Abstract: A railroad tie composed of an immiscible polymer blend having a portion of the underside curved orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tie or curved both orthogonal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tie, forming a saddle shape, for purposes of reducing the center bounding problems encountered in prior art synthetic railroad ties.

Abstract: A flame or heat flux protective coating composition, which includes a dispersion of fiberglass, hollow glass spheres, or a combination of both in silicone. A flame or heat flux protective sheet, which includes hollow glass spheres dispersed in silicone in a sheet form or fiberglass and silicone in a sheet form, wherein the fiberglass is dispersed in the silicone or the fiberglass is a woven cloth coated with the silicone is also presented. Articles incorporating the flame or heat flux protective coating or sheet form and methods for coating an article with the flame or heat flux protective coating composition are also presented.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for making a plastic panel, combining: an extruder with a heated barrel having an inlet opening, a discharge outlet and at least one screw flight therebetween; a plurality of molding tools having top and bottom surfaces and sidewalls extending therebetween defining a cavity; a machine press with opposing top and bottom platens configured to receive a molding tool therebetween and apply compressive force to said top and bottom surfaces; and at least one heated vessel for receiving and storing a quantity of mixed melt, wherein the vessel has an inlet port to receive the mixed melt discharged from the barrel outlet of the extruder; a discharge port configured to deliver the mixed melt from the vessel to the cavity of the molding tool; and a metering device set to deliver the selected quantity of the mixed melt from the vessel through the discharge port.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and one or both of: (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, or (C) polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites having a web section disposed along a horizontal axis and at least one flange section disposed along a horizontal axis parallel thereto and integrally molded to engage the top or bottom surface of the web section, wherein said composite is formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, poly-styrene, or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and one or both of: (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, or (C) polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plastication unit for an injection molding machine, combining a heated plastication barrel with an entrance port and an exit port on opposing ends of the barrel; a hopper positioned to deliver ingredients to be compounded for injection molding to the entrance port of the barrel; and a helical plastication screw rotatably carried within the barrel and running the length of the barrel between the entrance and exit ports, which is operable to rotate and transmit the ingredients along the length of the barrel; wherein the plastication screw has at least one axial fluted extensional mixing element segment and the ingredients include at least one polymer for injection molding. Methods for injection molding with the plastication unit of the present invention and articles formed by the inventive methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A railroad tie composed of an immiscible polymer blend having a portion of the underside curved orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tie or curved both orthogonal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tie, forming a saddle shape, for purposes of reducing the center bounding problems encountered in prior art synthetic railroad ties.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites having a web section disposed along a horizontal axis and at least one flange section disposed along a horizontal axis parallel thereto and integrally molded to engage the top or bottom surface of the web section, wherein said composite is formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, poly-styrene, or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flame-retardant coating composition, which includes a cross-linked thermosetting polymer and a metal hydroxide. A precursor composition for use in preparing the flame retardant-coating is also presented, wherein the precursor composition includes a cross-linked thermosetting polymer varnish, a metal hydroxide, an alcohol, and water. A method for coating an article with a flame-retardant coating layer and articles incorporating the flame-retardant coating are also presented.

Abstract: A flame or heat flux protective coating composition, which includes a dispersion of fiberglass, hollow glass spheres, or a combination of both in silicone. A flame or heat flux protective sheet, which includes hollow glass spheres dispersed in silicone in a sheet form or fiberglass and silicone in a sheet form, wherein the fiberglass is dispersed in the silicone or the fiberglass is a woven cloth coated with the silicone is also presented. Articles incorporating the flame or heat flux protective coating or sheet form and methods for coating an article with the flame or heat flux protective coating composition are also presented.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites having a web section disposed along a horizontal axis and at least one flange section disposed along a horizontal axis parallel thereto and integrally molded to engage the top or bottom surface of the web section, wherein said composite is formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, poly-styrene, or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flame or heat flux protective coating composition, which includes a dispersion of fiberglass, hollow glass spheres, or a combination of both in silicone. A flame or heat flux protective sheet, which includes hollow glass spheres dispersed in silicone in a sheet form or fiberglass and silicone in a sheet form, wherein the fiberglass is dispersed in the silicone or the fiberglass is a woven cloth coated with the silicone is also presented. Articles incorporating the flame or heat flux protective coating or sheet form and methods for coating an article with the flame or heat flux protective coating composition are also presented.

Abstract: A flame-retardant coating composition, which includes a cross-linked thermosetting polymer and a metal hydroxide. A precursor composition for use in preparing the flame retardant-coating is also presented, wherein the precursor composition includes a cross-linked thermosetting polymer varnish, a metal hydroxide, an alcohol, and water. A method for coating an article with a flame-retardant coating layer and articles incorporating the flame-retardant coating are also presented.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites having a web section disposed along a horizontal axis and at least one flange section disposed along a horizontal axis parallel thereto and integrally molded to engage the top or bottom surface of the web section, wherein said composite is formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, poly-styrene, or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flame-retardant coating composition, which includes a cross-linked thermosetting polymer and a metal hydroxide. A precursor composition for use in preparing the flame retardant-coating is also presented, wherein the precursor composition includes a cross-linked thermosetting polymer varnish, a metal hydroxide, an alcohol, and water. A method for coating an article with a flame-retardant coating layer and articles incorporating the flame-retardant coating are also presented.

Abstract: Modular plastic structural composites having a web section disposed along a horizontal axis and at least one flange section disposed along a horizontal axis parallel thereto and integrally molded to engage the top or bottom surface of the web section, wherein said composite is formed from a mixture of (A) high density polyolefin and (B) a thermoplastic-coated fiber material, polystyrene, or a combination thereof. Composites molded in the form of I-Beams and bridges constructed therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plastic or polymer composite railroad tie, which includes at least one rail seat bordered on at least one side by a raised portion of the tie.

Abstract: A flame or heat flux protective coating composition, which includes a dispersion of fiberglass, hollow glass spheres, or a combination of both in silicone. A flame or heat flux protective sheet, which includes hollow glass spheres dispersed in silicone in a sheet form or fiberglass and silicone in a sheet form, wherein the fiberglass is dispersed in the silicone or the fiberglass is a woven cloth coated with the silicone is also presented. Articles incorporating the flame or heat flux protective coating or sheet form and methods for coating an article with the flame or heat flux protective coating composition are also presented.

Abstract: A flame-retardant coating composition, which includes a cross-linked thermosetting polymer and a metal hydroxide. A precursor composition for use in preparing the flame retardant-coating is also presented, wherein the precursor composition includes a cross-linked thermosetting polymer varnish, a metal hydroxide, an alcohol, and water. A method for coating an article with a flame-retardant coating layer and articles incorporating the flame-retardant coating are also presented.