A structural reinforcement for insertion into a cavity of a vehicle structure including a base reinforcing portion, an expandable material and a localized reinforcement is disclosed. The localized reinforcement is placed within the structural reinforcement at a location of anticipated increased deformation during vehicle impact in an effort to reduce deformation and control the load distribution post-impact.

A bonding material is described that is well suited to bonding polymer films, such as polyester films, to other substrates. In one embodiment, for instance, the bonding material can be used to bond a polyester film to a polypropylene article. The bonding material generally comprises an adhesive agent combined with a cross-linking agent. The adhesive agent may comprise a carboxylic acid modified polypropylene homopolymer, copolymer or ionomer. In one embodiment, the adhesive agent comprises a polypropylene modified by an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride. The cross-linking agent, on the other hand, may comprise an oxazoline polymer.

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a composite element having improved resistance to delamination includes a first thermoplastic polymer layer and a second thermoplastic polymer layer. A boundary surface of the first thermoplastic polymer layer is chemically crosslinked with a boundary surface of the thermoplastic polymer layer. The composition for the crosslinking includes a thermoplastic polymer and a monomer or oligomer having at least two reactive functional groups selected for reactivity with the functional groups on the thermoplastic polymer boundary surfaces. A composite element can be obtained by the process. It is further provided that the composite element may be used as a wall in a transport vehicle, a wind turbine, a storage area, or a packaging container.

The sealing method is for sealing between: a rear surface of a first component which is a composite material containing a reinforcing fiber and a resin; and a front surface of a second component facing the rear surface of the first component. The sealing method includes: a step (ST03) in which a molded body is placed at a corner between the front surface and an end surface of the first component, with a first sealing material interposed therebetween; and a step (ST06) in which a second sealing material is applied from the molded body up to the front surface of the second component.

This thermal insulation material is provided with: thermal insulation layers, each of which has a porous structure having a skeleton that is composed of a plurality of particles connected with each other, while having pores inside and hydrophobic portions at least on the surface among the surface and the inside; and a pair of functional layers which are arranged on both sides of the thermal insulation layers in the thickness direction. The pair of functional layers have the same properties that include at least one of fire resistance and radiant heat dissipation properties.

A layered board includes a layered board body formed in a plate shape. The layered board body includes: a pair of resin films arranged spaced apart in a thickness direction of the layered board body; a pair of fiber mats layered on inner surfaces of the pair of resin films, respectively; and foam arranged between inner surfaces of the pair of fiber mats. At least one reinforcing member is embedded in the foam.

Systems and methods for assembling elongate composite structures are disclosed. The systems include a first rigid elongate cure tool defining a first elongate support surface for supporting a first elongate charge of composite material (FEC), a second rigid elongate cure tool defining a second elongate support surface for supporting a second elongate charge of composite material (SEC), and a flexible elongate caul plate. The systems further include a vacuum compaction film, a translation structure, and a vacuum source. Methods according to the present disclosure include positioning a vacuum compaction film, positioning a flexible elongate caul plate, and positioning an FEC. The methods further include positioning an SEC, contacting a region of the FEC with a region of the SEC, sealing the vacuum compaction film, evacuating the enclosed volume to generate an elongate composite assembly, and heating the elongate composite assembly to define the elongate composite structure.

The present disclosure can provide an aerogel composite. The aerogel composite comprises at least one base layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the base layer comprising a reinforced aerogel composition which comprises a reinforcement material and a monolithic aerogel framework, a first facing layer comprising a first facing material attached to the top surface of the base layer, and a second facing layer comprising a second facing material attached to the bottom surface of the base layer. At least a portion of the monolithic aerogel framework of the base layer extends into at least a portion of both the first facing layer and the second facing layer. The first facing material and the second facing material can each comprise or consist essentially of a non-fluoropolymeric material.

A vacuum insulation assembly for an appliance includes a plurality of panels that define a cavity. Each of the plurality of panels includes an inner surface. A port opening is defined by one of the plurality of panels and is defined in communication with the cavity. A vacuum insulation material is positioned within the cavity. A stiffening material is coupled to the inner surface of one or more of the plurality of panels. The stiffening material includes a polymer layer configured to adhere to the inner surface when the stiffening material is heated. A mesh layer is positioned over the polymer layer.

An impact attenuation system comprises an aluminum honeycomb sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface. The aluminum honeycomb sheet defines a plurality of approximately hexagonally shaped cells. The bottom surface defines a single sheet of contiguous cells and the top surface defines two or more islands of contiguous cells separated by one or more slits. At least a portion of one or both of the top surface and bottom surface may be covered by a polymer skin. The polymer skin may comprise carbon fibers and/or fiberglass.