A fibrous nonwoven material which is vertically lapped in its entirety or which includes one or more lapped regions which include vertically lapped fibers provides for padding to be applied to a substrate (e.g., an article of interest such as a handle for sporting equipment or tool, or on the inside of a motorcycle or bicycle helmet, etc.). The skin contacting surface of the nonwoven has regions which are relatively thicker than other regions, and air, sweat, and the like are allowed to easily pass through these regions for cooling, wicking of fluid and enhanced breathability. The lapped nonwoven includes a backing material which helps define the pad shape and which permits securing to a substrate. A hook and loop fastener may be affixed to the lapped nonwoven at the backing material so as to allow retrieval and replacement of the nonwoven on the substrate. An acquisition layer on the surface can be used on the surface of the nonwoven, and a carded consolidated web may be positioned within the nonwoven. The nonwoven may take a variety of shapes including the shape of a strip and the shape of a koozie.

Sheet-like composite parts are manufactured by: a) providing a substantially planar arrangement (A, B, A′) comprising a core layer (B) comprising a a fleece material made of fleece thermoplastic fibers and reinforcement fibers, sandwiched between a pair of skin layers (A, A′), each comprising a skin thermoplastic and optionally reinforcement fibers, one face of the core layer being adjacent and substantially parallel to a skin layer and a second face of the core layer being adjacent and substantially parallel to the other skin layer, b) heating and pressing the sandwich arrangement (A,B,A′) followed by cooling, thereby obtaining the composite part, wherein the compression strength of the composite part is improved with a core layer (B) which is a Z-oriented core layer having reinforcement fibers that are predominantly oriented in a direction (Z) perpendicular to the first and second faces, produced by multiple folding.

Methods and systems that can produce light weight reinforced thermoplastic articles are described. In some embodiments, a method includes heating and pressing a core layer and then cooling and pressing the core layer to maintain the thickness of the core layer during cooling. Automotive articles, building articles and recreational vehicle articles that can be produced using the methods and systems are also described.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to composite laminate structures including a polymer layer having sp.sup.2 carbon-containing material and improved heat release properties, and methods of making the same.

A foldable building structure package having a first folded configuration and a second unfolded configuration. The package has a first enclosure component portion and an enclosure member selected from the group consisting of an enclosure component and a second enclosure component portion, with the enclosure member being joined to and moveable with respect to the first enclosure component portion from a folded position to an unfolded position to form a first part of the building structure in its second unfolded configuration. There is a first deployment bracket secured to the first enclosure component portion, a deployment strut adapted to be secured to the first deployment bracket at a first end and having a rotatable sheave at a second end, and a fastener positioned on the enclosure member for receiving a line run from the tang over the rotatable sheave.

A fiber-reinforced polymeric composite structure having chemically active thermoset particles positioned in an interlaminar region between adjacent layers of reinforcement fibers and method of making the same. Upon curing of the composite structure, the chemically active functional groups on the thermoset particles form covalent bonds with the matrix resin surrounding the particles. In one embodiment, the particles are formed of a partially cured thermoset polymer with a degree of cure of less than 100%. In another embodiment, the particles are derived from a thermosettable resin composition, wherein the stoichiometry is such that there is a deficiency or an excess in the amount of curing agent that is necessary for reacting with 100% of the thermoset resin component. In some embodiments, the composition of the chemically active thermoset particles is the same or substantially the same as that of the matrix resin of the composite structure.

The present invention relates to fibre composite materials composed of a fibre material and an aromatic polycarbonate-based matrix material and to multilayer composite materials comprising one or more such layers of fibre composite material. The fibre composite material has a pleasing look with stripes that seem naturally formed on a white or coloured background. The fibre layer(s) is/are embedded in the matrix material. The present invention further relates to a process for producing the fibre composite materials and multilayer composite materials and to components, housing components or housings, especially for laptop, notebook or ultrabook covers, comprising such composite materials themselves.

A Method and Apparatus for a Fireproof Wall have been disclosed. By utilizing unique and novel thermal resistance and thermal capacitance combinations a fireproof wall can be constructed.

The invention relates to a multilayer prepreg comprising a first and a second fiber prepreg, one or two micaceous prepregs and B staged thermosetting resin, which may be different for each layer or identical. The micaceous prepregs are positioned on the top (outside) of the fiber prepregs. There may be plurality of further fiber prepregs. The micaceous prepregs preferably comprise mica flakes in the form of a mica paper. The use of such prepreg as surfacing layer at the top of a composite material or near the top of a composite material can determine an improvement in burn-through and fire retardancy performance of composite materials. It is also disclosed a cured composite panel, such as an aircraft part, obtainable by curing the multilayer prepreg to a C stage.

The invention relates to a multilayer prepreg comprising a first and a second fiber prepreg, one or two micaceous prepregs and B staged thermosetting resin, which may be different for each layer or identical. The micaceous prepregs are positioned on the top (outside) of the fiber prepregs. There may be plurality of further fiber prepregs. The micaceous prepregs preferably comprise mica flakes in the form of a mica paper. The use of such prepreg as surfacing layer at the top of a composite material or near the top of a composite material can determine an improvement in burn-through and fire retardancy performance of composite materials. It is also disclosed a cured composite panel, such as an aircraft part, obtainable by curing the multilayer prepreg to a C stage.