A flexible coupling for transmitting torque between parts of a transmission shaft system comprises a tubular section of continuous-fibre-reinforced composite material which has been modified to form a living hinge section with reduced bending stiffness to allow flexion of the tubular section. The tubular section may be modified through the provision of a pattern of formations within the living hinge section. The formations may be in the form of apertures and/or recesses in the continuous-fibre-reinforced composite material to create a plurality of living hinges in the material between, in particular slots and/or grooves.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide articles of manufacture and components of articles that incorporate an optical element that imparts a structural color to the component or the article. The component comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material, and can include or be made to have a textured surface.

The proposed vehicle interior trim part comprises a woven material having at least two parallel optical fibers that are able to laterally emit light and that extend in a longitudinal direction and having at least one further fiber and/or at least one further yarn. The vehicle interior trim part further comprises a reflective layer that is adjacent to the woven material and comprises a fleece material and that is configured to reflect light emitted by the at least two parallel optical fibers. The vehicle interior trim part additionally has a carrier that is adjacent to the reflective layer so that the reflective layer is located between the woven material and the carrier and having at least one light source that is optically connected to at least one of the at least two parallel optical fibers.

A cover board and roofing system including a cover board are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cover board includes a core having a first surface and a second surface. The core is configured to overlie a roof substrate. The cover board includes at least one facer attached to the first surface, the second surface, or both the first surface and second surface of the core. The cover board includes a reinforcing layer positioned between the core and the at least one facer. The reinforcing layer may comprise a scrim material. An impact resistance of the cover board may be greater than an impact resistance of an identical cover board without the scrim material.

The present invention provides a composite structure, a method for its manufacture, a sewing product containing the composite structure, and a method for manufacturing the sewing product. The composite structure has a Shore A hardness according to DIN 53505 of 20 to 45 and comprises a foam layer, a cover layer and a lacquering layer in this order, wherein the foam layer has a density of 40 to 100 kg/m.sup.3 and a gel content of 20 to 80% and contains a polyolefin and the cover layer has a gel content of 0 to 20%, is thermoplastic and comprises at least two compact sublayers each comprising at least one thermoplastic selected from polyolefin and polyvinyl chloride.

A rim for a bicycle wheel includes a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim. The rim also includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, and a radially outer tire engaging portion disposed along an outer circumference of the rim. The first sidewall, the second sidewall, the radially outer tire engaging portion, the radially inner portion, or any combination thereof includes a composite laminate. The composite laminate includes a layer of a composite material. The composite material includes a matrix of a polymer-based material and natural fibers of a reinforcing material. A volume of a respective one of the natural fibers of the layer of the composite material is greater before lamination of the composite laminate compared to the volume of the respective one natural fiber after the lamination of the composite laminate.

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.

Disclosed embodiments include mat assemblies and methods of fabricating a mat assembly. In an illustrative embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, a mat assembly includes a first mat defining first openings therein and a mesh member having a size and shape configured to underlie the first openings.

A method for manufacturing a turbine nozzle vane made of ceramic matrix composite material, wherein the vane is manufactured using a first fibrous preform including a hollow central section intended to form a fibrous reinforcement of an airfoil of the vane to be obtained, and a pair of second fibrous preforms each having an opening with a shape of the airfoil of the vane to be obtained.

A passivating flexible insulation blanket positionable about a pipe includes an insulation core, an enclosing fabric, and a non-consumable passivator. The insulation core is substantially hydrophobic and includes a microporous material. The enclosing fabric fully encapsulates the insulation core to form a capsule or pouch about the insulation core. The non-consumable passivator is non-consumable such that there is no appreciable change to a mass of the non-consumable passivator after an extended time of activation. The non-consumable passivator is deposited into the insulation core and has a composition soluble in water. The non-consumable passivator includes a leachable component that leaches from the insulation core and is capable of neutralizing acidic components. The leachable component is water soluble and is capable of reacting with a surface of the pipe to form a protective coating on the pipe to aid in inhibiting corrosion formation on the surface of the pipe.