A composite comprises: a reinforcing element (10), an adhesive layer (14) made from an adhesive composition, and an elastomeric body made from an elastomeric matrix comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin type elastomer and/or a polychloroprene elastomer. The adhesive composition comprises a resin based: on a polyphenol comprising an aromatic ring bearing two hydroxyl functions in the meta position relative to one another, the two positions ortho to one of the hydroxyl functions being unsubstituted; and/or on a monophenol comprising a six-membered aromatic ring bearing a single hydroxyl function, the two ortho positions being unsubstituted, or an ortho position and the para position being unsubstituted, and on a compound comprising an aromatic ring bearing two functions, one of these functions being a hydroxymethyl function and the other being an aldehyde function or a hydroxymethyl function.

A flexible, self-supporting hybrid veil that is permeable to liquid and gas. The hybrid veil includes: (a) intermingled, randomly arranged fibres in the form of a nonwoven structure; (b) particles dispersed throughout the nonwoven structure, wherein a majority of the particles are penetrating through the thickness of the nonwoven structure; and (c) a polymeric or resinous binder present throughout the veil. Such hybrid veil can be incorporated into composite laminates, prepregs, fabrics and fibrous preforms.

A flexible, self-supporting hybrid veil that is permeable to liquid and gas. The hybrid veil includes: (a) intermingled, randomly arranged fibres in the form of a nonwoven structure; (b) particles dispersed throughout the nonwoven structure, wherein a majority of the particles are penetrating through the thickness of the nonwoven structure; and (c) a polymeric or resinous binder present throughout the veil. Such hybrid veil can be incorporated into composite laminates, prepregs, fabrics and fibrous preforms.

A drive shaft body extends between axial ends and has an outer peripheral surface with undulations extending between relatively greater and smaller outer diameters. The undulations extend along a non-zero angle relative to a circumferential direction defined relative to a drive axis of the drive shaft. The undulations extend along a spiral. The drive shaft body is formed of a fiber-reinforced composite material.

A method of making tonebars and other components for musical instruments comprises using a pultrusion apparatus to embed or coat glass, plant-based, and/or other fibers in or with a thermosetting, thermoplastic, or catalyzed polymer matrix. The coated fibers are pulled into a continuous bar in a curing and forming die. The bar is then cut into predetermined lengths. Each length is then carefully tuned by cutting and shaping so that when it is struck, it will emit musical notes on a chromatic musical scale. In one aspect, the fibers and resin are selected to produce tonebars for marimbas and xylophones that emulate the sound obtained from highly desirable Honduran rosewood at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact associated with this wood.

A method of manufacturing a preform including a core and a sole includes contour weaving the preform on a lap roller having a groove or an outgrowth allowing shape weaving of the core and the sole of the preform. At least one portion of the core and at least one portion of the sole include weft yarns which cross each other on common warp yarns.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg includes a double belt mechanism that is configured to compress a fiber mat, web, or mesh that is passed through the double belt mechanism, a resin applicator that is configured to apply monomers or oligomers to the fiber mat, web, or mesh, and a curing oven that is configured to effect polymerization of the monomers or oligomers and thereby form the thermoplastic polymer as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is moved through the curing oven. The double belt mechanism compresses the fiber mat, web, or mesh and the applied monomers or oligomers as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is passed through the curing oven so that the monomers or oligomers fully saturate the fiber mat, web, or mesh. Upon polymerization of the monomers or oligomers, the fiber mat, web, or mesh is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer.

A repulpable insulated container assembly having a container formed of paper such as corrugated cardboard or varying paper materials and defining an interior; and a repulpable insert placed within the interior of the container and formed of a first paper layer; and a paper fiber pad coupled to the first paper layer.

Methods and apparatus for additive manufactures of complex parts using co-aligned continuous fibers are disclosed. Filament subunits having complex shapes are fabricated and inserted into a mold cavity. The layup is compression molded to form a complex part having high tensile strength.

Methods of forming a lightweight reinforced thermoplastic core layer and articles including the core layer are described. In some examples, the methods use a combination of thermoplastic material, reinforcing fibers and bicomponent fibers to enhance retention of lofting agents in the core layer. The processes permit the use of less material while still providing sufficient lofting capacity in the final formed core layer.