Abstract: A method for producing a pelletized material includes mixing a media powder with a treated water, the treated water comprising a additive for substantially preventing bacterial contamination, pouring a mixture of the media powder and halogenated water on a non-binding surface, spreading the mixture into a wafer, drying the mixture, and grinding the mixture to produce the pelletized material.

Abstract: A thermal interface material includes a macromolecular material having two opposite Surfaces, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes each having two opposite ends embedded in the macromolecular material. The two opposite ends of the carbon nanotubes extend out of the two opposite surfaces of the macromolecular material respectively. A method for manufacturing the thermal interface material is also provided.

Abstract: Particulate absorbent materials having a size and bulk density range that is conducive to provide a litter for animals that do not bury their eliminations. Where the granular material is sufficiently large and dense to not be discharged from a bin containing the granular material. Each granule has a smooth exterior that will not hang on to the hair or hide of the animal discharging their eliminations. Furthers the granules are of sufficient size and weight to not get stuck in the footing of the animal. The preferred characteristics of the material is having a width of 6 mm-12 mm and having an aspect ratio substantially between 1-1 and 1-6 where the granular substance has a bulk density greater than 12 pounds per cubic foot.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to ophthalmic molds and methods useful for casting ophthalmic moldings. In one aspect, the invention relates to a mold for casting an ophthalmic molding formed from a first mold half detachably affixed to a second mold half, whereby the mold has a top and bottom; and a cavity formed by the first and second mold halves, wherein the cavity receives a lens forming material through an opening at the bottom of the mold and vents gas and excess lens forming material from an opening at the top of the mold. In another aspect, this invention relates to methods for casting opthalmic moldings, particularly intraocular lenses.

Abstract: A method to produce thin-layer lignocellulosic composites, such as wood-based doorskins, that exhibit substantial resistance to moisture is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes the steps of forming a mixture including a refined lignocellulosic fiber, wax, and an organic isocyanate resin. The mixture is initially pressed to form a loose mat. Subsequently, the mat is pressed between two dies at an elevated temperature and pressure to further reduce the thickness of the mat and to promote the interaction of the resin with the lignocellulosic fibers. In an embodiment, a release agent is included as part of the fiber mixture, or sprayed onto the surface of the mat. The thin-layer lignocellulosic composites of the present invention exhibit strong surface strength, high adhesiveness, and a 50% reduction in linear expansion and thickness swelling upon exposure to a high moisture environment as compared to thin-layer composites that do not include the isocyanate resin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing natural fibre-based composite materials containing natural binders and powdery proteins, comprising the following steps; adding a powdery protein adhesive binder to natural fibres having a moisture content of 1 15%; mixing the natural fibres together with the powdery protein adhesive; adjusting the moisture content of the composition to 6 24% w/w; and submitting the mixture to a heat pressure treatment to form the natural fibre-based material.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for effectively preventing the scattering and the like of powder material, by maintaining a completely sealed condition, from the supply of the powdery material and the discharge of the molded articles to the cleaning of the interior. A housing 1 comprising, connected via a piping system 10, a vacuum device 11 for depressurizing said housing 1 interior; an atmosphere cut-off valve 12 installed on said piping system 10 for cutting off a piping interior atmosphere on said housing 1 side from a piping interior atmosphere on the vacuum device 11 side; a wetdown piping system 72 for wetting, within the atmosphere on the housing 1 side starting from said atmosphere cut-off valve 12, a compression molding mechanism 2 as well as powdery material stuck to the inside of said housing 1; and an outside air introduction mechanism 15 installed on said housing 1 for opening up an airtight condition of the housing.

Abstract: Latex articles with geometrically defined surface structure providing enhanced grip characteristics in dry, wet or oily environment; and a method of making same comprising applying a polymeric coagulant coating to a smooth former surface, wherein the coating becomes tacky during drying, applying discrete coagulant particles of selected size, shape and distribution to the tacky coating to attach and protrude from the former surface with the polymeric coagulant coating, dipping the former into an aqueous latex emulsion, wherein the polymeric coagulant coating and the discrete coagulating particles destabilize the latex, thereby developing a latex layer, vulcanizing and stripping the latex article inside out, and dissolving the discrete coagulant particles in water or suitable solvents to reveal the geometrically designed texture with pre-selected size, shape and distribution of impressions providing improved dry, wet and oily surface grip by removal of a fluid boundary layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a co-cured resin transfer molding manufacturing method includes providing a tool having one or more tooling details and disposing one or more preforms proximate the one or more tooling details. The one or more preforms are either dry or binderized. The method further includes disposing a high permeability medium outwardly from the one or more tooling details, disposing a prepreg skin panel outwardly from the high permeability medium, disposing the one or more tooling details and the prepreg skin panel within the tool, injecting a resin into the one or more preforms, and curing the one or more preforms and the prepreg skin panel.

Abstract: The invention concerns an impact machine for forming a body with desired shape of a formable working material through impact action in a forming operation, said impact machine comprising a machine stand (6), an upper unit which comprises either a lower impact unit (3), which comprises a counter-impact device, or a stationary anvil, and a central unit between the upper and the lower units.

