic particles with carbon-containing nanoparticles to yield hybrid-treated plastic particles. The hybrid-treated plastic particles have a bio-oil modified surface and a coating comprising carbon-containing nanoparticles on the bio-oil modified surface of the plastic particle. In some examples, a diameter of the plastic particle is in a range between 250 m and 750 m, and a thickness of the coating is in a range of 1 nm to 20 nm. A modified binder includes an asphalt binder or a concrete binder and a multiplicity of the treated plastic particles. The modified binder typically includes 5 wt % to 25 wt % of the hybrid-treated plastic particles.

The present invention relates to a method for thermally activating a functional layer of a coating material, preferably an edge material, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing the coating material; feeding the coating material to a device for thermally activating a functional layer of the coating material; and thermally activating the functional layer of the coating material, wherein the thermal activation of the functional layer of the coating material occurs by microwaves which are generated by at least one semiconductor wave generator. The present invention also relates to a device for thermally activating a functional layer of a coating material.