A polymer composition comprising a star-branched copolymer having a plurality of arms is disclosed. Each polymer arm has a molecular weight Mp of from 1 kg/mol to 50 kg/mol and comprises polymerized units (i) derived from a first vinyl aromatic monomer comprising a radical-reactive group, wherein from greater than 10 mol % to 100 mol % of the units (i) are unhydrogenated; and optionally, polymerized units (ii) comprising hydrogenated and unhydrogenated forms of polymerized units derived from a high Tg monomer, and hydrogenated form of polymerized units (i) or hydrogenated form of polymerized styrene units; and optionally, polymerized units (iii) comprising (a) hydrogenated form of polymerized units derived from one or more acyclic conjugated dienes, and (b) polymerized units derived from one or more of a second vinyl aromatic monomer; wherein less than 10 wt. % of units (a) are unhydrogenated.

A lightning strike protection layer for an aircraft is disclosed having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion includes a first fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a first electrically conductive metal layer and the second portion includes a second fibre reinforced polymer composite layer and a second electrically conductive metal layer, and the first and second portions are joined at a butt joint, with the first and second fibre reinforced polymer composite layers abutting and the first and second electrically conductive metal layers abutting; and a butt-strap extending across the butt joint, the butt-strap comprising a third electrically conductive metal layer electrically connected to the first and second electrically conductive metal layers.

A multi-layer fire-resistant (FR) panel or board, for use in exterior applications, such as siding, cladding, trim, fencing, or sheathing. The panel or board may be OSB or other form of engineered-wood, with an integrated fire-resistant laminate incorporated during a manufacturing process. The laminate may be placed on top of or under a fines layer. The laminate may be placed under an overlay layer, such as a resin-impregnated paper overlay, or other form of weather- or water-resistant barrier (WRB). The laminate itself may also serve as a WRB, and may thus be combined with or substituted for the overlay layer. A second FR laminate may be applied on the bottom of the panel or board. In addition to providing FR characteristics, the laminate also protects the structural integrity of the panel by preventing or reducing the splitting and/or cracking of the panel or board during a fire event.

A metal resin composite-molded article which can suppress deformation induced by laser processing in a technique for improving the adhesion between a metal plate and a resin by forming grooves on the surface of the metal plate by means of a laser, even if the metal plate is thin. A metal resin composite-molded article obtained by insert-molding a resin composition on a metal plate having a thickness of 500 μm or less, grooves are formed on the surface of the metal plate in which the resin composition is inserted, the width of the grooves is 30-300 μm, the depth of the grooves is at most 24% of the thickness of the metal plate, and the ratio of the width to the depth is 0.1-2.5.

A molded product having both small specific gravity and high stiffness and also suffering few sink marks is described along with a method for the production thereof, where the molded product includes a porous body (A) integrated with an injection molded body (B), the porous body (A) having an apparent density of 0.05 to 0.8 g/cm.sup.3, the average thickness (tA) of the porous body (A) and the average thickness (tB) of the injection molded body (B) satisfying the relation tA≥3×tB, and the injection molded body (B) covering at least one face of the porous body (A).

A component including a body having a first surface and a matrix made of semicrystalline thermoplastic resin, a coating at least partially covering the first surface and a lightning protection layer having a matrix, positioned against the surface, between the body and the coating. The matrix of the lightning protection layer is based on at least one amorphous thermoplastic resin.

The panel includes a water resistant barrier layer secured atop its outward facing surface. The water resistant barrier layer includes a skid resistant surface. The panels are made of lignocellulosic material. The water resistant and skid resistant surface may include indicia for aligning strips of tape or for aligning fasteners. A method for manufacturing the water resistant building panels is also disclosed and includes the steps of feeding paper onto a forming belt, depositing lignocellulosic material and the binding agent onto the forming belt so as to form a lignocellulosic mat, applying heat and pressure so as to impart the skid resistant surface on the paper, and cutting panels to predetermined sizes.

The present invention contemplates a method for forming a composite structure including a plurality of rigid layers and one or more reformable epoxy resin layers. The resulting composite is molded to form a non-planar composite structure.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a forefoot region of the plate than at a midfoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A paper based overlay is provided. The overlay has a paper impregnated with a resin composition having an acrylic resin having a glass transition temperature in a range of from about −20° C. to about 40° C. and a resin content from about 15 to about 35 wt. % based on the weight of the overlay. The acrylic composition may include wax in the amount of about 0.005 to about 3.5 wt. % based on the weight of the resin composition. A method of producing the overlay is also provided. The overlay is highly water and abrasion resistant with low volatile content.