The invention relates to a composition for the production of foams based on phenolic resin, use thereof, and a process for the production of the composition. For provision of a composition for the production of foams based on phenolic resin, where the said composition delivers improved reaction to fire with, in essence, no alteration of further important foam properties, it is proposed that the composition comprises an alkoxylated novolak, wherein the novolak is produced using phenol, cresol and/or xylenol.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for making prepregs are disclosed. A method may include depositing a resin material onto a surface of a fiber bed and forming a number of discrete resin regions thereon. A distance between the resin regions may be measured to provide desired exposed portions of the surface to facilitate permeation of air through the exposed portions of the surface in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the fiber bed during a curing process of the prepreg.

A production method for a separated fiber bundle includes at least: [A] a partial separation step for obtaining a partially separated fiber bundle in which separation-processed parts, each separated into a plurality of bundles, and not-separation-processed parts are alternately formed along the lengthwise direction of a fiber bundle comprising a plurality of single fibers; and [B] a cutting step for cutting the not-separation-processed parts of the partially separated fiber bundle formed in the step [A] along the lengthwise direction of the fiber bundle. A separated fiber bundle produced by the method, a fiber-reinforced resin molding material that uses the separated fiber bundle, and a production method for the fiber-reinforced resin molding material.

Fiber-reinforced organic polymer aerogels, articles of manufacture and uses thereof are described. The reinforced aerogels include a fiber-reinforced organic polymer matrix having an at least bimodal pore size distribution with a first mode of pores having an average pore size of less than or equal to 50 nanometers (nm) and a second mode of pores having an average pore size of greater than 50 nm and a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 30 mW/m.Math.K at a temperature of 20° C.

Provided is an adhesive that effectively utilizes bark and demonstrates superior adhesion performance. The adhesive of the present invention comprises at least one adhesive resin (A) selected from the group consisting of phenolic resin, urea resin, and melamine resin, and finely pulverized bark (B) comprising cellulose nanofibers.

A phenolic resin foam has a density of 30 kg/m.sup.3 to 80 kg/m.sup.3, a closed cell ratio of 85% or more, and reaches a total amount of heat release of 8 MJ/m.sup.2 in a time of 20 minutes or more in a heat release test performed using a cone calorimeter.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for making prepregs are disclosed. A method may include depositing a resin material onto a surface of a fiber bed and forming a number of discrete resin regions thereon. A distance between the resin regions may be measured to provide desired exposed portions of the surface to facilitate permeation of air through the exposed portions of the surface in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the fiber bed during a curing process of the prepreg.

The invention relates to a floor or wall panel and a method for producing such panel. The panel according to the invention comprises a core layer comprising at least one composite material, said composite material comprising at least one inorganic material, and at least one polymeric binder, wherein a weight ratio of the inorganic material to the polymeric binder is at least 2.4:1. The core layer further comprises an additive which is configured to improve the properties of the core layer.

A partially separated fiber bundle includes separation-processed sections and not-separation-processed sections that are alternately formed along the lengthwise direction of a fiber bundle that includes a plurality of single fibers, wherein the separation-processed sections include a plurality of divided fiber bundles that have been divided by separation processing. The partially separated fiber bundle is characterized in that the numbers of single fibers of the divided fiber bundles in the separation-processed section are nonuniform.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for making prepregs are disclosed. A method may include depositing a resin material onto a surface of a fiber bed and forming a number of discrete resin regions thereon. A distance between the resin regions may be measured to provide desired exposed portions of the surface to facilitate permeation of air through the exposed portions of the surface in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the fiber bed during a curing process of the prepreg.