A moldable composite sheet having improved thermal and mechanical property characteristics. In one aspect, the composite sheet may be a porous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin comprising discontinuous mineral reinforcing fibers, and one or more skin layer materials. Generally, the composite sheet may have a void content or porosity from about 5% to about 95% by volume of the sheet, an areal weight between about 400 g/m.sup.2 to about 4000 g/m.sup.2 (gsm), a mineral fiber content from about 20% to about 80% by weight, and a thermoplastic resin content from about 20% to about 80% by weight of the composite sheet. The composite sheet can be molded via low pressure processes, such as thermoforming, match metal molding on stops, vacuum forming and pressure forming, to produce durable automotive interior trim parts and construction articles having improved thermal and mechanical properties in addition to other beneficial characteristics.

Provided are a sound-absorbing membrane, a sound-absorbing material, and methods of manufacture therefor that can provide suitable sound absorbing performance, suppressed deterioration in appearance quality, and easy production. A sound-absorbing membrane 10 includes: a base sheet 11 made of a nonwoven fabric having a airflow resistance of 0.01 to 0.1 kPa.Math.s/m; and a resin film 12 covering one surface of the base sheet, the resin film 12 made of a thermosetting resin in a semi-cured state. Fillers 13 made of powder having an average particle diameter of 1 to 100 m are dispersed in the resin film 12. The sound-absorbing membrane 10 has a whole airflow resistance of 0.2 to 5.0 kPa.Math.s/m. A sound-absorbing material 20 includes a sound absorbing base sheet 21 made of a porous material, and the sound-absorbing membrane 10 laminated on one surface or both surfaces of the sound absorbing base sheet 21 such that the resin film 12 faces the sound absorbing base sheet 21, the sound-absorbing material 20 has a predetermined shape.

A folded panel includes a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) substrate with an outer layer secured to and at least partially covering one major surface thereof and a polymer matrix covering an opposite major surface thereof. In one embodiment, the FRP substrate is folded about a fold line to create opposed plies on either side of the fold line with the polymer matrix of one of the opposed plies contacting the polymer matrix of the other of the opposed plies and with the outer layer forming a folded edge at the fold line that is continuous with the outer layer covering the opposed plies, and the folded FRP substrate is then consolidated with the polymer matrix. In another embodiment, a fiber or fibrous material substrate is positioned between the opposed plies and the combination of the folded FRP substrate and the fiber or fibrous substrate is consolidated with the polymer matrix.

Presented are fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sandwich structures, methods for making/using such FRP sandwich structures, and motor vehicles with a vehicle component fabricated from a compression molded thermoset or thermoplastic FRP sandwich structure. A multidimensional composite sandwich structure includes first and second (skin) layers formed from a thermoset of thermoplastic polymer matrix, such as resin or nylon, filled with a fiber reinforcing material, such as chopped carbon fibers. A third (core) layer, which is encased between the first and second skin layers, is formed from a thermoset/thermoplastic polymer matrix filled with a fiber reinforcing material and a filler material, such as hollow glass microspheres. The first, second and third layers have respective rheological flow properties that are substantially similar such that all three layers flow in unison at a predetermined compression molding pressure. These layers may be formed from the same thermoset/thermoplastic polymer material, and include the same fiber reinforcing material.

A reusable, fiber containing pulp product is described that is highly suited for use in the manufacture of paper products. The reusable, fiber containing pulp product provides a mixture of fibers and small, dense polymer/particle fragments. The polymer/particle fragments within the reusable, fiber containing pulp product have a size range and density that facilitates efficient removal of the polymer/particle fragments using pressure screens.

A reusable, fiber containing pulp product is described that is highly suited for use in the manufacture of paper products. The reusable, fiber containing pulp product provides a mixture of fibers and small, dense polymer/particle fragments. The polymer/particle fragments within the reusable, fiber containing pulp product have a size range and density that facilitates efficient removal of the polymer/particle fragments using pressure screens.

A termination arrangement for securing an overhead electrical cable to a dead-end structure such as a dead-end tower. The termination arrangement includes a compression sheath that is configured to be disposed between a strength member and the conductive strands of the overhead electrical cable. The compression sheath mitigates damage to the strength member that may occur when an outer metallic sleeve is compressed around the conductive strands and the conductive strands are compressed against the strength member. The arrangement is particularly useful for securing overhead electrical cables having a composite strength member to a dead-end structure.

The present invention relates to a composite material comprising one or more fibre layers composed of a fibre material and an aromatic polycarbonate-based matrix material. The fibre layer(s) is/are embedded in the matrix material. The present invention further relates to a process for producing these fibre composite materials, to multilayer composite materials comprising several layers of fibre composite material, and to the use of the composite materials for production of components or housing components or housings, and to the components, housing components or housings themselves.

Provided is a composite laminate having excellent releasability from a mold during a production process and having excellent surface appearance (surface smoothness) . A composite laminate 1 including an A layer 2 and a B layer 3, the A layer 2 being provided on one or both sides of the B layer 3, the A layer 2 containing inorganic fibers (a1) with an average fiber length of 1 m to 300 m and a thermoplastic resin (a2), the B layer 3 containing reinforcing fibers (b1) with an average fiber length of 1 mm or more and a thermoplastic resin (b2).

The invention relates to a liner for the rehabilitation of fluid-conducting systems, comprising a) an inner film tube based on a thermoplastic, b) an outer film tube based on a thermoplastic, and arranged between the inner and the outer film tube, c) at least one fibrous tube based on a composite material that consists of (c1) industrially generated inorganic fibers, natural fibers or mineral fibers and (c2) man-made fibers, said fibrous tube being impregnated with a curable resin.