A plant for the continuous vulcanisation of mixtures of natural or synthetic latex inside a plurality of vulcanisation moulds aligned close to each other, each including: a base and a lid able to be removably coupled; an advancing mechanism for advancing the moulds along guides inside a vulcanising oven; and a sprayer for spraying the mixture inside the bases before entry into the vulcanising oven. The plant includes: an assembly set and a disassembly set of the moulds, belonging respectively to the input station and to the output station of the vulcanising oven; a first transport mechanism for transferring each base from the disassembly set to the assembly set; a second transport mechanism for transferring each lid from the disassembly set to the assembly set. The vulcanising oven includes a tunnel with a radiofrequency set for vulcanising the mixture.

A method for making an expanded, and optionally multi-component and/or colored PTFE monofilament is disclosed. The method includes forming a first paste by mixing a PTFE powder with a hydrocarbon solvent; forming an extrusion preform by pressing the first paste into a form; curing the extrusion preform by exposing the extrusion preform to a first temperature for a first time duration; forming a green monofilament by extruding the first paste through a die; expanding the green monofilament by exposing the green monofilament to a second temperature for a second time duration, the second time duration occurring after the first time duration; stretching the green monofilament substantially along a longitudinal axis of the green monofilament, the stretching the green monofilament occurring after the expanding the green monofilament; and sintering the green monofilament after the stretching the green monofilament.

Textured hardcoat films are disclosed for preferable use in film insert moulding. Texture in the hardcoat film is created through the use of a textured protective overlayer, which can impart texture to the curable coating of the hardcoat film. This process preferably avoids the need to alter the composition of the curable coating to allow for texture and preferably produces a hardcoat film with a matte and reduced-glare finish. An apparatus and a method embodying the invention are disclosed.

A device for lacquer transfer includes a frame, transfer roller with circumferential lateral wall, nozzle for dispensing lacquer, and hardening unit, the hardening unit formed as a UV-light unit for hardening the lacquer in a contactless way by emitting UV-light, and is within an interior space defined by the transfer roller. The lateral wall of the transfer roller is transparent for UV-light, and the hardening unit is arranged such that UV-light is emitted towards the work surface upon which the lateral wall of the transfer roller rolls, to harden the lacquer after it being transferred to the work surface. Using the device, lacquer transfer can occur from the transfer roller to the work surface more reliably. The device includes a light shield between the hardening unit and outside contact surface with at least a portion of the outside contact surface provided with lacquer is shielded from UV-light emitted from the hardening unit.

An apparatus for preparation of a continuous composite element formed of reinforcement fibers impregnated with a resin that includes photo-initiators for curing. Reinforcement fibers are pulled through a vacuum chamber (110) and then a vertical impregnation chamber (122) where impregnation with the resin occurs. The elongate composite is then deposited onto a rotating wheel of conformation (140). During rotation, a radiation source (146) such as e.g., LEDs (light emitting diodes) are used to activate the photo-initiators and provide at least partial curing of the resin. From the wheel of conformation, the continuous composite element is passed along a vertical course (148) where additional radiation sources (150) activate the photo-initiators and provided additional curing.

An apparatus for preparation of a continuous composite element formed of reinforcement fibers impregnated with a resin that includes photo-initiators for curing. Reinforcement fibers are pulled through a vacuum chamber (110) and then a vertical impregnation chamber (122) where impregnation with the resin occurs. The elongate composite is then deposited onto a rotating wheel of conformation (140). During rotation, a radiation source (146) such as e.g., LEDs (light emitting diodes) are used to activate the photo-initiators and provide at least partial curing of the resin. From the wheel of conformation, the continuous composite element is passed along a vertical course (148) where additional radiation sources (150) activate the photo-initiators and provided additional curing.

A method for manufacturing a film structure includes: a positional deviation amount detection process of detecting an amount of positional deviation related to a relative position of a second cured film formed on a rear surface of a film with respect to a first cured film formed on a front surface of the film; a relative position adjustment process of correcting a position or a rotation speed of a second transfer roll to adjust the relative position such that the amount of positional deviation detected in the positional deviation amount detection process is reduced; a first tensile force detection process and a second tensile force detection process of respectively detecting a tensile force of the film between a first pressurizing roll and a second pressurizing roll before and after the relative position adjustment process; and a tensile force adjustment process of adjusting the tensile force of the film such that the tensile force of the film detected in the second tensile force detection process approaches the tensile force of the film detected in the first tensile force detection process.

The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a fiber-reinforced plastic that is capable of controlling anisotropy, has excellent mechanical characteristics, has little variation, has excellent heat resistance, and has good fluidity during forming. A production method for fiber-reinforced plastic, having: a step in which a material (A) (100) including a prepreg base material is obtained, said prepreg base material having cuts therein and having a thermoplastic resin impregnated in reinforcing fibers (110) arranged in parallel in one direction; a step in which a pressurizing device is used that applies a substantially uniform pressure in a direction (X) orthogonal to the travel direction of the material (A) (100) and the material (A) (100) is caused to travel in the one direction and is pressurized while being heated to a prescribed temperature (T), an angle (.theta.) of 20-20 .degree. being formed between the orthogonal direction (X) and a fiber axial direction (Y) for the reinforcing fibers (110) of the prepreg base material; and a step in which the material (A) (100) pressurized by the pressurizing device is cooled and the fiber-reinforced plastic is obtained.

The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a fiber-reinforced plastic that is capable of controlling anisotropy, has excellent mechanical characteristics, has little variation, has excellent heat resistance, and has good fluidity during forming. A production method for fiber-reinforced plastic, having: a step in which a material (A) (100) including a prepreg base material is obtained, said prepreg base material having cuts therein and having a thermoplastic resin impregnated in reinforcing fibers (110) arranged in parallel in one direction; a step in which a pressurizing device is used that applies a substantially uniform pressure in a direction (X) orthogonal to the travel direction of the material (A) (100) and the material (A) (100) is caused to travel in the one direction and is pressurized while being heated to a prescribed temperature (T), an angle (.theta.) of 20-20 .degree. being formed between the orthogonal direction (X) and a fiber axial direction (Y) for the reinforcing fibers (110) of the prepreg base material; and a step in which the material (A) (100) pressurized by the pressurizing device is cooled and the fiber-reinforced plastic is obtained.

Methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed by which patterned layers can be formed in a roll-to-roll process using a variable and programmable means for applying liquids and solutions used in the patterning process.