Abstract: A mixture of carbon-containing fibers, such as mesophase or isotropic pitch fibers, and a suitable matrix material, such as a milled pitch, is compressed while resistively heating the mixture to form a carbonized composite material having a density of about 1.5 g/cm3, or higher. The composite material is formed in under ten minutes. This is a significantly shorter time than for conventional processes, which typically take several days and achieve a lower density material. Consequently, carbon/carbon composite materials having final densities of about 1.6-1.8 g/cm3, or higher are readily achieved with one or two infiltration cycles using a pitch or other carbonaceous material to fill voids in the composite and rebaking.

Abstract: A process for forming particulate materials and binders into articles that are reusable after comminution, wherein the particulate materials are treated with a binder composition containing. A) one or more copolymers containing one or more comonomer units selected from the group consisting of vinyl esters of branched or unbranched alkyl carboxylic acids of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, acrylic or methacrylic esters of branched or unbranched alcohols of 1 to 15 carbon atoms, dienes, olefins, vinyl aromatics and vinyl halides, and further containing 4 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the copolymer, of one or more comonomer units containing polar groups, and B) one or more fillers having a polar surface capable of interaction with the polar groups of copolymer A), and formed into articles and consolidated, and, if appropriate, the formed article obtained thereby is comminuted for recycling and the material obtained thereby is reused for forming new articles.

Abstract: A method to produce an electrically conductive floor covering made of first particles of a polymer material which are surrounded with electrically conductive second particles and compressed in the intermediate space between the top and bottom sides of the floor covering, with the floor covering having at least one cut surface and the electrically conductive second particles forming conductive paths which connect the upper side and the lower side of the floor covering in an electrically conductive way, in which the first particles comprise at least one granulated elastomer material and form a matrix, in which the second particles form electric conductive paths along the particle boundaries of the first particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified isocyanates for use in producing fiberboards. Particularly, the invention relates to the use of polymeric MDI having a relatively low diisocyanate content for producing fiberboards. The invention also relates to fiberboards produced utilizing such modified polymeric MDI.

Abstract: Used and manufacturing scrap asphalt shingle material is processed into a relatively coarse material comprising pieces or flakes of a maximum predetermined size. The flakes are finish processed into a composite board product in a method that includes (i) mixing the flakes with a relatively high percentage content of solvent suffused fiber, (ii) grinding and heating the flakes and fiber to form a homogenous semi-liquid mixture, (iii) extruding and conveying the homogenous mixture to a board forming station, and (iv) compressing the mixture into the composite board product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for achieving ornamental dispersion of particles in a molded article thereby increasing the ornamental desirability of the article. The method for achieving ornamental dispersion of small planar particles in a resin molded articles comprises the steps of preparing a basic plate with any patterns engraved therein, pouring moldable fluid resin mixed with small planer particles into the patterns engraved in the plate, shaking the plate in circular vibration, hardening the resin and grinding the surface of the plate. When the patterns are is filled with a fluid resin material to which planar particles have been added, the action of the apparatus serves to ornamentally disperse the particles within the fluid resin while maintaining a pearl-like dispersion of each particle until the resin has set.

Abstract: Two types of synthetic resin are used with fibers (2) made from a wide range of bamboo canes from undried to dried. An appropriate amount of special thread (4) comprising a core thread (5) having a high melting point and a core-thread covering skin (6) having a low melting point are added to the fibers and kneaded together. When molding the kneaded material, it is heated to the temperature at which the skin starts to melt and pressed. Then the skin works as a binder that binds the fibers and the core thread. The core thread supplements the strength and the flexibility of the bamboo fiber board.

Abstract: A method for forming large-dimension ceramic tiles includes at least one first pressing operation for obtaining an incompletely compacted and consistent blank, and at least one second pressing operation for completing the compacting of the blank following an optional surface decoration, the at least one second pressing operation being effected without any lateral retention action on the blank.

Abstract: A method for producing self-supporting activated carbon structures is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of mixing a granular activated carbon, a binder material, a carbonization agent, and a liquid to produce a semi-plastic mixture; compacting the mixture using compacting pressures of or greater than about 100 pounds per square inch to form a three-dimensional structure; and heating the structure to an elevated temperature of or greater than about 300° C. to produce a self-supporting activated carbon structure. The granular activated carbon is of any particle size between approximately 4 and 325 mesh U.S. Sieve Series, and the binder is a ground cereal grain, cereal rain flour or a tuber flour. The resultant structure may then be cooled to near-ambient temperatures under an essentially inert atmosphere. Such structures can exhibit good mechanical strengths, adsorption capacities nearly equivalent to those of the activated carbon used in their preparation, and appreciable electrical conductivity.

