Improvements in the extrusion of thermohardenable materials are achieved by cooling the material in the initial zone of the extruder and reducing residence time by use of a prescribed length to diameter ratio and screw speed, particularly useful for intermittent application during robotically controlled mass production.

The invention relates to a process for devulcanizing a vulcanized rubber mixture, comprising the following steps: A) providing or producing a vulcanized rubber mixture, B) comminuting the vulcanized rubber mixture to a granular material composed of vulcanized rubber particles, where the vulcanized rubber particles have a maximum particle diameter of 100 mm, C) extruding the vulcanized rubber particles produced in step B) in a twin-screw extruder at a shear rate of less than 100 s.sup.−1, where the temperature of the vulcanized rubber particles during extrusion is less than 200° C., to give a devulcanized rubber mixture having a temperature above 100° C., D) cooling the devulcanized rubber mixture in a further kneading unit, so as to give a devulcanized rubber mixture having a temperature in the range from 50° C. to 100° C. The invention further relates to an apparatus for performing the process and to the use of the apparatus for devulcanization of a vulcanized rubber mixture.

A method for forming an uncured rubber component, the method includes conveying an uncured extruded rubber strip extruded continuously from an extruder using a conveyor, the conveyor including a first conveyor and a second conveyor located at a downstream side of the first conveyor in a convey direction, the step of conveying including shrinking the uncured extruded rubber strip, wherein the step of shrinking is such that the uncured extruded rubber strip, in a relaxed state of a U-shaped manner, passes through fluid held in a tank between the first conveyor and the second conveyor without being restrained so that the uncured extruded rubber strip shrinks freely while receiving buoyancy from the fluid, and cutting the uncured extruded rubber strip in a predetermined length to form an uncured rubber component, after the step of shrinking.

A catheter assembly is constructed by reflow bonding an inner liner and an outer layer. The inner liner defines at least one lumen. The inner liner is made of a gamma-irradiated polymeric material that includes a polyether block amide and a gamma radiation activated cross-linking agent.

The invention generally relates to polymer nanocomposite films that possess shape memory properties at elevated temperatures. Such films can absorb microwaves, are thermally conductive, are electrically conductive and have increased mechanical strength. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of fabricating such films into 3D objects. Due to the improved properties of such films more advanced sensors and microwave shields can be constructed.

Provided is a thermoforming laminate, etc., having good thermoforming properties as well as excellent chemical resistance and abrasion resistance. Examples of solutions to the problem include a thermoformable laminate, including: (a) a substrate layer containing a thermoplastic resin; (b) a post-cure type hard coat layer containing an active-energy-ray-curable resin having a (meth)acryloyl group, the hard coat layer also containing a polymerization inhibitor; and (c) a protective film, wherein: (a) the substrate layer, (b) the hard coat layer, and (c) the protective film are layered in this order; and the polymerization inhibitor includes at least one among a quinone-based compound, a sulfur-containing compound, and a nitrogen-containing compound.

A method of manufacturing a separate and continuous layer being essentially uncured. The method includes applying a powder mix including fibres and a thermosetting binder on a carrier, forming a powder mix layer, wherein the powder mix is connected together such that the powder mix layer is obtained and wherein the powder mix layer is essentially uncured, and releasing the powder mix layer from the carrier. Also, a layer and a method for manufacturing a building panel.

Methods for additive manufacturing are provided. In embodiments, such a method comprises illuminating a photothermal base with light, the photothermal base comprising a photothermal material and mounted in an additive manufacturing system to form a first interface between a surface of the photothermal base and a curable composition comprising thermally curable components, wherein the light induces light-to-energy conversion in the photothermal base to generate heat at the first interface, thereby inducing curing of the thermally curable components to form a first cured region. Additive manufacturing systems and photothermal bases are also provided.

Improvements in the extrusion of thermohardenable materials are achieved by cooling the material in the initial zone of the extruder and reducing residence time by use of a prescribed length to diameter ratio and screw speed, particularly useful for intermittent application during robotically controlled mass production.

Methods of producing particles of fiber and resin from fiber-resin composite materials are disclosed. The particles may be combined with a resin system and optionally combined with fillers, binders or reinforcements to produce new cured solid composite products.