Abstract: Methods for microwave melting of fiber mixtures to form composite materials include placing the fiber mixture in a receptacle located in a microwave oven. The methods further include microwave heating the mixture, causing a heat activated compression mechanism to automatically increase compressive force on the mixture, thereby eliminating air and void volumes. The heat activated compression mechanism can include a shape memory alloy wire connecting first and second compression brackets, or one or more ceramic blocks configured to increase in volume and thereby increase compression on the mixture.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion system includes a machine for converting a stock material into a strip of relatively lower-density dunnage, a coiling mechanism for winding the strip into a coil, a taping mechanism for automatically securing a trailing end of the strip to the coil, and a coil ejecting mechanism for automatically removing the coil from the coiling mechanism. The taping mechanism includes a guide surface between an outlet of the machine and the coiling mechanism to guide the strip to the coiling mechanism and to guide tape for engagement with a trailing end of the strip and to secure the trailing end of the strip to the coil. The coil ejecting mechanism includes a lever arm that pivots to push the completed coil off the coiling mechanism.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for composite-to-metal hybrid bonded structures compromising the laser surface treatment on titanium alloys to promote adhesive bond performance. For example, a computer may be programmed to set a laser path corresponding to a predetermined geometric pattern. A laser may be coupled to the computer and apply a pulsed laser beam to a contact surface of the titanium alloy along the predefined geometric pattern. The laser may generate an open pore oxide layer on the contact surface of the substrate with a thickness of 100 and 500 nm. The open pore oxide layer may have a topography corresponding to the predefined geometric pattern. The topography may contain high degree of open pore structure and promote adhesive bond performance. Adhesive, primer or composite resin matrix may fully infiltrate into the open pore structures. Adhesive and composite laminate may co-cure to form composite-to-titanium hybrid bonded structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of molding a shell part of a wind turbine blade comprising the steps of providing a mold (64) comprising a mold cavity (66) with a root end (68) and an opposing tip end (70), arranging one or more preformed sheets (72a, 72b, 72c) in the mold cavity (66), wherein each preformed sheet comprises a mixture of fibre rovings (82) and a binding agent, wherein the fibre rovings are at least partially joined together by means of the binding agent, and injecting the one or more preformed sheets (72a, 72b, 72c) with a resin to mold the shell part. The present invention also relates to a shell part of a wind turbine blade obtainable by said method, to a preformed sheet for use in said method and to a method of manufacturing said preformed sheet.

Abstract: A structural member including a lightweight core, one or more skins, and a crosslinking nanolayer interposed therebetween that results in significant mechanical strength in the structure. The core is a polymer of reduced density by way of included voids, such as an open or closed cell foam, honeycomb, or corrugated structure. The core polymer has a lower density and may have a higher softening or melting temperature than the polymer skin materials. The core may be discontinuous at the interface with the skin such that only a small percentage of the core surface is actually in contact with the skin compared to the overall area of the interface. The skin may be a thermoplastic layer that attaches to the core material. The skin may be a composite material including non-thermoplastic reinforcements. The crosslinking nanolayer is covalently bonded to the surface of the core material and provides molecular compatibility with the skin material.

Abstract: A sheet manufacturing system includes a processing section configured to process a raw material including a fiber, a detection section configured to detect a state of the raw material, a determination section configured to determine, based on a detection result of the detection section and a preset criterion of a raw material state, whether the raw material is suitable for processing in the processing section, a supply section configured to supply, to the processing section, the raw material determined to be suitable for the processing by the determination section, a reception section configured to acquire operation information indicating an occurrence state of an operation hindrance in the processing section, and a setting section configured to set the criterion based on the operation information.

Abstract: A method for defibrating a fiber body includes: a supply step of supplying a liquid to a fiber body containing fibers; and a defibrating step of defibrating the fiber body to which the liquid is supplied, and in the supply step, the liquid is supplied to the fiber body so that a rate in tensile strength of the fiber body immediately before defibrated in the defibrating step to the fiber body before the liquid is supplied thereto is 60.0% or less.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a substrate with a cut thermal film comprises obtaining an input digital image of a design to be transferred to the substrate; storing the input image in memory; rendering design elements of the design as a single output image; based upon a bleed size value, a maximum number of negative areas, a maximum number of positive areas, and attribute values: resizing the image to include a border for bleed; filling transparent areas of the image with the substrate attribute values; creating a cutting path; creating a mask image; inverting the mask image; modifying the mask image to adjust fill areas around details, to limit negative areas to be less than the maximum number of negative areas, and to limit positive areas to be less than the maximum number of positive areas; creating cutting path data in memory as a vector path outlining the mask image.

Abstract: A control panel for an injection molding machine is equipped with a module, a mounting member that supports the module and has a width wider than that of the module in a lateral direction of the module, and a plurality of vibration absorbing devices that support the mounting member between the mounting member and an installation surface, and which elastically absorb vibrations transmitted from the installation surface to the module. The plurality of vibration absorbing devices are disposed symmetrically about a center of gravity line defined by a straight line lying parallel to a longitudinal direction of the module and which passes through the center of gravity of the module.

Abstract: A powder discharge unit for equipping and/or upgrading a device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a selective layer-by-layer solidification of building material in powder form includes a powder container for receiving building material in powder form and a filling chamber for filling in building material in powder form into the powder container. The powder discharge unit is configured to fluidise the building material in powder form in the powder container and the building material in powder form in the filling chamber independently of one another.

