Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in packages of loans. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to package syndicated and funded loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in packages of loans. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to package syndicated and funded loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in packages of loans. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to package syndicated and funded loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in commercial loans too large for an individual participating bank to undertake on its own. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to syndicate loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise. This technology also can be applied to syndicate other opportunities or to resell participations in syndicated loans that have closed and been funded.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in commercial loans too large for an individual participating bank to undertake on its own. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to syndicate loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise. This technology also can be applied to syndicate other opportunities or to resell participations in syndicated loans that have closed and been funded.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in commercial loans too large for an individual participating bank to undertake on its own. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to syndicate loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise. This technology also can be applied to syndicate other opportunities or to resell participations in syndicated loans that have closed and been funded.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in commercial loans too large for an individual participating bank to undertake on its own. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to syndicate loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise. This technology also can be applied to syndicate other opportunities or to resell participations in syndicated loans that have closed and been funded.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in commercial loans too large for an individual participating bank to undertake on its own. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to syndicate loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise. This technology also can be applied to syndicate other opportunities or to resell participations in syndicated loans that have closed and been funded.

Abstract: A method of forming a densified preform or composite part is disclosed that includes partially densifying a porous preform, forming channels in the partially densified preform that open to an exterior surface of the partially densified preform, infiltrating a densifying agent, such as pitch, into at least some of the channels of the partially densified preform, at least partially stabilizing the densifying agent, including heating at a first temperature, such that cracks form within the densifying agent, and exposing the preform to an oxidizing agent, and heating the at least partially stabilized preform at a second temperature to carbonize at least the stabilized densifying agent. A partially densified preform including a densifying agent disposed at least in such channels also is disclosed.

Abstract: A carbon fiber preform that includes a plurality of fibrous layers stacked together and a plurality of sacrificial fibers that bind the plurality of fibrous layers together, where at least one fibrous layer of the plurality of fibrous layers includes a plurality of carbon fibers or carbon fiber precursor fibers.

Abstract: A technique of heating a mixture of fibers that includes sacrificial fibers and carbon fiber precursor fibers to a temperature between about 170° C. and about 400° C., such that the sacrificial fibers are substantially removed and a plurality of channels remain in a preform precursor, and carbonizing the carbon fiber precursor fibers to form a porous carbon fiber preform. Also disclosed is a technique of heating a mixture of fibers that includes sacrificial fibers and carbon fibers to a temperature between about 170° C. and about 400° C., such that the sacrificial fibers are substantially removed and a plurality of channels remain, and infiltrating a densifying agent into at least the plurality of channels. Also disclosed is an article including a mixture of fibers that includes sacrificial fibers and carbon fiber precursor fibers or carbon fibers.

Abstract: A carbon fiber preform that includes a plurality of fibrous layers stacked together and a plurality of sacrificial fibers that bind the plurality of fibrous layers together, where at least one fibrous layer of the plurality of fibrous layers includes a plurality of carbon fibers or carbon fiber precursor fibers.

Abstract: A method of forming a densified preform or composite part is disclosed that includes partially densifying a porous preform, forming channels in the partially densified preform that open to an exterior surface of the partially densified preform, infiltrating a densifying agent, such as pitch, into at least some of the channels of the partially densified preform, at least partially stabilizing the densifying agent, including heating at a first temperature, such that cracks form within the densifying agent, and exposing the preform to an oxidizing agent, and heating the at least partially stabilized preform at a second temperature to carbonize at least the stabilized densifying agent. A partially densified preform including a densifying agent disposed at least in such channels also is disclosed.

Abstract: A technique of heating a mixture of fibers that includes sacrificial fibers and carbon fiber precursor fibers to a temperature between about 170° C. and about 400° C., such that the sacrificial fibers are substantially removed and a plurality of channels remain in a preform precursor, and carbonizing the carbon fiber precursor fibers to form a porous carbon fiber preform. Also disclosed is a technique of heating a mixture of fibers that includes sacrificial fibers and carbon fibers to a temperature between about 170° C. and about 400° C., such that the sacrificial fibers are substantially removed and a plurality of channels remain, and infiltrating a densifying agent into at least the plurality of channels. Also disclosed is an article including a mixture of fibers that includes sacrificial fibers and carbon fiber precursor fibers or carbon fibers.

