The present invention relates to an insulating sheet of a nonwoven sheet, for example a sheet comprising aramid fiber, comprising 15 to 80 percent by weight of a crystalline silicate mineral powder, for example a mica powder, the nonwoven sheet impregnated with a coating of an impregnating resin based on acrylate derivatives, which is suitable for increasing the compactness of the insulating sheet and for preventing the silicate mineral powder from detaching from the nonwoven sheet during use. The impregnating resin also comprises an organic solvent, which is capable of reducing the viscosity thereof and of promoting its deep penetration into the sheet. In addition, the impregnating resin comprises a UV polymerization photoinitiator which is suitable for curing the resin, only after said resin has been applied to the sheet and has penetrated deeply therein. The invention also describes the method for impregnating the insulating sheets.

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.

The present invention relates to a multilayer laminate comprising at least three layers, wherein the two outer layers are each nonwoven backing sheet (7) containing a crystalline silicate mineral powder impregnated with a coating of an impregnating resin based on acrylate derivatives, which is suitable for increasing the compactness of the insulating sheet and for preventing the silicate mineral powder from detaching from the aramid fiber during use; the multilayer laminate having an inner layer being free of crystalline silicate mineral powder that comprises either i) heat resistant floc and binder, or ii) heat resistant polymeric film. The impregnating resin also comprises an organic solvent, which is capable of reducing the viscosity thereof and of promoting its deep penetration into the sheet. In addition, the impregnating resin comprises a UV polymerization photoinitiator which is suitable for curing the resin, only after said resin has been applied to the sheet and has penetrated deeply therein. The invention also describes the method for impregnating the insulating sheets.

A fastener and method for joining dissimilar materials. The fastener has a metal body and a hollow portion. The method includes the steps of: layering a thermoplastic first component with a second component such that the first component covers an opening formed through the second component; pressing the metal fastener against the first component through the opening in the second component; and heating the thermoplastic at an interface of the metal fastener and the first component so that the thermoplastic flows into the hollow portion of the metal fastener during the step of pressing. A portion of the metal fastener is thus embedded in the thermoplastic and a joint is formed that attaches the first and second components together when the thermoplastic is cooled.

A fastener and method for joining dissimilar materials. The fastener has a metal body and a hollow portion. The method includes the steps of: layering a thermoplastic first component with a second component such that the first component covers an opening formed through the second component; pressing the metal fastener against the first component through the opening in the second component; and heating the thermoplastic at an interface of the metal fastener and the first component so that the thermoplastic flows into the hollow portion of the metal fastener during the step of pressing. A portion of the metal fastener is thus embedded in the thermoplastic and a joint is formed that attaches the first and second components together when the thermoplastic is cooled.

A method of manufacturing curved composite structural elements can include fabricating a web ply in a flat curve over a removable substrate and laying up the ply on a curved web surface of a manufacturing tool. The method also can include laying up a diagonal ply with fibers oriented at +/45 from the centerline of the web surface. The method further can include cutting a unidirectional composite tape into segments and laying up the tape segments to form a cross ply with a fiber orientation normal to the centerline of the web surface. One or both edges of the diagonal and cross plies may be folded over one or two sides of the manufacturing tool to form one or two flange surfaces. Additionally, a cap ply can be laid up on one or both flange surfaces using composite tape. The structural element layup can then be inspected and any excess composite material can be trimmed away.