Abstract: Disclosed is a method for injection molding certain hydrodisintegratable materials which, when injection molded to form a desired object, acquire and maintain the desired shape. The method includes the steps of maintaining extrusion temperatures of the hydrodisintegratable material at or below about 250 degrees F. and maintaining the temperature of the mold at or below about 55 degrees F. In the presence of water, the molded object has the ability to rapidly disintegrate and disperse when subjected to standardized agitation testing.

Abstract: A process is described for the manufacture of tannin-bonded particle- and fiberboard wherein the binding of wood chips and fibers is accomplished by obtaining the formaldehyde necessary for the cross-linking of tannin by the hydrolytic decomposition of the binder present in old particle- or fiberboard. The formaldehyde obtained by hydrolytic decomposition is cross-linked with the tannin by high temperature and moisture during pressing.

Abstract: In a powder feed apparatus and a control method thereof, a powder molding press feeds powder from a hopper of the powder feed apparatus to a feeder slidably disposed on a die plate of the press proper. Powder is charged into a die in the die plate. The feeder is electronically controlled to a correct position on the die. Powder is fed from a powder feed apparatus into a feeder slidably disposed on a die plate of a press proper and a feeder drive motor is servo-controlled by an output obtained by comparing detection outputs from a position detector for detecting the vertical position of the die plate of the press proper and a position detector for detecting the position of the feeder in its sliding direction. As a result, it is possible to avoid the trouble of changing cams or inserting insert cams every time the shape of the compact being molded changes. It is also possible to easily make changes to the movement speed of the feeder in correspondence with changes to the compact.

Abstract: A bed of particulate solids including some hydrated materials can be converted by controlled irradiation with subinfrared electromagnetic radiation into a unitary porous solid that is mechanically strong enough for easy handling. When the particulate solids include typical acid to alkaline cleaner materials, a block or tablet especially suitable for automatic cleaning machinery, with a very fast dissolution rate in water, can readily be obtained.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing molded wooden products composed of a wooden body and a skin material. This method employs materials having long working life and enables simultaneous integral molding of the wooden body and the skin. The obtained molded wooden product has excellent characteristics.

Abstract: In foam molding for molding a foam-molded article from a foaming material, heat is applied while controlling the amount of foaming of the foaming material, control of the amount of foaming of the foaming material is halted, heating of the foaming material is removed and the foaming material is molded into a desired shape. The foaming material can be molded into a prescribed shape and at high speed even if the molded article is a complicated one.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of particles each comprising an excipient forming a matrix and at least one active ingredient uniformly distributed in the mass of said matrix, said process, which comprises the operations of extrusion and then lyophilization, being characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting of(1.) the preparation of a homogeneous mixture from(a) at least one active ingredient,(b) a physiologically acceptable hydrophilic excipient, and(c) waterto give a pasty mixture with a viscosity below 1 Pa.s, measured at room temperature (15.degree.-20.degree. C.);(2.) the extrusion of the resulting homogeneous mixture and the cutting of the extrudate to give moist particles;(3.) the freezing of the resulting particles as they fall under gravity through a stream of inert gas at a temperature below 0.degree. C.; and(4.) the freeze drying of said particles.

Abstract: An improved agricultural carrier and a method of making the carrier is disclosed. The granular carrier is adapted for carrying a low-melting chemical, specifically pesticides. An aromatic solvent is used to dissolve the low-melting chemical, before combining it with the carrier. The granular carrier unexpectedly exceeds its liquid holding capacity for the low-melting chemical.

Abstract: A method of forming a thermoactive binder composite product is performed by injecting a hot dry gas to activate the thermoactive binder. In the preferred embodiment, the hot dry gas is air. The method is particularly beneficial as applied to forming thermoplastic composite products and particularly thermoplastic/cellulose composites. Also part of the present invention is a two stage pressing process in which hot gas is injected during the first stage and the press charge is precompressed. The press charge is then placed in a second consolidation press where the hot gas is no longer injected and it is consolidated and cooled. Machinery for practicing the method includes a platen with a platen press which includes upper and lower platens with a plurality of hot air injection jets disposed on the surface of each platen. The platens are spaced apart and surrounded on the sides by an air-permeable containment shell structure to form a compression chamber to hold the base material to be pressed.

Abstract: A plurality of particles include a first material. A coating including a second material is formed on surfaces of the particles, until a selected ratio of the volume of the coating relative to the volume of the particles is achieved. A plurality of particles, including the coated particles, are consolidated in a manner such that the particles are caused to be joined to each other, to form an article. The ratio of the volume of the coating relative to the volume of the particles is selected in a manner such that the article is engineered to have a selected volume fraction representing the volume of the second material in the article relative to the volume of the first material in the article. The first material, the second material, and the volume fraction are selected in a manner such that the article is engineered to exhibit a selected intrinsic property.

