Abstract: A method aspect of the present invention for preparing a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments is provided. The method may comprise supplying thermoplastic filaments, and may comprise guiding the thermoplastic filaments alternatingly and sequentially into position to be cut, with respective filament guide components. The method may further comprise cutting each of the thermoplastic filaments into segments by a filament cutting component. Each of the segments may have a forward end and a trailing end. The method may yet further comprise guiding and aligning the forward end of one segment into contact with the trailing end of another segment. The method may also include heating and joining the forward end of the one segment to the trailing end of the other segment to form the continuous thermoplastic filament.

Abstract: A method for enrichment of a mixture of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in provided. The method may include providing GNPs. The method may further include introducing the GNPs into a separation column to separate the GNPs into fractions that may be based on lateral particle size range which may result in separated GNPs. The method may also include collecting the separated GNPs with desired sizes.

Abstract: A system for extraction of metal out from a liquid solution. The system may include a housing and a filter. The housing may have an inlet and an outlet. The filter may be carried by the housing, and the filter may include a sorption media that may comprise a graphene oxide material. The filter may be in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet of the housing. The liquid solution may comprise a liquid solution that contains at least one metal. The housing may be shaped as a cartridge. The inlet may be configured to be removably engaged in fluid communication with an external apparatus that may provide a source of the liquid solution.

Abstract: A device for fabricating a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments comprises first and second filament supply components for supplying first and second thermoplastic filaments and a filament cutting component for cutting each of the first and second thermoplastic filaments into segments. The device also includes first and second filament guide components for guiding the first and second thermoplastic filaments into position to be cut by the filament cutting component. The device further includes a filament segment joining section positioned after the filament cutting component to join the first and second thermoplastic filaments to form a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments. The first and second filament guide components are movable so as to alternatively and sequentially permit the first and second thermoplastic filaments to be cut by the filament cutting component.

Abstract: A method for enrichment of a mixture of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) may include providing GNP into a column. The method may also include passing the GNP through an electrostatic field in a drift column to separate thinner GNP from thicker GNP to increase the content of the thinner GNP. The method may further include coupling a feeder to the drift column to accept the GNP and providing electrical charge to the GNP by the drift column with a charging module. The method may still further include generating the electrostatic field with an electrostatic field generator in the drift column to increase the content of GNP with smaller thickness.

Abstract: A method for recovering heat energy from computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation. The method may include the steps of providing heat energy that may be generated by computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation, and utilizing the heat energy in an absorption cooling module to generate a cooling effect with a coolant fluid. The coolant fluid may comprise a fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture. The absorption cooling module may include an ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module, one or more heatsinks, a fluid pump, and a heat exchanger. The ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module may include a generator that may absorb heat energy adjacent to the generator. The one or more heatsinks may be positioned on the computer hardware. The fluid pump may be in fluid communication with the one or more heatsinks. The heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with the fluid pump and with the at least one heatsink.

Abstract: A method for preparing a vapor sensitive sacrificial support material. The method may include decomposing a polycondensed PEO polymer with heat in the presence of a graphene-like material to release PEO polymer radicals from the polycondensed PEO polymer, such that at least a portion of the PEO polymer radicals become trapped on at least a portion of a surface of the graphene-like material to form a coated graphene-like material, which may be defined as a structural reinforcement material. The method may further include forming the vapor sensitive water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymer. The vapor sensitive water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymer may include a polyethylene oxide polymer backbone. The vapor sensitive water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymer may further include one or more nanoscopic particulate processing aids.

Abstract: A method for recovering heat (i.e., thermal) energy produced by computer hardware in blockchain (e.g., cryptocurrency) mining operations and utilizing that recovered heat energy in cooling modules. Also, a system for recovering heat energy produced by computer hardware in blockchain (e.g., cryptocurrency) mining operations and utilizing that recovered heat energy in absorption cooling modules which are an ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module and/or an absorption immersion cooling module.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sacrificial support material for use in printing a three-dimensional (3D) article includes providing a water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite including a water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymer having a polyethylene oxide polymer backbone, and from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the polyethylene oxide polymer backbone of at least one polar vinyl monomer grafted to the polyethylene oxide polymer backbone. One or more nanoscopic particulate processing aids may be uniformly dispersed in the graft polymer in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite. The water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite may have a viscosity in the range of about 100 to about 10,000 Pa-sec. The method may also include forming the water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite into the 3D printable sacrificial support material.

Abstract: Electrically conductive thermoplastic polymer composites of particulate thermoplastic polyester polymers, electrically conductive components (carbon nanofibers, graphene nanoplatelets, and/or conductive metal nanoparticulates), processing aids such as plasticizers, thermal stabilizers, etc., as well as nanoscopic particulate fillers such as nanoscopic titanium dioxide, etc., the electrically conductive components being distributed substantially uniformly in the composite to form an electrically conductive network. Also, methods for preparing thermoplastic polymer composites, a system for collecting extruded filaments prepared from thermoplastic polymer composites as a coil of filament, as well as method for tempering articles formed from thermoplastic polymer composites to increase the degree of crystallinity of the thermoplastic polymers and thus their mechanical strength properties.