Abstract: A pitch densification apparatus may be used to form a carbon-carbon composite material. The apparatus may be used to compress a carbon fiber material, and, thereafter, pitch densify the carbon fiber material. The compression and pitch densification of the carbon fiber material may be carried out within the same mold cavity of the pitch densification apparatus. In one example, an apparatus may comprise a mold defining a mold cavity that is configured to receive a material to be densified. The mold cavity is configured to be adjusted from a first volume to a second volume less than the first volume to compress the material in the mold cavity. The example apparatus may further comprise a gas source configured to apply a gas pressure in the mold cavity to force pitch into the material in the mold cavity to densify the material, and a vacuum source configured to create a vacuum pressure in the mold cavity at least prior to the application of the gas pressure.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to creation and operation of a marketplace among trusted small and medium sized banks for participation in commercial loans too large for an individual participating bank to undertake on its own. This technology can be applied to formation of other marketplaces in which trust matters and controlled dissemination of opportunity information, as in layers or rounds, proceeds manually. Aspects of the technology disclosed can be used by initiators and participants to syndicate loans once a marketplace is established, whether the market is established applying the technology disclosed or otherwise. This technology also can be applied to syndicate other opportunities or to resell participations in syndicated loans that have closed and been funded.

Abstract: A pitch densification apparatus may be used to form a carbon-carbon composite material. The apparatus may be used to compress a carbon fiber material, and, thereafter, pitch densify the carbon fiber material. The compression and pitch densification of the carbon fiber material may be carried out within the same mold cavity of the pitch densification apparatus. In one example, an apparatus may comprise a mold defining a mold cavity that is configured to receive a material to be densified. The mold cavity is configured to be adjusted from a first volume to a second volume less than the first volume to compress the material in the mold cavity. The example apparatus may further comprise a gas source configured to apply a gas pressure in the mold cavity to force pitch into the material in the mold cavity to densify the material, and a vacuum source configured to create a vacuum pressure in the mold cavity at least prior to the application of the gas pressure.

Abstract: In some examples, a method for densifying a material via pitch comprises inserting the material to be densified into a mold, wherein the mold is part of an apparatus. The apparatus may include a ram configured to apply a ram pressure sufficient to force a pitch into the mold to densify the material, a gas source configured to apply a gas pressure sufficient to force the pitch into the mold to densify the material, and a vacuum source operable to create a vacuum pressure in the mold at least prior to application of either the ram pressure or the gas pressure. The method may further comprise densifying the material in the mold via pitch using a selectable one of the ram, the gas source, the ram and the vacuum source, or the gas source and the vacuum source.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes defibrillating at least one carbon fiber to form a plurality of carbon fiber filaments, melting pitch to form molten pitch, and mixing the plurality of carbon fiber filaments and the molten pitch to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of carbon fiber filaments. In another example, a method includes mixing a plurality of carbon fiber filaments having a length between about 6.35 millimeters and about 50.8 millimeters in molten pitch to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of carbon fiber filaments within the molten pitch, wherein mixing the plurality of carbon fiber filaments does not substantially change an average length of the plurality of carbon fiber filaments.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes defibrillating at least one carbon fiber to form a plurality of carbon fiber filaments, melting pitch to form molten pitch, and mixing the plurality of carbon fiber filaments and the molten pitch to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of carbon fiber filaments. In another example, a method includes mixing a plurality of carbon fiber filaments having a length between about 6.35 millimeters and about 50.8 millimeters in molten pitch to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of carbon fiber filaments within the molten pitch, wherein mixing the plurality of carbon fiber filaments does not substantially change an average length of the plurality of carbon fiber filaments.