Soy protein and carbohydrate containing binder compositions are described. The binder compositions may include a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a soy protein. The binder compositions may also optionally include thickening agents such as modified celluloses and polysaccharides.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for forming a composite structure comprising rotating a base layer of an apparatus for forming the composite structure about an axis of rotation, transferring carbon short fibers from a first vibratory feed ramp onto the base layer in order to form a plurality of fibrous layers in the composite structure, and vibrating the first vibratory feed ramp during the transferring the carbon short fibers. The base layer may comprise an annular shape.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for forming a composite structure comprising rotating a base layer of an apparatus for forming the composite structure about an axis of rotation, transferring carbon short fibers from a first vibratory feed ramp onto the base layer in order to form a plurality of fibrous layers in the composite structure, and vibrating the first vibratory feed ramp during the transferring the carbon short fibers. The base layer may comprise an annular shape.

Soy protein and carbohydrate containing binder compositions are described. The binder compositions may include a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a soy protein. The binder compositions may also optionally include thickening agents such as modified celluloses and polysaccharides.

Soy protein and carbohydrate containing binder compositions are described. The binder compositions may include a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a soy protein. The binder compositions may also optionally include thickening agents such as modified celluloses and polysaccharides.

A carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet containing CNTs, arranged is a randomly oriented, uniformly distributed pattern, and having a basis weight of at least 1 gsm and a relative density of less than 1.5. The CNT sheet is manufactured by applying a CNT suspension in a continuous pool over a filter material to a depth sufficient to prevent puddling of the CNT suspension upon the surface of the filter material, and drawing the dispersing liquid through the filter material to provide a uniform CNT dispersion and form the CNT sheet. The CNT sheet is useful in making CNT composite laminates and structures having utility for electro-thermal heating, electromagnetic wave absorption, lightning strike dissipation, EMI shielding, thermal interface pads, energy storage, and heat dissipation.

A carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet containing CNTs, arranged is a randomly oriented, uniformly distributed pattern, and having a basis weight of at least 1 gsm and a relative density of less than 1.5. The CNT sheet is manufactured by applying a CNT suspension in a continuous pool over a filter material to a depth sufficient to prevent puddling of the CNT suspension upon the surface of the filter material, and drawing the dispersing liquid through the filter material to provide a uniform CNT dispersion and form the CNT sheet. The CNT sheet is useful in making CNT composite laminates and structures having utility for electro-thermal heating, electromagnetic wave absorption, lightning strike dissipation, EMI shielding, thermal interface pads, energy storage, and heat dissipation.

Disclosed are an annular fibrous preform and a method of preparing the same. The preform is formed by superposing and needle-punching annular units (5) containing an annular composite fabric (4), and the annular composite fabric (4) is shaped by needle-punching sector-shaped fibrous fabric (3) of the same type with an annular fibrous web (1) in advance. The method of preparing a preform involves needle-punching an annular fibrous fabric (2) formed of abutted sector-shaped fibrous fabrics with an annular fibrous web (1) in advance and fixedly joining the same into an annular composite fabric (4), and then needle-punching and forming annular units (5) to realize the preparation of the annular fibrous preform. The present method effectively eliminates the occurrence of deformation and misplacement of sector-shaped abutted fibrous fabric during needle-punching at a later stage such that the in-plane and interlayer uniformity and consistency are good, and has advantages such as high fiber content, excellent mechanical performance, and a high utilization rate of raw material, so that the friction performance of friction material is improved after a C/C composite is formed, and the combination property is excellent. The method can be applied to the production of composite material preforms for aircraft brake discs, and can also be applied to the production of friction material preforms in baking systems of high-speed trains and high-end automobiles.

Disclosed are an annular fibrous preform and a method of preparing the same. The preform is formed by superposing and needle-punching annular units (5) containing an annular composite fabric (4), and the annular composite fabric (4) is shaped by needle-punching sector-shaped fibrous fabric (3) of the same type with an annular fibrous web (1) in advance. The method of preparing a preform involves needle-punching an annular fibrous fabric (2) formed of abutted sector-shaped fibrous fabrics with an annular fibrous web (1) in advance and fixedly joining the same into an annular composite fabric (4), and then needle-punching and forming annular units (5) to realize the preparation of the annular fibrous preform. The present method effectively eliminates the occurrence of deformation and misplacement of sector-shaped abutted fibrous fabric during needle-punching at a later stage such that the in-plane and interlayer uniformity and consistency are good, and has advantages such as high fiber content, excellent mechanical performance, and a high utilization rate of raw material, so that the friction performance of friction material is improved after a C/C composite is formed, and the combination property is excellent. The method can be applied to the production of composite material preforms for aircraft brake discs, and can also be applied to the production of friction material preforms in baking systems of high-speed trains and high-end automobiles.

Fabric supercapacitors are disclosed herein. The fabric supercapacitor can include an ion permeable separator layer having two opposed surfaces; two electrode layers disposed on the opposed surfaces of the ion permeable separator layer; and two conducting layers disposed on outer surfaces of the two electrode layers and opposite the ion permeable separator layer. The electrode layers can comprise an activated carbon fiber fabric. The activated carbon fiber fabric can be derived from a precursor fabric which has been carbonized, activated, and coated with an electrolyte. The electrolyte can include a polymer gel. The conducting layers can include a non-activated carbon fiber fabric. The fabric supercapacitors disclosed herein exhibit great flexibility which allows the supercapacitors to find use in applications such as apparel products, outdoor activity products, sports wears, and other industrial end uses. Methods of making fabric supercapacitors are also disclosed.