Abstract: Presented herein are materials, methods, and systems for the improved 3D printing improved 3D printing of materials that include polypropylene. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a composite comprising a polymer matrix and a plurality of fibers for improved 3D printing. For example, the polymer matrix may have a composition that includes a polymer blend of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) (e.g., high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)), impact modified polypropylene copolymer and/or polypropylene random copolymer with a plurality of fibers. In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers comprises cellulosic nanofibers (e.g., natural cellulosic nanofibers, e.g., cellulose nanofibrils). In some embodiments, filaments are prepared from the composites by melt compounding the polymer matrix (e.g., PP copolymers and/or PP/PE pellets) with a plurality of fibers and extruding the mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a foamed cellulosic fiber-thermoplastic composite article. The method includes the steps of providing a copolymer composition, combining the copolymer composition and cellulosic fibers, applying heat, mixing energy and pressure to form a foamable mixture, and forming the foamable article in a molding or extruding operation. The method is characterized in that at least 10% of the cellulosic fibers have been thermally modified prior to being combined with the copolymer composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composite material comprising a cellulosic material, high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and styrene maleic anhydride (SMA). The cellulosic material may be thermally modified prior to being incorporated into the composite material. The present invention is also directed to a composite product that comprises the composite material according to the invention.

Abstract: One or more hardware identity circuits (which may be reconfigurable) may be employed in a device or system in order to impose a tampering penalty, preferably without relying on battery-backed volatile memory to do so. The device or system may also include a cryptographic division and distribution (‘sharing’) of a secret internal to the device or system.

Abstract: Presented herein are materials, methods, and systems for the improved 3D printing improved 3D printing of materials that include polypropylene. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a composite comprising a polymer matrix and a plurality of fibers for improved 3D printing. For example, the polymer matrix may have a composition that includes a polymer blend of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) (e.g., high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)), impact modified polypropylene copolymer and/or polypropylene random copolymer with a plurality of fibers. In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers comprises cellulosic nanofibers (e.g., natural cellulosic nanofibers, e.g., cellulose nanofibrils). In some embodiments, filaments are prepared from the composites by melt compounding the polymer matrix (e.g., PP copolymers and/or PP/PE pellets) with a plurality of fibers and extruding the mixture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composite material comprising a cellulosic material, high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and styrene maleic anhydride (SMA). The cellulosic material may be thermally modified prior to being incorporated into the composite material. The present invention is also directed to a composite product that comprises the composite material according to the invention.

Abstract: A hardware-locked encrypted backup (HWLE-BU) that is locked to a single hardware device using the device's unique hardware identity, based on a Physically-Unclonable Function (PUF) or other suitable means providing a unique hardware identity. The HWLE-BU is bound to a specific hardware identity such that only the physical device that created the HWLE-BU can decrypt it, i.e., restoring HWLE-BU data requires utilizing the same physical hardware device in the decryption process.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, compositions comprising nanofibrils, at least one maleic-anhydride (MA) copolymer and at least one matrix polymer, and methods of making such compositions. The provided methods and compositions allow for the production of composites with unexpectedly superior properties including improved impact resistance, tensile modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and flexural modulus of elasticity as compared to previously known composites. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including the steps of providing cellulose nanofibrils, associating the cellulose nanofibrils with a maleic-anhydride (MA) copolymer to form a nanofibril-MA copolymer blend, preparing the nanofibril-MA copolymer blend for addition to a matrix polymer, and forming a composite by associating the nanofibril-MA copolymer blend with the matrix polymer, wherein the amount of cellulose nanofibrils in the composite is between 3% and 50% by weight of the composite.

Abstract: One or more hardware identity circuits (which may be reconfigurable) may be employed in a device or system in order to impose a tampering penalty, preferably without relying on battery-backed volatile memory to do so. The device or system may also include a cryptographic division and distribution (‘sharing’) of a secret internal to the device or system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a foamed cellulosic fiber-thermoplastic composite article. The method includes the steps of providing a copolymer composition, combining the copolymer composition and cellulosic fibers, applying heat, mixing energy and pressure to form a foamable mixture, and forming the foamable article in a molding or extruding operation. The method is characterized in that at least 10% of the cellulosic fibers have been thermally modified prior to being combined with the copolymer composition.

