Abstract: The invention relates to a filament comprising a core material (CM) comprising a fibrous filler (FF) and a thermoplastic polymer (TP1), and the core material (CM) is coated with a layer of shell material (SM) comprising a thermoplastic polymer (TP2). Further, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of said filament, as well as to three-dimensional objects and a process for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for customizing dental care. In one aspect, a dental care device is customized for a particular user, including: (1) a support plate having: (a) a first portion configured to be inserted into a mouth; and (b) an attachment mechanism configured to attach the dental care device to a drive assembly; and (2) an elastomer (elastic polymer) portion enclosing the first portion of the plate, the elastomer portion including a plurality of cleaning tips and shaped in accordance with dental details of the particular user.

Abstract: A method for preparing keratin-based composites includes mixing polysaccharide nanoparticles and a keratin solution to form a nanoparticle-keratin solution; and solvent casting the nanoparticle-keratin solution to form the keratin-based composites.

Abstract: A system includes a mandrel having an exterior surface configured to receive composite material, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, an end support coupled to the first end of the mandrel such that the mandrel is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and an intermediate support configured to support the mandrel between the first end and the second end such that at least a portion of the exterior surface is exposed while the mandrel is supported by the intermediate support, a vertical distance between the intermediate support and the axis of rotation defining a support distance, and the intermediate support being adjustable between a first position having a first support distance and a second position having a second support distance greater than the first support distance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a system for the production of at least one polymeric yarn comprising means for mixing a polymer (1) with a first solvent yielding a mixture; means for homogenizing the mixture; means for rendering the mixture inert (21, 22, 23); means for dipping the mixture into a quenching bath (30), wherein an air gap is maintained before the mixture reaches the quenching bath (30) liquid surface forming at least one polymeric yarn; means for drawing (41) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; means for washing (5) the at least one polymeric yarn with a second solvent that is more volatile than the first solvent; means for heating the at least one polymeric yarn (6); means for drawing at room temperature (7) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; and means for heat drawing (8) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once.

Abstract: A wood preforming device that manufactures a crash pad for a vehicle including a real wood sheet is provided. The wood preforming device includes a lower press mold including a debossed portion disposed on a portion of the lower press mold on which a product is to be formed, and a support portion supporting an upper press mold when the lower press mold and the upper press mold are compressed. The support portion has a fixing protrusion fixing the real wood sheet, the upper press mold has an embossed portion corresponding to the debossed portion of the lower press mold. A movable core provided on the debossed portion of the lower press mold guiding the real wood sheet by moving upward from the debossed portion when the upper press mold moves downward, and a steam module spray steam with a preset capacity to an edge portion of the debossed portion.

Abstract: A system including mold pieces coupled together with breakaway bolts or other fasteners for facilitating the fabrication of composite parts for, e.g., aerospace vehicles. First and second mold pieces are coupled together to form a mold within which the composite part is fabricated from a composite material. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the mold pieces is higher than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite part. One or more breakaway fasteners couple together the mold pieces while the mold pieces and the composite material are heated, and then purposefully break and thereby decouple the mold pieces and release the composite part when the mold pieces are cooled. The fasteners may be constructed from polytetrafluoroethylene, may include a structural weakness to ensure breakage, may break into two or more pieces when under a tension or a sheering force, or may include threads that sheer when under a tension force.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a system for the production of at least one polymeric yarn comprising means for mixing a polymer (1) with a first solvent yielding a mixture; means for homogenizing the mixture; means for rendering the mixture inert (21, 22, 23); means for dipping the mixture into a quenching bath (30), wherein an air gap is maintained before the mixture reaches the quenching bath (30) liquid surface forming at least one polymeric yarn; means for drawing (41) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; means for washing (5) the at least one polymeric yarn with a second solvent that is more volatile than the first solvent; means for heating the at least one polymeric yarn (6); means for drawing at room temperature (7) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; and means for heat drawing (8) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once.

