Glass-fiber mats for lead-acid batteries are described. The glass-fiber mats may include a plurality of glass fibers held together with a binder. The binder may be made from a binder composition that includes (i) an acid resistant polymer, and (ii) a hydrophilic agent. The hydrophilic agent increases the wettability of the glass-fiber mat such that the glass-fiber mat forms a contact angle with water or aqueous sulfuric acid solution of 70° or less. Also described are methods of making the glass-fiber mats that include applying a binder composition to the glass fibers, and including a hydrophilic agent in the glass fiber mat that increases the wettability of the mat. The hydrophilic agent may be added to the binder composition, applied to the glass-fiber mat, or both.

A polyamide moulding compound consisting of the following components (A)-(E): (A) 40-70 wt. % of at least one partially crystalline, partially aromatic polyamide, made up of: (a1) 60 to 75 wt. % of 6T units, formed from 1,6-hexanediamine and terephthalic acid; (a2) 20 to 35 wt. % of 6I units, formed from 1,6-hexanediamine and isophthalic acid; (a3) 3 to 15 wt. % of 612 units, formed from 1,6-hexanediamine and dodecanedioic acid; and (a4) 0 to 5 wt. % of one of the following units: 66 units, formed from 1,6-hexanediamine and adipic acid; 68 units, formed from 1,6-hexane-diamine and suberic acid; 69 units formed from 1,6-hexanediamine and azelaic acid; 610 units formed from 1,6-hexanediamine and sebacic acid; 6 units formed from ε-caprolactam; or a mixture of such units; wherein the sum of the components (a1) to (a4) makes up 100 wt. % of the polyamide (A); (B) 30-60 wt. % of fibrous reinforcing materials; (C) 0-30 wt. % of particulate fillers different from (B), (D) and (E); (D) 0-2.0 wt. % of heat stabilizers; and (E) 0-6 wt. % of auxiliary agents and/or additives, different from (A)-(D); wherein the sum of the components (A)-(E) makes up 100 wt. % is described, as well as corresponding moulded bodies and applications of such moulded bodies in particular as hollow bodies for contact with coolant liquid in the automotive sector.

A method for manufacturing of a part made of composite material including pre-compacting to a predetermined shape of a mixture of a first thermosetting resin with discontinuous long fibers so as to form a first preform, pre-curing the first preform until an intermediate conversion stage corresponding to a solidification of said first resin, contacting the first preform with a second preform including a fiber structure of continuous fibers impregnated with a second thermosetting resin, polymerizing the first and second preforms so as to form a part made of composite material including a body made of composite material including reinforcement made of continuous fibers consolidated by an organic matrix provided with a portion made of composite material including reinforcement made of discontinuous long fibers consolidated by an organic matrix.

A hockey-stick blade includes a reinforcing frame that provides improved strength, rigidity, and impact resistance. The reinforcing frame may be continuous along the top, bottom, and toe edges of the hockey-stick blade. The reinforcing frame optionally is a tubular structure made of fiber-reinforced epoxy resin. The interior of the reinforcing frame may include a core made of a resilient material, such as an expandable syntactic foam. Fiber reinforcement may also be included in the frame's construction.

A net-shaped composite plenum housing body for a differential assembly having a pump is disclosed. The plenum housing body can include a low pressure inlet and a high pressure outlet configured to receive a control valve. The plenum housing body can also define a fluid inlet channel in fluid communication with the low pressure inlet via a first internal port and can be configured to be in fluid communication with an inlet side of the pump when the plenum housing body is assembled onto the differential assembly. The plenum housing body can also define a fluid outlet channel in fluid communication with the high pressure outlet via a second internal port and can be configured to be in fluid communication with an outlet side of the pump when the plenum housing body is assembled onto the differential assembly. The plenum housing body can also be formed as a net-shape fiber reinforced plastic material including chopped fibers, for example, chopped fiberglass fibers, and an epoxy resin.

Embodiments herein include compositions, extruded articles, and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include an extruded segment comprising a first composition. The first composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers can be disposed within the first composition exhibiting a substantially non-aligned directional orientation. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included having a first portion comprising a first composition having a first fiber orientation and a second portion comprising a second composition having a second fiber orientation. The first composition can include a polymer resin and fibers. The second composition can include a polymer resin, particles and fibers. The fibers of the second composition can be oriented more randomly than the fibers of the first composition. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Embodiments herein include compositions, extruded articles, and methods of making the same. In an embodiment, an extruded article is included. The extruded article can include an extruded segment comprising a first composition. The first composition can include a polymer resin, an impact modifier and fibers. In some embodiments, the extruded segment can have a surface exhibiting an average depression depth of less than 0.0045 inches (0.1143 mm). Other embodiments are also included herein.

The invention is directed to a process for the preparation of a reinforced article which comprises the step of molding a molding composition comprising pellets into the article at an elevated temperature, wherein each of the pellets has an axial length and comprises a core and a sheath around the core, wherein the core comprises an impregnating agent and a multifilament strand comprising glass fibers each having a length substantially equal to the axial length of the pellet and substantially oriented in the axial length of the pellet, wherein the sheath comprises a thermoplastic polymer; and wherein the molding composition further comprises a filler.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a filler for a composite structure. The apparatus may comprise a filler. The filler may comprise a fiber matrix that is uniform in all directions. The fiber matrix may comprise a first plurality of discontinuous filaments and a second plurality of discontinuous filaments. Each filament of the first plurality of discontinuous filaments may be comprised of a stiffening material. Each filament of the second plurality of discontinuous filaments may be comprised of a binding material. Discontinuous filaments of both the first plurality of discontinuous filaments and the second plurality of discontinuous filaments may be randomly oriented and entangled with each other.

A three dimensional printer which prints at using at least one composite material having an inherently abrasive filler or fiber material has a Mohs hardness greater than substantially 1, or a Knoop/Vickers hardness greater than substantially 300 kg/mm.sup.2, or a Rockwell C hardness at least C30, and where a nozzle tip may contact a top surface of a previously deposited line of material may have a nozzle body includes a material having a thermal conductivity at least 35 w/M-K to conduct heat to the nozzle, and a nozzle throat and/or nozzle tip each include a material having a Rockwell C hardness at least C40, to resist wear from sliding contact of the nozzle tip with the previously deposited lines of the material being printed or another previously deposited material, or from the material being printed as it is printed through the nozzle throat.