Abstract: A polyurethane foam is produced by reacting a polyol-containing composition and an isocyanate composition. The polyol-containing composition includes a petrol-based polyol at greater than or equal to about 50 parts by weight percent and cellulose reinforcements. Additionally, a soy-based polyol is also included in various polyol-containing compositions.

Abstract: A closed loop recycling process of manufacturing a foam part includes dispersing a filler material recycled from an additive manufacturing (AM) process in at least one foam reactant and pouring or injecting the at least one foam reactant with the filler material into a mold and forming the foam part. The foam part has a foam matrix with between 2.5 wt. % and 30 wt. % of the filler material. The filler material can be a recycled powder from a selective laser sintering process that is not graded (i.e., sized) before being dispersed in the at least one foam reactant. For example, the recycled powder can be a recycled polyamide 12 (rPA12) powder with an average particle diameter of less than 100 micrometers. Also, the least one foam reactant can be a polyol reactant and an isocyanate reactant such that a polyurethane foam matrix with recycled rPA12 filler material is formed.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for controlling microbial contamination of scooters are disclosed. A method may include determining that a user interaction with a vehicle is complete, presenting a first indication that the vehicle is unavailable for use, activating a heating element of the vehicle, the heating element associated with a microbial reduction process, determining that a time period associated with the microbial reduction process has expired, deactivating, based on the expiration of the time period, the heating element of the vehicle, and presenting a second indication that the vehicle is available for use.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a composite material. In one example, the composite material includes a polymer base reinforced with a powder formed from pupunha fibers. The resulting composite material is provided as pellets for further processing.

Abstract: A composite part is manufactured by an additive process, which includes locating a layer of fibers, selectively depositing a matrix material in a predetermined pattern onto portions of the layer of fibers to form a matrix material layer, repeating these steps to generate a preform of the composite part, and applying heat and pressure to the preform to consolidate the layers of fiber and the layers of matrix material. During the depositing of the matrix material, voids are created within at least one layer of the matrix material by intentionally not depositing matrix material over predetermined areas of the layer of fibers, the predetermined areas configured to be within an outer boundary of the predetermined pattern of the matrix material.

Abstract: A polyurethane foam is produced by reacting a polyol-containing composition and an isocyanate composition. The polyol-containing composition includes a petrol-based polyol, an algae-based polyol, and a soy-based polyol.

Abstract: A polyurethane foam is produced by reacting a polyol-containing composition and an isocyanate composition. The polyol-containing composition includes a petrol-based polyol at greater than or equal to about 50 parts by weight percent and cellulose reinforcements. Additionally, a soy-based polyol is also included in various polyol-containing compositions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an injection molded part includes formulating recycled polyamide material from a waste polyamide powder with at least one crystallization agent and at least one lubricant agent, forming recycled polyamide pellets from the recycled polyamide material, and injection molding a part from the recycled polyamide pellets. The crystallization agent is a metal salt of an organic acid with a content in the recycled polyamide material, in weight percent, between 0.1% and 1.0%, and the lubricant agent is a metal stearate with a content between 100 ppm to 5000 ppm. The waste polyamide powder is waste polyamide powder from a selective laser sintering process, for example waste polyamide 12 powder. Also, the waste polyamide 12 powder is not graded before forming the recycled polyamide material.

Abstract: A closed loop recycling process of manufacturing a foam part includes dispersing a filler material recycled from an additive manufacturing (AM) process in at least one foam reactant and pouring or injecting the at least one foam reactant with the filler material into a mold and forming the foam part. The foam part has a foam matrix with between 2.5 wt. % and 30 wt. % of the filler material. The filler material can be a recycled powder from a selective laser sintering process that is not graded (i.e., sized) before being dispersed in the at least one foam reactant. For example, the recycled powder can be a recycled polyamide 12 (rPA12) powder with an average particle diameter of less than 100 micrometers. Also, the least one foam reactant can be a polyol reactant and an isocyanate reactant such that a polyurethane foam matrix with recycled rPA12 filler material is formed.

Abstract: A composite material is provided that includes a polymer matrix and fiber reinforcements within the polymer matrix, the fiber reinforcements including natural fibers having nanoparticles accumulated within a structure of the natural fibers. A method of forming the composite material is also provided that includes accumulating nanoparticles into the structure of the natural fibers to create accumulated natural fibers, drying the accumulated natural fibers, and mixing the accumulated natural fibers within the polymer matrix.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a composite material. In one example, the composite material includes a polymer base reinforced with a powder formed from pupunha fibers. The resulting composite material is provided as pellets for further processing.

Abstract: A composite material is provided that includes a polypropylene material, a rubber material, a heat stabilizer in an amount between 0.25 wt. % and 3.0 wt. %, a coupling agent in an amount between 1.0 wt. % and 5.0 wt. %, and reinforcements in an amount between 5.0 wt. % and 40 wt. %. The polypropylene material is a recycled polypropylene material in an amount between 50 wt. % and 85 wt. %, while the rubber material is a recycled tire rubber material in an amount between 2.0 wt. % and 30 wt. %. The reinforcements may include fibers of glass, carbon, and recycled carbon fibers. Other forms of the composite material further include a flow enhancer in an amount between 0.01 wt. % and 2.0 wt. %.

Abstract: A composite material is provided that includes a polymer matrix and fiber reinforcements within the polymer matrix, the fiber reinforcements including natural fibers having nanoparticles accumulated within a structure of the natural fibers. A method of forming the composite material is also provided that includes accumulating nanoparticles into the structure of the natural fibers to create accumulated natural fibers, drying the accumulated natural fibers, and mixing the accumulated natural fibers within the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A bio-based polyol-containing polymer foam material, which includes a bio-based polyol-containing polymer foam present in a bulk concentration of the bio-based polymer foam material of 99% by weight or greater; and a graphite material present in a bulk concentration of the bio-based polyol-containing polymer foam material of 1% by weight or less. The bio-based polyol-containing polymer foam material is especially suitable for automotive components having deadening and vibration management features.