An epoxy resin composition, and a prepreg, a laminate, and a metal foil-clad laminate manufactured using same. The epoxy resin composition comprises epoxy resin (A), phenolic curing agent (B), high molecular weight resin (C), and an optional inorganic filler (D), the high molecular weight resin (C) having the structure shown in formula (1), formula (2), formula (3), and formula (4), the weight-average molecular weight being between 100,000 and 200,000, and the content of the epoxy resin (A) containing a naphthalene ring skeleton and the phenolic curing agent (B) containing a naphthalene ring skeleton being 0%. The present epoxy resin composition, and the prepreg, the laminate, and the metal foil-clad laminate manufactured using same have good heat resistance, low modulus, and a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The formulas are:

##STR00001##

The flexible sheet-like material comprises a textile layer, which is coated at least on one side with a functional layer which is permeable to gas but impermeable to the matrix material, acting as a barrier layer for the matrix material, and is produced by coating the textile layer directly with a foam or a paste.

The invention relates to an article comprising a main body (6, 7, 8) that consists of a polymer material having elastic properties, particularly an air spring bellows (2), a metal-rubber element or a vibration damper. In order for fire-retardant properties to be improved, the article is provided, partially or fully, with a cover (9) formed from at least one flat textile structure and/or at least one three-dimensional textile structure and/or at least one shrink film. The cover can be fire-retardant itself or can be equipped to be fire-retardant.

Provided is a sizing agent for synthetic fibers, the sizing agent including an organo-modified silicone represented by the following General Formula (1):

##STR00001##

in which in Formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group; R.sup.2 represents a group represented by the following General Formula (2); R.sup.3 represents a hydrocarbon group having 8 to 40 carbon atoms and having an aromatic ring, or an alkyl group having 3 to 22 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 represents a group similar to R.sup.1, R.sup.2 or R.sup.3; in a case in which there are numerous R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4, the substituents may be respectively identical with or different from each other; x represents an integer of 0 or more; y and z each represent an integer of 1 or more; and (x+y+z) is 10 to 200,

##STR00002##

in which in Formula (2), R.sup.5 represents an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.6 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; c represents an integer from 0 to 4; f represents an integer of 0 or 1; and Ep represents a group represented by the following Formula (3) or the following Formula (4):

##STR00003##

A vehicle sandwich structure composed of a foamed resin article in sheet form forming the core, a fiber-reinforced composite layer forming a surface material that is located on one or both sides of the foamed resin article in thickness direction; forming a binding layer of core and surface materials between the foamed resin article and the fiber-reinforced composite layer; a large number of glass fibers being inserted within said foamed resin article; more than 70% of total glass fibers being the glass fibers which form an angle between the longitudinal direction of each glass fiber and said foamed resin article, the angle of which satisfying a range from 45° to 90°.

Provided is a windmill blade, comprising a core material formed of an acrylic resin expanded article and an outer skin covering the core material, in winch the outer skin is formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material including a carbon fiber and a resin, and the acrylic resin expanded article has a specified bending modulus.

A hybrid piston pin and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The hybrid piston pin includes a cylindrical pin formed of steel, a first reinforcement layer that is formed of a composite that includes reinforced fibers and a resin, having a cylindrical shape with a uniform thickness, and coupled to the interior surface of the cylindrical pin. A second reinforcement layer is formed of a composite that includes reinforced fibers having an elasticity that is less than the reinforced fibers of the first reinforcement layer. Further, a resin having a cylindrical shape with a uniform thickness is coupled to the interior surface of the first reinforcement layer.

The present invention relates especially to an intermediate material comprising, or even constituted exclusively by, an array of individualised ribbons, each ribbon being composed by a tape of unidirectional reinforcing fibres associated, by adhesion, on each of its faces with a veil of thermoplastic fibres, characterised in that the ribbons are disposed in successive layers, in such a way that the ribbons of two successive layers are superposed with or without crossing but without interlacement, the bond between a ribbon and the ribbon or ribbons with which it is superposed being ensured by adhesion, and in that in each layer the ribbons are disposed substantially parallel to each other over at least the major part of their length, while being independent and spaced from each other and in that the ribbons of at least two layers extend in two different directions.

Described herein is a flexible but resilient material comprising a soft outside shell and an internal flexible but resilient support core, as well as a method for constructing such a flexible but resilient material that can have multiple applications, including being used to manufacture an improved shoelace to help young children, individuals who are physically challenged, and/or who have a limiting physical disability.

A moisture vapor permeable, water impermeable composite sheet material is provided which is suitable for use as a housewrap material, and is also useful for other applications such as tarpaulins, or as covers for automobile, boats, patio furniture or the like. The composite sheet material includes a nonwoven substrate and an extrusion-coated polyolefin film layer overlying one surface of the substrate. The nonwoven substrate is comprised of polymeric fibers randomly disposed and bonded to one another to form a high tenacity nonwoven web. The nonwoven substrate has a grab tensile strength of at least 178 Newtons (40 pounds) in at least one of the machine direction (MD) or the cross-machine direction (CD). The extrusion coated polyolefin film layer is intimately bonded to the nonwoven substrate. The film layer has micropores formed therein to impart to the composite sheet material a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 35 g/m.sup.2/24 hr. at 50% relative humidity and 23° C. and a hydrostatic head of at least 55 cm. In one embodiment, the nonwoven substrate comprises a spunbonded nonwoven fabric formed of randomly disposed substantially continuous polypropylene filaments. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric is an area bonded fabric in which the filaments are bonded to one another throughout the fabric at locations where the randomly disposed filaments overlie or cross one another.