Abstract: Processes for producing near net-shape panels and panels formed thereby. The processes include forming a preform to comprise a stack of multiple plies that contain an uncured expandable foam material. The preform has regions that differ from each other by the number and/or volume of the plies therein. The preform and its plies are then cured within a restricted volume to produce a near net-shape panel. The curing step causes the expandable foam material to expand, and the restricted volume is sized so that the number and volume of the plies within the regions of the preform cause zones within the panel to have different densities and/or thicknesses.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped mold position detection device 183 for conveying and positioning a sheet-shaped mold M on which a fine transfer pattern M1 is formed. The sheet-shaped mold position dejection device 183 includes a sheet-shaped mold position detector 191 that detects a predetermined region of the sheet-shaped mold M by detecting transmittance of light in the sheet-shaped mold M.

Abstract: A highly efficient process is disclosed for making proppants from generally non-spherical or discretized raw material, such as naturally occurring sand or pelletized refractory material. In one embodiment of the process, the discretized material is heated by a counter-current flow of hot gas in a first Moving Bed Gas-Solids Direct Contact Heat Exchanger (MBGSDCHX). The heated discretized material is then further heated to a transformative temperature by a raw material transformation means to a partially or fully melted state in which the discretized raw material assumes generally spherical shapes. The spheres are then cooled by a counter-current flow of cold gas in a second MBGSDCHX. The cooled spheres are then size-classified for use as proppants. In an alternate embodiment, refractory raw material is melted and then discretized into molten drops. The molten drops are cooled and frozen into generally spherical shapes. The cooled spheres are used as proppants.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for rice husk fiber synthetic resin powder includes grinding rice husks into rice husk powder, feeding the powder into a mixer, adding and uniformly mixing cellulose, starch, and water, removing and cooling the mixture into rice husk fiber powder; additionally putting natural resin and lignin into a reaction kettle, adding water and agitating uniformly into slurry, adding nano-silica and continuing agitating evenly, and after cooling, adding the rice husk fiber powder and continuing the agitation, cooling and removing the mixture, thus obtaining a paste material; and injecting the paste material into a flash drier to produce rice husk fiber synthetic resin powder. The rice husk fiber synthetic resin powder can be used to make rice husk fiber products such as tableware, toys, furniture and kitchenware that have good physical properties and are degradable into organic fertilizer, thereby being environmentally friendly and commercially promising.

Abstract: A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature below a melting point of the polymer and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.

Abstract: A Light Emitting Diode (LED) fluorescent cover comprises the following components by weight: 90-96% of single-component solid silicone rubber, 3-8% of fluorescent powder and 1-2% of vulcanizer; and the preparation method includes the following steps: step 1): using mixed compound of the single-component solid silicone rubber, as well as the fluorescent powder and the vulcanizer as raw material to mix, standing for 2-4 h after mixing with open mill or internal mixer; step 2): controlling temperature, pressure and vulcanization time of vulcanizing machine according to size of the fluorescent cover mold, using the vulcanizing machine to carry out first vulcanization to the raw material that is obtained from the step 1) and placed in the fluorescent cover mold; step 3): with combined action of blower gun, taking the fluorescent cover out slowly; step 4): baking the semi-finished product in a closed space at a temperature of 150-200° C. for 1-2 h.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a polyolefin microporous film, non-uniformity in a film resulting from non-uniform drying during solvent extraction is minimized, high-speed drying and high-speed continuous productivity of the polyolefin microporous film are implemented. In the method for manufacturing a polyolefin microporous film, in which a composition composed of a polyolefin resin and a plasticizer is made into a film form using extrusion, the plasticizer is extracted and removed using a solvent, and the film is thereafter dried. After the foregoing extraction and before the drying, the film is brought into close contact with a roll, or its width is mechanically restrained. A liquid (heating medium) having a temperature greater than or equal to the boiling point of the solvent is made to contact the film while the film is in close contact with the roll or while the width is restrained, whereby the film is heated and dried.

Abstract: A molded discrete low stress gasket is constructed of restructured filled PTFE for use in corrosive or severe chemical environments under relatively low bolt loads. The gasket has a gasket surface and includes a raised outer sealing ring and a raised inner sealing ring. The gasket may constructed from a restructured filled PTFE material, with the sealing rings deforming at lower pressures than the remaining portions of the gasket.

