The present invention relates to a process for producing a fiber-foam composite (FSV1), wherein a first fiber material (FM1) is applied to a first foam body (SK1) to give a first structured fiber surface (FO1) to which a second foam body (SK2) is subsequently applied to give the fiber-foam composite (FSV1).

A molding process includes the operation of placing insulation material comprising fibers and binder on the fibers in a mold cavity. The molding process further includes the operation of transferring heat to the insulation material to cause the binder to cure.

Provided are recyclable liner, panel or components which contain a vertically lapped polymer material constructed from at least vertically lapped first polymer fibers, wherein the vertically lapped polymer material includes a first surface and a second surface; and optionally at least one sheet of a same polymer or a compatible polymer to the vertically lapped first polymer fibers adhered to at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the vertically lapped polymer material. At least one of the first surface and the second surface of the vertically lapped polymer material is molded to include one or more structural features that project from the first surface and/or the second surface so that the vertically lapped polymer material with the adhered sheet has a three dimensional configuration. Methods for manufacturing the recyclable liner, panel or components are also provided.

A process is provided for thermal molding an article with at least one layer of thermoplastic fibers that are non-woven and uni-directionally oriented in combination with at least one layer of reinforcing fibers. The reinforcing fibers including glass, carbon, nature based, and combinations thereof; alone or mixed with chopped thermoplastic fibers. Upon subjecting the layers to sufficient heat to thermally bond in the presence of non-oriented filler fibers, thermoplastic fiber fusion encapsulates the filler fibers. The filler fibers impart physical properties to the resulting article and the residual unidirectional orientation of the thermoplastic melt imparts physical properties in the fiber direction to the article. By combining layers with varying orientations of uni-directional fibers relative to one another, the physical properties of the resulting article may be controlled and extended relative to conventional thermoplastic moldings. The uni-directional fibers may have discontinuities along the length of individual fibers.

An apparatus and method are provided utilizing electropermanent magnets (EPMs) or other electromagnetic effectors to deliver either or both electrical and changing magnetic fields to rescue the brains or other sections of the nervous system of human or non-human animals that have been subject to acute injury.

Three dimensional molded objects are produced from a plurality of expandible elements deposited in a mold by heating and moving the expandible elements during heating in the mold. The expandible elements have at least one layer of vertically lapped material held in a pre-compressed state during or before they are deposited in the mold. Movement is achieved by physically moving the mold continuously or periodically during heating, by blowing air or other gas into the mold continuously or periodically during heating, or by heating and depositing and moving the expandible objects at the same time.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier (10) that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material (12) having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one fibrous composite Insert (14) or overlay (980) having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement (e.g., having a plurality of ordered fibers). The fibrous Insert (14) or overlay (980) is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that Is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert (14) or overlay (980) and the mass of polymeric material (12) are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert or overlay to be at feast partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier (10) may be a mass of activatable material (126). The fibrous insert (14) or overlay (980) may include a polymeric matrix that includes a thermoplastic epoxy.

A fiber-reinforced resin shaped product includes: reinforcing fibers with a weight average fiber length of 100 mm or less; and a thermoplastic resin. The fiber-reinforced resin shaped product has grains on at least a part of a surface thereof. A maximum height (Rz) of the grains is 100 m to 200 m, and an average pitch (Rsm) between adjacent grains is 1100 m or less.

A method and apparatus for fabricating a short length carbon fiber preform with a through thickness reinforcement is disclosed herein. The starting media for fabricating a net shape (e.g., annular disc) may meet specific requirements including a sufficient fiber volume and a binding mechanism compatible with the needle-punching process.

A cosmetically altered fiberglass piece having an outer layer of curable translucent coat, an intermediate layer of textile fabric having a graphical element depicted thereon, and an inner layer of fiberglass composite. A resin or epoxy is used to bond the layers to form the cosmetically altered fiberglass piece. Introduction of resin or epoxy is performed through one of a manual application, a vacuum infusion, or light RTM.