Abstract: A synthetic jet driven cooling device includes at least one synthetic jet actuator to generate and project a series of fluid vortices. A manifold coupled to the synthetic jet actuator(s) receives the fluid vortices and generates a primary air stream. An air amplifier connected to the manifold by a connecting pipe receives the primary air stream. The air amplifier includes an air intake oriented perpendicular to the connecting pipe and an air outlet positioned opposite the air intake, with a venturi section positioned between the air intake and air outlet that has a diameter smaller than the air intake diameter. A low pressure region in a center of the venturi section entrains a surrounding air in through the air intake to generate a secondary air stream that combines with the primary air stream to generate a combined air flow that flows through the venturi and exits the air outlet.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided. The cooling system includes an enclosure. The enclosure is defined by walls among which at least one is movable. The enclosure further includes at least one aperture on at least one wall. The system further includes an amplification element that is coupled with at least one walls of the enclosure. Further, the cooling system includes an actuation unit mechanically coupled with the amplification element. The actuation unit includes at least one actuation signal triggered actuator configured to cause a displacement the amplification element. In the cooling system, the amplification element is configured to amplify the actuator caused displacement through to the at least one wall of the enclosure such that fluid enters and exits the enclosure from the at least one aperture.

Abstract: A synthetic jet driven cooling device includes at least one synthetic jet actuator to generate and project a series of fluid vortices. A manifold coupled to the synthetic jet actuator(s) receives the fluid vortices and generates a primary air stream. An air amplifier connected to the manifold by a connecting pipe receives the primary air stream. The air amplifier includes an air intake oriented perpendicular to the connecting pipe and an air outlet positioned opposite the air intake, with a venturi section positioned between the air intake and air outlet that has a diameter smaller than the air intake diameter. A low pressure region in a center of the venturi section entrains a surrounding air in through the air intake to generate a secondary air stream that combines with the primary air stream to generate a combined air flow that flows through the venturi and exits the air outlet.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided. The cooling system includes an enclosure. The enclosure is defined by walls among which at least one is movable. The enclosure further includes at least one aperture on at least one wall. The system further includes an amplification element that is coupled with at least one walls of the enclosure. Further, the cooling system includes an actuation unit mechanically coupled with the amplification element. The actuation unit includes at least one actuation signal triggered actuator configured to cause a displacement the amplification element. In the cooling system, the amplification element is configured to amplify the actuator caused displacement through to the at least one wall of the enclosure such that fluid enters and exits the enclosure from the at least one aperture.