Abstract: The process includes a weighing operation of a mass of material a glue is to be spread on, and thereafter a spraying operation of glue, variably mixed with steam, so that the glue is spread on the wood chips proportionately to a weight of the wood chips. The gluing process is completed in a resin bonder machine comprising a cylindrical body in which two different-diameter and oppositely-pitched helices are rotated to mix the glue and chips. Both the body and the helices are cooled in order to prevent adhesion of glued material thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a granulation method with increased drying effect while assuring the pressure for spraying the aqueous solution and the necessary number of nozzles equivalent to those of conventional design. Specifically, the granulation method uses a granulator structured by a fluid bed which fluidizes the granulating-particles, an air feed pipe to introduce air, a nozzle for spraying the raw material aqueous solution being located at center part of the air feed pipe, and a perforated plate to feed a fluidization air to the fluid bed, thus granulating the raw material aqueous solution by spraying thereof from the nozzle into a granulation part, wherein a multi-nozzle in a specified shape having a plurality of nozzle ends thereon is used as the nozzle for spraying the raw material aqueous solution.

Abstract: The invention is specially directed towards intermittent motion packaging machines where the packages are momentarily immobilized at a forming station for the time duration of the package sealing and cutting. The polymeric sheets or films are sealed and cut after being exposed to a laser beam in a controlled and optimized manner. The laser beam is shaped with appropriate optical elements to provide a desired intensity profile in the section of the films to be sealed or sealed and cut. With this method, a package can be sealed and cut simultaneously in one exposure step. An optical clamp holds the films together while they are being sealed by the laser. The optical clamp can reflect back to the films, partially or totally, the laser beam intensity that has not been previously absorbed. The optical clamp further allows to monitor the sealing and cutting process while the process is being performed.

Abstract: An improved method of forming fiber-reinforced plastic shells for bathtubs utilizes a fiber mat placed on a rear surface of a plastic shell. The fiber mat is infused with a resin, and is then cured. The mat and resin are preferably received within a vacuum chamber as the resin is infused. Further, the plastic shell is preferably supported on a fluidized bed during this process. The present invention eliminates the need for detailed air handling as is now required to handle impurities in the industrial air around the process of forming the bathtub shell.

Abstract: An annular insert (4) is arranged in the optical component molding cavity of a mold to surround an outer periphery of raw material resin in a direction in which the resin is distributed in the cavity to limit the distribution of the raw material resin and define an outer profile of a lens (L). With this arrangement, it is only necessary to provide raw material resin only by a quantity equal to the volume of the region surrounded by the molding surfaces of upper and lower mold inserts (14, 24) and the inner peripheral edge of the annular insert (4) of the mold, so that the required volume of the raw material resin can be reduced. Since the pressure is preserved at the outer periphery of the distributed resin by the presence of the annular insert (4), the residual strain of the resin is minimized to prevent generation of sink mark, thereby providing excellent optical characteristics on the lens (L).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for producing particles with an average diameter less than about 15 ?m using the precipitation with compressed fluid-antisolvent (PCA) process and the carbon-dioxide assisted nebulization with a bubble dryer (CAN-BD) process. In the methods and nozzles of the invention, at least one jet of supercritical or near-supercritical fluid and at least one jet of solution interact to mix the supercritical or near-supercritical fluid and the solution within a chamber. The solution contains at least one solvent and at least one solute. At least one of the jets is a swirling jet. To form particles, the solvent and supercritical or near-supercritical fluid are then injected into a PCA or a CAN-BD process chamber. The degree of mixing depends in part on the power input into the mixing chamber. Power inputs of about 6.5×109 W/m3 enhance the degree of mixing and allow production of nanoscale particles with the PCA process.

Abstract: A solid free form fabrication system for manufacturing a component by successively building feedstock layers representing successive cross-sectional component slices includes a platform for receiving and supporting the feedstock layers, a feedstock supplying apparatus that deposits the feedstock into a predetermined region to form the feedstock layers, an energy source directed toward the predetermined region to modify the feedstock in the predetermined region and thereby manufacture the component, and a temperature control block disposed on the platform and directly in contact with the deposited feedstock layers to modify the feedstock temperature while manufacturing the component.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a contoured, consolidated cellulosic article, with variable basis weight, is disclosed. The method employs a former to create a mat having a substantially uniform thickness which is pre-pressed to retain its shape. The pre-pressed mat is then machined along at least one surface to result in a desirable contour. The contoured mat is then consolidated within a secondary press. The secondary press preferably includes platens shaped complementarily to the surfaces of the mat.

Abstract: Coffee bean residue is a primary constituent of new thermosetting polymer compositions and articles of manufacture. The articles are made by compression molding and curing of one or more thermosetting polymer resins blended with coffee bean residue. Other additives and fillers may also be included in the compositions.

Abstract: Embolization, as well as related particles and methods, are described.