Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention may be related to a system and method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) object and a support construction for the 3D object. The system may include a printing unit and a supply system for supplying a body material and a support material to the printing unit. The system may further include a controller be configured to: generate 3D cross sectional digital data comprising a set of horizontal slices, to manipulate the 3D digital data to create a set of shifted slices by performing vertical shifts between body regions and support regions of a same horizontal slice to create printing digital data and to control the printing unit to deposit, in layers, the body material and the support material based on the printing digital data, wherein in a single scan, droplets of the support material and droplets of the body material travel different distances.

Abstract: The invention provides novel polymer nanofiber or microfiber mats or membranes and methods for their preparation via an aqueous, one-step polyelectrolyte complexation and electrospinning of complex coacervates.

Abstract: A tow band (TB) for use in a cigarette filter is a tow band in which a plurality of filaments (F) made of cellulose acetate fibers are bundled together and crimped. In the tow band, a filament denier is not less than 6.0 and not more than 11.0, a total denier is not less than 5,000 and not more than 15,000, and a Cv value of the number of crimps of the tow band is not more than 4%.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing high strength synthetic fibers, and high strength synthetic fibers manufactured using the same. More particularly, the method involves a localized heating process by raising the temperature of a molten spinning fiber to a temperature higher than that of a pack body during a short period of time with no degradation through a heating zone located in the immediate vicinity of capillary in the spinning nozzle, so as to effectively control the molecular entanglement structure in the molten polymer without reducing the molecular weight and thus to enhance the drawability of the as-spun fibers, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the as-spun fibers, such as strength, elongation, etc., using the existing processes of melt spinning and drawing and thus enabling a mass production of a high-performance fiber at low cost.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrospinning composition comprising a catalyst and a functionalized polymer or copolymer bearing one or more epoxy ring. The mixture further comprises an anhydride, preferably phthalic anhydride as a cross-linking agent. Wherein a molar ratio of epoxy to anhydride in the electrospinning composition is within the range of 1:1 to 50:1. The present invention further discloses a preparation method of the electrospinning composition and an electrospun nano-/submicrostructures prepared using the method and composite material comprising the electrospun nano-/submicrostructures.

Abstract: The present invention includes biomimetic nerve conduits that can be used as nerve regeneration pathways. The present invention further provides methods of preparing and using biomimetic nerve conduits. The disclosed compositions and methods have a broad range of potential applications, for example replacing a missing or damaged section of a nerve pathway of a mammal.

Abstract: Described herein are three-dimensional (3D) printer systems and methods, which may provide for “continuous pull” 3D printing. An illustrative 3D printer includes: a resin container, a base plate, a light source arranged below the resin container and operable to cure resin in the resin container; and a control system operable to: (a) receive model data specifying a 3D structure; (b) determine 2D images corresponding to layers of the 3D object; and (c) generate control signals to operate the light source and the base plate to sequentially form the layers of the 3D object onto the base plate, wherein the base plate moves a formed portion of the 3D object upward after formation of each layer, and wherein at least a surface of a formed portion of the 3D object remains in contact with the resin in the resin container throughout the formation of the layers of the 3D object.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a dimensionally stable melt blown nonwoven fibrous web. The process includes forming a multiplicity of melt blown fibers by passing a molten stream including molecules of at least one thermoplastic semi-crystalline (co)polymer through at least one orifice of a melt-blowing die, subjecting at least a portion of the melt blown fibers to a controlled in-flight heat treatment operation at a temperature below a melting temperature of the at least one thermoplastic semi-crystalline (co)polymer immediately upon exiting from the at least one orifice, and collecting at least some of the melt blown fibers subjected to the controlled in-flight heat treatment operation on a collector to form a non-woven fibrous structure. The nonwoven fibrous structure exhibits a Shrinkage less than a Shrinkage measured on an identically-prepared structure including only fibers not subjected to the controlled in-flight heat treatment operation, and generally less than 15%.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensional object by extruding ink droplets from ink-jet heads includes forming an inner build region of the object. A colored region is formed outside of the inner build region so as to color the object. A support region is formed outside of the colored region so as to support the object while the object is being formed. An intermediate region is formed between the inner build region and the colored region. The intermediate region is formed in such a manner that affinity between the intermediate region and the inner build region and affinity between the intermediate region and the colored region are higher than affinity between the colored region and the support region.