Abstract: This disclosure details methods and techniques for inhibiting natural gas hydrate formation in gas conduits. In one embodiment, an article is provided which comprises (a) a gas conduit defining a gas flow channel; (b) an interior surface of the gas conduit; (c) a hydrate inhibiting coating on the interior surface, wherein the coating comprises: (i) component A, a one- or two-part room temperature vulcanizable polyorganosiloxane composition comprising a surface-treated filler, a condensation catalyst, and a crosslinking agent; and any reaction products thereof; and optionally (ii) component B, a hydrate release-enhancing proportion of at least one polyorganosiloxane comprising one or more silanol or alkoxy-silyl groups and comprising from about 10 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of at least one hydroxy-terminated or alkoxy-terminated polyoxyalkylenealkyl radical; and optionally (iii) any reaction products thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure details methods and techniques for inhibiting natural gas hydrate formation in gas conduits. In one embodiment, an article is provided which comprises (a) a gas conduit defining a gas flow channel; (b) an interior surface of the gas conduit; (c) a hydrate inhibiting coating on the interior surface, wherein the coating comprises: (i) component A, a one- or two-part room temperature vulcanizable polyorganosiloxane composition comprising a surface-treated filler, a condensation catalyst, and a crosslinking agent; and any reaction products thereof; and optionally (ii) component B, a hydrate release-enhancing proportion of at least one polyorganosiloxane comprising one or more silanol or alkoxy-silyl groups and comprising from about 10 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of at least one hydroxy-terminated or alkoxy-terminated polyoxyalkylenealkyl radical; and optionally (iii) any reaction products thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to various embodiments of a system and method for separating polymer from a solvent. In one embodiment a system for separating polymer from a solvent comprises an extrusion apparatus includes a hollow member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a feed port between the first end portion and the second end portion. The extrusion apparatus includes a back flash vent port disposed upstream of the feed port and a forward flash vent port disposed downstream of the feed port. The extrusion apparatus further includes a vent insert located at the forward flash vent port, a screw disposed inside the hollow member, and an internal superheating section disposed between the feed port and the downstream vent opening of the hollow member such that the length of the internal superheating section is greater than about four times the diameter, 4D, of the hollow member.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that efficiently compound high levels of inorganic filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer at a commercial rate into homogeneous filled and devolatilized silicone compositions. In the method, filled silicone compositions are compounded by compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a first compounding apparatus to produce a first dispersed composition and simultaneously compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a second compounding apparatus that shares a common extruder shaft with the first compounding apparatus to produce a second dispersed composition. The system comprises a first compounding apparatus and a sequential second compounding apparatus that shares a common shaft with the first compounding apparatus.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polyimide includes introducing a mixture of an oligomer and a solvent to an extruder, removing solvent via at least one extruder vent, and melt kneading the oligomer to form a polyimide. The polyimide has a low residual solvent content. The method is faster than solution polymerization of polyimides, and it avoids the stoichiometric inaccuracies associated with reactive extrusion processes that use monomers as starting materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to an extrusion method preparing polycarbonates from a solution of an oligomeric polycarbonate. A mixture of bis(methyl salicyl)carbonate (BMSC), BPA and a transesterification catalyst are first equilibrated at moderate temperatures to provide a solution of polycarbonate oligomer in methyl salicylate. The solution is then fed to a devolatilizing extruder, where the polymerization reaction is completed and the methyl salicylate solvent is removed. The solution comprising the oligomeric polycarbonate can also be pre-heated under pressure to a temperature above the boiling point of methyl salicylate and subsequently fed to a devolatilizing extruder equipped for rapid flashing off the solvent. The method provides polycarbonate with greater efficiency than the corresponding process in which unreacted monomers are fed to the extruder. Additionally, the method of the invention does not require the isolation of a precursor polycarbonate comprising ester-substituted phenoxy terminal groups.

Abstract: This invention relates to an extrusion method preparing polycarbonates from a solution of an oligomeric polycarbonate. A mixture of bis(methyl salicyl)carbonate (BMSC), BPA and a transesterification catalyst are first equilibrated at moderate temperatures to provide a solution of polycarbonate oligomer in methyl salicylate. The solution is then fed to a devolatilizing extruder, where the polymerization reaction is completed and the methyl salicylate solvent is removed. The solution comprising the oligomeric polycarbonate can also be pre-heated under pressure to a temperature above the boiling point of methyl salicylate and subsequently fed to a devolatilizing extruder equipped for rapid flashing off the solvent. The method provides polycarbonate with greater efficiency than the corresponding process in which unreacted monomers are fed to the extruder. Additionally, the method of the invention does not require the isolation of a precursor polycarbonate comprising ester-substituted phenoxy terminal groups.

Abstract: This invention relates to an extrusion method preparing polycarbonates from a solution of an oligomeric polycarbonate. A mixture of bis(methyl salicyl) carbonate (BMSC), BPA and a transesterification catalyst are first equilibrated at moderate temperatures to provide a solution of polycarbonate oligomer in methyl salicylate. The solution is then fed to a devolatilizing extruder, where the polymerization reaction is completed and the methyl salicylate solvent is removed. The solution comprising the oligomeric polycarbonate can also be pre-heated under pressure to a temperature above the boiling point of methyl salicylate and subsequently fed to a devolatilizing extruder equipped for rapid flashing off the solvent. The method provides polycarbonate with greater efficiency than the corresponding process in which unreacted monomers are fed to the extruder. Additionally, the method of the invention does not require the isolation of a precursor polycarbonate comprising ester-substituted phenoxy terminal groups.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that efficiently compound high levels of inorganic filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer at a commercial rate into homogeneous filled and devolatilized silicone compositions. In the method, filled silicone compositions are compounded by compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a first compounding apparatus to produce a first dispersed composition and simultaneously compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a second compounding apparatus that shares a common extruder shaft with the first compounding apparatus to produce a second dispersed composition. The system comprises a first compounding apparatus and a sequential second compounding apparatus that shares a common shaft with the first compounding apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that efficiently compound high levels of inorganic filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer at a commercial rate into homogeneous filled and devolatilized silicone compositions. In the method, filled silicone compositions are compounded by compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a first compounding apparatus to produce a first dispersed composition and simultaneously compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a second compounding apparatus that shares a common extruder shaft with the first compounding apparatus to produce a second dispersed composition. The system comprises a first compounding apparatus and a sequential second compounding apparatus that shares a common shaft with the first compounding apparatus.

