Disclosed is a composite reed (55) for a wind instrument and to a method for producing such a reed. The reed has a matrix made of a polymer material and a plurality of reinforcing fibres made of another polymer material, embedded inside the matrix. The other polymer material is a thermoplastic polymer material.

Methods of joining components to form vehicle assemblies, such as engine assemblies, are provided. The methods include arranging a first component having a first channel defined therein in a mold, arranging a second component having a second channel defined therein in the mold, and aligning the first and second channel to define a pin-receiving channel. At least one polymeric composite pin is inserted into the pin-receiving channel thereby joining the first and second components, wherein an adhesive is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the polymeric composite pin.

Methods of joining components to form vehicle assemblies, such as engine assemblies, are provided. The methods include arranging a first component having a first channel defined therein in a mold, arranging a second component having a second channel defined therein in the mold, and aligning the first and second channel to define a pin-receiving channel. At least one polymeric composite pin is inserted into the pin-receiving channel thereby joining the first and second components, wherein an adhesive is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the polymeric composite pin.

A thin-walled polypropylene product display tube. The thin-walled polypropylene product display tube includes a tubular member having a closed end, an open end, an inner diameter and, between the closed end and the open end, a first outer diameter, the open end terminating in a flared portion having a second outer diameter, the tubular member having a wall thickness sufficient to yield a level of haze equal to or less than 8%. A process for forming a thin-walled polypropylene product display tube is also provided.

A method for forming a shell type body (100) of self-reinforced composite thermoplastic polymer material from a plate-like element (10, 60), with a central region (11) and a peripheral region (12) surrounding said central region (11), comprises: providing a press (1) including a first and a second die portion (3, 4) which can be moved between a forming configuration, wherein they are pressed against one another, and a release configuration (Y), wherein they are spaced apart; at least one from the first and/or the second die portion (3, 4) being provided with ribs (5) on an operating face (3A, 4A) thereof intended to abut the plate-like element (10); arranging the plate-like element (10) on the press so that the central region (11) abuts on the operating face (4a) of the second die portion (4), retaining the plate-like element (10) at the peripheral region (12), moving the first (3) and/or the second die portion (4) towards the forming configuration until the first die portion (3) abuts the plate-like element (10) continuing to retain the plate-like element (10) at the peripheral region (12), a forming step in which the first (3) and the second die portion (4) are kept in the forming configuration for a predefined time, and the plate-like element (10) is kept between the first (3) and the second die portion (4) at a forming temperature of the material such as to generate the at least partial fusion of a matrix of the material without causing the substantial fusion of the fibers so as to form by means of the ribs (5) a plurality of recesses (20) defining on the central region (11) a plurality of lateral panels (15) mutually connected to a central panel (14) by means of at least one corresponding recess (20A), moving the first (3) and/or the second die portion (4) into the release configuration (Y) and extracting the plate-like element (10), subsequently folding the lateral panels (15) with respect to the central panel (14) at the recesses (20A, 20B) so as to form the shell type body (100).

The invention provides a thermoplastic film comprising: a base film wherein the base film comprises a stretchable polyolefin material comprising one or more layers; and a plurality of extruded fibre elements; wherein the extruded fibre elements are located on at least one surface of the base film; wherein the extruded fibres form one or more protrusions relative to the plane of the base film; wherein at the location where the fibre elements are provided on the base film, a domain of a material mixture comprising the base film material and the fibre material is present between a domain of pure base film material and a domain of pure fibre material, and wherein the average thickness of the base film is less than the average thickness of the protrusion.

A thin-walled polypropylene product display tube. The thin-walled polypropylene product display tube includes a tubular member having a closed end, an open end, an inner diameter and, between the closed end and the open end, a first outer diameter, the open end terminating in a flared portion having a second outer diameter, the tubular member having a wall thickness sufficient to yield a level of haze equal to or less than 8%. A process for forming a thin-walled polypropylene product display tube is also provided.

Embodiments of the invention relate to the construction of a sealed connection between an elastomeric or synthetic polymer flexible pipe or hose and a metallic coupling member. The coupling member surrounds an armor layer at a free end of the flexible pipe or hose. A sealing area is defined by a recessed portion of the pipe coupling into which a sealing material is introduced. An inner layer of the flexible pipe or hose may extend into the sealing area where it is bonded to the sealing material. The sealing material and the inner liner layer may each be comprised of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material. Furthermore, a reinforcement material is provided in the inner layer.

Embodiments of the invention relate to the construction of a sealed connection between an elastomeric or synthetic polymer flexible pipe or hose and a metallic coupling member. The coupling member surrounds an armor layer at a free end of the flexible pipe or hose. A sealing area is defined by a recessed portion of the pipe coupling into which a sealing material is introduced. An inner layer of the flexible pipe or hose may extend into the sealing area where it is bonded to the sealing material. The sealing material and the inner liner layer may each be comprised of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material. Furthermore, a reinforcement material is provided in the inner layer.

A physically crosslinked, closed cell continuous multilayer foam structure comprising at least one polypropylene/polyethylene coextruded foam layer is obtained. The multilayer foam structure is obtained by coextruding a multilayer structure comprising at least one foam composition layer, irradiating the coextruded structure with ionizing radiation, and continuously foaming the irradiated structure.