Abstract: A hardware-locked encrypted backup (HWLE-BU) that is locked to a single hardware device using the device's unique hardware identity, based on a Physically-Unclonable Function (PUF) or other suitable means providing a unique hardware identity. The HWLE-BU is bound to a specific hardware identity such that only the physical device that created the HWLE-BU can decrypt it, i.e., restoring HWLE-BU data requires utilizing the same physical hardware device in the decryption process.

Abstract: A system and device for verifying the integrity of a system from its subcomponents, the system comprising a plurality of subcomponents each having a physical state, the system and the device comprising a processor that is connected to each of the subcomponents, the processor configured to verify systemic integrity by performing verification on some or all specified subcomponents. The verification may be individual (1,1) or threshold (n,1), and may be interactive or non-interactive.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, compositions comprising nanofibrils, at least one maleic-anhydride (MA) copolymer and at least one matrix polymer, and methods of making such compositions. The provided methods and compositions allow for the production of composites with unexpectedly superior properties including improved impact resistance, tensile modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and flexural modulus of elasticity as compared to previously known composites. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including the steps of providing cellulose nanofibrils, associating the cellulose nanofibrils with a maleic-anhydride (MA) copolymer to form a nanofibril-MA copolymer blend, preparing the nanofibril-MA copolymer blend for addition to a matrix polymer, and forming a composite by associating the nanofibril-MA copolymer blend with the matrix polymer, wherein the amount of cellulose nanofibrils in the composite is between 3% and 50% by weight of the composite.

Abstract: A system and device for verifying the integrity of a system from its subcomponents, the system comprising a plurality of subcomponents each having a physical state, the system and the device comprising a processor that is connected to each of the subcomponents, the processor configured to verify systemic integrity by performing verification on some or all specified subcomponents. The verification may be individual (1,1) or threshold (n,1), and may be interactive or non-interactive.

Abstract: A system and device for verifying the integrity of a system from its components, the system comprising a plurality of components each having a physical state, the system and the device comprising a processor that is connected to each of the components, the processor configured to verify systemic integrity by performing verification on some or all specified components. The verification may be individual (1, 1) or threshold (n, 1), and may be interactive or non-interactive.

Abstract: A multi-mode Trusted Computing Platform (TCP) comprising a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device that includes a Type-1-compliant root of trust (ROT), a memory containing a Type-1 security boot image and at least one lower-security boot image, and a memory containing a Type-1-associated operating system (OS) image and at least one lower-security-associated OS image. The TCP is configured to execute a multi-stage boot process that, depending on the presence of one or more valid external inputs, selects and initiates either a Type-1 TCP computing mode or a lower-assurance computing mode.

Abstract: A method of producing dried cellulose nanofibrils includes atomizing an aqueous suspension of cellulose nanofibrils and introducing the atomized aqueous suspension into a drying chamber of a drying apparatus. The aqueous suspension is then dried, thereby forming substantially non-agglomerated dried cellulose nanofibrils.

Abstract: A method of making foamed articles that includes providing a copolymer composition, combining the copolymer composition and cellulosic fibers, applying heat, mixing energy and pressure to the copolymer composition and cellulosic fibers mixture to form a foamable mixture, and forming the foamed article by placing the foamable mixture in a molding or extruding operation. The copolymer composition includes a copolymer of 51% to 99.9% of primary monomers, 0.1% to 49% of anhydride containing monomers, and 0% to 25% of other monomers and 0% to 30% of elastomeric polymers. This is combined at 30% to 99.99% copolymer composition with 0.01% to 70% by cellulosic fibers such that the copolymer anhydride groups react with the cellulosic fiber hydroxyl groups to produce a blowing agent byproduct to form a foamable mixture. The foamed article has a density of not more than 1.3 g/cm3.

Abstract: A method of producing dried cellulose nanofibrils includes atomizing an aqueous suspension of cellulose nanofibrils and introducing the atomized aqueous suspension into a drying chamber of a drying apparatus. The aqueous suspension is then dried, thereby forming substantially non-agglomerated dried cellulose nanofibrils.

Abstract: A composite includes raw lignocellulosic materials dispersed in a thermoplastic polymeric matrix which includes a blend of different polymers. A composite includes raw lignocellulosic materials and a thermal stabilization agent dispersed in a thermoplastic polymeric matrix. A composite includes lignocellulosic nanoparticles dispersed in a thermoplastic polymeric matrix.