A robotic system with an arm assembly that includes: a pedestal, a first member operatively coupled to an opposing end of the pedestal, and a second member operatively coupled to an opposing end of the first member. The robotic system further includes a joint operatively coupled to an opposing end of the second member and at least one phalange assembly operatively coupled to the joint. The at least one phalange assembly includes: a third member operatively coupled to the joint, a fourth member operatively coupled to an opposing end of the third member, and a fifth member operatively coupled to an opposing end of the fourth member. The robotic system further includes an interchangeable manipulator is operatively coupled to the opposing end of the fifth member.

The present disclosure relates to an extrusion nozzle apparatus and a method for extruding a thermoelectric material using the extrusion nozzle apparatus. An extrusion nozzle apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: an inlet introducing material; an outlet discharging the input material; and a discharge pipe formed in a multi-stage shape including a plurality of stages, wherein the input material is pressurized inside the discharge pipe and moves in a first direction from the inlet toward the outlet. The cross-sectional area of the plurality of stages in a direction perpendicular to the first direction progressively decreases from the inlet to the outlet. Accordingly, the thermoelectric performance of a thermoelectric material may be improved, and production cost and production time may be reduced.

A sizer for cooling an extrudate includes a core and a housing. The core includes an extrusion channel which accommodates the extrudate, a core cooling channel, and a core vacuum channel in fluid communication with said extrusion channel. The housing includes a housing cooling channel, a housing vacuum channel, a cooling intake, and a cooling exhaust. The housing cooling and vacuum channels having curved segments. The cooling intake and exhaust being in fluid communication with said housing cooling channel.

A solid nano- or micro-structured thermoplastic foil including a nano- or micro-structured surface area is produced by providing an extrusion casting roller for an industrial polymer extrusion casting process using a thermoplastic material, applying a nano- or micro-structured surface on the extrusion casting roller, maintaining a temperature of the casting roller below a solidification temperature of the thermoplastic material while the casting roller and the counter roller are rotating, and continuously applying a melt of the thermoplastic material between a counter roller and the casting roller while the casting roller and the counter roller are rotating. A rotational velocity of the casting roller may be 10 meters/minute. The melt of the thermoplastic material is moved between the casting roller and the counter roller while the rollers are rolling, and the melt of the thermoplastic material is solidified upon contact with the casting roller to form the thermoplastic foil.

A polyphenylene sulfide resin composition includes (A) 100 parts by weight of an acid-treated polyphenylene sulfide resin, (B) 10 to 100 parts by weight of a glass fiber, and (C) 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of an amino group-containing alkoxysilane compound, wherein the polyphenylene sulfide resin composition has an exothermic peak temperature (Tmc) of 195° C. to 225° C., the exothermic peak temperature being observed during a crystallization caused when the polyphenylene sulfide resin composition is melted by heating to 340° C. and then cooled at a rate of 20° C./minute, using a differential scanning calorimeter.

A screw extruder for extruding a kneaded material, includes: a pair of screws; a casing that houses the pair of screws and includes a supply port; and a roller-die. Each of the screws includes a shaft portion, and a spiral flight portion. The flight portion is formed into a shape in which a radial distance between the surface of the shaft portion and a tip of the flight portion decreases gradually toward a downstream end in an extrusion direction of a kneaded material. The casing has a tapered shape. Within a range between a downstream end of the supply port and a downstream end of the flight portion, a clearance between a top portion of the flight portion and an inner wall surface of the casing at the downstream end of the supply port is larger than a clearance at any other part.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods for making large areas of high aspect ratio micro or nanostructured foil using existing extrusion coating equipment. A method is disclosed for producing a high aspect ratio micro- or nanostructured thermoplastic polymer foil, or a nanostructured thermoplastic polymer coating on a carrier foil, comprising at least one high aspect ratio nanostructured surface area. The method comprises applying a high aspect ratio nanostructured surface on an extrusion coating roller and maintaining the temperature of the roller below the solidification temperature of the thermoplastic material. A thermoplastic foil and a thermoplastic coating made by the method is also disclosed.

A sold nano- or micro-structured thermoplastic foil including a nano- or micro-structured surface area is produced by providing an extrusion casting roller for an industrial polymer extrusion casting process using a thermoplastic material, applying a nano- or micro-structured surface on the extrusion casting roller, maintaining a temperature of the casting roller below a solidification temperature of the thermoplastic material while the casting roller and the counter roller are rotating, and continuously applying a melt of the thermoplastic material between a counter roller and the casting roller while the casting roller and the counter roller are rotating. A rotational velocity of the casting roller may be 10 meters/minute. The melt of the thermoplastic material is moved between the casting roller and the counter roller while the rollers are rolling, and the melt of the thermoplastic material is solidified upon contact with the casting roller to form the thermoplastic foil.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods for making large areas of high aspect ratio micro or nanostructured foil using existing extrusion coating equipment. A method is disclosed for producing a high aspect ratio micro- or nanostructured thermoplastic polymer foil, or a nanostructured thermoplastic polymer coating on a carrier foil, comprising at least one high aspect ratio nanostructured surface area. The method comprises applying a high aspect ratio nanostructured surface on an extrusion coating roller and maintaining the temperature of the roller below the solidification temperature of the thermoplastic material. A thermoplastic foil and a thermoplastic coating made by the method is also disclosed.

A dimension in a Y-direction of a slit section (26) decreases gradually as a distance from an inflow port (23) in an X-direction increases. A cross-section of a manifold section (25) that is orthogonal to the X-direction decreases gradually as a distance from the inflow port (23) in the X-direction increases.