A method of fabricating a composite material, the method comprises the steps of a) providing a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a thermoset FRP, b) providing an array of thermoplastic islands across at least a proportion of a major surface of the first layer, c) providing a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a thermoset FRP, d) laying the second layer over at least some of the islands, and e) securing the first and second layers together. There is also disclosed a composite which comprises a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer and a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, between which is an intervening layer comprising an array of thermoplastic islands.

A method of fabricating a composite material, the method comprises the steps of a) providing a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a thermoset FRP, b) providing an array of thermoplastic islands across at least a proportion of a major surface of the first layer, c) providing a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a thermoset FRP, d) laying the second layer over at least some of the islands, and e) securing the first and second layers together. There is also disclosed a composite which comprises a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer and a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, between which is an intervening layer comprising an array of thermoplastic islands.

The present invention provides process for producing a ballistic-resistant molded article, which molded article comprises: i) a plurality of layers of unidirectionally aligned polyolefin fibers, which layers are substantially absent a bonding matrix; and ii) a plurality of layers of adhesive, and which process comprises: a) providing a plurality of precursor sheets, each of said precursor sheets comprising i) at least one layer of unidirectionally aligned polyolefin fibers which layer is substantially absent a bonding matrix, and ii) at least one layer of adhesive; b) stacking said precursor sheets to form a stack, wherein the total amount of adhesive in the stack is from 5.0 to 12.0 wt. % based on the total weight of the stack; c) pressing the stack produced in step b) at a temperature of from 1 to 30° C. below the melting point of the polyolefin fibers and at a pressure of at least 8 MPa; and d) cooling the pressed stack produced in step c) to at least 50° C. below the melting point of the polyolefin fibers while maintaining pressure.

A vehicle component that includes at least one fiber preform. The fiber preform includes a substrate, a fiber bundle having one or more types of reinforcing fibers, and a thread. The fiber bundle is arranged on the substrate and attached to the substrate by a plurality of stitches of the thread to form a first preform layer having a principal orientation. The vehicle component includes a core having a geometry with at least one edge and at least one the fiber preforms positioned along the at least one edge, the core and the fiber preform being overmolded in a resin. A process of making the vehicle component includes providing the core having the at least one edge, positioning the at least one fiber preform along the at least one edge, and overmolding the core and the at least one fiber preform in the resin.

A vehicle component that includes at least one fiber preform. The fiber preform includes a substrate, a fiber bundle having one or more types of reinforcing fibers, and a thread. The fiber bundle is arranged on the substrate and attached to the substrate by a plurality of stitches of the thread to form a first preform layer having a principal orientation. The vehicle component includes a core having a geometry with at least one edge and at least one the fiber preforms positioned along the at least one edge, the core and the fiber preform being overmolded in a resin. A process of making the vehicle component includes providing the core having the at least one edge, positioning the at least one fiber preform along the at least one edge, and overmolding the core and the at least one fiber preform in the resin.

A composite which comprises a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer and a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, between which is an intervening layer comprising an array of thermoplastic islands.

A composite which comprises a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer and a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, between which is an intervening layer comprising an array of thermoplastic islands.

The fiber-reinforced resin material of the present invention is a fiber-reinforced resin material having a laminated structure in which fiber assembly layers and thermoplastic resin layers are alternately located, wherein the fiber assembly layers are each an assembly of continuous fibers having thermoplastic resin particles attached to surfaces thereof, and the fiber-reinforced resin material has a higher elongation on one surface side than that on the other surface side. The fiber-reinforced resin structure is made of the present fiber-reinforced resin material. A method for manufacturing the present fiber-reinforced resin material includes: a stacking step of stacking a sheet-shaped product of the continuous fibers that serves as the fiber assembly layer and a resin sheet that serves as the thermoplastic resin layer so as to obtain the laminated structure; and a hot-pressing step of heating and compressing a stacked product obtained through the stacking step in a stacking direction.

A mold for forming a wind turbine blade comprising first and second mold surfaces including a flange portion having an opening therein, wherein the first and second mold surfaces are configured for relative movement therebetween from an open position to a closed position. The opening of the first flange portion is aligned with the opening of the second flange portion when in the closed position, and a first magnet is disposed within the opening in the opening of the first mold surface, and a second magnet is disposed within the opening of the second mold surface.

An optical analysis device for determining particulate matter includes three light sources having different wavelengths, an apparatus for combining the three transmitted light beams on a common optical path, a measurement volume, an optical axis in the forward scattering direction that defines the scattering angle 0°, a light absorption apparatus at 0° that absorbs unscattered light, and six detectors arranged at different specified angles which are as close as possible to 0° directly next to the light absorption apparatus, at a second scattering angle between 7° and 40°, at a third scattering angle between 41° and 70°, at a fourth scattering angle between 71° and 115°, at a fifth scattering angle between 116° and 145°, at a sixth scattering angle between 146° and 180°. A control and evaluation unit controls the light sources such that the scattered light is detected in a wavelength selective manner by the detectors.