A method for surface preparation of a composite substrate prior to adhesive bonding. The surface preparation method includes applying a resin-containing peel ply onto a composite substrate, followed by co-curing. The resin-containing peel ply contains a non-removable textile carrier and a removable woven fabric embedded therein. After co-curing, the peel ply is removed from the composite substrate such that the removable woven fabric is removed but the non-removable textile carrier and a film of residual resin remain on the composite substrate, thereby creating a modified, bondable surface on the composite substrate. The composite substrate with the modified surface can be bonded to another composite substrate, whereby the textile carrier remains an integrated part of the final bonded structure.

The invention relates to a multilayered pultruded structure having a weatherable cap layer over a pultruded substrate, adhered with an appropriate tie layer. The structure provides improved weatherability and surface quality for pultruded structures. The invention is especially useful to provide a weatherable pultruded polyurethane, with an acrylic or styrenic cap layer. The weatherable polyurethane (PU) pultrusion of the invention provides an increased modulus over polyester pultrusions, making the weatherable PU pultrusion useful in commercial applications, and applications requiring a higher transverse modulus.

One general aspect includes a method of manufacturing a handle, the method including: providing a core element; providing a mold; strategically positioning the core element within the mold such that a formable material can be injected into the mold (when in a molten state) to operatively encapsulate the core element and such that the core element remains stationary while being operatively encapsulated by the formable material; and injecting the formable material (when in the molten state) into the mold to operatively encapsulate the core element and be formed, by the mold, into a handle configured to be joined to a window support pillar of a vehicle interior.

A process unit and methods are disclosed. One process unit including a pultrusion unit having a pultrusion channel, with the pultrusion channel being limited by at least one shaping wall. The process unit further includes an extrusion unit having an extrusion channel and an opening for removing the extrudate out of the extrusion channel, a cutting unit having a moving cutting element for cutting off the extrudate with the moving cutting element, and a conveying device for conveying a raw extrudate from the pultrusion unit into the extrusion unit. The cutting unit comprises a component that can be caused to move in a rotational manner and the component is mechanically coupled to the cutting element by a mechanical coupling device, such that the rotational movement of the component determines the movement of the cutting element.

A fiber-reinforced resin composite material includes first and second members. The first member includes a first fiber and a first matrix resin. The first fiber includes a reinforcing fiber and is impregnated with the first matrix resin. The reinforcing fiber has a melting point and a tensile strength higher than those of an aliphatic polyamide fiber. The second member includes a stack and a second matrix resin. The stack includes a second fiber and a third fiber filled with the second matrix resin. The second fiber includes the reinforcing fiber. The second matrix resin includes a component common to that of the first matrix resin, and includes a first polyamide resin that includes an aliphatic polyamide resin. The third fiber includes a second polyamide resin that includes an aliphatic polyamide resin and has a melting point higher than that of the first polyamide resin by 7 to 50 degrees centigrade.

A preform includes a stack of a plurality of fiber materials. The fiber materials each include a first fiber layer including a reinforcing fiber and having a sheet shape, in which the reinforcing fiber has a melting point and a tensile strength that are higher than a melting point and a tensile strength of an aliphatic polyamide fiber, and a second fiber layer including the aliphatic polyamide fiber and having a sheet shape, and provided on at least one of surfaces of the first fiber layer. The aliphatic polyamide fiber includes a first polyamide resin and a second polyamide resin having a melting point higher than a melting point of the first polyamide resin by 7 degrees centigrade to 50 degrees centigrade.

One example provides a process unit including a conveying device to convey a hybrid yarn comprising a plurality of fibers and a matrix through a channel bounded by a base body, and a cutting unit having a component configured as a sleeve mounted about the base body, the sleeve rotatable about the base body and including a circular recess at an axial end region which is eccentrically aligned with an axis of rotation of the sleeve, and a cutting element on a slide slidably mounted to the base body and disposed within the circular recess, wherein the slide rests on a support surface of the sleeve bounding the circular recess so that, due to the circular recess being eccentrically aligned with the axis of rotation, a rotational movement of the sleeve causes translational movement of the slide and the cutting element across the channel to cut the hybrid yarn.

By rotationally casting soft robots, no bonding of different material layers is required. Soft robots including one or more integrated enclosed compartments are constructed from fibers that are embedded directly into the mold prior to adding elastomeric precursors.

The present disclosure relates to a stitching yarn and non-crimp fabrics containing such yarn. The stitching yarn described herein is a multifilament stitching yarn characterized by two or more of the following properties: (a) comprises a plurality of polymeric fibers, (b) has a linear density of less than or equal to 80 dtex, (c) has a filament count of less than or equal to 0.8 times the dtex value of the stitching yarn, or (d) has a twist of less than 200 revolutions per meter (r/m). The present disclosure also relates to a fiber preform, composite material, and composite article containing the non-crimp fabric.

A trim component for attachment to a vehicle seat includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed on a first side of the trim component and defines a first knit. The second portion is disposed on a second side of the trim component and defines a second knit distinct from the first knit. The first and second portions are integrally knitted. The trim component is configured to be installed on or more support members of the seat. The first side is configured to face the support member. The second portion is configured communicate with an occupant of the seat. In various aspects, the first portion includes a first yarn and the second portion includes a second yarn that is distinct from the first yarn with respect to one or more of density, thickness, and material. In various aspects, the first yarn is a heat-activated yarn.