A method is provided for forming a near-net thermoplastic composite component includes co-spraying a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer material and a chopped reinforcing material deposited onto at least one region associated with a tool having a first temperature and defining a near-net component shape. The mixture and adjacent tool is heated to a second temperature while the mixture is on the tool. The first temperature is below the solidification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer material and the second temperature is above the solidification temperature. Then, the mixture is exposed to a negative pressure to promote removal of gases from the mixture and put under compressive force to densify the mixture. The thermoplastic polymer material melts and flows. The tool is cooled to the first temperature and removing the mixture to form the near-net thermoplastic composite component having randomly oriented chopped reinforcement material distributed within a thermoplastic polymer matrix.

A reinforcing article includes a porous substrate layer separating a plurality of parallel first continuous fiber elements spaced apart from each other and extending along a first direction from a plurality of parallel second continuous fiber elements spaced apart from each other and extending along a different direction. Each first and second continuous fiber elements include a plurality of parallel and co-extending continuous fibers embedded in a thermoplastic resin.

A method and an apparatus for producing a reinforcement mesh. Here, a reinforcement fiber strand is firstly saturated with a resin (H) and cured to form a cured, fiber-reinforced strand material. The strand material present as an endless material is then cut lengthwise into bars, which are then used as longitudinal bars or transverse bars for forming the reinforcement mesh. A connecting material is used at each intersection point between a longitudinal bar and a transverse bar and is dispensed in liquid form at the intersection point or is liquefied and then cured at the intersection point. A fixed connection is thus created between the longitudinal bars and the transverse bars at the intersection points. Between the intersection points, the longitudinal bars and the transverse bars have portions that are free of connecting material.

Netting comprising an array of polymeric strands, wherein the polymeric strands are periodically joined together at bond regions throughout the array, and wherein at least a plurality (i.e., at least two) of the polymeric strands have a core of a first polymeric material and a sheath of a second, different polymeric material. Nettings described herein have a variety of uses, including wound care, tapes, filtration, absorbent articles, pest control articles, geotextile applications, water/vapor management in clothing, reinforcement for nonwoven articles, self bulking articles, floor coverings, grip supports, athletic articles, and pattern coated adhesives.

A structure for use in a compressible resilient pad. The structure contains both axially elastomeric strands and relatively inelastic strands co-extruded in various patterns. The structure has a high degree of both compressibility under an applied normal load and excellent recovery (resiliency or spring back) upon removal of that load.

There is provided a reticulated reflective article, having a longitudinal direction and a width direction, comprising: a plurality of strands of a reflective material attached to one another at bridging regions in the reflective material and separable from one another between the bridging regions to provide openings in the reflective material, wherein the openings are expandable in at least one direction to provide a variably expandable area, and wherein the reflective materials comprises a reflective major surface and a non-reflective major surface, wherein each of the openings has a longitudinal dimension, a width dimension, and each of the plurality of strands has a thickness, and wherein the reticulated reflective article is expandable in at least both of the longitudinal direction and the width direction. There is also provided a reticulated reflective article, wherein the reticulated reflective article is expandable in at least two directions.

Polymeric netting comprising polymeric ribbons and polymeric strands, each of the polymeric ribbons and polymeric strands having a length and a width, wherein the length is the longest dimension and the width is the shortest dimension, wherein a plurality of the polymeric strands are bonded together to form a netting layer, wherein adjacent polymeric strands in the netting layer are bonded intermittently at multiple locations along their respective lengths, wherein the netting layer has first and second opposing major surfaces, wherein the polymeric ribbons have a height-to-width aspect ratio of at least 2:1 and a minor surface defined by their width and length, and wherein the minor surface of a plurality of the polymeric ribbons is bonded to the first major surface of the netting layer. Polymeric netting described herein are useful, for example, in an absorbent article.

A reinforcing article includes a porous substrate layer separating a plurality of parallel first continuous fiber elements spaced apart from each other and extending along a first direction from a plurality of parallel second continuous fiber elements spaced apart from each other and extending along a different direction. Each first and second continuous fiber elements include a plurality of parallel and co-extending continuous fibers embedded in a thermoplastic resin.

A production plant for a ground covering structure (6) comprises a plant inlet zone and a plant outlet zone for a grid reinforcing member (10). The plant further comprises movement means (4) designed in operation to move the grid reinforcing member (10) along a predetermined path from the inlet zone to the outlet zone, supply means (11) for the supply of plastics material in the fluid state in the form of threads (7) to the reinforcing member (10) disposed along the predetermined path, and cooling means (2, 3) for cooling the plastics material in the form of threads (7) which are tangled on the grid reinforcing structure. The inlet zone and the outlet zone are disposed opposite one another along the predetermined path with respect to the supply means.

An iso-grid composite component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a spacer transverse to a uni-tape ply bundle, the spacer interrupted by the uni-tape ply bundle.