A process for the production of a glass fiber reinforced polymer tape includes a) unwinding from a package of at least one continuous glass multifilament strand; b) applying the impregnating agent to the continuous glass multifilament strands to form the impregnated continuous multifilament strands; c) applying a sheath of thermoplastic polymer around said multifilament strand to form a sheathed continuous multifilament strand, d) providing the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands obtained in step c), e) placing the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands in parallel alignment in the longitudinal direction, f) grouping the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein steps e) and f) are performed such that the sheathed continuous multifilament strand can be consolidated and g) subsequently consolidating the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands to form a tape, wherein the tex number of the glass multifilament strand is in the range from 520 to 980, and the amount of the at least one continuous glass multifilament strand in the composition is from 55 to 70 wt % on the basis of the total weight of the composition. The tape produced from the process has improved mechanical performance and low warpage when made into laminates.

In a double-belt press, an inner seal has an inner seal flow passage having an intake port via which a sealing fluid supplied into an inner sealing groove is taken in and a jet port via which the sealing fluid taken in via the intake port jets toward belts. The outer seal has an outer seal flow passage having an intake port via which the sealing fluid supplied into an outer sealing groove is taken in and a jet port via which the sealing fluid taken in via the intake port jets toward the belts. The partition wall has a plurality of fluid supply passages that supply each of the inner sealing groove and the outer sealing groove with the sealing fluid and a plurality of fluid recovery passages that recover the sealing fluid accumulating in the space formed between the inner seal and the outer seal.

A belt calender for manufacturing preimpregnated composites includes a first roller, which is rotatable around its longitudinal axis, a first belt running at least partly around the first roller; and a second belt running in between the first roller and the first belt. The first belt and the second belt guide a feed of material between them. The belt calender includes auxiliary rollers which are rotatable around their longitudinal axes, and are arranged substantially parallel to the first roller around at least a part of a circumference thereof. The first and second belt run in between two adjacent ones of the plurality of auxiliary rollers, thereby defining a meandering path for the feed of material. A method for manufacturing preimpregnated composites by using such a belt calender.

Method for manufacturing floor panels, where the floor panels include a carrier on the basis of thermoplastic material and a top layer provided on the carrier; and where the method further includes at least the steps of strewing the thermoplastic material and consolidating the strewn thermoplastic material; where the thermoplastic material is strewn as a dry-blend.

A heating system is provided having a plurality of heated zones, with at least a first zone and a second zone. The first zone receives variable input moisture fiberglass over a first conveyor system and comprises a first compression system above the first conveyor system. Each zone has a fire box at the top and an exhaust stack. Heated air is up drafted through the bottom of the first zone, where the heated air flows from the bottom through the conveyor belt, through the fiberglass media, through the tensioned compression chain, and out the exhaust stack of the first zone. The first zone establishes fiberglass loft, with the second zone providing cure of the fiberglass.

The present invention relates to a process for preparation of polyethylene-cork composite panels comprising the steps of: mixing 10-64% of cork granulate and 36-90% of polyethylene granulate at room temperature, and feeding a press with this mixture; compressing this mixture in the press with a compression force in the range of 300-450 kN, at a temperature in the range of 160-200 C. and for a hot compression time between 24-180 seconds; and cooling to room temperature, with a compression force between 350-450 kN, for a cold compression time between 32 and 240 seconds; to obtain panels with a thickness between 3 and 5 mm. The invention further relates to a polyethylene-cork composite panel and also to use thereof in the construction industry, particularly as cover board core.

A method for controlling the thickness of a continuous elongated element made of elastomeric material, applied according to coils wound on a forming support, includes: advancing a head end of the continuous elongated element toward the forming support; subjecting, during the advancement, the continuous elongated element to a first stretching with a first stretch coefficient before applying on the forming support; and subjecting, during the advancement, the continuous elongated element to a second stretching with a second stretch coefficient during the application on the forming support. During the first stretching, a span of the continuous elongated element adjacent to the head end is stretched with a supplementary stretch coefficient greater than the first stretch coefficient, in a manner so as to confer, also to the span adjacent to the head end, a stretch and a section similar or substantially equivalent to those of the rest of the continuous elongated element.

A method of forming a material includes presenting a formable material to a space between opposing forming surfaces of opposed forming tools from whence said material is carried as said opposing forming surfaces advance in a machine direction. The method includes pressurising, as said opposing forming surfaces advance, said material between said opposing forming surfaces in a reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone, said reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces being maintained constant until a form of at least one of said opposing forming surfaces is profiled into said material and is retainable thereon. The method also includes releasing the profiled material from between the said opposing forming surfaces, as the space of the pressure forming zone increases between said opposing forming surfaces as the opposing forming surfaces advance.

A method for controlling the thickness of a continuous elongated element made of elastomeric material, applied according to coils wound on a forming support, includes: advancing a head end of the continuous elongated element toward the forming support; subjecting, during the advancement, the continuous elongated element to a first stretching with a first stretch coefficient before applying on the forming support; and subjecting, during the advancement, the continuous elongated element to a second stretching with a second stretch coefficient during the application on the forming support. During the first stretching, a span of the continuous elongated element adjacent to the head end is stretched with a supplementary stretch coefficient greater than the first stretch coefficient, in a manner so as to confer, also to the span adjacent to the head end, a stretch and a section similar or substantially equivalent to those of the rest of the continuous elongated element.

A pressing device, comprising: a lower presser (10), provided with a pressing surface (10a) facing upwards; an upper presser (11), provided with a pressing surface (11a), facing downwards; at least one of the two pressers is movable towards and away relative to the other in order to perform pressing of a layer (L) of a ceramic material; a pressing space (V) delimited inferiorly and superiorly by the lower presser (10) and by the upper presser (11); a lower belt (2), movable along a forward direction (Y) and comprising an active portion (3) arranged at least partially between the upper presser (11) and the lower presser (10); an upper belt (4), movable along the forward direction (Y) and comprising an active portion (5) arranged at least partially between the lower belt (2) and the upper presser (11); two side barriers (13,14,15), arranged to laterally contain the layer (L) within the pressing space (V).