Structurally enhanced preformed layers of multiple rigid unidirectional rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements in a variety of composite components, e.g. wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Individual rods include aligned unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation. The relative straightness of the fibers and fiber collimation provide rods and the preform layers with high rigidity and significant compression strength. A plurality of rods are loosely attached, e.g. knitted, together with a coupling that allows for each rod to be axially displaced, e.g. slideable, relative to another rod.

Provided is a thermally conductive sheet having high thermal conductivity not only in a thickness direction of the sheet but also in one direction along a plane direction of the sheet. The thermally conductive sheet is a thermally conductive sheet containing a scaly filler 12 in a polymer matrix 11, wherein the scaly filler 12 is oriented such that a long axis direction of a scale surface is along one of a first direction that is a thickness direction of the thermally conductive sheet and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and a transverse axis direction that is perpendicular to the long axis direction in the scale surface is along the other of the first direction and the second direction.

An article includes a hybrid nanocomposite product, which includes a nanostructure array and a resin matrix contained among and/or around the nanostructure array. The array/matrix is placed in between layers of dry or resin-infused fiber composite to permit formation of a composite structure. The nanostructure array and/or the resin matrix may be disposed in an abutting relationship with other layers of a composite. The array/matrix can provide reinforcement of the composite in the z-direction. Transfer of resin into dry fiber forms may be provided when the array/matrix acts as a resin transfer medium. Nanostructure arrays with a resin matrix can be prepared to form a resin film product. Methods are presented for infusing composites via resin-transfer molding (RTM), vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), resin film infusion (RFI), or injection molding wherein a resin matrix film substantially maintains alignment and position of the nanostructure array during the infusion process.

An article includes a hybrid nanocomposite product, which includes a nanostructure array and a resin matrix contained among and/or around the nanostructure array. The array/matrix is placed in between layers of dry or resin-infused fiber composite to permit formation of a composite structure. The nanostructure array and/or the resin matrix may be disposed in an abutting relationship with other layers of a composite. The array/matrix can provide reinforcement of the composite in the z-direction. Transfer of resin into dry fiber forms may be provided when the array/matrix acts as a resin transfer medium. Nanostructure arrays with a resin matrix can be prepared to form a resin film product. Methods are presented for infusing composites via resin-transfer molding (RTM), vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), resin film infusion (RFI), or injection molding wherein a resin matrix film substantially maintains alignment and position of the nanostructure array during the infusion process.

A method for fabricating polymeric sheets containing microwires includes encapsulating at least a portion of individual lengths of a plurality of microwires in a non-conductive polymeric sheet while the microwires are attached to the substrate. The microwires are then detached from the substrate without removing the microwires from the polymeric sheet. The detaching step forms a separated polymeric sheet containing the detached microwires. Individual detached microwires of the plurality are approximately perpendicular to the separated polymeric sheet. A microwire array device includes a non-conductive polymeric sheet and a plurality of microwires. Individual microwires of the plurality have an independent length at least partially encapsulated by the polymeric sheet, are approximately perpendicular to the polymeric sheet, and contain magnetic ferrite.

A method for fabricating polymeric sheets containing microwires includes encapsulating at least a portion of individual lengths of a plurality of microwires in a non-conductive polymeric sheet while the microwires are attached to the substrate. The microwires are then detached from the substrate without removing the microwires from the polymeric sheet. The detaching step forms a separated polymeric sheet containing the detached microwires. Individual detached microwires of the plurality are approximately perpendicular to the separated polymeric sheet. A microwire array device includes a non-conductive polymeric sheet and a plurality of microwires. Individual microwires of the plurality have an independent length at least partially encapsulated by the polymeric sheet, are approximately perpendicular to the polymeric sheet, and contain magnetic ferrite.

This invention disclosed a resin-based composite material has a three-layer structure and the application thereof. According to the invention, an oriented carbon nanotube bundle/epoxy resin composite material (denoted as layer B) is prepared with the microwave curing method, a barium titanate nanofiber/epoxy resin composite material (denoted as layer E) is prepared by means of a blade coating-heat curing method, and a composite material of a B-E-B three layer structural is formed by means of a layer-by-layer curing technology. Compared to the composite material of the conductor-insulating layer/polymer layer structural prepared in the prior art, the resin-based composite material has a three-layer structure provided by the invention has with high energy storage density, and low dielectric loss and high permittivity; and the preparation process therefor is controllable and easy to operate, short in production cycle, and suitable for large-scale application.

This invention disclosed a resin-based composite material has a three-layer structure and the application thereof. According to the invention, an oriented carbon nanotube bundle/epoxy resin composite material (denoted as layer B) is prepared with the microwave curing method, a barium titanate nanofiber/epoxy resin composite material (denoted as layer E) is prepared by means of a blade coating-heat curing method, and a composite material of a B-E-B three layer structural is formed by means of a layer-by-layer curing technology. Compared to the composite material of the conductor-insulating layer/polymer layer structural prepared in the prior art, the resin-based composite material has a three-layer structure provided by the invention has with high energy storage density, and low dielectric loss and high permittivity; and the preparation process therefor is controllable and easy to operate, short in production cycle, and suitable for large-scale application.

The present disclosure relates to a filamentary structure manufactured during 3D printing by fused filament fabrication, the filamentary structure comprising a continuous strand comprising a thermoplastically workable material and filler particles, wherein the filler particles comprise hexagonal boron nitride particles comprising hexagonal boron nitride platelets. The present disclosure further relates to a 3D printable filament for manufacturing said filamentary structure, to a 3D printed component part formed from said filamentary structure, to a 3D printing method for making said 3D printed component part, and to the use of said component part.

A piezoelectric artificial artery can be 3D printed to provide the real-time precise sensing of blood pressure and vessel motion patterns enabling early detection of partial occlusions. An electric-field assisted 3D printing method allows for rapid printing and simultaneously poled complex ferroelectric structures with high fidelity and good piezoelectric performance. The print material consists of ferroelectric potassium sodium niobite (KNN) particles embedded within a ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer matrix.