Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a rigid object from a powder produced from brown macroalgae treated with weak acids. The powder presents a particle size of between 0.5 and 1.5 millimeters and a residual moisture content of less than or equal to 26%. The method includes a step of thermocompressing the powder into a mold, the powder being brought to a temperature of between 50 and 180° C. and subjected to a pressure of between 10000 and 100000 bar for 50 to 200 seconds. A method is also provided for preparing the powder.

Abstract: A punch for simultaneously pressing two or more different powder formulas has a punch body with a first region and second region. The first region is comprised of a first material and configured to apply a first predetermined pressure to a first powder formula when a ram force is placed on the punch body. The second region is at least partially comprised of a second material and is configured to apply a second predetermined pressure to a second powder formula when the ram force is placed on the punch body. The second material is less hard than the first material such that the second predetermined pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (13) for constructing a laminar body (5) from a plurality of superimposed layers of free-flowing material, in particular particulate material, an a build platform (6) within a working area (11). The layers are solidified in locally predetermined regions by the action of binders and are joined together so that at least one molded body (4) is formed by the solidified and joined regions of the layers. The device comprises a discharging device (1) movable back and forth over the working area (11) in at least one discharge direction and having at least one discharge opening (14) from which the free-flowing material can be discharged in individual superimposed layers during the movement of the discharging device (1).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fiber-containing element, said method comprising the steps of: providing fibers, at least some of which are first fibers, such as mineral fibers, polymer fibers, cellulose fibers, or other types of fibers, in an amount of from 3 to 98 wt % of the total weight of starting materials in the form of a collected web, providing a binder in an amount of from 1 to 30 wt % of the total weight of starting materials, subjecting the collected web of fibers to a disentanglement process, suspending the fibers in a primary air flow, mixing the binder with the fibers before, during or after the disentanglement process, providing a filler, such as a fire retardant, in an amount of 1 to 55 wt % of the total weight of starting materials, adding the filler at any suitable step of the method, such as before, during or after the disentanglement process, collecting the mixture of fibers, filler and binder and pressing and curing the mixture to provide a consolidated composite with a density of from 120

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for forming a layered mat of non-oriented particles in a particle board production process, comprising first rollers for size-fractionating a continuous stream of particles into a first and a second fraction; second rollers arranged lower than the first rollers, to receive the first fraction, the second rollers being capable of further size-fractionating said first fraction; and third rollers arranged lower than the second rollers, for receiving said second fraction, the third rollers being capable for further size-fractionating said second fraction; the apparatus further comprising a receiving surface, movable along a longitudinal dimension of the apparatus, and arranged to receive said fractionated first fraction and said fractionated second fraction from said second and third rollers, at different longitudinal positions; wherein the first rollers and the third rollers are pin-type rollers.

Abstract: Methods for preparing composite non-woven fibers-in-fibers, otherwise referred to as composite polymeric fibers having an island-in-sea morphology, are described. The composite polymeric fibers may be prepared by a method that includes melt-blowing a blend of a first polymer and an immiscible second polymer to form the composite polymer fibers. The first polymer forms a matrix that surrounds the second polymer. Typically, the second polymer forms nanofibers within the matrix of the first polymer. The composite polymeric fiber may be treated with a solvent that selectively dissolves the matrix of the composite polymeric fiber and that does not dissolve the nanofibers of the composite polymeric fiber, and the nanofibers then may be collected for further treatment or use.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes an electron accepting material and an electron donating material. One of the electron accepting or donating materials is configured and dimensioned as a first component of a bulk heterojunction with a predetermined array of first structures, each first structure is substantially equivalent in three dimensional shape, has a substantially equivalent cross-sectional dimension, and where each first structure of the array of first structures has a substantially equivalent orientation with respect to adjacent first structures of the predetermined array forming a substantially uniform array.

Abstract: Polymer pellets are formed using air to influence the separation of polymer from a polymer melt. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a polymer material is extruded through a nozzle to form a polymer melt extending from the nozzle. A non-uniform thickness is generated in the polymer melt using a gas or gasses to apply a drag force to the polymer melt. This drag force reduces a thickness of a portion of the polymer melt adjacent the nozzle, and the polymer melt is fractured into discrete droplets at the reduced thickness. The discrete droplets are then solidified to form pellets.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recycling broad goods material into a flaked feed material. The broad goods material includes reinforcement fibers and thermoplastic material. The recycling method includes applying heat and pressure to impregnate the reinforcement fibers at a filament level with the thermoplastic material to form an impregnated fiber material. The method also includes cooling the impregnated fiber material, and cutting the cooled impregnated fiber material into flakes to produce the flaked feed material.

Abstract: A method for processing feed material to produce dense and spheroidal products is described. The feed material is comprised of powder particles from the spray-drying technique or solution precursor droplets from ceramic or metallic materials. The feed material is processed using plasma generated from a microwave. The microwave plasma torch employed is capable of generating laminar flow during processing which allows for the production of spheroidal particles with a homogenous materials distribution. This results in products having improved thermal properties, improved corrosion and wear resistance and a higher tolerance to interface stresses.

