A method for producing a part in the form of a solid block from a natural material in particulate form containing scleroproteins. A phase of heating the natural material, under compression at a pressure greater than or equal to 30 MPa, to a temperature greater than or equal to the denaturation temperature of the scleroproteins contained in the material. A phase of cooling the material thus obtained to a temperature less than 100° C., while maintaining the compression during at least a part of the cooling phase.

An apparatus for embedding objects in castings made in batch includes a base comprising a plurality of cavities for molding, each cavity corresponding to an item to be molded; a framework comprising a plurality of gripping mechanisms for suspending objects from the framework into the cavities for embedding the objects within the molded items, each gripping mechanism being configured to release a respective object upon actuation; and, a lifting mechanism transitionable for effecting actuation of the plurality of gripping mechanisms such that objects suspended by the gripping mechanisms are released. A method of casting includes partially filling a plurality of cavities with a liquid; suspending objects from a framework; simultaneously partially sinking the objects into the liquid in the cavities; releasing the objects from the framework after at least partially hardening of the liquid; and fully immersing the objects with the liquid.

A plastic composition consisting essentially of plastic matter, inorganic matter, and organic matter. The plastic composition has a notched izod impact above 12 J/m, a surface energy of at least 40 dyne/cm and, and when the plastic composition is subjected to injection molding, at least one of a tensile strength of above about 2.7 MPa, a tensile modulus of above about 600 MPa, a flexural modulus above about 690 MPa, a flexural strength above about 5.6 MPa, and a Charpy Impact above about 1.5 KJ/m2.

A compression molding system includes a first extruder to output melted plastic, and a second extruder downstream from the first extruder to mix the melted plastic with wood chips to output a composite material. A transfer valve alternately directs the composite material between inner block molds and outer block molds. Each inner block mold has an inner block press associated therewith to press the composite material into a desired shape of an inner block having an opening on one side. Each outer block mold has an outer block press associated therewith to press the composite material into a desired shape of an outer block having an opening on one side. A press assembly presses one of the inner blocks into the opening in one of the outer blocks to form a double wall block.

A plastic composition consisting essentially of plastic matter, inorganic matter, and organic matter. The plastic composition has a notched izod impact above 12 J/m, a surface energy of at least 40 dyne/cm and, and when the plastic composition is subjected to injection molding, at least one of a tensile strength of above about 2.7 MPa, a tensile modulus of above about 600 MPa, a flexural modulus above about 690 MPa, a flexural strength above about 5.6 MPa, and a Charpy Impact above about 1.5 KJ/m2.

A method of making a recycled plastic product includes collecting recyclable plastic materials. The recyclable plastic materials are separated into a plurality of single grade batches of recyclable plastic materials. Each single grade batch is ground into a single grade group of recyclable plastic chips. A single grade portion is weighed out from each single grade group of chips. Each single grade portion is equal in weight within a range of plus or minus 15 percent. Each single grade portion is mixed together to form a multiple grade mixture of recyclable plastic chips. The multiple grade mixture is heated to form a multiple grade blend of molten recyclable plastic. The multiple grade blend is cooled into a form of a solid recycled plastic product. The recycled plastic product comprises multiple grades of recyclable plastic and a volume large enough to encompass a 1.0-inch diameter sphere.

A method for producing a part in the form of a solid block from a natural material in particulate form containing scleroproteins. A phase of heating the natural material, under compression at a pressure greater than or equal to 30 MPa, to a temperature greater than or equal to the denaturation temperature of the scleroproteins contained in the material. A phase of cooling the material thus obtained to a temperature less than 100 C., while maintaining the compression during at least a part of the cooling phase.

A two-way shape memory polymer composite material is provided, which comprises two interpenetrating network polymers, wherein one polymer is a shape memory polymer made of crystalline cross-linked polymer, the other one is a cross-linked elastomeric material. The composite material is formed by interpenetration of two network polymers, wherein one network polymer will shrink under heating and the other network polymer acts as the segment for energy storage. When the first polymer network shrinks under heating, it presses the second polymer network, while the heating is cancelled the pressed second polymer network will enforce the first polymer network to recover the original shape, therefore it has the behavior of two-way shape memory.

Electroless plating is accomplished by forming a metal salt and a polymer solution as a binder into a solid electrolyte block and depositing metal on the surface by rubbing or brushing the solid electrolyte block onto a surface with minimal or no water and without an electric potential/power source. The solid electrolyte block is also conformable/moldable and can be used to deposit metal on to both conductive and nonconductive surface through electroless deposition process.

Two games, Sugar Rush and Candy Grab are disclosed using 3D character dice and a deck of candy cards. The dice can take one of many forms and may have any even number of sides from 4 to 20 and may develop into a collectible set of characters. These boardless games can be learned easily and enjoyed by all. A product by process is also disclosed.