Abstract: The present application relates to polyurethane polymers produced by polymerizing a reactant mixture comprising triglycerides of Physaria fendleri, one or more polyisocyanates, and one or more polyols, wherein the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri have a hydroxyl value ranging from 90 milligrams of potassium hydroxide per gram of the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri to 250 milligrams of potassium hydroxide per gram of the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri. The present application also relates to polyester polymers produced by polymerizing a reactant mixture comprising triglycerides of Euphorbia Lagascae, and one or more dicarboxylic acids. Also disclosed are the methods of formation of the polyurethane and polyester polymers, and their use as adhesives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to relates to a method of optimizing a plastic composition formed from a plurality of resin feedstocks. A plurality of resin feedstocks are provided. The plurality of resin feedstocks are blended to form the plastic composition. One or more properties of the plastic composition, including radiation absorption, radiation transmission, gas evolution, radiation fluorescence, or melting properties, are measured. The ratio of the plurality of resin feedstocks being blended into the plastic composition is adjusted, based on said measuring, to form an optimized plastic composition. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to relates to a method of optimizing a plastic composition formed from a plurality of resin feedstocks. A plurality of resin feedstocks are provided. The plurality of resin feedstocks are blended to form the plastic composition. One or more properties of the plastic composition, including radiation absorption, radiation transmission, gas evolution, radiation fluorescence, or melting properties, are measured. The ratio of the plurality of resin feedstocks being blended into the plastic composition is adjusted, based on said measuring, to form an optimized plastic composition. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to relates to a method of optimizing a plastic composition formed from a plurality of resin feedstocks. A plurality of resin feedstocks are provided. The plurality of resin feedstocks are blended to form the plastic composition. One or more properties of the plastic composition, including radiation absorption, radiation transmission, gas evolution, radiation fluorescence, or melting properties, are measured. The ratio of the plurality of resin feedstocks being blended into the plastic composition is adjusted, based on said measuring, to form an optimized plastic composition. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to relates to a method of optimizing a plastic composition formed from a plurality of resin feedstocks. A plurality of resin feedstocks are provided. The plurality of resin feedstocks are blended to form the plastic composition. One or more properties of the plastic composition, including radiation absorption, radiation transmission, gas evolution, radiation fluorescence, or melting properties, are measured. The ratio of the plurality of resin feedstocks being blended into the plastic composition is adjusted, based on said measuring, to form an optimized plastic composition. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining a percentage of recycled polyethylene terephthalate present in a test sample includes selecting a contaminant from a set of known contaminants. At least one predictor analyzes is identified from a group of predictor analyzes as being a statistically independent predictor analyzes of a presence of the selected contaminant. Predicting a percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate, identifying at least one set of best subsets of the statistically independent predictor analyzes of percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate and refining a percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate statistical model to a final predicted percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate model.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining a percentage of recycled polyethylene terephthalate present in a test sample includes selecting a contaminant from a set of known contaminants. At least one predictor analyses is identified from a group of predictor analyses as being a statistically independent predictor analyses of a presence of the selected contaminant. Predicting a percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate, identifying at least one set of best subsets of the statistically independent predictor analyses of percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate and refining a percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate statistical model to a final predicted percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate model.

Abstract: A system for predicting the amount of VOCs in an extruded product includes a container holding a gaseous sample, a detector in communication with the container for analyzing the gaseous sample, and a processor in communication with the detector and programmed to analyze the data from the detector and predict the amount of VOCs in an extruded product. A method of predicting an amount of extractable volatile organic compounds in an extruded product includes delivering a sample of gas from an intermediate stage in an extrusion process to a detector, analyzing the sample of gas using the detector to obtain data about the amount of VOCs in the sample of gas, delivering the data to a processor, comparing the data to control data to generate comparison data, and predicting the amount of extractable VOCs in the extruded product.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying a reference standard library for thermoplastic content includes preparing a plurality of samples of each one of a plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic, analyzing each of the plurality of samples of each one of the plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic with at least one of a group of analyses consisting of: a differential scanning calorimetry analysis; a physical thickness analysis; an ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis; an attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis; a mechanical analysis; or a plasma atomic emission spectroscopic analysis.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying a reference standard library for thermoplastic content includes preparing a plurality of samples of each one of a plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic, analyzing each of the plurality of samples of each one of the plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic with at least one of a group of analyses consisting of: a differential scanning calorimetry analysis; a physical thickness analysis; an ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis; an attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis; a mechanical analysis; or a plasma atomic emission spectroscopic analysis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate systems and methods for the separation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in solution. In certain embodiments, the CNTs are isolated by sonication and chemical modification of the CNTs using functionalization reactions, including thermo-initiated free radical polymerization and esterification. Beneficially, sonication facilitates mechanical separation of the CNTs, while the chemical modification of the CNTs results in more favorable interactions between the CNTs and their surrounding media which enables the separated CNTs to remain isolated. Embodiments of the isolated CNTs may also be employed into coating systems.