A novel ceramic matrix composite is disclosed for forming components that are operable in high temperature environments such those in gas turbine engines and the like. The ceramic matrix composite can include at least one layer of non-crimped fibers positioned substantially parallel to one another. A relatively small diameter elastic fiber can be constructed to stitch the non-crimped fibers together and a ceramic matrix may be deposited around the at least one layer of non-crimped fibers.

Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having enhanced flexural properties, which correlates to low composite backface signature. The composites are useful for the production of hard armor articles, including helmet armor.

Lightweight, breathable, non-woven fibrous materials and composite articles incorporating the same are provided. Composite articles are formed by merging an open, non-woven grid formed from high tenacity elongate bodies with at least one substrate, forming an article having excellent tensile strength, excellent breathability and a unique aesthetic appearance.

Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, −45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.

A molding material comprising a fibrous reinforcement layer and a curable resin matrix. The fibrous reinforcement layer comprises a non-woven fabric comprising a single layer of unidirectional tows arranged at an angle greater than 0° in relation to the lengthwise direction of the fabric and a support structure for maintaining the arrangement of the tows.

A method of producing a sandwich panel core of mineral wool fibres from a cured mineral fibre product includes the steps of providing a cured mineral fibre product with a dual density having a top layer with mineral fibres with a first density and a base layer having mineral fibres with a second density, the second density is at least two times lower than said first density. The top layer and the base layer have different fibre orientations. Further steps including cutting the mineral fibre product into a plurality of lamellae, rotating the lamellae 90 degrees, and re-joining the lamellae so that the top layers with the first density are vertically oriented.

The invention relates to a process for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn comprising the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DRfluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DRsolid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Ln with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DRfluid=DRsp*DRag of at least 150, wherein DRsp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DRag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DRsp being greater than 1 and DRag at least 1. The invention further relates to a high-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and to semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites.

Fibrous structures that exhibit a Tensile Ratio of less than 1.75 and/or less than 1.49 as measured according to the Tensile Strength Test Method described herein and a Geometric Mean Modulus (GM Modulus) of less than 1402.4 g/cm at 15 g/cm and/or a Machine Direction Modulus (MD Modulus) of less than 1253.4 g/cm at 15 g/cm and/or a Cross Machine Direction Modulus (CD Modulus) of less than 1569.2 g/cm at 15 g/cm, are provided.

Multifilament yarn containing n filaments are provided, wherein the filaments are obtained by spinning an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), said yarn having a tenacity (Ten) as expressed in cN/dtex of Ten(cN/dtex)=f×n.sup.−0.05×dpf .sup.−0.15, wherein Ten is at least 39 cN/dtex, n is at least 25, f is a factor of at least 58 and dpf is the dtex per filament.

The present disclosure relates to a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure includes a carbon nanotube array, a carbon nanotube layer located on the carbon nanotube array, and a carbon nanotube cluster between the carbon nanotube array and the carbon nanotube layer. The carbon nanotube array includes a number of first carbon nanotubes that are parallel with each other. The carbon nanotube layer includes a number of second carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotube cluster includes a plurality of third carbon nanotubes that are entangled around both the plurality of first carbon nanotubes and the plurality of second carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotube array is fixed on the carbon nanotube layer by the plurality of third carbon nanotubes so that the entire carbon nanotube structure is free-standing.