There is provided an automobile component capable of improving sound absorption performance by damping due to vibration of a thin film as well as reducing weight of the automobile component. An automobile component of the present invention includes a core layer 10 in which tubular cells 20 are arranged in a plurality of rows, and a nonwoven fabric layer 30 on one or both surfaces of the core layer. The cells have closed surfaces 21 and open ends 22 in every other row as cell ends on one surface of the core layer. As cell ends on the other surface of the core layer, the cells have open ends 22 in the rows where the cells have the closed surfaces as cell ends on the one surface, and have closed surfaces 21 in the rows where the cells have the open ends as cell ends on the one surface. The open ends 22 allow the internal space of the cells 20 to be in communication with the outside. A thin resin film layer 40 having a plurality of apertures is provided between the core layer and the nonwoven fabric layer. A ratio S is set so that 0<S<0.3, where S represents a ratio of an area of the apertures provided in the resin film layer corresponding to an opening defined by the open end to an area of the opening.

The present disclosure relates to flexible energy absorbing systems and body armor, helmets and protective garments incorporating flexible energy absorbing systems. A flexible energy absorbing system may comprise a first plurality of cells having a first re-entrant geometry and a second plurality of cells having a second, different geometry. The first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells may comprise an elastomeric material.

A one-piece component comprising a tetrahedral-octahedral honeycomb lattice is disclosed herein, along with a mold, a system and methods of making the component. A one-piece component comprising a truncated tetrahedral-octahedral honeycomb lattice also is disclosed, along with corresponding molds, systems and methods.

According to some illustrative embodiments, a protective product is provided that includes: at least one expandable slit paper sheet, said at least on expandable slit paper being expanded between opposing ends of said slit paper; a first embossed paper sheet facing said expanded slit paper sheet and a second paper sheet facing an opposite side of said at least one expanded slit paper sheet, at least one of said first embossed paper sheet and said second paper sheet being fixed to said expanded slit paper sheet at the opposing ends of said expanded slit paper sheet and thereby maintaining said expanded paper in its expanded state, said first embossed paper sheet having a plurality of embossings that increase the rigidity of said embossed paper sheet, whereby inhibiting deformation of said embossed paper sheet that is fixed to said expanded slit sheet paper.

A hierarchical sandwich core in the form of a honeycomb, i.e. having repetitive and periodic lattice materials. The sandwich core can be made up of a macroscopic honeycomb structure with sandwich cell walls having a mesoscopic cellular core. The longitudinal axis of cells of the mesoscopic honeycomb cell can be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cells of the macroscopic honeycomb structure. Alternatively, if a foam core is used having mesoscopic cells the shape of the mesoscopic cells can be made during the foaming process so that they are elongate in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cells of the macroscopic honeycomb structure.

Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties. Various properties of such networks of polyurethane particles (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, thermal conductivity) may be tailored depending on which monomers are provided in the reaction.

A ceramic honeycomb structure comprising large numbers of cells partitioned by porous cell walls, the cell walls having (a) porosity of 50-80%, and when measured by mercury porosimetry, (b) a median pore diameter being 25-50 μm, (c) (i) a cumulative pore volume in a pore diameter range of 20 μm or less being 25% or less of the total pore volume, (ii) a cumulative pore volume in a pore diameter range of more than 20 μm and 50 μm or less being 50% or more of the total pore volume, and (iii) a cumulative pore volume in a pore diameter range of more than 50 μm being 12% or more of the total pore volume.

A sandwich structure configured to be secured with a mechanical fastener includes a core assembly, which includes a polymer component configured for supporting a mechanical fastener connector insert. The core assembly further includes an open cellular component formed from a plurality of self-propagating photopolymer waveguides positioned around the polymer component, wherein a first portion of the plurality of self-propagating photopolymer waveguides is secured to and extends from the polymer component. Further included is a first face sheet secured to a first side of the core assembly, wherein the first portion of the plurality of self-propagating photopolymer waveguides has a distal end spaced apart from the polymer component and secured to the second face sheet.

The invention relates to a new binder composition which is particularly suitable for the manufacture of composite materials utilizing such new binder composition in the required nonwoven materials. Composite materials using such new binder composition in their nonwoven part are suitable, in particular, for composites materials for interior construction, for linings, floor coverings, and for the manufacture of furniture and similar products.

A three-dimensional lattice architecture with a thickness hierarchy includes a first surface and a second surface separated from each other with a distance therebetween defining a thickness of the three-dimensional lattice architecture; a plurality of angled struts extending along a plurality of directions between the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of nodes connecting the plurality of angled struts with one another forming a plurality of unit cells. At least a portion of the plurality of angled struts are internally terminated along the thickness direction of the lattice structure and providing a plurality of internal degrees of freedom towards the first or second surface of the lattice architecture.