Abstract: Extrusion of a mixture of an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate, such as bis(methyl salicyl) carbonate, a dihydroxy aromatic compound such as bisphenol A and a transesterification catalyst such as tetrabutylphosphonium acetate (TBPA) affords polycarbonate having a weight average molecular weight of greater than 20,000 daltons. The extruder is equipped with one or more vacuum vents to remove by-product ester-substituted phenol. Similarly, a precursor polycarbonate having ester-substituted phenoxy endgroups, for example methyl salicyl endgroups, when subjected to extrusion affords a polycarbonate having a significantly increased molecular weight relative to the precursor polycarbonate. The reaction to form a higher molecular weight polycarbonate may be catalyzed by residual transesterification catalyst present in the precursor polycarbonate, or by a combination of any residual catalyst and an additional catalyst such as TBPA introduced in the extrusion step.

Abstract: High levels of silica, processing fluid and high molecular weight silicone polymer are compounded into a homogeneous silica filled composition without forming a preconcentrate of fumed silica and polymer. A fumed silica is fed into a unitary continuous compounding apparatus at a first location prior to addition of the silicone polymer. The fumed silica is then compounded with the silicone polymer, which is fed into the compounding apparatus at a location down-stream in the compounding apparatus from the first location. The compounding apparatus can be a co-rotating, intermeshing double screw extruder.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that efficiently compound high levels of inorganic filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer at a commercial rate into homogeneous filled and devolatilized silicone compositions. In the method, filled silicone compositions are compounded by compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a first compounding apparatus to produce a first dispersed composition and simultaneously compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a second compounding apparatus that shares a common extruder shaft with the first compounding apparatus to produce a second dispersed composition. The system comprises a first compounding apparatus and a sequential second compounding apparatus that shares a common shaft with the first compounding apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that efficiently compound high levels of inorganic filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer at a commercial rate into homogeneous filled and devolatilized silicone compositions. In the method, filled silicone compositions are compounded by compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a first compounding apparatus to produce a first dispersed composition and simultaneously compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a second compounding apparatus that shares a common extruder shaft with the first compounding apparatus to produce a second dispersed composition. The system comprises a first compounding apparatus and a sequential second compounding apparatus that shares a common shaft with the first compounding apparatus.

Abstract: High levels of inorganic filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer are compounded and devolatilized into homogeneous filled compositions with requisite reinforcing properties and levels of volatiles. In the method, a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer are mixed in a first compounding apparatus to produce a dispersed composition containing volatiles. The dispersed composition is then compounded in a long extruder having an L/D ratio of greater than 50 to devolatilize the dispersed composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to an extrusion method preparing polycarbonates from a solution of an oligomeric polycarbonate. A mixture of bis(methyl salicyl)carbonate (BMSC), BPA and a transesterification catalyst are first equilibrated at moderate temperatures to provide a solution of polycarbonate oligomer in methyl salicylate. The solution is then fed to a devolatilizing extruder, where the polymerization reaction is completed and the methyl salicylate solvent is removed. The solution comprising the oligomeric polycarbonate can also be pre-heated under pressure to a temperature above the boiling point of methyl salicylate and subsequently fed to a devolatilizing extruder equipped for rapid flashing off the solvent. The method provides polycarbonate with greater efficiency than the corresponding process in which unreacted monomers are fed to the extruder. Additionally, the method of the invention does not require the isolation of a precursor polycarbonate comprising ester-substituted phenoxy terminal groups.