A joining material for laser welding, a laser welding method using the same, and a laser joined body using the laser welding method. The joining material includes a polymer matrix and a needle-shaped inorganic filler. The polymer matrix includes a polypropylene resin having a melt index of 80 g/10 min or more to 95 g/10 min or less as measured at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 2.16 kg, and the needle-shaped inorganic filler has an aspect ratio of 10:1 to 20:1.

A joining material for laser welding, a laser welding method using the same, and a laser joined body using the laser welding method. The joining material includes a polymer matrix and a needle-shaped inorganic filler. The polymer matrix includes a polypropylene resin having a melt index of 80 g/10 min or more to 95 g/10 min or less as measured at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 2.16 kg, and the needle-shaped inorganic filler has an aspect ratio of 10:1 to 20:1.

Methods for fabricating rubber-based elastomeric materials are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating a rubber-based elastomeric glove includes milling diene rubber to form first and second milled diene rubber portions; forming a first mixture by mixing a silica reinforcing component and a first antiozonant wax with the first milled diene rubber portion; forming a second mixture by mixing a second antiozonant wax with the second milled diene rubber portion; mixing the first mixture, the second mixture, and a solvent to form a viscous solution; and dipping a glove mold into the viscous solution for a selected number of dips, and evaporating the solvent from the glove mold between dips to form the rubber-based elastomeric glove, wherein the elastomeric glove has a thickness of at least about 30 mils, and wherein the elastomeric glove exhibits a flexural modulus of less than about 0.06 MPa.

Materials including support layers and fiber-free compositions are disclosed, as well as related articles and methods for making the materials. The fiber-free compositions are formed from a precursor composition that includes a nitrile butadiene rubber, a nanoclay and a cure package including a sulfur-based curing agent. The fiber-free compositions may have a substantially reduced weight and compressive modulus in comparison to conventional rubber. Thus, the fiber-free compositions may provide improved ballistic properties in addition to reduced density and thickness. Precursor compositions for forming the insulative composition may have good flow characteristics. The fiber-free compositions may be used in a variety of applications, such as personnel body armor, ground vehicle armor and aircraft armor systems.

A system for fabricating a composite article includes a pre-impregnation station for forming a prepreg comprising a reinforcement impregnated with a resin. The prepreg is provided to a blanking station where a blank is cut from the partially cured prepreg and arranged onto a preforming mold. The blank is then transferred to a forming station, and is formed into the composite article using a compression mold. The pre-impregnation station, the blanking station and the forming station are co-located. During forming of the blank into the composite article using the compression mold, additional prepreg is formed in the pre-impregnation station and passes to the blanking station so as to form a next blank for being formed into a next composite article during a subsequent molding cycle. Optionally, the prepreg is partially cured prior to being cut in the blanking station.

In at least one embodiment, a molding method for producing a molded article is provided. The method may include introducing polymer and fiber separately into an extruder in a first ratio to produce a first extruded material having a first fiber content and in a second ratio to produce a second extruded material having a second fiber content different from the first fiber content. The method may further include filling a first region of a mold with the first extruded material and a second region of the mold with the second extruded material. The extruded material may be formed as blanks for use in compression molding or may be introduced into an injection chamber for use in injection molding. The method may be used to form molded articles having a plurality of regions having different fiber contents.

A basalt fiber composite rebar and method of manufacturing the same that includes producing an elongated body with an outer surface, two opposing terminal ends, a longitudinal length separating the two opposing terminal ends of the elongated body, of an epoxy matrix having a plurality of longitudinally oriented and twisted basalt fibers independently embedded and bonded therein and continually spanning along the longitudinal length, and a basalt fiber overlay directly coupled to the outer surface of the elongated body in a spiral configuration to define a plurality of fiber ribs spatially displaced from one another along the longitudinal length.

A method for producing a cellulose product from a multi-layer cellulose blank structure, wherein the method comprises the steps; forming the multi-layer cellulose blank structure from at least a first layer of dry-formed cellulose fibres and a second layer of a cellulose fibre web structure, through arranging the at least first layer and second layer in a superimposed relationship to each other and in the superimposed relationship arranging the at least first layer and second layer in contact with each other; arranging the multi-layer cellulose blank structure in a forming mould; heating the multi-layer cellulose blank structure to a forming temperature in the range of 100° C. to 300° C., and forming the cellulose product from the multi-layer cellulose blank structure in the forming mould, by pressing the heated multi-layer cellulose blank structure with an isostatic forming pressure of at least 1 MPa, preferably 4-20 MPa, wherein the multi-layer cellulose blank structure is shaped into a two-dimensional or three-dimensional fibre composite structure having a single-layer configuration.

A composite core material and methods for making same are disclosed herein. The composite core material comprises mineral filler discontinuous portions disposed in a continuous encapsulating resin. Further, the method for forming a composite core material comprises the steps of forming a mixture comprising mineral filler, an encapsulating prepolymer, and a polymerization catalyst; disposing the mixture onto a moving belt; and polymerizing said encapsulating prepolymer to form a composite core material comprising mineral filler discontinuous portions disposed in a continuous encapsulating resin.

A method for producing a cellulose product from a multi-layer cellulose blank structure, wherein the method comprises the steps; forming the multi-layer cellulose blank structure from at least a first layer of dry-formed cellulose fibres and a second layer of a cellulose fibre web structure, through arranging the at least first layer and second layer in a superimposed relationship to each other and in the superimposed relationship arranging the at least first layer and second layer in contact with each other; arranging the multi-layer cellulose blank structure in a forming mould; heating the multi-layer cellulose blank structure to a forming temperature in the range of 100° C. to 300° C., and forming the cellulose product from the multi-layer cellulose blank structure in the forming mould, by pressing the heated multi-layer cellulose blank structure with an isostatic forming pressure of at least 1 MPa, preferably 4-20 MPa, wherein the multi-layer cellulose blank structure is shaped into a two-dimensional or three-dimensional fibre composite structure having a single-layer configuration.