Abstract: A crane mat is disclosed having a plurality of panels of lumber positioned in alternating transverse directions with respect to one another, where the top and bottom panels are oriented parallel to the direction of vehicular traffic. The top and bottom panels may include a plurality of spaced apart grooves extending longitudinally from a first longitudinal end of the crane mat to a second longitudinal end of the crane mat for enhancing traction of a vehicle when traversing across the crane mat by transporting rain or moisture off the mat, or for receiving mud or other debris. The crane mat may include a plurality of edge protectors positioned on respective sides of the crane mat to protect the crane mat from handling damage. In various embodiments, the crane mat may be manufactured using either softwood, hardwood, or any combination of softwood and hardwood.

Abstract: The present invention aims to develop a technique for efficiently preparing deinked pulp from prints made with UV-curable inks. According to the processes for preparing deinked pulp of the present invention, high quality deinked pulp can be obtained by performing the steps of: disintegrating printed waste paper containing UV prints in water to give a waste paper slurry; and applying a mechanical process to the waste paper slurry using a rotary disintegrator.

Abstract: An example technique includes extruding, by a tow deposition device, on a tow-by-tow basis, respective impregnated tows of a plurality of respective impregnated tows to form a layer of material on a major surface of a substrate. Each respective impregnated tow includes at least one ceramic fiber and a curable resin coating the at least one ceramic fiber. The example technique includes curing the curable resin to form a cured composite component. An example system includes a tow deposition device, an energy source, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to control the tow deposition device to extrude, on a tow-by-tow basis, respective impregnated tows of a plurality of respective impregnated tows to form a layer of material, and is configured to control the energy source to cure the curable resin to form a cured composite component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold (200) for producing a foam cladding (120) made of plastic on a planar component (100) or for producing a foamed plastic part (120), comprising a mixing head (300) for producing liquid plastic from at least two components, at least one first cavity (240) for receiving the plastic in order to form the foam cladding (120) or to produce the foamed plastic part (120), a sprue channel (210) for connecting the mixing head (300) to the at least one first cavity (240), and a further cavity (220), which is formed at the transition of the sprue channel (210) to the first cavity (240) and widens the sprue channel (210).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a film having an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) value in the range of 0.1 to 200 cc/m2*24 h at 23° C., 50% relative humidity (RH), and an OTR value in the range of 0.1 to 2000 cc/m2*24 h at 38° C. at 85% RH, comprising at least 60% by weight nanocellulose based on the weight of the total amount of fibers in the film, wherein the method comprises the steps of, providing an aqueous suspension comprising said nanocellulose; forming a web from said aqueous suspension; calendering said web at a line load of at least 40 kN/m, and at a temperature of at least 60° C. wherein said film is formed and said web has an OTR value in the range of 50 to 10 000 cc/m2*24 h at 23° C., 50% RH before said calendering step, or more preferably in the range of 500 to 5000 cc/m2*24 h at 23° C., 50% RH before said calendering step.

Abstract: Recycled pulp that derives from a used sanitary article includes an antibacterial activity value of 2.0 or more and an acid. Recycled pulp that derives from a used sanitary article includes an antibacterial activity value of 2.0 or more and an ash content of 0.65% by weight or less, and further includes an acid. The acid is a citric acid. The recycled pulp further includes a cationic antibacterial agent. The cationic antibacterial agent is a quaternary ammonium salt. The cationic antibacterial agent is a benzalkonium chloride or a cetylpyridinium chloride. At least a portion of the cationic antibacterial agent is adsorbed on the recycled pulp.

Abstract: A method for producing a multilayer member having a first member containing a crystallizable thermoplastic resin, an adhesion layer, and a second member includes performing a dry treatment on a surface of the first member containing a crystallizable thermoplastic resin so as to satisfy conditions A and B, applying an adhesive to the surface of the first member to form an adhesive layer on the surface, and adhering the second member to the adhesive layer. (A) The ultimate temperature of the first member is lower than the peak temperature of endothermic peak obtained by DSC of the crystallizable thermoplastic resin. (B) The high temperature holding time of the first member is less than 3.0 seconds, which is when the first member is continuously held at a temperature not lower than a temperature at the starting point of the endothermic peak obtained by DSC of the crystallizable thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: A method of transferring a micro device and an array of micro devices are disclosed. A carrier substrate carrying a micro device connected to a bonding layer is heated to a temperature below a liquidus temperature of the bonding layer, and a transfer head is heated to a temperature above the liquidus temperature of the bonding layer. Upon contacting the micro device with the transfer head, the heat from the transfer head transfers into the bonding layer to at least partially melt the bonding layer. A voltage applied to the transfer head creates a grip force which picks up the micro device from the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire that is vulcanized using a bladder provided with a coating layer comprising a release agent, the noise absorber being fixed to the inner surface of the tread portion along the tire circumferential direction via the adhesive layer, and the amount of silicon in the release agent detected by X-ray fluorescence analysis is 0.1 wt. % to 10.0 wt. % at least in the fixation region for the noise absorber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for recycling composite material and a method for recycling composite material by using same, the apparatus including: a mixing tank in which pulverized products of fiber-reinforced waste plastic are dispersed and mixed in water together with a filler, thereby forming a composite material mixture; a fixing agent addition part for forming a recyclable material by supplying, to the composite material mixture, a fixing agent that aggregates the pulverized products of the fiber-reinforced waste plastic and the filler; and a filtering tank in which the recyclable material is supplied such that a recyclable composite sheet is formed.