The invention relates to improved methods and implementation of reliably manufacturing laminated solar panel products having one or more axis of curvature, wherein at least one solar cell also has one or more axis of curvature, in a manufacturing plant, the manufacturing plant being capable of continuous, optimized operation. A substrate and a superstrate having a doubly-curved geometry may be assembled with a core disposed therebetween, the core comprising a solar cell array including at least one solar cell. During the lamination process, the plant substantially eliminates cracking of the at least one solar cell of the solar array through controlled and uniform application of lamination pressure and temperature that applies uniform local pressure simultaneously to each cell, resulting in a durable and reliable product. The invention further relates to a plant and/or facility having efficient, effective, and repeatable results relating to such methods.

The invention relates to a method for introducing weaknesses into a decorative material comprising a decorative layer and a carrier layer, preferably used for airbag coverings in motor vehicles, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) introducing different weaknesses (21) by means of a laser (20) into sections (30) of the decorative material (10) for test purposes, wherein the different weaknesses (21) differ from one another in that the different weaknesses (21) are introduced using different parameters of the laser (20); b) measuring the tear properties of the sections (30); c) determining which section (30) which has a desired tear property and associating the relevant parameters of the laser (20) with this section (30); d) setting the laser (20) at the parameters associated in accordance with e); e) introducing weaknesses (22) into the decorative material (10) by means of the laser (20) set in accordance with step e).

A method of forming a building panel or a surface element, including providing a substrate, applying a sub-layer on the substrate, applying a mesh structure on the sub-layer, and applying heat and pressure to the mesh structure such that the sub-layer at least partially fills meshes of the mesh structure. Also, to such a building panel and a surface element.

The present invention relates to a powder slush molded body of a polyvinyl chloride composition, the polyvinyl chloride composition containing a polyvinyl chloride, a plasticizer, and an acrylic polymer. The polyvinyl chloride composition contains the plasticizer in an amount of 110 parts by mass or more and 150 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyvinyl chloride. When a cross section of the powder slush molded body extending in parallel with a thickness direction is observed under an optical microscope using reflected light, irregular scale-like polyvinyl chloride particles having a long diameter of 30 μm or more and 500 μm or less are continuous with one another via interfacial portions, and the number of aggregated particles of the acrylic polymer having a long diameter of 30 μm or more and 100 μm or less is 10 particles/mm.sup.2 or less. Thus, provided are a powder slush molded body of a polyvinyl chloride composition having high flexibility after heat aging as well as favorable surface characteristics, and a laminate.

The present invention provides a laminated plate capable of not only achieving a reduced weight and an increased rigidity but also improving a sound absorbing performance, and a method for manufacturing the same. A laminated plate (1) is supposed to include a core layer (2) including a plate-shaped paper honeycomb structure (4) and a pair of fiber reinforcement layers (3) sandwiching the paper honeycomb structure (4) from both sides in a thickness direction and integrated with the paper honeycomb structure 4. The through-holes (5) of the paper honeycomb structure (4) are filled with a foam resin (6), and the core layer (2) is made up of the paper honeycomb structure 4 and the foam resin (6) filled in the through-holes (5). When the foam resin (6) is filled in the through-holes (5) of the paper honeycomb structure (4), the foam resin plate (6A) is pushed into the through-holes (5) as a filling material by utilizing a compression force of a mold (11).

The present disclosure relates to artificial leather. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to biodegradable and odorless artificial leather including coffee grounds. A composition for artificial leather includes a first resin, a first plasticizer, and a masterbatch including a second resin, a second plasticizer, and coffee grounds. The artificial leather includes a sheet layer including the composition disclosed herein.

A composition may comprise a fabric substrate having a first melting temperature and a polymer sheet having a second melting temperature, wherein the second melting temperature may be less than the first melting temperature. The polymer sheet and the fabric substrate may have a base thermoplastic polymer in common. The polymer sheet may be at least partially melted and laminated onto the fabric substrate such that the polymer sheet and fabric substrate become fused to produce a fused laminated fabric. A recycling process may be performed on the fused laminated fabric, wherein the fabric substrate and the polymer sheet remain laminated throughout the recycling process.

A fluid-filled chamber is provided and includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, a foam structure, and a tensile member. The second barrier layer is secured to the first barrier layer to define an interior void between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer. The interior void contains a predetermined volume of fluid. The foam structure and the tensile member are disposed within the interior void, whereby the tensile member includes a plurality of fibers extending in a first direction between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer.

A polymeric film or laminate comprising the same is applied to at least a portion of a surface of an underlying article to provide, for example, desired surface characteristics. To assist in such application, a polymerizable composition is coated onto at least one of the surface of the polymeric film or the laminate and the surface of the article. The polymerizable composition is then polymerized with the polymeric film or laminate positioned thereover to form a sufficiently polymerized interlayer between the polymeric film or laminate and the underlying surface in resulting articles. Ease of removal and/or repair of polymeric film and laminates comprising the polymeric film that are so applied is facilitated.

A multilayer sheet comprising first and second layers is provided. The first layer consists of a co-polyester. The second layer consists of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having an elongation at break of greater than 200%, a hardness of 60A to 85D, an ultimate tensile strength of greater than about 5000 psi, and a light transmission between 400 nm and 800 nm of greater than about 75%. A mold is provided and the multilayer sheet is thermoformed over the mold to form a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities configured to receive and reposition a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. Excess material is trimmed from the thermoformed multilayer sheet to form a multilayer dental aligner.