Abstract: A method of forming the body portion of a three-dimensional object from a polymerizable liquid by the process of continuous liquid interface printing is described. The body portion has a plurality of contiguous segments, and the process includes advancing a carrier for the object away from a build surface while irradiating a build region between the carrier and build surface in a pattern of advancing and irradiating defined by an operating mode. In the present invention, the operating mode is changed at least once during the formation of the body portion for different contiguous segments of the body portion.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing method for a three-dimensional printer is provided. The three-dimensional printer includes a model printing head, a color printing head, and a platform. The model printing head prints a forming layer on an X-Y plane of the platform. The model printing head and the color printing head are arranged along an X-axis and co-constructed. The three-dimensional printing method includes: providing information of the forming layer and a coloring zone thereof; driving the model printing head by a processor to print the forming layer and at least one material barrier outside the forming layer; and after printing the forming layer and the material barrier, driving the color printing head by the processor to color the coloring zone along a Y-axis, such that the material barrier is located on a moving path of the model printing head during the coloring.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a filament for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system made from or containing a propylene ethylene copolymer having: ethylene derived units content ranging from about 3.0 wt % to about 12.0 wt %, based upon the weight of the propylene ethylene copolymer; MFR L (Melt Flow Rate according to ISO 1133, condition L, at 230° C. and 2.16 kg load) from about 4 to about 20 g/10 min; and xylene solubles measured at 25° C. from about 3 wt % to about 30 wt %, based upon the weight of the propylene ethylene copolymer. The disclosure further provides an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system made from or containing the filament as well as 3D printed articles prepared from the system.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for preparing nylon yarns. The method comprises the following steps: mixing, blending, spinning, cooling and then winding an organic copper complex, color masterbatches and PA6 slices into bobbins, wherein the organic copper complex is obtained after a coordinated ionic liquid reacts with copper powder oxidized by an oxidant, and the color masterbatches are obtained through blending granulation of the PA6 slices, germanium powder slurry and modified negative ion far-infrared powder. The method has the beneficial effect that the nylon yarns obtained by the preparation method are healthier and safer to the human body.

Abstract: A process for producing a man-made cellulosic molded body using a man-made cellulosic raw material, including the steps of forming a cellulose solution by dissolution of cellulosic raw material, the extrusion of the cellulose solution obtained to form a molded body, and coagulation and regeneration of the cellulose to obtain the man-made cellulosic molded body, wherein the man-made cellulosic raw material is mixed with a second cellulosic raw material prior to forming the cellulose solution.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensionally (3D) printed flexible support apparatus includes: producing arrays of V-spring elements using a 3D printing system, each array including a plurality of V-spring elements arranged in a predefined array shape, and each V-spring element having a predefined firmness or hysteresis characteristic; arranging the arrays of V-spring elements in at least one two-dimensional (2D) array grid using the 3D printing system, such that at least one V-spring element of each array is attached to a V-spring element of at least one adjacent array; and shaping the at least one array grid according to a predefined volume to form the support apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium. The disclosure delineates real time manipulation of three-dimensional printing to reduce deformation. The present disclosure further provides 3D object formed using the methods, apparatuses, and systems.

Abstract: Three-dimensional objects are formed by exposing a photo-curing liquid polymer to a radiation. The three-dimensional objects form by growth, due to the progressive curing of the photo-curing liquid polymer, in a space between a sheet transparent to the radiation and a supporting plate, that is, a portion already formed of the objects. During the growth process, the supporting plate progressively moves away from the transparent sheet. On the side of said transparent sheet facing towards the photo-curing liquid polymer, a membrane is arranged. The membrane is transparent to the radiation, and is covered by a layer of liquid lubricant that is released gradually by the membrane.

Abstract: Using 3D printing, a microwell is formed by providing a plurality of masks, each mask representing a cross-section of a layer of the concave structure. Progressive movement of a projection plane exposes a pre-polymer solution to polymerizing radiation modulated by the masks to define the layers of the microwell, where each layer is exposed for a non-equal exposure period as determined by a non-linear factor. In a preferred embodiment, a first portion of the masks are base layer masks, which are exposed for a longer period than subsequent exposure periods. Shapes of the microwells, which may include circular, square, annular, or other geometric shapes, and their depths, are selected to promote aggregation behavior in the target cells, which may include tumor cells and stem cells.

Abstract: A method of forming a dual cure three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing may be carried out by mixing a first precursor liquid and a second precursor liquid to produce a polymerizable liquid comprising a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component (e.g., a second reactive component) that is different from the first component (e.g., that does not contain a cationic photoinitiator, or is further solidified by a different physical mechanism, or further reacted, polymerized or chain extended by a different chemical reaction). In the foregoing: (i?) at least one reactant of the second solidifiable component is contained in the first precursor liquid, and (ii?) at least one reactant or catalyst of the second solidifiable component is contained in the second precursor liquid. Once mixed, the three-dimensional object may be formed from the resin by a dual cure additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: An artificial leather having a suede appearance and colors within the grey-black range and high color fastness comprising a microfibrous component and an elastomeric matrix; the microfibrous component consisting of polyester microfibers having a count of 0.01 to 0.50 dtex; the elastomeric matrix consisting of polyurethane consisting of soft and hard segments; the ratio between the elastomeric matrix and the microfibrous component ranging from 20/80 and 50/50 by mass; the microfibrous component containing carbon black pigment in a percentage of 0.05 to 2.00% by mass; the elastomeric matrix containing carbon black pigment in a percentage of 0 to 10% by weight; the carbon black always having an average dimension smaller than 0.4 microns. The average length of the tassel is between 200 and 500 microns. The soft segments consist of at least one polycarbonate diol selected from polyalkylene carbonate diols and at least one polyester diol.