Methods and apparatus are provided for the production of thermoplastic composite sheets whose fibers are other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheet and which are capable of being slit into sheets, strips and/or tapes of custom widths.

A non-fibrous film has a non-weakened portion and a weakened portion having at least one mechanical property having a value that is lower than the value of the mechanical property of the non-weakened portion. The film has an optical characteristic including a clarity of at least 75 percent.

Proposed is a polymer multilayer structure with a metallic feel including two or more polymer layers having respectively different types of polymers having respective refractive indices that differ by 0.3 or more, the two or more polymer layers being stacked alternately, each of the polymer layers having a predetermined thickness in a range of 95 to 195 nm, independently of each other, and at least one polymer layer of the layers contains guanine as a plate-like pigment. A method of manufacturing the same polymer multilayer structure is also proposed.

An article of footwear includes at least one panel comprised of a composite material. The composite material includes a plurality of layers that are secured together according to a predetermined embroidery stitching pattern. The panel includes a first layer having a maximum elongation in a length direction of the article of footwear, and a second layer having a maximum elongation in a width direction of the article of footwear. The composite material also includes additional layers coupled to the first layer and the second layer.

An article of footwear includes at least one panel comprised of a composite material. The composite material includes a plurality of layers that are secured together according to a predetermined embroidery stitching pattern. The panel includes a first layer having a maximum elongation in a length direction of the article of footwear, and a second layer having a maximum elongation in a width direction of the article of footwear. The composite material also includes additional layers coupled to the first layer and the second layer.

A non-fibrous film has at least one film body that is non-fibrous, and at least one film element that is non-fibrous. The film element is coupled to the film body at an interface that is non-continuous across a film width of the non-fibrous film. The non-fibrous film has at least one of the following characteristics: the interface has at least one mechanical property having a value that is different than the value of the mechanical property of at least one of the film element and the film body, and/or the film element has at least one mechanical property having a value that is different than the value of the mechanical property of the film body.

A multilayer film can comprise: a plurality of layers, preferably 4 layers to 128 layers, comprising: a polymer A layer comprising a polycarbonate copolymer and a polymer B layer comprising a semi-crystalline biaxially-oriented polyester; and an inter-diffusion region between each polymer A layer and polymer B layer; wherein a differential solubility parameter of polymer A towards polymer B (??.sub.AB) is 2.6 MPa.sup.1/2???.sub.AB?3.0 MPa.sup.1/2. Each polymer B layer has a particular crystallinity. The multilayer film can exhibit a combination flexibility and impact resistance.

According to an embodiment, a reed for an aerophone, the reed including a plurality of plastic sheets laminated in a lamination direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the reed is provided, and an elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction of at least one plastic sheet of the plurality of plastic sheets is greater than an elastic modulus in a direction perpendicular to both the lamination direction and the longitudinal direction of the at least one plastic sheet.

Provided is a laminate that is excellent in heat sealing properties and is suitable for reuse. The laminate includes: a first layer having a melting point of Tm.sub.1 and containing a first polyethylene alone as a resin; and a second layer having a melting point of Tm.sub.2 and containing a second polyethylene alone as a resin, where: the first layer and the second layer are disposed respectively as outermost surfaces of the laminate; and Tm.sub.1?Tm.sub.2?24.0? C. is satisfied.

Crosslaminates of thermoplastic films have at least one of the films formed as a fluted structure, and two films are laminated to one another in such a manner that pockets are formed which contain gas. The pockets allow passage of gas between at least two adjacent flutes, whereby the product has an improved handle, and bags formed of the laminate have good stacking properties when filled with coarse particulates. The flute pitch is generally no more than 3 mm, while the pocket length is less than 50 mm. The bonding method involves spot bonding between the films, achieved by adhering the films together between crown portions of bosses on one film with molten material on the other film under a low pressure process, for instance achieved by provision of air pressure through adaptation of production apparatus, for instance die portions.