The present invention describes various methods for manufacturing gel composite sheets using segmented fiber or foam reinforcements and gel precursors. Additionally, rigid panels manufactured from the resulting gel composites are also described. The gel composites are relatively flexible enough to be wound and when unwound, can be stretched flat and made into rigid panels using adhesives.

Embodiments disclosed are directed to a woven fabric band that is capable of being secured to another object using threads or the band itself. The woven fabric band may include an inner layer having a first temperature melting point and an outer layer having a second temperature melting point that is higher than the first temperature melting point. When heat having the first temperature is applied to the woven fabric band, the inner layer of the woven fabric band melts while the outer layer remains in its original state. When the inner layer melts, the inner layer conforms to a first shape. As a result of the inner layer conforming to the first shape, the outer layer also conforms to the same shape.

Multifunctional surfacing materials for use in composite structures are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the surfacing material includes (a) a stiffening layer, (b) a curable resin layer, (c) a conductive layer, and (d) a nonwoven layer, wherein the stiffening layer (a) and the nonwoven layer (d) are outermost layers, and the exposed surfaces of the outermost layers are substantially tack-free at room temperature (20° C. to 25° C.). The conductive layer may be interposed between the curable resin layer and the stiffening layer or embedded in the curable resin layer. According to another embodiment, the surfacing material includes a fluid barrier film between two curable resin layers. The surfacing materials may be in the form of a continuous or elongated tape that is suitable for automated placement.

Exfoliated graphite materials, and composite materials including exfoliated graphite, having enhanced through-plane thermal conductivity can be used in thermal management applications and devices. Methods for making such materials and devices involve processing exfoliated graphite materials such as flexible graphite to orient or re-orient the graphite flakes in one or more regions of the material.

A structural panel includes a first skin, a second skin and a core. The core is connected to the first skin and the second skin. The core includes a corrugated sheet of wire mesh that includes a plurality of corrugations. Each of the corrugations extends vertically between and engages the first skin and the second skin.

A method of fabricating a panel includes laying up a first laminate on a tooling surface, laying a first layer of thermoplastic on an inner surface of the first laminate, laying a large cell carbon core on the first layer of thermoplastic, laying a second layer of thermoplastic across the large cell carbon core, laying a second laminate on the second layer of thermoplastic, creating a sealed core pocket by bonding the edges of the first and second layers of the thermoplastic surrounding a perimeter of the core, increasing pressure within the core pocket, increasing pressure on the outer surface of the second laminate, heating the panel to a desired curing temperature, and maintaining the increased pressures and temperature for a desired curing duration.

Disclosed herein is a device and method for evacuating patients during medical emergencies. The device is an evacuation blanket comprised of a cover and a carrier. The cover includes a number of inventive elements supporting an improved method of evacuating patients and matching those patients to the blanket used for their evacuation after the patient has been evacuated to a destination and separated from the blanket.

An anti-microbial partition divider assembly for a cart such as a golf cart is provided. The cart has a passenger seating area, including at least one seat, a roof and a floor. The assembly includes a flexible or beam-rigid partition divider having a substrate layer made of a material which prevents airborne liquid droplets from traveling therethrough.

The present disclosure relates to a display panel including a display area that can be stretched by including a plurality of stretching units and a peripheral area positioned at an edge of the display area. Each of the stretching units includes: a plurality of islands separately disposed to include a plurality of pixels disposed therein; a plurality of bridges extended from the islands to connect adjacent islands or to connect the islands with the peripheral area; and a plurality of openings disposed adjacent to the bridges, between the bridges, and between the bridges and the islands, wherein areas of the islands are gradually increased toward the peripheral area.

Disclosed are laminates comprising a carbon fiber reinforced polymer sheet and a layer of polysilazane and methods for producing such laminates.