Abstract: Methods of sulfonating a polymer are provided. One method of sulfonating a polymer includes exposing sulfur dioxide and oxygen to free radical producing energy and contacting the polymer with the product of preceding step. Desirably, the steps of exposing sulfur dioxide and oxygen to free radical producing energy and contacting the polymer with this product are performed in a reduced pressure environment. Another method of sulfonating a polymer includes contacting the polymer with sulfur dioxide and oxygen and exposing the contacted polymer to free radical producing energy. The polymer may be contacted with a mixture of sulfur dioxide and oxygen or the polymer may be separately contacted with sulfur dioxide and oxygen. When the polymer is separately contacted with sulfur dioxide and oxygen, the polymer may first be contacted with sulfur dioxide and then contacted with oxygen.

Abstract: An implantable bone prosthesis, such as an acetabular shell, includes a bone engaging region that is made from a cast metal or metal alloy and an articulation surface that is formed of a ceramic material or a metal that is permanently attached to the metal bone engaging region. The bone engaging region of the prosthesis preferably includes a dampening mechanism to absorb some of the loading forces communicated to the acetabular cavity. The bone prosthesis is formed by a casting process from casting molds that are prepared using a three dimensional printing technique.

Abstract: A method for forming thin green ceramic igniter shapes having a thickness characterized by a tolerance of no more than about +/-0.001 inch includes providing an apparatus having a porous mold having a well which defines a pair of opposing porous walls, and a plurality of vertical dividers positioned in the well in substantially parallel, substantially spaced relation where each divider contacting each opposing wall to define a plurality of compartments. A ceramic slip formed from a ceramic powder and a liquid carrier is poured into the compartments of the apparatus, dewatered through the opposing porous walls to form a plurality of green ceramic igniter shapes. The plurality of green ceramic igniter shapes are removed from the plurality of compartments.

Abstract: An improved granule product derived from pulp or paper sludge or other fibrous plant materials prepared by adjusting the moisture content of raw pulp or paper sludge, reducing the fiber size of the sludge, agitating the sludge to cause cellulosic fibers to interlock and bond to form granules, tumbling the granules in a rolling device and then drying the granules.

Abstract: A method for consolidating powdered material to near net shape and full density is provided. The method includes the steps of: mixing a particulate material with an organic or inorganic binder to form a mold material; shaping the mold material into a mold having a shape and including an external surface and an interior cavity and being of sufficient solidity to maintain its shape yet being compressible under pressure; filling the interior cavity with a powdered material to be consolidated; heating the mold with the powdered material therein to form a heated filled mold; applying pressure to the external surface of the mold sufficient to compress the mold material and transfer a pressurizing force to the powdered material within the mold cavity so as to consolidate the powder and form an article; and removing the article from the mold. In an alternative method, the mold material is made of a particulate material which is held in the shape of the mold by a vacuum.

Abstract: A process for reclaiming elastomeric material from elemental sulphur-cured elastomeric material having a vulcanized network without using hexamethylene tetramine, by treating the sulphur-cured elastomeric material having a vulcanized network with one or more rubber delinking accelerators selected from the group of zinc salts of thiocarbamates and zinc salts of dialkyl dithiophosphates, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole or derivatives thereof, thiurams, guanidines, 4,4'-dithiomorpholine and sulphenamides, and a zinc oxide activator in an amount sufficient to act as an activator for the accelerator(s) to delink the elastomeric material at a temperature below 70.degree. C., whereby the vulcanized network is opened up or delinked to provide a curable reclaimed elastomeric material capable of being vulcanized without adding rubber vulcanizing chemicals.

Abstract: A method for preparing optical quality, thin films of polymers and co-polymers, as well as blends of such polymers or co-polymers with flexible polymers and co-polymers which comprises(a) preparing a solution of the polymer or co-polymer or blend in a suitable solvent;(b) forming a film from the solution;(c) cooling the thus-formed film to a temperature below the freezing point of the solvent; and(d) dissolving the solvent out of said film at a temperature below the melting point of the solvent.This method can be employed to prepare films of high optical clarity for electro-optical device applications. Because of their thermal stability, mechanical strength and chemical resistance, films prepared according to this method can also be used as filters and separation membranes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel presentation of a product exhibiting the phenomenon of supercooling. More precisely, the subject of the invention is cristallized pearls of a product exhibiting strong supercooling. The invention also relates to the preparation of the said pearls. The characteristic feature of the process of the invention is to melt, if necessary, the product to be shaped; to break up the molten mass into droplets; to cool the droplets to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the product, so that these droplets harden by vitrification; to maintain the pearls thus vitrified at a temperature below the glass transition temperature and to place them in contact with crystallization seeds; to crystallize the pearls by raising the temperature above the glass transition temperature and then to recover the crystallized pearls.

Abstract: Hoses are often reinforced with fabric to improve their performance characteristics, such as burst strength. For instance, radiator hose used in automotive applications is generally reinforced with continuous yarn. However, it is a labor-intensive process to manufacture such hoses which include fiber reinforcements. A substantial amount of material waste also generally occurs in the manufacture of such fiber-reinforced hose. By utilizing the technique of this invention, hose which has a high level of burst strength can be manufactured without including continuous yarn reinforcement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device for distributing electrical signals between electronic elements comprising a dielectric foamed thermoset polymer having a plurality of electrical circuits.