Abstract: A PTFE seal and method of fabrication therefor includes preparing a mixture of PTFE resin powder and a susceptor material which is then compacted and sintered by exciting the susceptor material with microwave energy. Preferably, the compaction and sintering of the mixture is carried out in a continuous process and a vacuum is drawn on the mixture in the heating zone to extract any air from the mixture. The sintered mixture is advanced, preferably continuously, to a cutting zone where PTFE wafers are cut from the sintered mixture, preferably while the mixture is still warm.

Abstract: A process of compression moulding an article from a polymer powder comprising; a) applying a polymer powder to a mould; b) compacting the polymer powder by the application of a pressure P; c) raising the temperature of the surface of the mould to a value above the melting temperature of the polymer powder; and d) maintaining a temperature TM at the surface of the mould for a period of time tM and then cooling to a temperature below the crystallisation temperature of the polymer; where TM and tM are controlled so as to provide a moulded article comprising a polymer of predetermined maximum reptated molecular weight. The compression moulded articles produced by this process are useful as orthopaedic prostheses, such as components of knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, finger or toe joint replacements.

Abstract: The rotary tablet press comprises a housing, in which a compression unit (14) is detachably mounted. The compression unit (14) comprises a die table (15) with punches (17, 18), a feeding device for the supply of material to be compressed into the dies (16), and a tablet discharge device for removal of compressed material in the form of tablets. The compression unit (14) encloses each die opening and its corresponding first punch end (21, 22) in a chamber, the feeding device and the tablet discharge device are enclosed, the feeding device communicates with an inlet for detachable connection with an external supply channel, and the tablet discharge device communicates with an outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a wire or cord for welding floor coverings, such as linoleum or artificial fiber floor covering. The wire or cord forms a fixed joint via thermal processes between separation edges of adjacent sections of floor coverings provided with colors and patterns such that minimal difference is apparent between the floor covering and the cord or wire. A mixture of colored granules is subjected to a process of mixing, heating, and cooling adapted to form solid sheets that are cut to form the cord or wire.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a separator for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which the specific resistance is small, and the coefficient of thermal conductivity and the gas shielding property are high and have high strength. The sintering material comprises a phenol resin coated to the surface of a powder of carbon, and the plate is a metallic plate having plating on both surfaces. After the metallic plate is arranged in a mold provided with grooves, the sintering material is filled to both sides of the metallic plate, and then they are heated and sintered. The separator for a fuel cell becomes homogeneous, and, as a result, the gas shielding property rises with high strength, because phenol resin has been uniformly distributed in the sintering material. Moreover, because oxides are not generated on the surfaces of the separator by sintering, the specific resistance will be relatively small.

Abstract: A method of making heat engine components, such as rocket nozzle throats, includes forming a body having at least one surface, wherein the body is made of a refractory metal, and compressing a ceramic powder between a die and the at least one surface of the body, with sufficient heat and pressure to densify and thus form a solid ceramic coating on the at least one surface of the body. Nozzle throats made according to the invention have bodies made of refractory metals, such as tantalum, and ceramic coatings on the inner surfaces of the annular bodies, wherein the ceramic coatings are made of ceramic materials such as tantalum carbide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible graphite sheet having increased isotropic properties. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible graphite sheet formed from particles of expanded natural graphite formed from graphite flake sized no more than about 30% by weight +80 mesh prior to expansion. The resulting sheet of flexible graphite exhibits improved conductive and fluid sealing properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a board product with fiber scrap materials, including the steps of adding a binder powder to the fiber scrap materials, processing the scrap fiber into pieces and mixing the fiber scrap materials with the binder powder, distributing the fiber and binder combination across the width of a forming conveyor, and melting the combination to fix the fiber with the binder.

Abstract: The manufacture of porous molded bodies by sintering of a mixture of powderous thermoplastic polymers and a liquid is described, the boiling point of the latter being at least equal to or higher than the sintering temperature. Sintering takes places in a mould, the process may be performed continuously and is suitable for the manufacture of porous molded bodies such as pipes, panels and the like which can be used as filter, gas distribution, air distribution, coalescing elements, as suction elements for oil, as carriers of active substances etc.

Abstract: According to a molding method for a conductive plate of this invention, a substrate having through holes each corresponding to each protruded portion is employed and the substrate is sandwiched between both dies. Then raw powder is filled into each housing portion provided opposing each through hole in the substrate provided in each of both dies, through the through hole in order to form each protruded portion. Then the protruded portion is formed integrally with the substrate by heating the raw powder under pressure.

Abstract: An adsorbent block that has a high adsorption efficiency and can be produced at a low cost is provided. A paste comprising water having mainly active carbon powder dispersed therein is prepared, and a molded block is formed with the paste. Water is removed from the molded block to bind mainly the active carbon powder, so as to obtain an adsorbent block formed to have cells. The paste contains an agar component that is capable of shrinking the molded block and of increasing the surface area of the cell by disappearance.