According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement that is at least partially coated with a matrix, and a housing trailing from the head and configured to at least partially enclose the continuous reinforcement after discharge. The system may also include a heat source disposed at least partially inside the oven, and a support configured to move the head during discharging.

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement that is at least partially coated with a matrix, and a housing trailing from the head and configured to at least partially enclose the continuous reinforcement after discharge. The system may also include a heat source disposed at least partially inside the oven, and a support configured to move the head during discharging.

Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

A fiber structure manufacturing apparatus includes: a defibration unit that pulverizes and defibrates a fiber raw material that contains fibers; a transportation unit that transports a defibrated material after defibration by the defibration unit; a melting-material mixing unit that mixes a melting material into the defibrated material transported by the transportation unit; a fibrous web forming unit that forms a fibrous web by causing a mixture of the defibrated material and the melting material to accumulate; a sheet supplying unit that supplies a shape retainer sheet to the fibrous web; and a heating-and-pressing mechanism that forms a fiber structure by heating and pressing the fibrous web after the shape retainer sheet is supplied; wherein the sheet supplying unit supplies the shape retainer sheet in such a state that nap is raised on a surface, of the shape retainer sheet, that is to be in contact with the fibrous web.

A resin formed article, comprising a main body that includes a first resin; a functional layer that is disposed at at least a portion of a surface of the main body and includes a fiber and a second resin; and a projection that is disposed on the functional layer and includes the first resin and the second resin.

A resin formed article, comprising a main body that includes a first resin; a functional layer that is disposed at at least a portion of a surface of the main body and includes a fiber and a second resin; and a projection that is disposed on the functional layer and includes the first resin and the second resin.

The present invention generally relates to a system and method for using a volatile organic compound (VOC) free low radiant flux LED UV curable composition, and more particularly to unique and novel uses of the composition such as one or two or more of a fire retardant, clear coat, composite material, resin, top coat, improved holdout coating, a sealant coat, and combinations of the same.