A handrail includes a carcass, a stretch inhibitor arranged within the carcass, a cover bonded to the carcass, and a sliding layer secured to the carcass. At a central width axis of the handrail, a face height between an upper exterior surface of the cover and a bottom surface of the sliding layer may be less than about 8.0 mm. The carcass may be formed of a first thermoplastic material, the cover may be formed of a second thermoplastic material, and the first thermoplastic material may be harder than the second thermoplastic material. The first thermoplastic material may have a modulus at 100% elongation of between 10 and 16 MPa, and may have a hardness of between 93 and 96 Shore A.

A handrail includes a carcass, a stretch inhibitor arranged within the carcass, a cover bonded to the carcass, and a sliding layer secured to the carcass. At a central width axis of the handrail, a face height between an upper exterior surface of the cover and a bottom surface of the sliding layer may be less than about 8.0 mm. The carcass may be formed of a first thermoplastic material, the cover may be formed of a second thermoplastic material, and the first thermoplastic material may be harder than the second thermoplastic material. The first thermoplastic material may have a modulus at 100% elongation of between 10 and 16 MPa, and may have a hardness of between 93 and 96 Shore A.

A method of manufacturing a fluid impermeable rigid composite pipe (10) or hollow tube comprising the steps of:a. providing a supporting mandrel (15) that is shaped to define a bore of the pipe (10); b. laying onto the outer circumferential surface of the mandrel (10) one or more first tapes (11) made of a thermoplastic material thereby to create a first region (11) that is predominantly thermoplastic material adjacent the bore of the pipe (10); c. providing a plurality of tows (14) that comprise co-mingled reinforcing fibers and thermoplastic filaments; d. weaving a plurality of the tows (14) to form one or more circular braids (13) and laying down the one or more of the circular braids (13) on to the first layer (11): to form a second region (12); e. applying to the outer surface of the second region (12) a heat-shrinkable layer (13); f. heating the product of steps (b) to (e) on the mandrel (15) to a first temperature at which the thermoplastic materials of the one or more tapes 11 and the tows 14 melt and the heat-shrinkable layer 13 shrinks radially inwards to consolidate the melted thermoplastic material to form a thermoplastic matrix in which the reinforcing fibers are embedded and a fluid impermeable thermoplastic rich region (11) is formed at the bore of the pipe (10); and, g. allowing the pipe (10) to cool to form a self supporting pipe (10).

A sheet of heat shrink laminated composite for use creating repair patches for repairing or building up a surface formed of a composite material such as fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The sheet includes first and second layers of a heat-curable adhesive. The sheet includes a reinforcement layer sandwiched between the first and second layers of the adhesive. The sheet further includes a pressure application layer, which is formed of a heat-activated shrink wrap film, abutting an outer surface of the first layer of the adhesive. The reinforcement layer may include a sheet of a porous fabric or cloth, which may be fibers of carbon or glass such as unidirectional e-glass fibers. The adhesive is cured when heated to a temperature in a curing temperature range, and the shrink wrap film is activated when heated to a temperature in an activation temperature range that overlaps the curing temperature range of the adhesive.

A sheet of heat shrink laminated composite for use creating repair patches for repairing or building up a surface formed of a composite material such as fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The sheet includes first and second layers of a heat-curable adhesive. The sheet includes a reinforcement layer sandwiched between the first and second layers of the adhesive. The sheet further includes a pressure application layer, which is formed of a heat-activated shrink wrap film, abutting an outer surface of the first layer of the adhesive. The reinforcement layer may include a sheet of a porous fabric or cloth, which may be fibers of carbon or glass such as unidirectional e-glass fibers. The adhesive is cured when heated to a temperature in a curing temperature range, and the shrink wrap film is activated when heated to a temperature in an activation temperature range that overlaps the curing temperature range of the adhesive.

A handrail includes a carcass, a stretch inhibitor arranged within the carcass, a cover bonded to the carcass, and a sliding layer secured to the carcass. At a central width axis of the handrail, a face height between an upper exterior surface of the cover and a bottom surface of the sliding layer may be less than about 8.0 mm. The carcass may be formed of a first thermoplastic material, the cover may be formed of a second thermoplastic material, and the first thermoplastic material may be harder than the second thermoplastic material. The first thermoplastic material may have a modulus at 100% elongation of between 10 and 16 MPa, and may have a hardness of between 93 and 96 Shore A.

A handrail includes a carcass, a stretch inhibitor arranged within the carcass, a cover bonded to the carcass, and a sliding layer secured to the carcass. At a central width axis of the handrail, a face height between an upper exterior surface of the cover and a bottom surface of the sliding layer may be less than about 8.0 mm. The carcass may be formed of a first thermoplastic material, the cover may be formed of a second thermoplastic material, and the first thermoplastic material may be harder than the second thermoplastic material. The first thermoplastic material may have a modulus at 100% elongation of between 10 and 16 MPa, and may have a hardness of between 93 and 96 Shore A.

An illustrative example method of making an elongated load bearing member includes providing a plurality of tension elements. A plurality of weave fibers are woven together with the tension elements to thereby establish a weave. A traction surface is established on at least one side of the load bearing member. The traction surface is defined by the weave fibers. Coating the weave fibers with a compressible coating provides an exterior surface texture defined at least in part by the weave fibers.

Methods and systems of making a composite open lattice are provided. The method comprises the following: (i) providing a mandrel having a plurality of studs extending outwardly from an outer surface of the mandrel, wherein the plurality of studs define a network of pathways; (ii) winding a pre-impregnated tow of structural fibers through the network of pathways and forming at least one axial lattice element (ALE), at least one helical lattice element (HLE), and a plurality of intersection locations defined by overlapping portions of the pre-impregnated tow to form an intermediate composite open lattice; and (iii) curing the intermediate composite open lattice to provide the composite open lattice. Composite open lattices are also provided.

A structured fluoropolymer film including a plurality of structures having a height at least two times a thickness of a corresponding unstructured fluoropolymer film and at least a 20% increase in displacement induction period when compared to the corresponding unstructured fluoropolymer film when measured in a biaxial tensile curve at a temperature of about 125? C. In addition, the structured fluoropolymer film has a methane permeability of less than 500 ?g*?m/cm.sup.2/min. The structured fluoropolymer film exhibits a higher resistance to strain and retain barrier properties during manufacture and/or use.