Abstract: Disclosed is a process of using waste material comprising absorbent material and a thermoplastic material, such as from the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles, to produce useful articles. The process includes shearing the waste material, chopping the waste material, pelleting the waste material, and extruding or injection molding the pelleted material to create a useful article.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for the production of a cellular wood plastic composite material comprised of an orifice that conducts the composite material from the adapter of the extruder to the transition die plate in such a manner that a uniform flow of material reaches the transition die plate; a transition die plate that further directs the flow of material to a flow restriction die plate in a manner ensuring that equal amounts of material are delivered to all areas of the flow restriction die plate; a flow restriction die plate that provides sufficient resistance to material flow to increase the melt pressure of the portion of the material that is upstream in relation to the flow restriction die plate and controls the temperature increase caused by this restriction by dividing the flow into numerous suitably sized and shaped streams; a compression die plate that fuses the separate streams issuing from the flow restriction die plate into a single stream of material and maintains the melt

Abstract: The present invention is directed to extrusion dies for making extruded synthetic wood and methods relating thereto. The dies include adapter dies, transition dies, stranding dies, and molding dies. The adapter dies include a channel with a restricted cross-sectional area. The stranding dies include a plurality of non-uniform channels that differ in length, cross-sectional area, cross-sectional shape, or combinations thereof. The transition dies are coordinately configured with the stranding die to adjust the flow rate of the extrudate. Particular configurations of dies upstream of the molding die allow for higher compression ratios in the molding die than previously feasible. Each of the dies described herein may be used individually with standard dies known in the art. Alternatively, the dies may be used in combination to form integrated units. The dies described herein allow for making stronger, more consistent synthetic wood at greater output rates than previously possible.

Abstract: A system for controlling the dimensions of an extrudate exiting an extruder and for compensating for the variations in the extrusion rate of the extruder, expansion rate and rate of travel of the extrudate through sizing devices by changing the speed of an extrudate puller device, includes an extruder which extrudes the extrudate; a conveyor system comprising rollers and a series of sizing devices; a puller device for pulling the extrudate through the sizing devices; and a laser proximity measuring device to assist the system in keeping the desired shape of the extrudate. The laser proximity measuring device includes at least one pair of optical non-contact displacement transducers, a real time processor, and an interactive touch screen display unit. The transducers emit a laser beam which provides a laser point on the side of the extrudate.

Abstract: A low-pressure CO2 tank or an air compressor with a refrigerated air dryer is attached either at or after the vent zone of a standard twin-screw extruder. During or after extrusion, the gas is dissolved in the wood-plastic melt. The CO2 expands which foams the wood-plastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for combining an organic fibrous material with a thermoplastic material forming a wood-imitating composite. The mixed material is extruded into a die system comprising a transition die, a stranding die and a molding die. The flow rate of the material through the die system is equalized by preforming the mixed material with the transition die to a shape approaching the end product, stranding the material with the stranding die to form individual strands, and compressing the individual strands with the molding die after it exits the stranding die. The die system may also include an adapter die positioned between the extruder and the transition die which functions to control the amount of mixed material which enters the die system. A product comprised of recyclables shredded and mixed to form a wood-imitating composite from a low-temperature extruder is also provided.