A method for increasing the impact resistance of plastic articles comprising providing a blend of cottonseed oil and plastic resin; fabricating a plastic article from the blend by rotatably screw working the blend into a molten state and molding the molten blend material into the article shape.

A method for increasing the impact resistance of plastic articles comprising providing a blend of cottonseed oil and plastic resin; fabricating a plastic article from the blend by rotatably screw working the blend into a molten state and molding the molten blend material into the article shape.

Thin PTFE layers are described having little or no node and fibril microstructure and methods of manufacturing PTFE layers are disclosed that allow for controllable permeability and porosity of the layers. In some embodiments, the PTFE layers may act as a barrier layer in an endovascular graft or other medical device.

Thin PTFE layers are described having little or no node and fibril microstructure and methods of manufacturing PTFE layers are disclosed that allow for controllable permeability and porosity of the layers. In some embodiments, the PTFE layers may act as a barrier layer in an endovascular graft or other medical device.

A sealing device for sealing off the intermediate space between a housing and a shaft which is mounted rotatably in the housing, which housing has a first plate-like body with a front side, a rear side and a first opening extending from the front side to the rear side and suitable for the leadthrough of the shaft, and has a line which runs in the body and which is suitable for conducting a liquid or gaseous medium. Here, the first body is suitable for being fastened sealingly to the housing such that the shaft which is rotatably mounted in the housing is led through the first opening. The line has a multiplicity of outlets which are connected to an inlet via at least one diversion and/or at least one divergence and which lead radially symmetrically into the first opening. The first opening is suitable for the introduction of first sealing such that the first sealing seals off an intermediate space between the shaft and the first body without blocking the outlets of the line.

A husk plastic composite comprises a composition including: PVC 10˜20 wt %; vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate (VC/VAC) copolymer 10˜30 wt %; styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) 1˜5 wt %; chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) 1˜5 wt %; rice husk powder 10˜40 wt %; inorganic filler 10˜40 wt %; internal lubricant 0.1˜1 wt %; external lubricant 0.1˜1 wt %, and heat stabilizer 1˜5 wt %. The VC/VAC copolymer in the husk plastic composition provided by the present invention can allow the composition to be processed by relatively lower processing temperature to save energy consumption. It will also prevent the husk powder from being burnt or decomposed due to high temperature during the heating process to allow this natural material being added in a large amount in the composition. The present invention can reduce the amount of PVC through a large amount of filling additives but still maintain in good product mechanical properties. The particle size of the husk is preferably in the range of 0.10˜0.60 mm for better hardness, stiffness and wood-like texture in the final product.

An extrusion apparatus includes a diagnostic system with a material processing section and an extruder screw disposed for rotation in a barrel and surrounded by a shroud assembly. The apparatus includes a temperature control system with heater sand cooler. The apparatus includes a speed control apparatus that has a drive unit and a speed variation device that is coupled to the extruder screw. The apparatus includes a diagnostic system in communication with the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus. The diagnostic system includes a sensor system in communication with the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus; and a computer processor in communication with the sensor system and a computer. The computer processor includes a computer readable medium that employs one or more algorithms and that are executable by the computer to generate signals characterizing performance of the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus.

An extrusion apparatus includes a diagnostic system with a material processing section and an extruder screw disposed for rotation in a barrel and surrounded by a shroud assembly. The apparatus includes a temperature control system with heater sand cooler. The apparatus includes a speed control apparatus that has a drive unit and a speed variation device that is coupled to the extruder screw. The apparatus includes a diagnostic system in communication with the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus. The diagnostic system includes a sensor system in communication with the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus; and a computer processor in communication with the sensor system and a computer. The computer processor includes a computer readable medium that employs one or more algorithms and that are executable by the computer to generate signals characterizing performance of the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus.

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for polymer-based extrusion. Some non-limiting embodiments provide for extrusion of a liquid photopolymerizable monomer in a channel/die with the aid of a lubricating component, such as poly(dimethylsiloxane)-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) grafted copolymer (PDMS-PEO), and driven by fluid pressure (e.g., a fluid pump). Other aspects of the present disclosure relate to growing soft robots. Some non-limiting embodiments provide a novel class of robots which grow in an environment by growing at their tip (or robot head) by using the self-lubricated photopolymerization extrusion techniques of the present disclosure. Emulating biological tip growth, this process is facilitated by converting an internal monomer fluid into the solid body of the growing robot through polymerization.

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for polymer-based extrusion. Some non-limiting embodiments provide for extrusion of a liquid photopolymerizable monomer in a channel/die with the aid of a lubricating component, such as poly(dimethylsiloxane)-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) grafted copolymer (PDMS-PEO), and driven by fluid pressure (e.g., a fluid pump). Other aspects of the present disclosure relate to growing soft robots. Some non-limiting embodiments provide a novel class of robots which grow in an environment by growing at their tip (or robot head) by using the self-lubricated photopolymerization extrusion techniques of the present disclosure. Emulating biological tip growth, this process is facilitated by converting an internal monomer fluid into the solid body of the growing robot through polymerization.