A vacuum formed part includes at least two layers with one layer including a catalyst and the other not including a catalyst. At least one of the layers is formed by applying a slurry to a die or mold and applying a vacuum to the die or mold. The other layer may be formed from a slurry or may be provided onto the die or mold in the form of a fiber mat or blanket.

A liquid ejecting apparatus, a liquid ejecting method and an ink are provided, so as to appropriately increase the strength of ink after fixing. The liquid ejecting apparatus is configured to eject an ink by an inkjet method, and includes an inkjet head configured to eject the ink. The inkjet head has a nozzle configured to eject the ink. The ink includes a resin particle having a size capable of passing through the nozzle. The resin particle contains a fibrous substance. The fibrous substance is, for example, fibers of cellulose.

A process for producing a polymeric stiffened sheet-like component, for example a panel, for aircraft construction. Production includes integration of hollow stiffening profiles, for example closed omega stringers, onto a sheet-like component, for example an external skin, where the stringers and external skin are produced from thermoplastic composite material. The stringers are integrated onto the external skin by establishing contact between the stringers and the external skin and melting thermoplastic composite material with exposure to heat and pressure at the areas of contact between external skin and stringers. Melting of the other sections of the stringers is avoided with a pressurized cooling fluid with a temperature significantly below the melting point of thermoplastic composite material, the fluid flowing through the airtight enclosed space in the stringers. Use of closed airtight thermoplastic omega stringers allows integration of the stringers onto the external skin in absence of any flexible tube within the stringers.

A heated polymeric sheet material feeding process. The process may include heating a polymeric sheet in a heating zone to a forming temperature to form a heated polymeric sheet material. The process may further include transferring, while under a feeding vacuum range, the heated polymeric sheet from the heating zone to feed the heated polymeric sheet material into a forming zone under the feeding vacuum range.

The present invention relates to a fire, smoke and toxicity retardant (FST) polyamide thermoplastic mass usable for 3D printing which comprises at least one non-halogenated organic flame retardant in combination with at least one particulate inorganic flame retardant. Moreover, the present invention refers to uses of such FST polyamide thermoplastic mass for 3D printing. The invention further relates to methods of preparing a three-dimensionally shaped product by means of 3D printing based on such FST polyamide thermoplastic mass.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a molding method capable of molding a molded article having excellent strength and reducing manufacturing costs by shortening a molding cycle when obtaining a molded article from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin by compression molding. The present invention relates to a molding method which obtains a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin by kneading a thermoplastic resin and a reinforcing fiber (14), and a molded article from the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin by compression molding. The molding method of the molded article comprising the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin according to the present invention comprises: a molding step for obtaining a first molded article from a predetermined amount of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin through a molding die (4); a carrying-in step for opening the molding die (4), taking out the first molded article, and inserting the first molded article into a cooling die (5); and a compression cooling step for cooling the first molded article by compressing the first molded article through the cooling die (5).

Methods and apparatus for additive manufactures of complex parts using co-aligned continuous fibers are disclosed. Filament subunits having complex shapes are fabricated and inserted into a mold cavity. The layup is compression molded to form a complex part having high tensile strength.

A method of manufacturing a unitary energy absorbing structure for a vehicle includes providing a first mold having a cavity receiving a first mandrel and a second mold having a cavity receiving a second mandrel. At least one mandrel segment is positioned in the first mold cavity and cooperates with the first mandrel. One or more layers of composite material at least partially cover the first mold cavity, first mandrel, at least one mandrel segment and second mold. The unitary structure is formed from the first layer, the second layer and the third layer of composite material with the first mandrel, the at least one mandrel segment and the second mandrel in the first mold and the second mold.

The invention features biodegradable, compostable molding mass compositions, molding masses, molded articles, coating solutions, and systems and methods for the manufacture of same.

A hot press cushioning material includes a cushioning material body in the form of a plate; and surface materials provided on the front and back sides of the cushioning material body. The surface material includes a core layer composed of a heat resistant fiber material for a nonwoven structure, and a front-side resin layer covering the entire front side of the core layer. The core layer has an air permeability of 5 cm.sup.3.Math.cm.sup.−2.Math.s.sup.−1 or less and a bulk density of 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 or more.