Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having high interlaminar lap shear strength between component fiber plies or fiber layers, which correlates to low composite backface signature. The high lap shear strength, low backface signature composites are useful for the production of hard armor articles, including helmet armor.

Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having high interlaminar lap shear strength between component fiber plies or fiber layers, which correlates to low composite backface signature. The high lap shear strength, low backface signature composites are useful for the production of hard armor articles, including helmet armor.

An injection molding method uses a die with a cavity into which molten resin is to be injected to fill the cavity. The die has a shape that causes the molten resin injected into the cavity to branch and merge. The injection molding method includes providing bubbles into the molten resin before the molten resin is injected, generating fine bubbles with the provided bubbles before the molten resin is injected, injecting the molten resin containing the fine bubbles, and bursting the fine bubbles of the injected molten resin containing the fine bubbles in a merging location where the molten resin merges.

An injection molding method uses a die with a cavity into which molten resin is to be injected to fill the cavity. The die has a shape that causes the molten resin injected into the cavity to branch and merge. The injection molding method includes providing bubbles into the molten resin before the molten resin is injected, generating fine bubbles with the provided bubbles before the molten resin is injected, injecting the molten resin containing the fine bubbles, and bursting the fine bubbles of the injected molten resin containing the fine bubbles in a merging location where the molten resin merges.

Treating an uncured resin to impart energy to the resin enables a stable Tg to be achieved whereby the resin may be stored and has a low tack enabling subsequent processing and handling. The invention provides a method of achieving a stable Tg without the resin starting to cure and a method of determining the treatment regime by which a resin with a stable Tg may be obtained. The resin may be fresh or reused uncured resin and may contain fibrous reinforcement.

Treating an uncured resin to impart energy to the resin enables a stable Tg to be achieved whereby the resin may be stored and has a low tack enabling subsequent processing and handling. The invention provides a method of achieving a stable Tg without the resin starting to cure and a method of determining the treatment regime by which a resin with a stable Tg may be obtained. The resin may be fresh or reused uncured resin and may contain fibrous reinforcement.

This invention relates to the method for mold-free manufacturing of natural rubber articles. Specifically, the articles can be fabricated in the stereolithography process which eliminates the need of mold making and reduces the process time significantly. The method comprises the steps of (1) preparing prevulcanized latex compound for sulfur and non-sulfur vulcanization; (2) adding processing aid to make the latex compound curable when exposed to laser irradiation, the processing aid includes heat-sensitive polymer and/or carbon material(s); and (3) fabricating of three-dimensional rubber articles by stereolithography process. The process are capable of fabricating complex shapes and internal features. As the said rubber articles contain more than 95% of natural rubber, they are highly flexible and can be translucent in some embodiments.

This invention relates to the method for mold-free manufacturing of natural rubber articles. Specifically, the articles can be fabricated in the stereolithography process which eliminates the need of mold making and reduces the process time significantly. The method comprises the steps of (1) preparing prevulcanized latex compound for sulfur and non-sulfur vulcanization; (2) adding processing aid to make the latex compound curable when exposed to laser irradiation, the processing aid includes heat-sensitive polymer and/or carbon material(s); and (3) fabricating of three-dimensional rubber articles by stereolithography process. The process are capable of fabricating complex shapes and internal features. As the said rubber articles contain more than 95% of natural rubber, they are highly flexible and can be translucent in some embodiments.

According to one embodiment, an apparatus for improved breathing is provided. The apparatus may include an improved oral appliance, an improved mask, an improved coupler to couple an oral appliance to a mask, and/or a combination of these improvements.

According to one embodiment, an apparatus for improved breathing is provided. The apparatus may include an improved oral appliance, an improved mask, an improved coupler to couple an oral appliance to a mask, and/or a combination of these improvements.