Methods and systems that can produce light weight reinforced thermoplastic articles are described. In some embodiments, a method includes heating and pressing a core layer and then cooling and pressing the core layer to maintain the thickness of the core layer during cooling. Automotive articles, building articles and recreational vehicle articles that can be produced using the methods and systems are also described.

An actuator is described, including a first sheet comprising a plurality of first openings,; and a second sheet comprising a plurality of second openings; wherein the first and second sheets are stacked together such that at least one of the first and second openings are misaligned; and the actuator is configured to move from a first state to a second state, wherein in the first state, out-of-plane motion of the first and second sheets is permitted; and in the second state, the first and second sheets as well as the misaligned first and second openings are jammed together to restrict the out-of-plane motion of the first and second sheets. Methods of actuating and making such actuator are also described.

A flooring assembly comprising a flooring unit comprising a stability core layer having a plurality of edge surfaces, two of which have an interlocking mechanism for attachment to the edge surfaces of the stability core of adjacent flooring units; a sound attenuating acoustic layer attached to the bottom surface of the stability core layer; and a finish layer attached to the top surface of said stability core layer.

A process for producing a textured laminate sheet includes a) positioning a substrate material adjacent a barbed face of a metal sheet. The barbed face has a plurality of barbs, and the metal sheet has an opposed face opposite the barbed face. The process further includes b) forcing the metal sheet and the substrate material together to impale the substrate material on the barbs and secure the substrate material and the metal sheet together as a laminate sheet, and c) debossing the opposed face to form a plurality of depressions in the laminate sheet and texture the laminate sheet.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plated layer forming composition which is capable of forming a plated layer having excellent alkali resistance and is capable of forming a metal layer on the plated layer even in the case of forming the plated layer by exposure with a low exposure amount; a film having a plated-layer precursor layer; a film having a patterned plated layer; an electroconductive film; and a touch panel. The plated layer forming composition of the present invention includes a polymer having a group capable of interacting with a plating catalyst or a precursor thereof, and a polyfunctional monomer having three or more acrylamide groups or methacrylamide groups.

An elastomeric isolator is described comprising a layer of an elastomeric material, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is provided with a reinforcing material layer in the form of a graphene layer.

A cooling tape and cooling pad. In a most general embodiment, the inventive tape includes a first layer of thermally conductive material; a second layer of thermal insulation; and a third layer of endothermic material, sandwiched between the first and second layers. The third layer is constructed with reactants effective to cause an endothermic chemical reaction. In a first embodiment, the invention provides a beverage cooling device. In a second embodiment, the invention provides a pipe cooling/freezing device. The cooling pad is implemented with a first layer of thermally conductive material; a second layer of material; and a third layer of endothermic material, sandwiched between the first and second layers. In the illustrative embodiment, the third layer has a contour effective to create suction whereby the pad adheres to a surface to be cooled.

A ceramic electronic component that includes an electronic component body having a superficial base ceramic layer; a surface electrode on a surface of the electronic component body, a peripheral section of the surface electrode having an opening therein; and a covering ceramic layer covering the peripheral section of the surface electrode and the opening therein.

A tube includes an outer layer including a first material having flexibility, an inner layer including a second material having flexibility and chemical resistance, and an intermediate layer arranged between the outer layer and the inner layer and including an electrically conductive material.

A surface-reinforced bitumen roofing membrane includes at least two layers, namely 1) a bitumen compound layer, and 2) a fiber mat, and can optionally include a) an optional bleed blocker layer that is located between the bitumen compound layer and the fiber mat, b) an optional liquid applied coating that partially or fully encapsulates the fiber mat, c) an optional release liner that is releasably positioned on the bottom surface of the bitumen roofing membrane, and/or d) an optional release film that is releasably positioned on the fiber mat surface.