Abstract: A spray-drying apparatus includes a drying chamber that has a first end, a second end, and at least one side wall extending between the first and second ends to define an interior of the drying chamber having a center axis. A nozzle can be positioned at the first end of the drying chamber and be configured to atomize liquid and spray the atomized liquid into the interior of the drying chamber at a maximum spray pattern angle relative to the center axis. A ratio of the length between the first end and second end to a maximum width between opposing internal surfaces of the interior of the drying chamber can be at least 5 to 1.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, inter alia, to a system that comprises a rapid prototyping device and a material cartridge. The rapid prototyping device comprises a chamber for building up the object. The cartridge comprises a body into which a channel extends. A support is adapted to be movably arranged within the channel. The cartridge is adapted to be removably placed in the rapid prototyping device, and the rapid prototyping device can move the support of the cartridge. In one embodiment, the system helps minimizing costs in the manufacturing of dental restorations by rapid prototyping techniques.

Abstract: Methods for producing construction material utilizing loose pieces of aggregate (30), enzyme producing bacteria, an amount of urea and an amount of calcium ions. A first solution is prepared which includes urease which is formed by enzyme producing bacteria. A second solution is prepared which includes urea and calcium ions. The first and second solutions are added to the loose aggregate (30). The calcium ions contribute to the formation of calcium carbonate wherein the calcium carbonate fills and bonds between at least some of the gaps between the loose pieces of aggregate forming a solid construction material (92).

Abstract: A process to manufacture a paper derived from minerals includes the steps of preparing a mineral preparation that includes 50% to 70% of total dry weight of rocks that have been crushed and ground into a powdery substance; combining the mineral preparation with a sodium silicate solution of total dry weight of 30% to 50%; and adding additives having a weight of 2% to 5% of a total dry weight. The powdery substance may have granules of about 0.05 mm to 0.08 mm in diameter and can be mixed with vitamin powder. The igneous rocks can be selected from the set of: dolostone, basalt, granite, gabbro, andesite, diorite, obsidian, pegmatite, peridotite, pumice, rylolite, and scoria. Sedimentary rocks can be selected from the set of: limestone, sandstone, conglomerate, shale, siltstone, brecca, gypsum, chert, travertine, flint, iron ore, rock salt, and oil shale.

Abstract: The invention relates to wetting agents for wetting working material for producing pressed material boards, comprising polyols, acylglycerides or acylglyceride derivatives, surfactants, and water.

Abstract: A particulate material production method is provided. The particulate material production method includes ejecting a particulate material composition liquid, which includes an organic solvent and a particulate material composition including at least a resin and dissolved or dispersed in the organic solvent, from at least one nozzle to form droplets of the particulate material composition liquid in a gas phase; and solidifying the droplets of the particulate material composition liquid to prepare particles of the particulate material composition. The droplet solidifying step includes contacting the droplets with a poor solvent for the particulate material composition.

Abstract: A control method for a target supply device includes melting a target material by heating the target material within a target generator using a heating unit, pushing out the target material from a nozzle hole in a nozzle by pressurizing the interior of the target generator using a pressure control unit, determining whether or not the size of an adhering area of the target material that forms when the target material is pushed out from the nozzle hole and adheres to a leading end of the nozzle has reached a set size that covers the entire nozzle hole, stopping the pressurization of the interior of the target generator by the pressure control unit when the size of the adhering area has reached the set size, and hardening the target material in the target generator and the adhering area by stopping the heating of the target material by the heating unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a moistening system (1) for presses (100) for compressing material cakes (200) mixed with binding agents, preferably continuously operating presses (100), in particular for producing composite panels, preferably engineered wood boards, comprising a first moistening agent application device. The first moistening agent application device (3) comprises a first application roll (7), which can be set from above against the material cake (200) conveyed by a conveyor unit (300) of the press, at least one first dosing roll (9), which can be set against the first application roll (7), and a first moistening agent bath (11). The at least one first dosing roll (9) is immersed in the first moistening agent bath (11) for taking up moistening agent and comprises at least one wiper roll (13), which can be set against each first dosing roll (9) and by means of which the amount of moistening agent taken up by each first dosing roll (9) can be adjusted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a pellet from powdered material with the method steps: during a pressing process, a tipping of the upper and/or lower force transmission bridge and/or the upper and/or lower die plate and/or a force causing this tipping is measured; depending on the determined measurement results, the upper drive units and/or the lower drive units are moved asynchronously in relation to each other during the pressing process such that the caused tipping is compensated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming a thin-layer moisture-resistant fiber composite material involve pressing a mixture of fibers and resin between a pair of heated dies at least one of which includes a working surface coated with a hard ormosil coating including a cross-linked organically-modified silica network. The use of such coatings may yield composite sheet materials having improved surface quality, sharper edges, and greater draw angles than previously possible. Some systems for making thin-layer fiber composite materials may utilize ormosil coatings on various working surfaces of equipment coming into contact with the fiber and resin mixture, such as surfaces of machinery for mixing or conveying the mixture to the dies.