A folded panel includes a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) substrate with an outer layer secured to and at least partially covering one major surface thereof and a polymer matrix covering an opposite major surface thereof. In one embodiment, the FRP substrate is folded about a fold line to create opposed plies on either side of the fold line with the polymer matrix of one of the opposed plies contacting the polymer matrix of the other of the opposed plies and with the outer layer forming a folded edge at the fold line that is continuous with the outer layer covering the opposed plies, and the folded FRP substrate is then consolidated with the polymer matrix. In another embodiment, a fiber or fibrous material substrate is positioned between the opposed plies and the combination of the folded FRP substrate and the fiber or fibrous substrate is consolidated with the polymer matrix.

In a resin sandwich panel, the two resin skin material sheets have peripheral edge portions thereof joined to each other so as to form an internal hollow portion. The resin core material is disposed in the hollow portion. At least one of surfaces of the resin core material opposing the two resin skin material sheets has a groove portion extending across the entire surface, and a depression communicating with the groove portion. At least one of the two resin skin material sheets additionally has an atmosphere-opened through-hole provided in a thickness direction thereof. When the one of the surfaces of the resin core material and the corresponding resin skin material sheet are surface-to-surface adhered to each other in the hollow portion, air between the surfaces and the skin material sheet is guided to the depression via the groove portion, and exhausted out of the atmosphere-opened through-hole.

A sandwich structure which is configured of skin layers each including at least one layer selected from among a metal layer, a fiber-reinforced resin layer (X) that includes continuous fibers and a matrix resin (A), and a fiber-reinforced resin layer (Y) that includes discontinuous fibers and a heat-curable matrix resin (B) and of a core layer including a flowable core layer that includes discontinuous fibers and a matrix resin (C), wherein the skin layers are constituted of a material which has a flexural modulus higher than that of the core layer, and a through part has been formed in a region that lies in at least some of the skin layers. In the sandwich structure, an upright part which projects in an out-of-plane direction of skin layer and which has high strength and a complicated shape such as a rib is obtained by an easy method.

There is provided a breast cup for an undergarment such as a brassiere. The breast cup comprises a cup core that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Each of the first and second surfaces is formed with a plurality of grooves. Each groove has an elongated opening, an elongated bottom, and a sidewall on each of two longitudinal sides of the groove. The breast cup also comprises a first fabric layer overlying the first surface of the cup core, and a second fabric layer overlying the second surface of the cup core. A top part of the sidewalls of one or more of the plurality of the first grooves is attached to the first fabric layer while at least a portion of the bottom of the one or more of the plurality of the first grooves is not attached to the first fabric layer.

A method for forming a fire-retardant thermoplastic composite panel includes mixing a thermoplastic polymer with a fire-retardant additive to form a fire-retardant polymer composition and assembling a composite layup of a plurality of first layers and a plurality of second layers by alternatingly positioning the plurality of first layers and the plurality of second layers with each first layer including a fire-retardant polymer composition film of the fire-retardant polymer composition and each second layer including a carbon-fiber fabric. The method further includes compression molding the composite layup to form the fire-retardant thermoplastic composite panel.

A multifunctional fully integral panel system design, a unique material configuration, and a process for fabricating a net shape (or nearly net shape) panel in one production cycle. The panel may comprise a base facing with an outer perimeter, a decorative film applied to the exterior of the base facing, an aft facing having an outer perimeter fused to the base facing, and a reinforcement core disposed between the unfused portions of the base and aft facings, which reinforcement core also acts as acoustic insulation (i.e., a noise attenuator). Alternatively or additionally, a foam core or blanket having thermal and/or acoustic insulation properties is attached to the external surface of the aft facing. The fabrication process involves the application of different heat treatments to panel components having different forming temperature or rubbery/elastic plateaus.

A wafer holder 10 includes a resin adhesive layer 16 between a ceramic electrostatic chuck 12 and a metal cooling plate 14. The adhesive layer 16 includes a first layer 16a in contact with the electrostatic chuck 12, a second layer 16b in contact with the cooling plate 14, and an intermediate layer 16c located between the first layer 16a and the second layer 16b. Heat resistance of each of the first layer 16a and the intermediate layer 16c is higher than heat resistance of the second layer 16b, flexibility of the second layer 16b is higher than flexibility of each of the first layer 16a and the intermediate layer 16c, and the layers are in hermetic contact with each other.

A folded panel includes a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) substrate with an outer layer secured to and at least partially covering one major surface thereof and a polymer matrix covering an opposite major surface thereof. In one embodiment, the FRP substrate is folded about a fold line to create opposed plies on either side of the fold line with the polymer matrix of one of the opposed plies contacting the polymer matrix of the other of the opposed plies and with the outer layer forming a folded edge at the fold line that is continuous with the outer layer covering the opposed plies, and the folded FRP substrate is then consolidated with the polymer matrix at a consolidation temperature that is between an activation temperature of the polymer matrix and a melting temperature of the outer layer.

In a resin sandwich panel, the two resin skin material sheets have peripheral edge portions thereof joined to each other so as to form an internal hollow portion. The resin core material is disposed in the hollow portion. At least one of surfaces of the resin core material opposing the two resin skin material sheets has a groove portion extending across the entire surface, and a depression communicating with the groove portion. At least one of the two resin skin material sheets additionally has an atmosphere-opened through-hole provided in a thickness direction thereof. When the one of the surfaces of the resin core material and the corresponding resin skin material sheet are surface-to-surface adhered to each other in the hollow portion, air between the surfaces and the skin material sheet is guided to the depression via the groove portion, and exhausted out of the atmosphere-opened through-hole.

A sandwich component (10) having a honeycomb core layer (4) and at least one fiber-reinforced thermoplastic outer layer (3) and the corresponding production method. The outer layer (3) is connected to the honeycomb core layer (4) by a thermoplastic material. At least one side of the sandwich component (10 has a decorative layer (1,1), which is arranged on the outer layer (3). The sandwich component (10) furthermore has at least one foam layer (2), which is arranged between the outer layer (3) and the decorative layer (1,1), and which is connected to the outer layer (3) and the decorative layer (1,1).