Abstract: A method for enrichment of a mixture of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) may include providing GNP into a column. The method may also include passing the GNP through an electrostatic field in a drift column to separate thinner GNP from thicker GNP to increase the content of the thinner GNP. The method may further include coupling a feeder to the drift column to accept the GNP and providing electrical charge to the GNP by the drift column with a charging module. The method may still further include generating the electrostatic field with an electrostatic field generator in the drift column to increase the content of GNP with smaller thickness.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sacrificial support material for use in printing a three-dimensional (3D) article includes providing a water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite including a water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymer having a polyethylene oxide polymer backbone, and from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the polyethylene oxide polymer backbone of at least one polar vinyl monomer grafted to the polyethylene oxide polymer backbone. One or more nanoscopic particulate processing aids may be uniformly dispersed in the graft polymer in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite. The water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite may have a viscosity in the range of about 100 to about 10,000 Pa-sec. The method may also include forming the water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composite into the 3D printable sacrificial support material.

Abstract: An air filtration device may include a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration media configured to filter particulates of at least 0.3 microns in diameter. The HEPA filtration media may include graphene oxide (GO) as an antibacterial and antiviral material configured to inactivate trapped micro-organisms. The HEPA filtration media may be a mat of randomly arranged fibers coated with GO or a mat of randomly arranged GO fibers. The device may be shaped and configured for use in an air purification system or for use in a protective face mask.

Abstract: A method and system of separating graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) from initial graphite raw material is disclosed. The raw material is exfoliated to create a percentage of separated GNPs in a resulting bulk mixture. Agglomerates between the separated graphene nanoplatelets are broken. The mixture is separated into fractions having nanoparticles of different GNP content and size distribution. Each different range of nanoparticles is separated into GNPs and graphite nanopowder via a medium flow process or via electrostatic separation or both.

Abstract: Water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composites of water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymers, and nanoscopic particulate processing aids such nanoscopic titanium dioxide powders, or water-soluble polyethylene oxide graft polymers, structural reinforcement materials such as carbon or glass fibers, and plasticizers. These water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composites may be useful in preparing, for example, three-dimensional (3D) sacrificial supports, vapor sensors, as well as other three-dimensional (3D) articles, objects, or parts.

Abstract: Electrochemical devices, such as batteries, supercapacitors, etc., which may be prepared from nanoscopic electrically conductive carbon materials, and optionally electrochemically active materials. Also, methods for preparing such electrochemical devices, including components, elements, etc., of such devices by using three-dimensional (3D) printing, fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), etc., techniques.

Abstract: A device for fabricating a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments comprises first and second filament supply components for supplying first and second thermoplastic filaments and a filament cutting component for cutting each of the first and second thermoplastic filaments into segments. The device also includes first and second filament guide components for guiding the first and second thermoplastic filaments into position to be cut by the filament cutting component. The device further includes a filament segment joining section positioned after the filament cutting component to join the first and second thermoplastic filaments to form a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments. The first and second filament guide components are movable so as to alternatively and sequentially permit the first and second thermoplastic filaments to be cut by the filament cutting component.

Abstract: A thermoplastic filament adapted for use in a fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer which has a plurality of segments wherein each pair of adjacent segments is compositionally different and is arranged in a specific order. Also, a method for printing a three-dimensional (3D) article by printing such a filament in a fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer, wherein the fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer carries out a pattern of printing synchronized with the order of the segments in such a filament. Further, a method and device for fabricating such thermoplastic filaments.

Abstract: Electrically conductive thermoplastic polymer composites of particulate thermoplastic polyester polymers, electrically conductive components (carbon nanofibers, graphene nanoplatelets, and/or conductive metal nanoparticulates), processing aids such as plasticizers, thermal stabilizers, etc., as well as nanoscopic particulate fillers such as nanoscopic titanium dioxide, etc., the electrically conductive components being distributed substantially uniformly in the composite to form an electrically conductive network. Also, methods for preparing thermoplastic polymer composites, a system for collecting extruded filaments prepared from thermoplastic polymer composites as a coil of filament, as well as method for tempering articles formed from thermoplastic polymer composites to increase the degree of crystallinity of the thermoplastic polymers and thus their mechanical strength properties.

Abstract: Water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composites of water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymers, and nanoscopic particulate processing aids such nanoscopic titanium dioxide powders, or water-soluble polyethylene oxide graft polymers, structural reinforcement materials such as carbon or glass fibers, and plasticizers. These water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composites may be useful in preparing, for example, three-dimensional (3D) sacrificial supports, vapor sensors, as well as other three-dimensional (3D) articles, objects, or parts.