Elasticated materials and articles comprising elasticated materials are disclosed. In an embodiment, an elasticated material may comprise a first layer, second layer, an elastomeric strand disposed between the first and second layers, and a plurality of bonds bonding the first and second layers together. The strand may have straight and arcuate portions. The bonds may comprise a first and a second bond and may be disposed on opposite sides of the strand and separated a distance less than an un-tensioned diameter of the strand. The first and second bonds may be disposed along a strand straight portion. The plurality of bonds may further comprise a third and fourth bond which are longitudinally adjacent and disposed on opposite sides of the strand and spaced apart a distance greater than the un-tensioned diameter of the strand. The third and fourth bonds may be disposed along a strand arcuate portion.

A vehicle exterior surface protective device for protecting a portion of a vehicle from damage by hail includes a shell, which defines an interior space, and a fastener. The shell is sized to cover a portion of an exterior surface of a vehicle, such as a window and a body panel. A first insert and a second insert are positioned in the interior space, adjacent to a top and a bottom of the shell, respectively. The first insert is at least semirigid and can resist impact deformation. The second insert is resiliently deformable and can dissipate a force from an impact of an object. The fastener is engaged to the shell and is selectively engageable to the vehicle to fixedly position the shell over the portion of the exterior surface. The shell thus positioned protects the portion of the exterior surface from the impact of the object.

A refrigerant-transporting hose including an inner tube, an outer tube, and a reinforcing layer between the inner tube and the outer tube, the outer tube being formed of an outer tube rubber composition, the outer tube rubber composition containing a brominated copolymer rubber obtained by brominating a copolymer rubber of isomonoolefin and p-alkylstyrene, the content of the repeating units having bromine constituting the brominated copolymer rubber being from 0.8 to 1.5 mol % with respect to the total amount of the repeating units constituting the brominated copolymer rubber, a carbon black A having a dibutyl phthalate absorption amount of 40 cm.sup.3/100 g or less, a brominated alkylphenol resin, and zinc oxide, the content of the carbon black A being 35 parts by mass or greater with respect to 100 parts by mass of the brominated copolymer rubber. Such refrigerant-transporting hose achieves both workability and sealing property at an excellent level.

Conveyor belts having a reinforcement layer, a carry cover layer above the reinforcement layer, and a pulley cover layer disposed beneath the reinforcement layer, where the carry cover layer includes least one hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) material. The HNBR material(s) may have a percentage of hydrogenation of from about 90% to about 96%, from about 92% to about 95%, or even about 94%. The carry cover layer may be from about 4 mm to about 6 mm thick, or even from about 4 mm to about 5 mm thick. In some cases, the reinforcement layer includes a rubber matrix, which may be formed of a nitrile rubber (NBR), or mixture of nitrile NBR and natural rubber blended in a NBR:NR weight ratio of from 3:1 to 9:1. In some aspects, the reinforcement layer includes a plurality of reinforcement plies embedded in the rubber matrix.

Load-bearing apparatus/systems for location in the vicinity of energized power lines are provided. The apparatus includes a base member. The base member has an upper layer and a backing surface layer. An uppermost surface of the upper layer is adapted to support on it at least power line workers and/or related stringing equipment. At least the uppermost surface of the upper layer is adapted to be electrically conductive. Methods for forming the apparatus are also provided.

A cushion structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The cushion structure includes an intermediate layer, two rubber layers, and two surface layers. The intermediate layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The two rubber layers are respectively disposed on the first surface and the second surface of the intermediate layer. The two surface layers are respectively disposed on the two rubber layers. Each of the two rubber layers is formed from a rubber composition that includes a main rubber, a solvent, a conductive carbon material, and a foaming agent.

An impedance matching film 10a includes a plurality of openings 11 regularly arranged along a principal surface 10f of the impedance matching film 10a. In the impedance matching film 10a, a value ρ/t obtained by dividing a specific resistance ρ of a material of the impedance matching film 10a by a thickness t of the impedance matching film 10a is 1 to 300 Ω/□.

Multilayer riblet appliques are disclosed. An example riblet applique includes a fluorosilicone riblet structure including riblet ridges and a base from which the riblet ridges extend, and a support layer proximate the fluorosilicone riblet structure. The support layer includes a vacuum-plasma-treated polymer film having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a polymer sub-layer proximate the second surface of the polymer film.

A hot press cushioning material includes a cushioning material body in the form of a plate; and surface materials provided on the front and back sides of the cushioning material body. The surface material includes a core layer composed of a heat resistant fiber material for a nonwoven structure, and a front-side resin layer covering the entire front side of the core layer. The core layer has an air permeability of 5 cm.sup.3.Math.cm.sup.−2.Math.s.sup.−1 or less and a bulk density of 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 or more.

A vibration absorption device for acoustic insulation for a building structure comprises an absorbent cushion and a vibration isolation cushion. The building structure is selected from a ceiling structure, a floor structure and a partitioning structure separating two adjacent building compartments or a building compartment and the external environment. The absorbent cushion comprises sound absorbing material and the vibration isolation cushion comprising vibration isolation material. The vibration isolation cushion overlies and is laminated to the absorbent cushion. The vibration isolation cushion is rigid relative to the absorbent cushion. The absorbent cushion is supple relative to the vibration isolation cushion. The vibration absorption device is mountable to the building structure, to isolate vibrations and to provide acoustic insulation between the two separated and adjacent building compartments.