Abstract: The invention relates to a block copolymer derived from at least one ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide monomer containing 14C. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing such a block copolymer.

Abstract: A process for the layer-by-layer manufacture of a three-dimensional object by sintering of a powder based on PAEK(s) with electromagnetic radiation, wherein the powder includes at least one PAEK and at least one phosphate, said powder being, at least in part, a recycled powder. The recycled powder is obtainable by continuous or discontinuous heating, over a period of at least six hours, of a powder of the same composition at a constant or nonconstant temperature, strictly between the glass transition temperature, Tg, and the melting temperature, Tm, of the powder. Also, an article obtained by this process and to uses of phosphate(s) in compositions based on PAEK(s).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing polyamide from an amino ester of formula NH2—(CH2)n—COOR, in which R represents an alkyl group and n represents an integer ranging from 5 to 14, comprising: a first reaction step in the presence of water, at a first temperature; followed by a second reaction step at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to esters of at least one polyol and of a mixture of fatty acids comprising at least one C5-C12 saturated fatty acid and at least one C10-C12 unsaturated fatty acid.

Abstract: A signal processing system and method is disclosed for applying time-based effects to an N-channel audio input signal for reproduction on a set of loudspeakers having a predetermined configuration. A first M-channel audio signal is produced from the N-channel audio input signal. Each channel of the first M-channel audio signal is associated with a subset of the loudspeakers. A second M-channel audio signal is produced from the first M-channel audio signal according to an M×M matrix, each element aij in the M×M matrix including a delay term. A minimum value of the delay term in each element aij is determined according to a distance between at least two loudspeakers in at least one of the i and j subsets of loudspeakers and according to minimum delay value of a time-based delay effect applied to each channel of the second M-channel audio signal. A K-channel audio signal is then produced from the or each second M-channel audio signal.

Abstract: The method includes cooling and liquefying a feed gas stream, separating a stream obtained from the feed gas stream, and recovering a treated gas stream and a natural gas liquid stream. The method further includes compressing the treated gas stream in order to form a compressed treated gas stream, and fractionating the natural gas liquid stream into a plurality of hydrocarbon fractions (28, 30, 32, 33). The method additionally includes withdrawing from the compressed treated gas stream, of a recycle stream, and reintroducing the recycle stream without cooling into the feed gas stream, into the cooled feed gas stream, or into a stream obtained from the cooled feed gas stream upstream of an expander.

Abstract: An active learning framework is provided that employs a plurality of machine learning components that operate over iterations of a training phase followed by an active learning phase. In each iteration of the training phase, the machine learning components are trained from a pool of labeled observations. In the active learning phase, the machine learning components are configured to generate metrics used to control sampling of unlabeled observations for labeling such that newly labeled observations are added to a pool of labeled observations for the next iteration of the training phase. The machine learning components can include an inspection (or primary) learning component that generates a predicted label and uncertainty score for an unlabeled observation, and at least one additional component that generates a quality metric related to the unlabeled observation or the predicted label. The uncertainty score and quality metric(s) can be combined for efficient sampling of observations for labeling.

Abstract: Sealed and thermally insulating tank incorporated into a polyhedral bearing structure, the tank having a plurality of tank walls, a thermally insulating barrier and a sealed membrane, a first bearing wall and second bearing wall forming an edge corner, the thermally insulating barrier of a first tank wall having a row of edging blocks, a row of anchor strips anchored to the second bearing wall by a row of anchor rods, a first and second of edging blocks each having a groove formed in thickness of said edging block, a first and a second of said anchor rods being housed respectively in the groove of the first and second edging blocks, one anchor strip in the row of anchor strips is supported overlapping the first edging block and the second edging block, the anchor strip being coupled to the first anchor rod and to the second anchor rod.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene, including: providing a solvent, a Lewis acid, a first reactant and a second reactant, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are respectively terephthaloyl chloride and diphenyl ether, or reversely; mixing the first reactant in the solvent to make a starting mixture; and, adding the second reactant to the starting mixture; wherein the Lewis acid is mixed, at least partly, to the starting mixture before adding the second reactant to the starting mixture, and/or wherein the Lewis acid is mixed, at least partly, with the second reactant and added together to the starting mixture, and wherein the temperature of the starting mixture is greater than 5° C. during at least part of the step of adding the second reactant to the starting mixture; so as to obtain a product mixture comprising a 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex.

Abstract: The use of a sulfonated polyaryl ether ketone or of a sulfonated non-polymeric aryl ether ketone as a dispersant for a polyaryl ether ketone resin powder in an aqueous solution, and also to a corresponding composition, and to a process for preparing a semifinished product comprising a polyaryl ether ketone resin and reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loose wax powder obtained from renewable materials, in which the particles have a particle size such that: the D90v is less than 20 microns the SPAN calculated by the formula (D90-D10)/D50 is less than 1.8 the volume percentage of particles with a diameter of at least 30 microns is less than 5%. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing such a powder.

