The invention relates to a method for recycling respiratory protection masks comprising a plurality of layers manufactured from a single thermoplastic polymer chosen from polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, homopolymers and copolymers of polyamide 6 (PA6) and long-chain polyamides such as PA11 or PA12, and comprising a filtration layer made of polyvinylidene fluoride.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an additive manufacturing print head and a nozzle that receives a bio-based shape memory polymer material and a bio-based material. The nozzle extrudes the bio-based shape memory polymer material and the bio-based material onto a substrate to form a bio-based shape memory polymer part or product.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cost-effective method of producing cellulose based films by introducing an intense water removal system to the process, and cellulose based films thereof having improved properties.

The present application discloses and claims a method to make a flexible ceramic fibers (Flexiramics™) and polymer composites. The resulting composite has an improved mechanical strength (tensile) when compared with the Flexiramics™ alone. Several different polymers can be used, both thermosets and thermoplastics. Flexiramics™ has unique physical characteristics and the composite materials can be used for numerous industrial and laboratory applications.

Low-density thermoplastic expandable microspheres are disclosed. Various low-density structures, in particular, sandwich panels, based on foam prepared from the low-density microspheres, are also disclosed. Process of preparing low-density polymeric microspheres, per se, and the corresponding low-density structures, based on the microsphere foam, are also disclosed.

A composite material comprising an elastomer and nanocellulose. The nanocellulose may comprise a nanocellulose material derived from plants having C4 leaf anatomy, or a nanocellulose material derived from a plant material having a lesser amount of lignin than hemi-cellulose, or a nanocellulose having a hemicellulose content of from 25% to 55% by weight of the nanocellulose material, or a nanocellulose comprising nanofibrils having a diameter of up to 5 nm, or a nanocellulose comprising nanocellulose material of plant origin comprising nanocellulose particles or fibres having an aspect ratio of at least 250, or the composite material having a stiffness of not greater than 2.5 times the stiffness of the elastomer without the nanocellulose material being present, or the nanocellulose particles or fibres being derived from a plant material having a hemicellulose content of 30% or higher (w/w). The nanocellulose may be derived from arid Spinifex.

Methods of forming solid carbon products include disposing a plurality of nanotubes in a press, and applying heat to the plurality of carbon nanotubes to form the solid carbon product. Further processing may include sintering the solid carbon product to form a plurality of covalently bonded carbon nanotubes. The solid carbon product includes a plurality of voids between the carbon nanotubes having a median minimum dimension of less than about 100 nm. Some methods include compressing a material comprising carbon nanotubes, heating the compressed material in a non-reactive environment to form covalent bonds between adjacent carbon nanotubes to form a sintered solid carbon product, and cooling the sintered solid carbon product to a temperature at which carbon of the carbon nanotubes do not oxidize prior to removing the resulting solid carbon product for further processing, shipping, or use.

A resin composition includes cellulose nanofibers (A) and a cellulose ester resin (B) having a polymerization degree of 100 to 500 and a substitution degree of 2.1 to 2.6.

The present technology discloses a system, for joining workpieces using energy, such as ultrasonic energy, where the energy concentrates at a location within a weld area, promoting sequential melting of a plurality of energy directors. The system can be configured so that the sequential melting begins at the center of the weld area and progresses outwards. Sequential melting may occur through use of a welding tip configured to reduce air pockets, a tapering the height of a plurality of energy directors, and/or tapering the energy directors themselves, all of which reduce the size of an energy transfer area produced by thermal energy. The present technology also includes a method for joining workpieces using energy such as ultrasonic energy that concentrates at a location within a weld area causing sequential melting of a plurality of energy directors using the aforementioned features.

Provided herein is a composition comprising from 50% to 60% polysiloxane consisting essentially of polyphenylmethylsiloxane and α,ω-methoxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, from 40% to 50% organic solvent, from 2% to 4% polysilazane, and polysilane of a formula (R.sub.1R.sub.2Si).sub.n, wherein n is greater than 1, and wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkylamino, aryl, aralkyl, or alkylsilyl. The composition, after curing, is a flame resistant binder for forming a composition-fiber composite that withstands repeated temperatures over 1800° F. The composition may further comprise from 0.1% to 2% of an enhancer selected from butyltitanate and aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane (H.sub.2NC.sub.2H.sub.4NHC.sub.3H.sub.6—Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3). The composition may be mixed with fibers in a ratio of 35:65 to 45:55 (w/w), and the composition-fiber mixture may be cured under vacuum at a temperature of 200° F. to 450° F. for 30 minutes to 180 minutes to form a composite.