Abstract: Techniques for selecting a spectroscopic light source include obtaining a light source dataset and a spectroscopic dataset, initializing a genetic algorithm, selecting a first individual solution and a second individual solution from an initial generation of solutions, generating a new individual solution from the first and second individual solutions by combining their respective chromosome encodings, evaluating a specificity of the new individual solution to a target material, adding the new individual solution to a new generation of solutions, populating the new generation of solutions with a plurality of additional individual solutions, generating one or more descendent generations of solutions by iterating the genetic algorithm, selecting one or more implementation individual solutions exhibiting a threshold specificity to the target material, and outputting the one or more implementation individual solutions.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting a spectroscopic light source include obtaining a light source dataset and a spectroscopic dataset, initializing a genetic algorithm, selecting a first individual solution and a second individual solution from an initial generation of solutions, generating a new individual solution from the first and second individual solutions by combining their respective chromosome encodings, evaluating a specificity of the new individual solution to a target material, adding the new individual solution to a new generation of solutions, populating the new generation of solutions with a plurality of additional individual solutions, generating one or more descendent generations of solutions by iterating the genetic algorithm, selecting one or more implementation individual solutions exhibiting a threshold specificity to the target material, and outputting the one or more implementation individual solutions.

Abstract: An ear-mountable listening device includes a soft ear interface, an acoustic package, and electronics. The soft ear interface is shaped to house one or more components of the ear-mountable listening device. The soft ear interface has an outer surface that contacts a canal of an ear when the ear-mountable listening device is worn by the ear. The outer surface of the soft ear interface includes a plurality of baffles to form one or more channels for air or moisture to propagate through. The one or more channels extend from between a distal end and a proximal end of the soft ear interface. The proximal end of the soft ear interface extends to at least a first bend of the canal and the distal end of the soft ear interface contacts a concha of the ear when the ear-mountable listening device is worn.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting a spectroscopic light source include obtaining a light source dataset and a spectroscopic dataset, initializing a genetic algorithm, selecting a first individual solution and a second individual solution from an initial generation of solutions, generating a new individual solution from the first and second individual solutions by combining their respective chromosome encodings, evaluating a specificity of the new individual solution to a target material, adding the new individual solution to a new generation of solutions, populating the new generation of solutions with a plurality of additional individual solutions, generating one or more descendent generations of solutions by iterating the genetic algorithm, selecting one or more implementation individual solutions exhibiting a threshold specificity to the target material, and outputting the one or more implementation individual solutions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing chemical recycling processes include accessing characterization data of a feedstock, the characterization data comprising one or more spectra collected according to one or more spectroscopic methods. The methods include predicting, using the characterization data, a set of constituent materials included in the feedstock. The methods include predicting a material composition of the feedstock using the predicted set of constituent materials. The methods include identifying, at least in part using the predicted material composition of the feedstock, one or more target products. The methods include generating a set of chemical reaction schemas enabling a conversion of at least part of the feedstock into the one or more target products. The methods also include storing identifications of the material composition of the feedstock, the one or more target products, and the set of chemical reaction schemas in a data store.

Abstract: This disclosure describes processes for producing polymer foams, and compositions of matter relating to these processes. A process includes the steps of dispersing an organic nucleating agent in a dispersing medium to obtain an additive dispersion, contacting the additive dispersion with a mineral nucleating agent to obtain a hybrid nucleating agent containing the organic nucleating agent localized on at least a portion of a surface of the mineral nucleating agent, and contacting the hybrid nucleating agent with a polymer in the presence of a foaming agent to obtain a polymer foam. A foamed polymer of the present disclosure includes a cellular matrix containing a polymer material, and a mineral matrix of particles containing a hybrid nucleating agent dispersed in the cellular matrix, in which the hybrid nucleating agent contains an organic nucleating agent localized on at least a portion of a surface of an inorganic material.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer foam may include providing a polymer composition, introducing an alkaline earth metal silicate into the polymer composition, and foaming the polymer composition using a gas to form a polymer foam. A method of producing a polymer-matrix may include providing a polymer composition, nucleating the polymer composition with an alkaline earth metal silicate, and using a blowing agent to form a polymer foam from the polymer composition. The alkaline earth metal silicate may facilitate nucleation of the cells in the polymer foam. A polymer foam composition may include a polymer-based foam matrix and an alkaline earth metal silicate within a cell of the polymer-based foam matrix.

Abstract: A construction material, a hydrophobic, optionally multi-cellular, inorganic particulate material for use in the construction material, for example, to improve the crush strength and/or stability of the construction material, a method of making the construction material, constructions comprising the construction material, and a method of improving the stability of a construction material.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a composition for additive manufacturing, which contains a thermoplastic polymer and a mineral additive capable of reducing a specific heat of the composition relative to a specific heat of the thermoplastic polymer. A proportion of the mineral additive in the composition may be set such that the specific heat of the composition is equal to or less than 95% of the specific heat of the thermoplastic polymer, and the composition may be in the form of a filament, rod, pellet or granule. Compositions disclosed herein may be adapted to function as compositions suitable for performing additive manufacturing by material extrusion. Also disclosed herein are additive manufacturing processes and methods for producing the compositions for fused filament fabrication.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer foam may include providing a polymer composition, introducing an alkaline earth metal silicate into the polymer composition, and foaming the polymer composition using a gas to form a polymer foam. A method of producing a polymer-matrix may include providing a polymer composition, nucleating the polymer composition with an alkaline earth metal silicate, and using a blowing agent to form a polymer foam from the polymer composition. The alkaline earth metal silicate may facilitate nucleation of the cells in the polymer foam. A polymer foam composition may include a polymer-based foam matrix and an alkaline earth metal silicate within a cell of the polymer-based foam matrix.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a refractive index-matched photo-curable composition containing a photo-curable resin, and a refractive index-matched additive, in which a ratio of a refractive index of the additive to a refractive index of the photo-curable resin ranges from about 0.8:1 to about 1.2:1. Also disclosed herein is an additive-manufacturing process, including the steps of delivering the refractive index-matched photo-curable composition onto a working surface to obtain a pre-polymer deposit on the working surface, and applying photons to the pre-polymer deposit to obtain a polymer in the form of a section plane of a component. Also disclosed herein are a method for increasing the curing rate of a photo-initiated polymerization, and a method for improving the mechanical properties of a composite material.

Abstract: A construction material, a hydrophobic, optionally multi-cellular, inorganic particulate material for use in the construction material, for example, to improve the crush strength and/or stability of the construction material, a method of making the construction material, constructions comprising the construction material, and a method of improving the stability of a construction material.

Abstract: This disclosure describes processes for producing polymer foams, and compositions of matter relating to these processes. A process includes the steps of dispersing an organic nucleating agent in a dispersing medium to obtain an additive dispersion, contacting the additive dispersion with a mineral nucleating agent to obtain a hybrid nucleating agent containing the organic nucleating agent localized on at least a portion of a surface of the mineral nucleating agent, and contacting the hybrid nucleating agent with a polymer in the presence of a foaming agent to obtain a polymer foam. A foamed polymer of the present disclosure includes a cellular matrix containing a polymer material, and a mineral matrix of particles containing a hybrid nucleating agent dispersed in the cellular matrix, in which the hybrid nucleating agent contains an organic nucleating agent localized on at least a portion of a surface of an inorganic material.