Abstract: A control unit of a laser processing apparatus includes: a reference image storage section that images streets before formation of modified layers by an imaging unit and stores the captured image as a reference image; a calculation section that compares the reference image stored in the reference image storage section with an image of a wafer held by a chuck table that is captured by the imaging unit, and calculates the degree of agreement of the two images; and a decision section that decides whether the wafer is an unprocessed wafer not formed with the modified layers in the case where the degree of agreement calculated by the calculation section is more than a first predetermined value, and decides whether the wafer is a processed wafer formed with the modified layers in the case where the degree of agreement is equal to or less than a second predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a waterproof component that is an insert molded body formed from a thermoplastic resin composition and a metal component, wherein the thermoplastic resin composition contains a thermoplastic resin (A) and an inorganic fibrous reinforcement (B); the content of the inorganic fibrous reinforcement (B) is 8 to 130 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic resin (A); and the inorganic fibrous reinforcement (B) has an average fiber diameter of 10 ?m or less and an average fiber length of 300 ?m or less.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a system for the production of at least one polymeric yarn comprising means for mixing a polymer (1) with a first solvent yielding a mixture; means for homogenizing the mixture; means for rendering the mixture inert (21, 22, 23); means for dipping the mixture into a quenching bath (30), wherein an air gap is maintained before the mixture reaches the quenching bath (30) liquid surface forming at least one polymeric yarn; means for drawing (41) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; means for washing (5) the at least one polymeric yarn with a second solvent that is more volatile than the first solvent; means for heating the at least one polymeric yarn (6); means for drawing at room temperature (7) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once; and means for heat drawing (8) the at least one polymeric yarn at least once.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a substrate apparatus (and methods of manufacturing the same) with one or more substrates having a substrate spacing for growing a cell mass. In particular embodiments, the disclosed substrate apparatus includes a substrate wound into a coiled configuration with an intra-coil spacing between coil layers. To provide the intra-coil spacing, certain implementations use a separator. For example, a separator is applied to a substrate surface, and the separator-substrate combination is wound together (e.g., around a spool). In turn, a locking element is attached to the substrate to maintain the coiled configuration. The separator is then removed via heat treatment, chemical treatment, or physical displacement—thereby leaving the intra-coil spacing between the coil layers. Alternatively, no separator is used to provide a substrate spacing. For example, in lieu of a separator, the locking element is actively applied to the substrate during the winding process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a model material ink set for use in an optical molding method by an inkjet system, wherein the ink set comprises a color ink and a clear ink containing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, as a model material ink, wherein the color ink contains, as the ethylenically unsaturated monomer, 30 to 75% of a (meth)acrylate and 10 to 50% of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer that is not a (meth)acrylate and that contains a nitrogen atom, based on a total amount of the color ink, the clear ink contains, as the ethylenically unsaturated monomer, 30 to 80% of a (meth)acrylate based on a total amount of the clear ink, provided that a content of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer that is not a (meth)acrylate and that contains a nitrogen atom is less than 10% based on the total amount of the clear ink.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating fiber-composite truss structures comprise a) individually molding multiple unit cells of a given size, and subsequently fusing them together in a repeating pattern, b) cross members are consolidated with longerons while maintaining continuity of fiber in the longerons, and c) compression-molded truss components are unioned to continuous fiber beams by means of mechanically interlocking joints.

Abstract: Breathable, thermoplastic films, laminates, and methods of making films having a basis weight less than or equal to 15 gsm and a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 500 grams H2O/24-hour/m2, wherein the film has a ratio of the MD load at break to the CD load at break of less than about 10, and at least one of a machine-direction notched Elmendorf tear strength of at least about 5 g or a machine-direction notched trapezoidal tear strength of at least about 15 g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process to make continuous strand polymer comprising the following steps: a) providing a monomer mixture comprising water, a monomer, a crosslinker and an initiator; b) transporting the monomer mixture of step a) into a confining means wherein the monomer mixture is confined in said confining means; c) initiating polymerization of the monomer mixture in the confining means to make a continuous strand polymer; and d) emitting the continuous strand polymer from the confining means wherein the continuous strand polymer has a defined cross-sectional profile comprising an initial cross sectional diameter of at least 0.1 mm. The present invention is further directed to a process of making a continuous strand superabsorbent polymer.

Abstract: A performance monitor determines a performance characteristic of a plurality of dispensers receiving fluid from a reservoir. Each of the plurality of dispensers has an actuator that, when actuated, causes the each of the dispensers to generate a droplet of the fluid. A driver generates a drive command to the actuator to adjust a physical attribute of the droplet based on the performance characteristic to satisfy a performance criteria.

Abstract: Systems for thermal forming an object are provided. In some embodiments, a system for thermal forming an object using a mold includes one or more processors, and memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform the following operations: receiving a mold identifier identifying the mold; determining mold process information for forming the object based on the mold identifier; inserting a material into a heating area, the material having a geometry selected based on the mold process information; heating the material using one or more independently controllable heat sources; and forming the object by disposing the heated material over or into at least a portion of the mold.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method to produce a wear resistant layer (1) and a method to produce a building panel (10) including a wear resistant layer (1). The wear resistant layer (1) includes a thermoplastic material. The wear resistant layer (1) is provided with portions (5, 6) having different gloss levels. The disclosure also relates to such a building panel (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of layer structures in the production of rotor blades for wind power plants, and to rotor blades for wind power plants.