Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method includes accessing track geometry data for a railroad track. The track geometry data includes historical measurements for a plurality of types of surface conditions of the railroad track over a period of time. The method further includes determining, by analyzing the track geometry data for a particular type of surface condition, a plurality of measurements that exceed a predetermined value. The method further includes identifying, by clustering the plurality of measurements that exceed the predetermined value, a particular track location on the railroad track as a progressive defect location. The method further includes determining, using a remaining useful life model and the track geometry data for the particular type of surface condition at the progressive defect location, a future time when the particular type of surface condition at the progressive defect location will exceed a predetermined limit.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions include: a copolyester elastomer including a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) moiety and an elastomer moiety: and from greater than 0.1 wt % to 9 wt % of at least one brightening agent. The copolyester elastomer is formed according to a process including (1) forming the PBT moiety from a high purity terephthalic moiety: and (2) polymerizing the PBT moiety with the elastomer moiety to form the copolyester elastomer, wherein the high purity terephthalic moiety is derived from post-consumer, pre-consumer or post-industrial recycled (PCR) polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The PBT moiety includes PBT derived from post-consumer, pre-consumer or post-industrial recycled (PCR) polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the high purity terephthalic moiety has a purity of at least about 95%, and the thermoplastic composition has an L* color value of at least 80 as determined according to a CIELab color space standard.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions include from about 15 wt % to about 99 wt % of a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) component; and from 0.01 wt % to about 85 wt % of at least one additional component, wherein: the PBT component comprises PBT derived from a post-consumer or post-industrial recycled (PCR) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) depolymerized to a high purity purified terephthalic acid (PTA) monomer and the thermoplastic composition exhibits an L* color value of at least about 74.

Abstract: Described herein are cold-sintered ceramic polymer composites and processes for making them from inorganic compound starting materials and polymers. The cold sintering process and wide variety of polymers permit the incorporation of diverse polymeric materials into the ceramic.

Abstract: An electrode material comprising (a) a polymeric binder, (b) a lithium-based electrochemically active material, and (c) an electrically conductive filler; wherein the polymeric binder comprises one or more sulfur-based functional groups; and wherein the electrode material is characterized by a binding energy between the one or more sulfur-based functional groups and the lithium-based electrochemically active material of from about 0.3 eV to about 2.5 eV. A method of making a battery electrode comprising (i) mixing a lithium-based electrochemically active material, an electrically conductive filler, and a polymeric binder to form an electrode material, wherein the polymeric binder comprises one or more sulfur-based functional groups, and (ii) contacting the electrode material with a current collector to form the battery electrode.

Abstract: A reactor apparatus for continuous manufacturing of porous carbon material by halogenation of carbides is provided. The reactor apparatus comprises a sample loading assembly, a reactor positioned within a metal housing and in closed circuit communication with the sample loading assembly, and a material receiving assembly. The sample loading assembly loads samples of carbides into the reactor. The metal housing maintains an inert atmosphere around the reactor. The reactor defines one or more process paths for transporting samples of carbides through a halogen atmosphere and/or a post-treatment atmosphere for yielding porous carbon material. Process vents, positioned on the reactor and the metal housing, pass inert gases and reactant gases past the samples of carbides at predetermined temperatures and exit process gases through a condenser unit. The condenser unit traps metal halide by-products.