A process for forming defect-free fibrous composite materials. More particularly, a process for forming blister-free fibrous composites without having to actively monitor or control blister formation during molding of a stack of plies, and to blister-free composite materials fabricated therefrom. Fibrous plies are coated with a dry, particulate binder without impregnating the plies with the binder. Gaps between fibers/tapes allow air to diffuse out of the stack without affecting the binder coating, thereby avoiding blister formation.

Textile reinforcement that can be used for the production of composite parts by pultrusion, including a central layer made from glass fibre segments and polyester, and in which, in the central layer, the glass fibre segments are enrobed with polyester, the central layer including a central reinforcement core surrounded by the glass fibre segments enrobed with polyester, at least one fibre-web surface layer forming one of the external faces of the textile reinforcement.

A multi-layer microprismatic retroreflective film and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the film includes: (1) a prism layer including an acrylic polymeric material and containing microprisms, (2) a strengthening layer including a polymeric material different from the acrylic polymeric material and (3) a buffer section including acrylic polymeric material located between the microprisms of the prism layer and the strengthening layer.

A method for applying a thermoreactive seam tape to a seam is provided. The thermoreactive seam tape may be positioned adjacent to the seam, which may include a first fabric surface and an adjacent second fabric surface. The thermoreactive seam tape may include an interior planar surface that engages both the first fabric surface and the second fabric surface of the seam. The thermoreactive seam tape may further include an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, where the exterior surface is substantially non-planar with respect to the interior planar surface along a length of the thermoreactive seam tape. Heat and pressure may be applied to the thermoreactive seam tape, wherein the heat and the pressure facilitate adhesion of the thermoreactive seam tape to the first fabric surface and the second fabric surface of the seam.

An impregnation system and a method for impregnating a textile fabric for composite components are described. A matrix 2 can be applied to a textile fabric 1 in such a way that the matrix 2 penetrates it at least partially and/or at least on one side. A first and a second endless belt 1 each designed as a belt loop are provided for the impregnation system. Between the first 4 and the second belt loop 5, the textile fabric 1 can guided on the mutually facing surfaces 6 of the belt loops and can be impregnated there. The deflection rollers 7 are provided in the respective belt loop 4, 5 of the respective endless belts at the deflection areas, with at least one roller being adjustable in the direction of the mutually facing surfaces 6 of the belt loops 4, 5. By adjusting the rollers 8 in the y direction, the wrap angle and thus the pressure exerted on the textile fabric during impregnation is controlled.

Floor tiles, systems and methods of interconnecting floor tiles in which the tile(s) have a base substrate and a laminate layer. The substrate can have upstanding edges on a top surface where the edges define a rim at a perimeter of the substrate for aligning the laminate layer on the top surface of the substrate. The substrate can have connecting means for engaging with connecting means of a substrate of another tile to form an interconnected floor system. By engaging the connecting means of a tile with another tile aligns and positions a side edge of the tile with the side edge of the another file in a side by side arrangement to provide a grout effect for the tiles when they are connected.

A method of customizing an article with graphics applied using a graphic transfer assembly is disclosed. The method includes a step of creating or selecting a customized graphic to be applied to an article. The article and the customized graphic are placed within the graphic transfer assembly. A deformable membrane may apply the customized graphic to curved portions of the article.

A continuous process for preparing insulation panels having thick (0.2 mm to 1 mm) metal facing panels and a fiber-reinforced polymer foam core is disclosed. In the process, a bottom metal facing panel (2) is continuously supplied. A mat (10) of reinforcing fibers and a foamable resin composition (19) are applied to the bottom facing panel. A flexible barrier layer (5) is applied atop the foamable resin composition, and the assembly is passed through nip rolls (12,13) to compress the assembly and force the resin composition into the fiber mat. An adhesive layer (4) and top metallic facing layer (1) are then applied on top of the flexible barrier layer, and the resulting assembly is gauged and cured by passing it through a double band laminator (11).

A metal clad laminated plate is a metal clad laminated plate including: an insulating layer containing a liquid crystal polymer; and a metal foil lying on the insulating layer. The metal foil has a surface lying on the insulating layer. The surface has a mean width of profile elements (RSm) of greater than or equal to 10 μm and less than or equal to 65 μm. The mean width is calculated from a roughness curve obtained from a cross section of the metal clad laminated plate. The metal clad laminated plate has a plate thickness accuracy of less than ±20%. Pull strength of the metal foil from the insulating layer is greater than or equal to 0.8 N/mm.

An armor and a method of forming an armor. The armor comprising a lamination comprising a plurality of alternating stacks of fabric layers. The alternating stacks of fabric layers include a woven fabric layer and a unidirectional fabric layer.