In-line systems and in-line methods are described that can be used to provide lightweight reinforced thermoplastic composite articles that include a textured or an embossed film layer. The textured or embossed film layer can provide one or more of water resistance, flame retardancy, a desired surface roughness, enhanced peel strength, enhanced acoustic absorption or other desired properties. The lightweight reinforced thermoplastic composite articles that include a textured or an embossed film layer can be used in building applications, in recreational vehicle applications and in other applications as desired.

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a laminate. One method includes laying up a first set of layers comprising tows of unidirectional thermoplastic fiber-reinforced material for the laminate, and laying up a second set of layers comprising tows of braided thermoplastic fiber-reinforced material for the laminate.

The present invention relates to a layered composite comprising a poly carbonate-based matrix, possibly containing fibres, and an outer layer of special poly carbonate-polyester blends, and also to a layered composite such as that described above and provided with painting on that side of its outer layer which is facing away from the matrix, to a method for producing these composites and also to their use for the production for example of automobile add-on parts.

Enclosure parts for portable information handling systems may be made by heat pressing material layers together. The material layers may include outer fiber-reinforced thermoplastic layers and a core thermoplastic layer comprising a plurality of thermoplastic film layers. The core thermoplastic layer may be die cut to create voids that reduce weight of the enclosure part. A finishing layer may be added, along with attachment features.

Co-curable epoxy-based composite materials coated with co-curable polyurethane-based coating materials to form co-curable and co-cured polyurethane coated epoxy-based composite materials, with the polyurethane-based coating materials comprising UV-stabilizer agents and cure control agents are disclosed, along with components and large structures comprising the co-cured materials.

An instrument having a vacuum chamber, wherein a wall of the vacuum chamber includes a layer of carbon fiber reinforced thermoset having a thickness in a range of 1-10 mm, a first and a second layer of ceramic material having a thickness in a range of 40-60 μm, and a layer of aluminum having a thickness in a range of 0.5-10 mm. The first layer of ceramic material is positioned between the layer of carbon fiber reinforced thermoset and the layer of aluminum. The layer of aluminum is positioned between the first layer of ceramic material and the second layer of ceramic material. The second layer of ceramic material is positioned most to a side of an interior surface of the wall of the vacuum chamber.

Disclosed herein is an intrinsically self-healing composite based upon in situ thermal remendability of an embedded polymeric interphase. The fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) material may incorporate a thermoset polymer with a defined glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) and/or a thermoplastic material of amorphous or semi-crystalline nature. The polymeric interphase can be incorporated as a plurality of particles, fibers, meshes, films, or 3D-printed structures. The self-healing composite includes a resistive heating component as a structural element that minimizes electrical energy demand and impact on mechanical integrity. Healing occurs in situ via resistive heating and can be enabled below, at, or above the glass-transition temperature of the FRC matrix, demonstrating viability for in-service repair under sustained loads. In addition to providing rapid healing functionality, the polymeric interphase increases inherent resistance to interlaminar fracture. Repeated heal cycles have been achieved in a double cantilever beam (DCB) fracture test without significant degradation in performance.

A ready to use surface veil and surface film integrated prepreg layer suitable to use in a production of lightweight structural parts/panels with class A surfaces includes a curable bottom base resin formulation including a curable bottom base resin, at least one first toughening agent, at least one accelerator, at least one curing agent and at least one hardener. The prepreg layer further includes a release paper coated with the curable bottom base resin formulation to obtained curable bottom base resin formulation coated release paper as a first resin film; a reinforcement fabric; an outer resin formulation including an outer resin, wherein the outer resin is the curable bottom base resin being 10% more viscous than a resin, at least one thermoplastic toughening agent, at least one accelerator, at least one curing agent and at least one hardener agent.

A system and method for dielectric bonding including a dielectric heater having a pair of opposing electrode plates, a nest removably coupled to a first electrode plate of the pair of electrode plates, and an interchangeable electrode assembly removably coupled to a second electrode plate of the pair of electrode plates. The nest having a plurality of cooling channels defined in a body thereof in which a cooling fluid circulates to cool a material assembly that is supported by the nest. The interchangeable electrode assembly having a plurality of concentrator members that are configured to concentrate energy from a voltage source in predetermined locations on the material assembly.

This disclosure describes a reinforced thermosetting resin piping system that is protected from external impact and UV damage by an outer polyurea-based layer. The embodiments described herein can be favorably used for underground and aboveground applications. In some implementations, an RTR pipe includes a core layer that includes a resin and fibers, an outer layer that includes a polyurea-based layer, and an interface layer between the core layer and the outer layer. The methods described herein also outline the process of producing the pipe structure.