A method and apparatus for obtaining carbon fiber from carbon fiber waste (e.g., pre-preg and CFP waste). The method and apparatus selects, or is controlled to select, between using an oxygen free pyrolytic process to volatilize the epoxy resin or other matrix in which the fibers are held to liberate the fibers therefrom and, depending upon the type of pre-preg waste, using a reactor environment where the reactor atmosphere has about 1% to about 2% oxygen by volume. The reactor has a counterflow such that the carbon fibers are moved in one direction and the off gasses are moved in the opposite direction. A combination of steam at the reactor outlet and vacuum pressure at the reactor inlet create the counter flow.

The invention concerns a method for producing a carbon fibre, that comprises a step of preparing a continuous fibre made of cellulose from cotton fabrics, by extracting, from these fabrics, cotton in the form of short, discontinuous fibres, and implementing a solvent spinning process; this step being followed by a step of carbonising said obtained continuous fibre made from cellulose, in order to form a carbon fibre. This carbon fibre can be used, in particular, for producing articles made from composite material made from carbon fibres and polymer organic resin.

Provided are extrusion dies having entrance, orientation, merging (205), and exit (211) sections, which dies may be used to produce fibers having, e.g., oriented reinforcement materials (e.g., PTFE) dispersed within. The dies provide fibers having enhanced mechanical and processing properties. The orientation section comprises orientation channels (203) wherein a ratio of a cross-sectional area having of the channel inlet to a cross-sectional area of the channel outlet is between 2 and 45.

A method and apparatus for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects are disclosed. Two or more materials are extruded simultaneously as a composite, with at least one material in liquid form and at least one material in a solid continuous strand completely encased within the liquid material. A means of curing the liquid material after extrusion hardens the composite. A part is constructed using a series of extruded composite paths. The strand material within the composite contains specific chemical, mechanical, or electrical characteristics that instill the object with enhanced capabilities not possible with only one material.

The present invention relates to a molding made of expanded bead foam, wherein at least one fiber (F) is partly within the molding, i.e. is surrounded by the expanded bead foam. The two ends of the respective fibers (F) that are not surrounded by the expanded bead foam thus each project from one side of the corresponding molding. The present invention further provides a panel comprising at least one such molding and at least one further layer (S1). The present invention further provides processes for producing the moldings of the invention from expanded bead foam or the panels of the invention and for the use thereof, for example as rotor blade in wind turbines.

An electrically conductive plastic product is made via rotational moulding. The product comprises a plastic matrix; and a network of conductive fibers of discrete length embedded in the plastic matrix. The conductive fibers are metal fibers. The network of conductive fibers provides electrical conductivity to the plastic product. The average length of the conductive fibers is at least 3 mm.

A method of manufacturing a biodegradable dry cleaning bag is disclosed, the method including loading an environmentally friendly slurry into a hopper, extruding the environmentally friendly slurry, passing the environmentally friendly slurry through a die, inflating the environmentally friendly slurry into a cylindrical shape, thereby creating a cylindrical member, passing the cylindrical member over a first roller, and rolling the cylindrical member onto a roll.

A composition for making a molded article such as a reel flange, and a method making the same, are provided. The composition may consist essentially of about 75-95 wt % dry waste wood and about 10-25 wt % binder such as melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) or PMUF resin. The waste wood may be recycled wood fiber from pine or other hardwoods, sawdust and wood chips. The method comprises mixing dry waste wood with MUF or PMUF resin binder to make a wood/resin mixture, and compressing the wood/resin mixture in a mold cavity at a pressure and temperature.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (is) at least one consolidated fibrous insert having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier will be a mass of activatable material.

A system for manufacturing a part includes a mold having a contoured forming surface. The system also includes at least one tension strap, configured to attach to a consolidated laminate sheet, and a heating assembly, positioned relative to the mold and configured to supply heat to the consolidated laminate sheet, when attached to the at least one tension strap, to form a heated consolidated laminate sheet. The system additionally includes a strap retraction mechanism, configured to retract the at least one tension strap, when attached to the consolidated laminate sheet, to force the heated consolidated laminate sheet against the contoured forming surface of the mold. The heating assembly includes a flexible heating element configured to flex to conform to a shape of the heated consolidated laminate sheet as the heated consolidated laminate sheet is forced against the contoured forming surface of the mold.