The invention relates inter alia to a method of making a thin component (10) in lightweight sandwich construction with a high-quality surface (26).

The invention relates, inter alia, to a method of making a thin component (10) in a lightweight sandwich construction having a high-quality surface (26).

Embodiments described herein relate to a composite structures or sandwiches that may have a relatively high bending stiffness and may have a relatively light weight as well as related methods of use and fabrication of the composite sandwiches. For example, a composite sandwich may include a core structure sandwiched between a two composite skins.

A composite structural panel for use in bridge structures, and method of manufacturing same, comprises a top panel and a bottom panel separated by and attached to at least one, but preferably a plurality, of structural composite preforms which may be fabricated by a continuous manufacturing process and may be saturated by resin using a continuous wetting process. The composite preforms may take any cross sectional shape but are preferably trapezoidal. The top and bottom panels may be fabricated from a plurality of layers of woven fabric layers and non-woven fabric layers which are saturated with a resin that is subsequently cured using cure processes known in the art. The composite structural panel of the invention is usable as a flat structural member for use as bridge decking, ramps, trestles, and any application requiring a structural panel.

Embodiments described herein relate to a composite structures or sandwiches that may have a relatively high bending stiffness and may have a relatively light weight as well as related methods of use and fabrication of the composite sandwiches. For example, a composite sandwich may include a core structure sandwiched between a two composite skins.

A method of manufacturing a wrapped object, having a first segment and a second segment connected to each other by a curved transition segment having a common tangent with the first segment and a common tangent with the second segment, respectively. The method includes providing a mandrel with a surface structure to define at least part of the shape of the first segment, of the shape of the second segment and of the shape of the transition segment in between, and wrapping, one or more elongate elements over the mandrel and bonding the elongate element(s) to itself and/or each other so as to provide the first segment, the second segment and the transition segment as a continuous structure. The mandrel is provided with a fortification to support the element(s) forming the transition segment against inward-directed forces while wrapping and/or bonding the element(s) to form the transition segment.

The present invention provides means for improving bondability between a vehicle seat core and a cushion in a vehicle seat pad formed by integration of them without significantly impairing mechanical properties. A vehicle seat core is characterized in that it is a vehicle seat core for forming a vehicle seat pad by integration with a cushion, which comprises a foamed resin molded body obtained by filling a cavity of a mold with a plurality of foamed resin particles and performing in-mold foam molding, and that at least a partial region of a surface of the foamed resin molded body to which the cushion is bonded when forming the vehicle seat pad has a surface expansion rate of 40% to 85%, and the foamed resin molded body has a first fusion rate of 95% or more or a second fusion rate of 60% or more.

A method for manufacturing a seat cushion material, the seat cushion material including a front layer part and a back layer part having a back side surface, the method including: preparing for molding the seat cushion by attaching the back layer part to an upper die having an upper cavity surface; molding the seat cushion material by adding foamed resin raw material forming on a lower cavity surface of a lower die and then by closing the upper die to which the back layer part is attached, the lower cavity surface being provided with a plurality of protrusions which is configured to be brought into contact with a seating surface side of the back layer part and press the back layer part against the upper cavity surface when the upper die to which the back layer part is attached is closed; and demolding the molded seat cushion material.

The invention relates to a film laminate, including at least one compact decorative layer with a lacquer layer on the upper side and with a foam layer on the underside, where the density of the foam layer is more than 500 kg/m.sup.3. The invention further relates to the use of said film laminate for the coating of components for the interior trim of motor vehicles and to interior trim parts of motor vehicles provided with said film laminate. The foam layer is based on a composition which includes from 15 to 60 parts by weight of at least one thermoplastic vulcanizate, from 15 to 35 parts by weight of at least one high melt strength polyolefin, and from 30 to 60 parts by weight of at least one low density polyethylene (LDPE).

A structure, and methods of making the structure are provided in which the structure can include: a membrane having a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising polymer chains formed with coordination complexes with metal ions, and the second layer consisting of a porous support layer formed of polymer chains substantially, if not completely, lacking the presence of metal ions. The structure can be an asymmetric polymeric membrane containing a metal-rich layer as the first layer. In various embodiments the first layer can be a metal-rich dense layer. The first layer can include pores. The polymer chains of the first layer can be closely packed. The second layer can include a plurality of macro voids and can have an absence of the metal ions of the first layer.