Composite fibers created by a process including vertically texturizing and impregnating resin into the fibers at controlled viscosity results in stronger fibers in which virtually no microbubbles are trapped resulting in improved tensile strength for use in reinforcing concrete and other materials.

Embodiments provide a helical layer structure including: a helical core member which is formed of a flexible, lengthy, flat plate-like core member and which is formed of a steel plate made of a metal material, such as iron; and a polymeric coating layer which is formed of a polymeric material such as a thermosetting elastic material or a thermoplastic elastic material, and which coats the helical core member. The manufacturing method of the helical layer structure includes: a feeding step of feeding a core member having flexibility; a supply step of supplying the polymeric material having fluidity; a coating step of coating the core member with the polymeric material; a cooling step of cooling a coated intermediate which is coated with the polymeric material; and a helix formation step of helically twisting the coated intermediate to form the helical layer structure.

A system for producing rebar includes a pultruding machine configured to receive a flexible rebar preform. The flexible rebar preform includes at least one reinforcement filament, and at least one thermoplastic filament. The at least one reinforcement filament, and the at least one thermoplastic filament are arranged in a selected distribution across a cross-section of the preform. The pultruding machine includes a pulling apparatus, a rebar cutting apparatus, and a bending apparatus. The pultruding machine is configured to heat the flexible rebar preform to a first temperature. The first temperature is greater than or equal to a melt temperature of the thermoplastic filaments. The pulling apparatus is configured to pull the flexible rebar preform through a pultrusion die to form the rebar. The rebar cutting apparatus is configured to cut the rebar at a prespecified length. The bending apparatus is configured to bend the cut rebar to a prespecified bend geometry.

A multilumen catheter assembly and method of making the catheter assembly is provided that involves providing a plurality of tubes, each tube having a first end, a second end, at least one lumen, and at least one surface, selectively heating at least a portion of the surface of at least a first tube of the plurality of tubes, and contacting the selectively heated portion of the tube with a portion of the surface of a second tube to form a multilumen catheter shaft that is joined together along at least a portion of the length of the catheter shaft.

A multilumen catheter assembly and method of making the catheter assembly is provided that involves providing a plurality of tubes, each tube having a first end, a second end, at least one lumen, and at least one surface, selectively heating at least a portion of the surface of at least a first tube of the plurality of tubes, and contacting the selectively heated portion of the tube with a portion of the surface of a second tube to form a multilumen catheter shaft that is joined together along at least a portion of the length of the catheter shaft.

Drive shafts having helical blades and methods of making are disclosed. In one method a helical auger blade is formed by twisting or sculpting a heated polymer tube which has been placed over a cylindrical drive shaft. In another method a drive shaft is placed within a helical winding and heat is applied to melt polymer which has been coated over one or both of the drive shaft and helical winding.

Drive shafts having helical blades and methods of making are disclosed. In one method a helical auger blade is formed by twisting or sculpting a heated polymer tube which has been placed over a cylindrical drive shaft. In another method a drive shaft is placed within a helical winding and heat is applied to melt polymer which has been coated over one or both of the drive shaft and helical winding.

The invention relates to a method for producing a bent thermoplastic composite, comprising 35% or less in volume of a polymeric matrix including (meth)acrylic polymers, and at least 65% in volume of fiber, where the method includes (a) a step of providing the thermoplastic composite; (b) a step of heating a portion of the thermoplastic composite, said heating being selected between, conduction, radial and/or volumetric and the heating duration and/or the heating temperature being selected according to at least the thickness of the thermoplastic composite; (c) a step of creating a bent section in the heated portion by bending the heated portion; and (d) a step of cooling the bent section to solidify it and to form a bent thermoplastic composite, at a cooling temperature and/or a cooling duration selected in accordance with the glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the bent thermoplastic composite.

The invention relates to a method for producing a bent thermoplastic composite, comprising 35% or less in volume of a polymeric matrix including (meth)acrylic polymers, and at least 65% in volume of fiber, where the method includes (a) a step of providing the thermoplastic composite; (b) a step of heating a portion of the thermoplastic composite, said heating being selected between, conduction, radial and/or volumetric and the heating duration and/or the heating temperature being selected according to at least the thickness of the thermoplastic composite; (c) a step of creating a bent section in the heated portion by bending the heated portion; and (d) a step of cooling the bent section to solidify it and to form a bent thermoplastic composite, at a cooling temperature and/or a cooling duration selected in accordance with the glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the bent thermoplastic composite.

The present invention relates to a (meth)acrylic composition suitable for (meth)acrylic polymeric compositions and (meth)acrylic polymeric composites, its method of preparation, its use and obtained (meth)acrylic polymeric compositions and (meth)acrylic polymeric composites. In particular the present invention relates to a (meth)acrylic composition that is crosslinked once polymerized and that is suitable for (meth)acrylic composites and more particular for reinforcing elements or fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) rebars. More particularly the present invention relates to a (meth)acrylic composition suitable for producing reinforcing elements or FRP rebars, preparing such a (meth)acrylic composition, composite reinforcing elements or rebar comprising it after polymerization and method of preparing such a composite reinforcing elements or FRP rebar. The present invention also relates also to the use of such a (meth)acrylic composition and the use of reinforcing elements or FRP rebars for concrete.