One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of fabricating a chemically active fibre device (1) by thermal drawing. The method comprises the steps of providing a preform, the preform comprising a support element (3) at least partially made of a first polymeric material; and carrying out a thermal drawing process of the preform to produce a thermally drawn fibre. The preform comprises one or more chemically active agents and/or biological materials configured to react with a fluid sample when the one or more chemically active agents and/or biological materials are in contact with the fluid sample. In this manner miniaturised lab-in-fibre devices can be fabricated.

A method of manufacturing a fibre comprising a lined channel, using a draw apparatus, the method comprising: providing a preform, comprising a channel extending through the preform, to the draw apparatus; feeding a liner into the channel; heating a portion of the preform; and drawing the heated portion of the preform in order to form a fibre, wherein the liner is held within the channel of the fibre to provide a lined channel within the fibre.

A device comprising a bendable fibre comprising a fibre axis, a thermally expandable material and a resistance wire extending longitudinally through the fibre spaced apart from the fibre axis; wherein, in use, electrical power applied to the resistance wire causes the temperature of the resistance wire to increase.

A device comprising a bendable fibre comprising a fibre axis, a thermally expandable material and a resistance wire extending longitudinally through the fibre spaced apart from the fibre axis; wherein, in use, electrical power applied to the resistance wire causes the temperature of the resistance wire to increase.

A multilayered polymer composite film includes a first polymer material forming a polymer matrix and a second polymer material coextruded with the first polymer material. The second polymer material forms a plurality of fibers embedded within the polymer matrix. The fibers have a rectangular cross-section.

A multilayered polymer composite film includes a first polymer material forming a polymer matrix and a second polymer material coextruded with the first polymer material. The second polymer material forms a plurality of fibers embedded within the polymer matrix. The fibers have a rectangular cross-section.

A sandwich core material for a sandwich laminate is disclosed. The sandwich core material includes a number of flexible core material elements having a longitudinal structure. A flexible core material for a sandwich core material, a sandwich laminate and a wind turbine blade including such a sandwich core material are provided. In addition, the present a method of manufacturing such a sandwich core material is provided.

A sandwich core material for a sandwich laminate is disclosed. The sandwich core material includes a number of flexible core material elements having a longitudinal structure. A flexible core material for a sandwich core material, a sandwich laminate and a wind turbine blade including such a sandwich core material are provided. In addition, the present a method of manufacturing such a sandwich core material is provided.

Fibers of diverse materials find widespread use in inorganic binder compositions to improve the properties of the final cured composite materials. When using high amounts of fiber in inorganic binder slurries, problems arise due to the loss of workability because of unevenly distributed fiber content. The novel fibers according to the invention allow the use of large amounts of fiber without loss of workability and are particularly useful to control the rheology of the composite slurry mixtures.

A material for a primary carpet backing including a nonwoven fabric including first bicomponent core/sheath fibers including a first thermoplastic polymer in the core and a second thermoplastic polymer in the sheath and second bicomponent core/sheath fibers including a third thermoplastic polymer in the core and a fourth thermoplastic polymer in the sheath, wherein the first thermoplastic polymer in the core of the first bicomponent core/sheath fibers is of a different polymer family as the third thermoplastic polymer in the core of the second bicomponent core/sheath fibers, and wherein the second thermoplastic polymer in the sheath of the first bicomponent core/sheath fibers and the fourth thermoplastic polymer in the sheath of the second bicomponent core/sheath fibers are polymers of the same polymer family, preferably having the same melting temperature.