Abstract: A load bearing panel member having a first portion, a second portion, and an appearance surface portion is formed by injection molding such that the first portion includes a plurality of ribs forming a grid pattern on the first portion and another plurality of ribs extending toward the periphery of the first portion which may be non-orthogonal to each other and to the ribs forming the grid pattern. An internal channel may be formed within each of the non-orthogonal ribs by injecting a gas into the rib during the molding process forming the panel. An appearance surface portion attached to the first portion and second portion of the panel member forms an integral hinge between the first and second portions of the panel member. The panel member may be configured as a floor panel of a vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a controlled release pharmaceutical extrudate using a melt extruder, wherein the melt extruder comprises a die-head supporting a die-plate in which orifices are located, and a cutter adjacent to the die-head, and wherein the cutter cuts the extruded mix as it emerges under pressure and still molten or softened from the orifices of the die-plate.

Abstract: The invention provides a laminate of an inorganic layer, a resin layer, and a coupling agent treatment layer interposed therebetween, which different delamination strengths between the inorganic layer and the resin layer to form a prescribed pattern. The invention also provides a production method comprising (1) treating an inorganic layer with a coupling agent; (2) performing a patterning process to form strong adhesion sections and easily separated sections; and (3) forming a resin layer by drying and heat-treating a coated solution layer obtained by coating a resin solution or a resin precursor solution onto the surface of the inorganic layer that was treated with a coupling agent and then patterned.

Abstract: The method of making a pellet comprising wood pulp fiber and thermoplastic polymer, comprising extruding an extrudate comprising 10 to 50 weight % wood pulp fiber and 45 to 85 weight % thermoplastic polymer through a die, cutting a pellet from the extrudate, removing the pellet from the extrudate with water having a temperature less than the extrudate, filtering the pellet from the water. In one embodiment the wood pulp fiber in the pellet has a moisture content of 1% or less. In one embodiment the wood fiber does not swell.

Abstract: A fiber cushion body, which is formed from cross-linked fiber material and which is resiliently deformable when load is applied along a main load direction, is treated using ultrasonic energy. A portion of the fiber cushion body is displaced, for example using a sonotrode, and ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the fiber cushion body to re-shape the fiber cushion body from a first shape to a second shape different from the first shape.

Abstract: A method comprising: a) determining the bow (28) in the extension direction of one or more linear paths on an outer surface or outer surfaces (11,13,14,16) of an extruded ceramic part (10) so that maximum extrusion direction bow (28) of the one of more linear paths or outer surfaces (11,13,14,16) may be determined of the extruded ceramic greenware part (10); b) identifying the linear path on the outer surface or the outer surfaces (11,13,14,16) having maximum convex bow; c) placing the greenware part (10) on a carrier with the linear path on the outer surface or the outer surface location having the maximum convex shape in contact with the carrier; and d) processing the greenware part (10) while disposed on the carrier with the linear path on the outer surface or the surface having the convex shape on the carrier, such that the bow (28) is reduced as a result of the process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material using a linear solidification device and contourless object data is shown and described. A voxel matrix is superimposed over an object model defined by three-dimensional object data to determine active voxels that intersect at least a portion of the object model. The active voxels are related to a path generation reference frame of an apparatus for making a three-dimensional object to generate solidification energy source event data that defines scanning (y) axis locations and/or solidification times at which a linear solidification device supplies solidification energy to a solidifiable material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle seat component includes a first step of integrating a cushion member and an upholstery member together during molding of the cushion member, and a second step of forming a flow passage through which air passes from a back surface of the cushion member toward the upholstery member.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a microfluidic device (19), which comprises the phases of producing a three-dimensional template (15) of geometry equal to the channelings that is desired to obtain in the device; inserting the template in the desired position into a mold (16), keeping it suspended by at least one of its end; coating said template by immersion in (or deposition of) a material in the liquid phase (or dissolved or dispersed in a solvent) capable of solidifying by means of a chemical reaction or physical transformation, forming a material constituting the body of the final device; and selectively removing the three-dimensional template. In a variant of the method, useful for the production of scaffolds to be inserted into the human body, a porogenic material is added to the liquid precursor or to the precursor solution, such that the material of the solid matrix is characterized by a continuous structure of pores into which it is possible to insert live cells.

Abstract: Methods of producing a dental product are disclosed. Certain methods include the steps of providing a pre-sintered blank made from a green body of ceramic material, performing a machining operation on the blank, and subsequently sintering the blank to its final density in a sintering operation performed at a temperature in the range of 1300° C. to 1650° C. The pre-sintered blank that is provided may have a strength in the range of 53-107 MPa.

Abstract: Polishing pads with multi-modal distributions of pore diameters are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with multi-modal distributions of pore diameters are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a mid-IR graded microstructure to the end of a chalcogenide glass optical fiber are presented herein. The method and apparatus transfer a microstructure from a negative imprint on a nickel shim to a chalcogenide glass fiber tip with minimal shape distortion and minimal damage-threshold impact resulting in large gains in anti-reflective properties.