Embodiments of the invention provide roofing boards and roofing systems having improved fire resistance properties and methods related to the same. According to one aspect, a roofing system is provided. The roofing system includes roofing panels positioned atop structural support members to form a roof deck. Roofing boards are positioned atop the roof deck and coupled thereto and a roofing membrane is positioned atop the roofing boards and coupled therewith. The roofing boards include a coating of a mineral based material applied to one or more surfaces in an amount between the range of about 0.10 lbs/ft.sup.2 and about 0.70 lbs/ft.sup.2. The mineral based material coating enables the roofing boards to pass the UL 790 class A tests, such as the burning brand test.

Articles are provided, having a multilayer structure including (a) a first layer formed from polyolefin and including undercut features formed on and extending from an integral backing; (b) a second layer including an adhesive having a Shore D hardness of greater than 59 when cured; and (c) a third layer including a substrate. The second layer is interlocked with the undercut features, the third layer is adhered to the adhesive, and the second layer is disposed between the first layer and the third layer. A method is also provided including (a) depositing a polyolefin resin into a mold cavity to form a first layer including undercut features; (b) demolding the first layer from the mold cavity at a rate of at least 150 millimeters per minute; (c) applying a curable adhesive to the undercut features to form a second layer attached to the first layer; and (d) attaching a third layer including a substrate to the second layer.

Disclosed are various embodiments for electrodes and sensors having nanowires. According to an embodiment as described, a dry sensor is provided. Nanowires, such as silver nanowires, are positioned within a polymer material, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to form an electrode. A conductive element is attached to the electrode during its formation. Example conductive elements include, but are not limited to, a contact or a wire that may be communicatively coupled to medical equipment.

A coated composite component includes, in this order, a composite component, a fluorine-containing film and/or a fluorine-containing woven fabric, knitted fabric or crocheted fabric, and a tear-off fabric. A method for producing a coated composite component including, in this order, a composite component, a fluorine-containing film and/or a fluorine-containing woven fabric, knitted fabric or crocheted fabric, and a tear-off fabric.

This disclosure provides an eco-friendly multi-layer fabric reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) enhanced by nanoparticles. The FRCM is developed for structural strengthening and/or repairing in reinforced concrete buildings. The FRCM consists of multi-layer fabrics as load-carrying and crack control components and a cementitious matrix as bedding for the fabric layers. The cementitious matrix is eco-friendly based on a main constituent of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and recycled glass cullets. Some additions, including nanoparticles, superplasticizer, hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose and/or starch ether, are added to achieve proper workability and rheology for application requirements, and to enhance fresh properties, mechanical properties and/or durability. Man-made fabric and natural fabric are embedded in the cementitious matrix with designated purposes of load carrying and crack control.

The invention is characterized by a semifinished composite structure product with the at least two layers, of which the at least one layer, in which the continuous fibers are contained, is heated such that the matrix of thermoplastic material is heated within at least one first surface region to or above a melting temperature that can be assigned to the thermoplastic material, and the matrix of thermoplastic material is kept to a temperature below the melting temperature within a second surface region directly adjoining the first surface region. The semifinished composite structure product is heated in this way so that the moldable thermoplastic, continuous fiber-reinforced composite structure in which the continuous fibers within the first surface region are movable relative to each other and those within the second surface region are spatially fixed relative to each other.

A fiber reinforced structural element comprising a thermoplastic fiber reinforced member, a non-thermoplastic fiber reinforced member, and a multi-layer woven tie layer. The thermoplastic fiber reinforced member contains at least one layer of thermoplastic fibers and the non-thermoplastic fiber reinforced member contains at least one layer of non-thermoplastic fibers. The multi-layer woven tie layer contains at least a first woven ply and a second woven ply, where the woven plies are integrated through combined portions formed by interlacing warps or wefts of adjacent woven plies. The multi-layer woven tie layer is oriented such that the upper surface of the multi-layer woven tie layer which is predominately thermoplastic fibers is adjacent the thermoplastic fiber reinforced member and the lower surface of the multi-layer woven tie layer which is predominately non-thermoplastic fibers is adjacent the non-thermoplastic fiber reinforced member.

A microstructured reconfigurable or morphing composite material with controlled anisotropic deformation properties. The composite material provides highly controlled deformation and stiffness properties. Microscopic three dimensional structures are included in the composite material to control its deformation kinematics and stiffness properties. The composite material has highly segregated in-plane and out-of-plane stiffness properties.

An optical device includes a shaped layer, an optical function layer, and an embedding resin layer. The shaped layer has a structure forming a concave section. The optical function layer is formed on the structure, and partially reflects incident light. The embedding resin layer is made of energy beam curable resin, the embedding resin layer having a first layer having a first volume, and a second layer formed on the first layer, the second layer having a second volume, the concave section being filled with the first layer, a ratio of the second volume to the first volume being equal to or larger than 5%, the structure and the optical function layer being embedded in the embedding resin layer. In the optical device, at least one of the shaped layer and the embedding resin layer has light transmissive property, and an entrance surface for the incident light.

A muffler for internal combustion engines including a hollow body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, an inlet pipe extending into the hollow body through the inlet opening an outlet pipe extending out of the hollow body through the outlet opening, wherein the hollow body is formed by a material comprising a fiber lining and a composite structure, and wherein the fiber lining partially penetrates the composite structure.