Abstract: The within invention is directed at a composite material comprising a product of a combination of materials. The combination of materials comprises an organic filler comprised of cellulosic material, a thermoplastic polymer having a melt temperature of less than the char temperature of the organic filler and a coupling agent comprised of at least one fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms and at least one rosin acid having at least 16 carbon atoms. The within invention is further directed at a process for producing the composite material comprising the step of combining the organic filler, the thermoplastic polymer and the coupling agent at a temperature of greater than or equal to the melt temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and less than the char temperature of the organic filler.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a composite material comprising a product of a combination of materials. The combination of materials comprises an inorganic filler comprised of ceramic cenospheres, a thermoplastic polymer and a coupling agent comprised of at least one fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms and at least one rosin acid having at least 16 carbon atoms. The combination may further comprise an organic filler comprised of cellulosic material and wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a melt temperature of less than the char temperature of the organic filler. The invention is further directed at a process for producing the composite material comprising the step of combining the components at a temperature of greater than or equal to the melt temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. Where the components include the organic filler, the process temperature is less than the char temperature of the organic filler.

Abstract: A practice device for the game of Hockey consisting of a body having at least two support members. The body is secured to an ice surface, such that the two support members are immediately adjacent the ice surface. A resilient rebound member extends between the two support members, such that the rebound member springs back with a resilient force when struck by a hockey puck thereby increasing the resulting rebound of the hockey puck.

Abstract: The invention relates to biotechnology.It relates, in particular, to cultures of Klebsiella sp. microorganisms possessing the characteristics of the strain BEC 441 deposited under No. I-714 at the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Micro-organismes (National Collection of Microorganism Cultures) of the Institut Pasteur, as well as strains obtained from the strain BEC 441 by mutation, these strains being capable of producing polysaccharides rich in rhamnose by fermentation in a nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon and of nitrogen and inorganic substances.Application for the production of a mixture of monosaccharides having a high content of rhamnose.