A cast-molded article in a composite material comprising a cured polymeric binder incorporating embedded particles of filler, characterized in that the binder incorporates randomly distributed fibers of polyamide, wherein the fibers have a length of 5-20 mm and a diameter of 0.05-0.2 mm and the fibers comprise 0.02-0.5 wt % based on the overall mass of the cast-molded article.

Feedstocks for additive manufacturing are provided. The feedstock may include a matrix material, and one or more capsules disposed in the matrix material, wherein the one or more capsules are configured to be removable from a surface portion when the matrix material is solidified to form one or more cavities in the surface portion. Methods of depositing the feedstocks and objects formed from the feedstocks are also provided.

Methods of making retroreflective articles include mixing a metal pigment with a binder material. The mixture is applied to a surface of a substrate. The surface can be a flat planar surface or be contoured or have arcuate regions. The binder material forms a binder material layer and the metal pigment forms a leafing pigment layer near a top surface of the binder material layer. Transparent microsphere lenses are embedded in the top surface of the binder material layer. The leafing metal pigment layer conforms to a rear embedded surface of the microsphere lenses to thereby form a retroreflective article. Related retroreflective articles are also disclosed.

Methods of making retroreflective articles include mixing a metal pigment with a binder material. The mixture is applied to a surface of a substrate. The surface can be a flat planar surface or be contoured or have arcuate regions. The binder material forms a binder material layer and the metal pigment forms a leafing pigment layer near a top surface of the binder material layer. Transparent microsphere lenses are embedded in the top surface of the binder material layer. The leafing metal pigment layer conforms to a rear embedded surface of the microsphere lenses to thereby form a retroreflective article. Related retroreflective articles are also disclosed.

A reflective optical film includes a reflective light-polarizing unit including a multilayer reflective sheet composed of a plurality of polymer films stacked on top of one another. Each polymer film has a thickness, every two adjacent polymer films are two different materials, and the thicknesses of the polymer films are gradually decreased from two outmost sides of the multilayer reflective sheet to a middle of the multilayer reflective sheet. At least one of the polymer films is a birefringence material layer that conforms to the condition of NXNYNZ, where NX is the index of refraction of light at X direction of the multilayer reflective sheet, NY is the index of refraction of light at Y direction of the multilayer reflective sheet, and NZ is the index of refraction of light at Z direction of the multilayer reflective sheet.

A reflective optical film includes a reflective light-polarizing unit including a multilayer reflective sheet composed of a plurality of polymer films stacked on top of one another. Each polymer film has a thickness, every two adjacent polymer films are two different materials, and the thicknesses of the polymer films are gradually decreased from two outmost sides of the multilayer reflective sheet to a middle of the multilayer reflective sheet. At least one of the polymer films is a birefringence material layer that conforms to the condition of NXNYNZ, where NX is the index of refraction of light at X direction of the multilayer reflective sheet, NY is the index of refraction of light at Y direction of the multilayer reflective sheet, and NZ is the index of refraction of light at Z direction of the multilayer reflective sheet.

A cast-molded article in a composite material comprising a cured polymeric binder incorporating embedded particles of filler, characterized in that the binder incorporates randomly distributed fibers of polyamide, wherein the fibers have a length of 5-20 mm and a diameter of 0.05-0.2 mm and the fibers comprise 0.02-0.5 wt % based on the overall mass of the cast-molded article.

Feedstocks for additive manufacturing are provided. The feedstock may include a matrix material, and one or more capsules disposed in the matrix material, wherein the one or more capsules are configured to be removable from a surface portion when the matrix material is solidified to form one or more cavities in the surface portion. Methods of depositing the feedstocks and objects formed from the feedstocks are also provided.

Feedstocks for additive manufacturing are provided. The feedstock may include a matrix material, and one or more capsules disposed in the matrix material, wherein the one or more capsules are configured to be removable from a surface portion when the matrix material is solidified to form one or more cavities in the surface portion. Methods of depositing the feedstocks and objects formed from the feedstocks are also provided.

A process for manufacturing a structural component made of composite material comprising a skin and at least one stiffening stringer applied rigidly and integrally to one face of the skin. The process comprises a) arranging, on a tool, a plurality of first layers of uncured or pre-cured composite material, forming the stringer and having a raised portion protruding from at least one flange; b) arranging, on the tool, a plurality of second layers of uncured or pre-cured composite material forming the skin; c) making a face of the skin and the flange of the stringer adhere to each other; d) applying a predetermined temperature and pressure on the assembly to compact the layers together, possibly curing the uncured material and rigidly joining the skin to the stringer; and e) performing a cutting operation on the free end side edge/s of the flange in a slanted direction.