The aim of the invention is to provide polyester/primer/metallic coating composite films having good adherence of the metallic coating in dry and humid conditions. Said films also form a good gas barrier: oxygen permeability less than or equal to 0.8 cc/m2/d; water vapour permeability less than or equal to 0.3 g/m2/d. To this end, the invention concerns a composite film comprising a polyester substrate, at least one coating adhering on at least one of the faces of the substrate and at least one layer of primer for cross-linked adhesion between the substrate and the coating. Said primer comprises at least one acrylic and/or methacrylic polymer P1, at least one acrylic and/or methacrylic polymer P2 different from P1, at least one cross-linking agent, and, preferably, at least one polyester that is soluble or dispersible in water: —P1 having a gel content TG1>70% by dry weight with respect to P1; —P2 having a gel content TG2≤TG1 and ≤20% by dry weight, with respect to P2; —P1 having a surface-grafted free weak acid content≥0.8 in meq/g of polymer; —[P2]≤60% by weight on dry by weight in respect to P1+P2. The method for producing said film, the adhering primer, and the articles obtained using said film, also form part of the present invention.

The aim of the invention is to provide polyester/primer/metallic coating composite films having good adherence of the metallic coating in dry and humid conditions. Said films also form a good gas barrier: oxygen permeability less than or equal to 0.8 cc/m2/d; water vapour permeability less than or equal to 0.3 g/m2/d. To this end, the invention concerns a composite film comprising a polyester substrate, at least one coating adhering on at least one of the faces of the substrate and at least one layer of primer for cross-linked adhesion between the substrate and the coating. Said primer comprises at least one acrylic and/or methacrylic polymer P1, at least one acrylic and/or methacrylic polymer P2 different from P1, at least one cross-linking agent, and, preferably, at least one polyester that is soluble or dispersible in water: —P1 having a gel content TG1>70% by dry weight with respect to P1; —P2 having a gel content TG2≤TG1 and ≤20% by dry weight, with respect to P2; —P1 having a surface-grafted free weak acid content≥0.8 in meq/g of polymer; —[P2]≤60% by weight on dry by weight in respect to P1+P2. The method for producing said film, the adhering primer, and the articles obtained using said film, also form part of the present invention.

Methods for manufacturing composite components having complex geometries are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a method includes laying up each of a plurality of laminates to an initial shape with a substantially planar geometry or a gently curved geometry. Then, a laid up laminate is formed to a final shape for each predefined section defined by the composite component to be manufactured. Thereafter, the laminates formed to their respective final shapes are stacked to build up the complex geometry of the composite component. Next, the composite component can be cured and finish machined as necessary to form the completed composite component.

Methods for manufacturing composite components having complex geometries are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a method includes laying up each of a plurality of laminates to an initial shape with a substantially planar geometry or a gently curved geometry. Then, a laid up laminate is formed to a final shape for each predefined section defined by the composite component to be manufactured. Thereafter, the laminates formed to their respective final shapes are stacked to build up the complex geometry of the composite component. Next, the composite component can be cured and finish machined as necessary to form the completed composite component.

A glass element having a thickness from 25 μm to 125 μm, a first primary surface, a second primary surface, and a compressive stress region extending from the first primary surface to a first depth, the region defined by a compressive stress GI of at least about 100 MPa at the first primary surface. Further, the glass element has a stress profile such that it does not fail when it is subject to 200,000 cycles of bending to a target bend radius of from 1 mm to 20 mm, by the parallel plate method. Still further, the glass element has a puncture resistance of greater than about 1.5 kgf when the first primary surface of the glass element is loaded with a tungsten carbide ball having a diameter of 1.5 mm.

A glass element having a thickness from 25 μm to 125 μm, a first primary surface, a second primary surface, and a compressive stress region extending from the first primary surface to a first depth, the region defined by a compressive stress GI of at least about 100 MPa at the first primary surface. Further, the glass element has a stress profile such that it does not fail when it is subject to 200,000 cycles of bending to a target bend radius of from 1 mm to 20 mm, by the parallel plate method. Still further, the glass element has a puncture resistance of greater than about 1.5 kgf when the first primary surface of the glass element is loaded with a tungsten carbide ball having a diameter of 1.5 mm.

A multi-layer polymer film comprising at least one middle layer A, the polymeric constituents of which are soluble in aqueous solution, and in each case at least one substantially water-impermeable covering layer B, C arranged above and below the at least one middle layer A, wherein the layers A, B and C independently of each other in each case comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one of the covering layers B and C comprises at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate is presented and described. Processes for the production of the multi-layer polymer film according to the invention and its use for the production of molded parts, films or bags are furthermore presented and described.

A multi-layer polymer film comprising at least one middle layer A, the polymeric constituents of which are soluble in aqueous solution, and in each case at least one substantially water-impermeable covering layer B, C arranged above and below the at least one middle layer A, wherein the layers A, B and C independently of each other in each case comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one of the covering layers B and C comprises at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate is presented and described. Processes for the production of the multi-layer polymer film according to the invention and its use for the production of molded parts, films or bags are furthermore presented and described.

An apparatus includes a method for providing a Shape Memory Polymer Based Passive Thermal Diode (SMP-PTD) that includes layers and is configured to provide passive heating and cooling of a pipeline. The SMP-PTD includes a polyurethane (PU) layer configured to contact at least an upper portion along a length of a pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer configured to surround the PU layer and the length of the pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes a graphene layer configured to surround an upper side of the SMP-PTD and cross layers of the SMP-PTD toward a bottom side of the SMP-PTD to establish contact with the pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes an epoxy shell configured to surround the graphene layer. The SMP-PTD further includes a shape memory polymer (SMP) ring configured to provide vertical displacement and push upward upon lateral displacement from pushing by left and right PET blocks. The SMP-PTD is installed on the pipeline.

An apparatus includes a method for providing a Shape Memory Polymer Based Passive Thermal Diode (SMP-PTD) that includes layers and is configured to provide passive heating and cooling of a pipeline. The SMP-PTD includes a polyurethane (PU) layer configured to contact at least an upper portion along a length of a pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer configured to surround the PU layer and the length of the pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes a graphene layer configured to surround an upper side of the SMP-PTD and cross layers of the SMP-PTD toward a bottom side of the SMP-PTD to establish contact with the pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes an epoxy shell configured to surround the graphene layer. The SMP-PTD further includes a shape memory polymer (SMP) ring configured to provide vertical displacement and push upward upon lateral displacement from pushing by left and right PET blocks. The SMP-PTD is installed on the pipeline.