Methods for producing highly spherical particles that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) nanoclay-filled-polymer composite comprising a nanoclay dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not filled with a nanoclay, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, to disperse the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form nanoclay-filled-polymer particles; and separating the nanoclay-filled-polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

Compositions include a plurality of polymer particulates comprising a matrix polymer and one or more types of nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of biopolymer nanoparticles, biomineral nanoparticles excluding biomineralized silica alone, and any combination thereof. Illustrative examples of such nanoparticles may include cellulose nanoparticles, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, or any combination thereof associated with the matrix polymer. The polymer particulates may be prepared by melt emulsification. Methods include depositing such polymer particulates in a powder bed; and heating a portion of the powder bed to consolidate a portion of the polymer particulates into a consolidated part having a specified shape. The matrix polymer may be biodegradable and lose at least about 40% mass in six days in a phosphate buffer solution (0.2 M, pH 7.0) containing 0.2 mg/mL of lipase obtained from Pseudomonas cepacia (≥30 U/mg) and incubated at 37° C.

An extruder (1) includes a cylinder (2) and a screw (3), and one or more front vents (8a) are provided on the cylinder (2) upstream of a hopper (5) and downstream of a rear vent (7). The cylinder (2) is provided with, between the hopper (5) and the rear vent (7), a liquid supply device (9) for spraying water into the cylinder (2) to cool an interior thereof and a liquid discharge port (12) that is opened in a lower portion of the cylinder (2).

An extruder (1) includes a cylinder (2) and a screw (3), and one or more front vents (8a) are provided on the cylinder (2) upstream of a hopper (5) and downstream of a rear vent (7). The cylinder (2) is provided with, between the hopper (5) and the rear vent (7), a liquid supply device (9) for spraying water into the cylinder (2) to cool an interior thereof and a liquid discharge port (12) that is opened in a lower portion of the cylinder (2).

A kneading apparatus includes a processor, and a extruder. The extruder includes a screw. The screw includes a screw main body. A conveyance portion, a barrier portion, and a path are provided at places of the screw main body. In at least one of the places, the path is provided inside the screw main body, and includes an entrance and an exit. The raw materials, pressure on which is increased by the barrier portion, flow in from the entrance. The raw materials flowing in from the entrance flow through the path toward the exit. The exit is positioned to be remote from the entrance in an axial direction.

A kneading apparatus includes a processor, and a extruder. The extruder includes a screw. The screw includes a screw main body. A conveyance portion, a barrier portion, and a path are provided at places of the screw main body. In at least one of the places, the path is provided inside the screw main body, and includes an entrance and an exit. The raw materials, pressure on which is increased by the barrier portion, flow in from the entrance. The raw materials flowing in from the entrance flow through the path toward the exit. The exit is positioned to be remote from the entrance in an axial direction.

A production line (200) for performing multi-pass mixing sequences of rubber mixtures has at least one first mixing line (200A) that produces a masterbatch and at least one second line (200B) that performs a final mixing process during a final pass of a multi-pass rubber mixing sequence. A mixing process produces a variety of rubber mixtures in a production line of the type disclosed.

A production line (200) for performing multi-pass mixing sequences of rubber mixtures has at least one first mixing line (200A) that produces a masterbatch and at least one second line (200B) that performs a final mixing process during a final pass of a multi-pass rubber mixing sequence. A mixing process produces a variety of rubber mixtures in a production line of the type disclosed.

A single-screw extruder for changing a morphology of superabsorbent polymer gel. The single-screw extruder has an input aperture, a channel, a screw and an output aperture. The screw in the invention has a first pitch value of a pitch of the screw flights along the conveying zone of the channel and, following in conveying direction, has a second pitch value of the pitch of the screw flights along the conveying zone of the channel, where the second pitch value is smaller than the first pitch value.

A continuous process for making a pressure-sensitive adhesive is disclosed. A mixture comprising natural rubber having a Mooney viscosity of 85 to 100, a tackifier, a filler, and 0.1 to 5 wt. % of an added C.sub.12-C.sub.24 fatty acid based on the amount of mixture is masticated in a first section of a single- or twin-screw extruder. Mastication of the mixture continues in at least one subsequent extruder section in the presence of additional tackifier. The product is a homogeneous, reduced-viscosity pressure-sensitive adhesive. The minor proportion of added C.sub.12-C.sub.24 fatty acid aids mastication of the rubber and enables high throughput without addition of peptizers. Duct tapes made from the adhesives display improved adhesion to steel, better adhesion bond strength, and enhanced seven-day clean removability from even difficult substrates such as marble or ceramic tile.