An impact-resistant, photovoltaic (IRPV) window system is provided. The system may include an IRPV window coupled to a structure, a controller, and an insurance computing device. The IRPV window may include an impact resistant (IR) layer, a photovoltaic (PV) material that may generate an electrical output, and an electrode coupled to the PV material that may receive the electrical output. The IRPV window may permit a portion of visible light to pass through the IRPV window. The controller may monitor the electrical output and generate a solar profile of the structure based upon the electrical output. The insurance computing device may receive the solar profile and determine if an insurance policy associated with the structure is eligible for a policy adjustment and/or an insurance reward or discount offer.

A multilayer sheet includes a core layer including a composition including about (60) to about (90) weight percent of polyphenylene, about (0) to about (20) weight percent of polystyrene, about (10) to about (20) weight percent of a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, and optionally, a flame retardant additive; and a first cap layer disposed on a surface of the core layer, wherein the first cap layer includes polypropylene.

The present teachings contemplate a method comprising providing a first and second substrate, locating an initiator onto a surface of the first or second substrate, the initiator including a substance for initiating polymerization of a polymerizable adhesive, locating the polymerizable adhesive onto a surface of the first and second substrate, the adhesive including a monofunctional, difunctional, or multifunctional methylene malonate, or cyanoacrylate, and contacting first and second substrate.

A one-piece component comprising a tetrahedral-octahedral honeycomb lattice is disclosed herein, along with a mold, a system and methods of making the component. A one-piece component comprising a truncated tetrahedral-octahedral honeycomb lattice also is disclosed, along with corresponding molds, systems and methods.

An impact-resistant, photovoltaic (IRPV) window system is provided. The system may include an IRPV window coupled to a structure, a controller, and an insurance computing device. The IRPV window may include an impact resistant (IR) layer, a photovoltaic (PV) material that may generate an electrical output, and an electrode coupled to the PV material that may receive the electrical output. The IRPV window may permit a portion of visible light to pass through the IRPV window. The controller may monitor the electrical output and generate a solar profile of the structure based upon the electrical output. The insurance computing device may receive the solar profile and determine if an insurance policy associated with the structure is eligible for a policy adjustment and/or an insurance reward or discount offer.

An epoxide resin for the manufacture of a fibre-reinforced composite material having fire retardant properties and/or for use as an adhesive or hot-melt adhesive having fire retardant properties, the epoxide resin being halogen-free and phenolic resin-free, the epoxide resin comprising: A. a mixture of (i) at least one first non-halogenated multifunctional epoxide-containing resin which has an epoxide functionality of greater than 2 and (ii) at least one second non-halogenated multifunctional epoxide-containing resin which has an epoxide functionality of less than or equal to 2; B. at least one catalyst for curing the mixture of epoxide-containing resins to form a cured epoxy resin; and C. at least one fire retardant additive for forming an intumescent char when the cured epoxy resin is exposed to a fire, wherein the at least one fire retardant additive comprises expandable flake graphite and wherein the expandable flake graphite is present in a concentration of from 0.09 to 2.5 wt % based on the weight of the epoxide resin.

This disclosure is directed to methods directly adhering epoxy-based, and other thermosetting surfacing films to solid thermoplastic surfaces and the structures derived or derivable from these methods. In some embodiments, the disclosure is also directed to composite structures comprising a thermoplastic substrate directly bonded to a thermoset(ting) surfacing film; wherein the direct bonding defines an interface between a thermoplastic surface of the thermoplastic substrate and a first surface of the thermoset(ting) surfacing film.

The present invention aims at providing a prepreg for producing a laminate suitable as a structural material, and a laminate, which have excellent tensile shear joining strength, fatigue joining strength, and interlaminar fractural toughness values, and can be firmly integrated with another structural member by welding. The present invention is a prepreg including the following structural components [A], [B], and [C], wherein [C] is present on a surface of the prepreg, [C] is a crystalline thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 100° C. or higher or an amorphous thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 180° C. or higher, and the reinforcing fibers [A] are present which are included in a resin area including [B] and a resin area including [C] across an interface between the two resin areas: [A] reinforcing fibers; [B] a thermosetting resin; and [C] a thermoplastic resin.

A fiber-reinforced plastic substrate is described in which a plurality of resins having different properties are firmly compounded and that includes components [A], [B], and [C]: [A] reinforcing fibers; [B] thermoplastic resin (b); and [C] thermoplastic resin (c),
wherein the component [A] is arranged in one direction, in the fiber-reinforced plastic substrate, a resin area including the component [B] and a resin area including the component [C] are present, the resin area including the component [B] is present on a surface of one side of the fiber-reinforced plastic substrate, and a distance Ra.sub.(bc) between Hansen solubility parameters of the component [B] and the component [C] satisfies formula (1):

Ra.sub.(bc)={4(δDB−δDC).sup.2+(δPB−δPC).sup.2+(δHB−δHC).sup.2}.sup.1/2≥8

wherein Ra.sub.(bc), δDB, δDC, δPB, δPC, δHB and δHC are as defined.

A carpet waste composite and method for making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, cleaned, unadulterated layers of carpet having a backing side and a tufted side are provided. An initial, unfused carpet layer is made by placing two cleaned, unadulterated layers of carpet tufted side-to-tufted side with homogenous and adhesive contact therebetween. Heat and pressure followed by cooling are applied to furnish an initial, fused carpet layer. An iterative, unfused carpet layer is created by placing two cleaned, unadulterated layers of carpet tufted side-to-tufted side with the initial, fused carpet layer interposed therebetween using adhesive contact. Heat and pressure followed by cooling are applied to furnish an iterative, fused carpet layer. The process of adding layers may continue as required.