A supported elastomeric foam (100) includes an elastomeric matrix (102) formed of an elastomer and including a reinforcement region (104) and a foamed region (106). The foamed region includes gas filled cells (108) in the elastomer, and the reinforcement region includes a porous layer (204) having an interconnected network of pores at least partially imbibed with the elastomer. The foam can include an adhesive at a surface of the foam. A compressible seal (802) including a compressible body, which can be elastomeric foam, can also include a pattern of discontinuous adhesive regions about which the compressible body can deform to form a sea. The supported elastomeric foam can form a gas tight seal in an interface when placed under minimal compression.

A method of fabricating a laminar composite article, includes steps of spreading a plurality of continuous fiber tows from a spool to form a first ply layer having a substantially consistent layer thickness, applying a binder to the spread plurality of continuous fiber tows, curing the plurality of continuous fiber tows and applied binder at a cure temperature less than a thermal decomposition temperature of the binder, and processing the cured plurality of continuous fiber tows at a post-cure temperature greater than the cure temperature.

A process for forming a moldable, uncured nonwoven composite containing forming a structural nonwoven layer, at least partially impregnating the structural nonwoven layer with an uncured, water-based thermosetting resin having a cure temperature of at least about 160° C., and at least partially drying the uncured, wet nonwoven composite. The structural nonwoven layer contains a plurality of binder fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers which are cellulosic fibers. Heat and pressure are applied to the moldable, uncured composite to a temperature of at least about 160° C. at least partially melting the binder fibers, curing the water-based thermosetting resin, and bonding at least a portion of the reinforcing fibers to other reinforcing fibers forming the molded, cured composite. The reinforcing fibers react with and form covalent bonds with the thermosetting resin.

Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.solid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid=DR.sub.sp*DR.sub.ag of at least 150, wherein DR.sub.sp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DR.sub.ag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DR.sub.sp being greater than 1 and DR.sub.ag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.

Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.solid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid=DR.sub.sp*DR.sub.ag of at least 150, wherein DR.sub.sp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DR.sub.ag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DR.sub.sp being greater than 1 and DR.sub.ag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.

In an illustrative implementation of this invention, a 3D object comprises substrate layers infiltrated by a hardened material. The 3D object is fabricated by a method comprising the following steps: Position powder on all or part of a substrate layer. Repeat this step for the remaining substrate layers. Transform the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material. The hardened material solidifies in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions in the substrate layers and does not infiltrate negative regions in the substrate layers.

A composite material includes laminated composite material sheets having conductivity, partitioning members provided between end parts of sets of the composite material sheets to mutually separate the sets of the composite material sheets, and metal sheets respectively provided in the separated end parts of the composite material sheets so as to be respectively pinched between the composite material sheets.

A composite material includes laminated composite material sheets having conductivity, partitioning members provided between end parts of sets of the composite material sheets to mutually separate the sets of the composite material sheets, and metal sheets respectively provided in the separated end parts of the composite material sheets so as to be respectively pinched between the composite material sheets.

An object of the present invention is to provide an innovative and highly practical connection member for a vehicle structure. The present invention is a connection member for a vehicle structure equipped with at least two connection sections (2) that are used in the vehicle structure and that connect appropriate sites within the vehicle structure, the connection member for a vehicle structure being characterized in having a layered structure section (1) configured by impregnating a layered body (4) in which a plurality of fiber bodies (3) have been layered with a matrix resin and curing the impregnated layered body, and employing, as the fiber bodies (3), bodies in which bundles of unidirectionally aligned carbon fibers (5) have been interwoven with thermally fusible fibers (6).

An object of the present invention is to provide an innovative and highly practical connection member for a vehicle structure. The present invention is a connection member for a vehicle structure equipped with at least two connection sections (2) that are used in the vehicle structure and that connect appropriate sites within the vehicle structure, the connection member for a vehicle structure being characterized in having a layered structure section (1) configured by impregnating a layered body (4) in which a plurality of fiber bodies (3) have been layered with a matrix resin and curing the impregnated layered body, and employing, as the fiber bodies (3), bodies in which bundles of unidirectionally aligned carbon fibers (5) have been interwoven with thermally fusible fibers (6).