Abstract: A method of producing a moulded article comprising a thermoset polymer and particles of porous natural materials, such as wood materials, and uses thereof. The composite material has a continuous matrix of a hardened thermoset polymer and, distributed within the matrix, and the particles are at least partially encased by the thermoset polymer. The method comprises the steps of providing a mould with two opposite pressing surfaces, said pressing surfaces defining a space between them; feeding particles of porous natural materials into the space between the pressing surfaces; advancing the surfaces towards each other to compress the particles in said space; feeding unhardened thermoset resin in liquid form into the mould so as to fill at least said space between pressing surfaces while keeping the particles compressed between the pressing surfaces; and curing the thermoset resin in the mould to provide a moulded composite article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making light-weight dimensionally stable wood-thermoplastic composite material composed of wood chips and a thermoplastic polycaprolactone. The manufacturing process of composite material comprising the steps of compounding virgin materials with single-screw extruder and production of uniform homogeneous plate-like composite with calendering apparatus. The calendering process comprises of several cycles, folding, cooling and reheating steps. During the gentle manufacturing process fragile wood chips maintain their 3-D structural properties in polymer matrix resulting light, mechanically strong wood-plastic composite.

Abstract: A mouldable, biodegradable medical material, comprising an epsilon caprolactone homopolymer. The material is useful as an implant and in particular for filling irregularly shaped cavities in biological tissue in vivo. The epsilon caprolactone homopolymer can be produced by polymerizing epsilon caprolactone monomers in the presence of a titanium alkoxide catalyst.