Abstract: An improved efficiency method and device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, and then, preferably, into electricity and/or refrigerating energy. A partially liquid stream fc0 of fluid FC is implemented; thermal energy is transferred to the stream fc0; the heated stream fc0 is sprayed to generate a fragmented stream fc1 of fluid FC. Simultaneously a partially liquid stream ft0 of fluid FT is implemented; thermal energy is transferred to the stream ft0 to generate a stream ft that may be in liquid form or a saturated liquid/vapor mixture; stream f1 is expanded in a chamber which also receives fragmented stream fc1 to form a two-phase mixed stream fc1/t whose kinetic energy is converted into mechanical energy which is optionally transformed into electrical energy or into refrigerating energy.

Abstract: A composition based on poly(arylene ether ketone) (PAEK) which is stable in the molten state, characterized in that it includes a phosphate salt or a mixture of phosphate salts, a process for the stabilization of a composition based on PAEK incorporating said phosphate salts and objects manufactured using the composition.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene, including: reacting terephthaloyl chloride with diphenyl ether in a reaction solvent and in the presence of a Lewis acid, so as to obtain a product mixture comprising a 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex; putting the product mixture in contact with a protic solvent, so as to obtain a first phase containing the Lewis acid and a second phase containing 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene; subjecting at least the second phase to a solid/liquid separation step by centrifugal filtration, so as to recover solid 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene.

Abstract: Provided is a composition suitable for a process of building a three-dimensional object layer-by-layer by electromagnetic radiation-generated sintering, including at least one poly(aryl-ether-ketone) (PAEK), where the composition has an aromatic ether content of from 0 and 0.4% by mass, based on the total mass of the composition, and an aluminium mass content of lower than 1000 ppm. The composition may be used in process for building an object comprising sintering the composition with electromagnetic radiation. The present invention also includes a three-dimensional object obtained by such a process. A process for preparing the composition is also provided.

Abstract: The invention is targeted mainly at a process for the preparation of a semifinished product comprising a PAEK-based resin and reinforcing fibers, comprising the stages of: a. preparation of a dispersion comprising a PAEK-based resin in the pulverulent form dispersed in an aqueous phase comprising a surfactant; b. bringing the reinforcing fibers into contact with said aqueous dispersion; c. drying the fibers impregnated with dispersion; and d. heating the impregnated fibers to a temperature sufficient for the melting of the resin, so as to form a semifinished product, characterized in that the surfactant is a thermally stable surfactant. It is furthermore targeted at the dispersion of use in said process. Finally, it is targeted at the semifinished products capable of being obtained and also at their use in the manufacture of composite materials.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a composition made from PAEK, said method including a step of incorporating a stabilizing agent against thermo-oxidation phenomena, said method being characterized in that said incorporated stabilizing agent is a phosphate salt, or a mixture of phosphate salts. The phosphate salt is incorporated into the composition based on PAEK by one of the following techniques: dry blending, compounding, wet impregnation or during the process for synthesizing the PAEK polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Poly(aryl-ether-ketone) (PAEK) composition, useful in a process for building a three-dimensional object layer by layer by electromagnetic radiation-generated sintering, said composition being characterized in that it has an aromatic ether content comprised between 0 and 0.4% by mass and an aluminium mass content lower than 1000 ppm, preferably lower than 600 ppm and more preferably lower than 500 ppm.

Abstract: An orthopedic device comprises a body having a monolithic structure and arranged to form a closed circumference in a secured configuration, the body having a predetermined shape in an unsecured configuration. The body is formed continuously without interruption from at least one polymeric material. A method for making the orthopedic device includes providing a schematic including a model representing a body part for which the orthopedic device is intended, providing at least one array of coordinates and indicia corresponding to the coordinates proximate to the model at a plurality of locations along the model, and providing a scale set corresponding to the coordinates. The dimensions obtained from measuring the body part may be used to form a custom-shaped orthopedic device.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), including the steps of: reacting 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoylbenzene) and/or diphenylether with at least one difunctional aromatic acyl chloride, in a reaction solvent and in presence of a Lewis acid, to obtain a product mixture including a PEKK-Lewis acid complex; contacting the obtained product mixture with a protic solvent, so as to form a dispersion that includes a liquid phase including Lewis acid and a second phase, e.g., a solid phase, including PEKK; and separating the second phase from the liquid phase by centrifugal filtration, so as to recover a crude PEKK and a effluent containing Lewis acid, wherein step (iii) includes a step of centrifugal filtration.