The present invention relates to a material system for 3D printing, to a 3D printing process using a lignin-containing component or derivatives thereof or modified lignins, to soluble moldings that are produced by a powder-based additive layer manufacturing process and to the use of the moldings.

The present invention relates to a material system for 3D printing, to a 3D printing process using a lignin-containing component or derivatives thereof or modified lignins, to soluble moldings that are produced by a powder-based additive layer manufacturing process and to the use of the moldings.

The present invention relates to method for producing construction aggregate, comprising the steps of: (i) preparing materials, which comprises (% by weight): fly ash (80 to 99.75%); alkaline activator (0.25 to 20%); water (6 to 30% of total weight of fly ash and alkaline activator); (ii) mixing the alkaline activator with all the aforementioned water amount to create alkaline activator solution, after which will be mixed with fly ash to create geopolymer mortar; (iii) molding the geopolymer mortar with the compressive force of 2 MPa and more with desired dimension, wherein the molding is carried out with hydraulic pressing, extrusion, rolling or tablet lamination. (iv) solidifying; and (v) optionally, crushing the construction aggregate obtained above to a predefined dimension. Besides, the present invention relates to the construction aggregate from fly ash obtained by the above mentioned method.

In a process for manufacturing a catalytic converter component, a ceramic unit is used that has been prepared by extruding green ceramic product through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure in which tubular passages extend along the extrusion, the passages bounded by walls dividing adjacent passages from one another. The unit is obtained by cutting off a length of the extrusion and curing and firing it. The process further comprises flowing insulation material from one end of the unit into selected ones of the elongate passages, vaporizing a moisture content of the insulation material to form pores and curing the insulation material by using microwave irradiation to solidify the pores. The passages are selected so that the cured insulation material forms an internal thermal insulating barrier between a core zone of the unit and a radially outer zone of the unit.

In a process for manufacturing a catalytic converter component, a ceramic unit is used that has been prepared by extruding green ceramic product through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure in which tubular passages extend along the extrusion, the passages bounded by walls dividing adjacent passages from one another. The unit is obtained by cutting off a length of the extrusion and curing and firing it. The process further comprises flowing insulation material from one end of the unit into selected ones of the elongate passages, vaporizing a moisture content of the insulation material to form pores and curing the insulation material by using microwave irradiation to solidify the pores. The passages are selected so that the cured insulation material forms an internal thermal insulating barrier between a core zone of the unit and a radially outer zone of the unit.

In a method of making a gaseous emissions treatment component, a ‘green’ ceramic mix is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having cells extending along the extrusion, the cells being bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. In concert with the extruding, metal is fed through the die with the extruded mix. A length of the extrusion and associated metal is then cut off and fired to form the component.

In a process for manufacturing a component for an emissions treatment unit, green ceramic product is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure with an array of parallel, linear tubular cells extending along its length, the cells bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. A ceramic unit is obtained by cutting off, curing and firing a length of the extrusion a length of the extrusion. Following the firing, a mixture of a flowable, uncured curable material and a particulate metal component is injected from an end of the ceramic unit into selected ones of the cells so as to block the selected cells over at least a part of their lengths while maintaining all of the walls of the ceramic unit. The injected mixture is then cured to render it solid.

In a process for manufacturing a component for an emissions treatment unit, green ceramic product is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure with an array of parallel, linear tubular cells extending along its length, the cells bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. A ceramic unit is obtained by cutting off, curing and firing a length of the extrusion a length of the extrusion. Following the firing, a mixture of a flowable, uncured curable material and a particulate metal component is injected from an end of the ceramic unit into selected ones of the cells so as to block the selected cells over at least a part of their lengths while maintaining all of the walls of the ceramic unit. The injected mixture is then cured to render it solid.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, for performing additive manufacturing with concrete. One example is an additive manufacturing print head. The print head includes a body defining an internal flow path, a print nozzle at an outlet of the internal flow path, an auger disposed within the internal flow path, a first microwave emitter, and a second microwave emitter. The auger is operable to convey a concrete mixture towards the print nozzle. The first microwave emitter is operable to alter a viscosity of the concrete moisture within the flow path by directing first microwave energy towards the internal flow path. The second microwave emitter is arranged to direct second microwave energy towards the concrete mixture when it exits the print nozzle.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, for performing pultrusion molding with concrete. One exemplary method includes conveying a textile material through a concrete infusion system to provide a concrete infused textile material (CITM). Heating and shaping the CITM by conveying the CITM through a microwave chamber comprising an electrically non-conductive die disposed therein, the microwave chamber operable to heat concrete infused in the textile material by irradiating the CITM with microwave energy as the CITM is conveyed through the microwave chamber, and the die operable to shape the CITM as the CITM is conveyed through the microwave chamber. Cooling the CITM by conveying the CITM through a cool down chamber operable to maintain heat in the CITM as the CITM is conveyed through the microwave chamber allowing the concrete to cure while a temperature of the CITM is reduced.