In an aspect, provided herein are low density materials, including shell-based materials, with three-dimensional architectures formed, in part, via self-assembly processes. Shell-based materials of some embodiments exhibit a combination of ultralow density (e.g., ≤100 mg cm.sup.−3 and optionally ≤10 100 mg cm.sup.−3) and non-periodic architectures characterized by low defect densities and geometries avoiding stress concentrations. Low density shell based materials of some embodiments have architectures characterized by small curvatures and lack of straight edges providing enhance mechanical response. In some embodiments, for example, the present low density materials, including shell-based materials, providing a combination target mechanical properties including high stiffness-to-density ratios, mechanical resilience and tolerance for deformation.

The present disclosure relates to epoxide containing compounds comprising three benzene units linked by bridging groups. The disclosure also relates to the production of curable epoxy resin formulations comprising said epoxide containing compounds, and their possible incorporation into composite materials such as fibre reinforced composites. Possible methods for formulating the compounds epoxide containing compounds, as described herein, are also disclosed.

A pumpable thermally foaming filler compositions based on combinations of a liquid epoxy resin and a polyvinyl chloride resin and/or an acrylic resin powder and at least one alkali metal salt of a fatty acid containing 16 C-atoms or 18 C-atoms, wherein the alkali metal is calcium or zinc. These pumpable filler materials provide the advantage that they can be expanded to provide foam with high expansion values after humidity exposure/storage. Further described are methods for filling closed spaces with the pumpable thermally foaming filler composition as well as vehicle parts which are obtainable with the indicated methods.

The present invention pertains to a fiber-reinforced plastic that has, as at least one of the surface layers in the thickness direction thereof, a layer containing reinforced fibers and a matrix in which a thermosetting resin and a thermoplastic resin are integrated. The reinforced fibers form discontinuous reinforced fiber bundles randomly stacked or discontinuous reinforced fiber bundles arranged in one direction. A portion of the discontinuous reinforced fiber bundles is in contact with both of the thermosetting resin and the thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin is exposed in at least a portion of the surface of the surface layer.

Methods for recycling thermoset polymers, particularly by changing them into dynamic networks with the use of an appropriate catalyst solution which transforms the thermoset polymer into a vitrimer-like composition. The methods include the step of swelling a crosslinked thermoset polymer in a solution including a catalyst, whereby the catalyst diffuses into the thermoset polymer, in particular into the thermoset network. Upon removal of the liquid portion of the solution, such as solvent, the catalyst facilitates the occurrence of exchange reactions at elevated temperatures, rendering the system a dynamic network. The vitrimerized composition having the thermoset polymer and catalyst is recyclable and processable and thus suitable for many end uses.

A polymeric film or laminate comprising the same is applied to at least a portion of a surface of an underlying article to provide, for example, desired surface characteristics. To assist in such application, a polymerizable composition is coated onto at least one of the surface of the polymeric film or the laminate and the surface of the article. The polymerizable composition is then polymerized with the polymeric film or laminate positioned thereover to form a sufficiently polymerized interlayer between the polymeric film or laminate and the underlying surface in resulting articles. Ease of removal and/or repair of polymeric film and laminates comprising the polymeric film that are so applied is facilitated.

A prepreg is provided that has excellent processability and handleability and that can be processed into a cured product with high heat resistance. Also provided is a method to produce such a prepreg in an industrially advantageous way without being restricted by the types and contents of the matrix resin components used. The prepreg includes at least components [A] to [D] as given below and a preliminary reaction product that is a reaction product of the component [B] and the component [C], at least one surface resin in the prepreg having a storage elastic modulus G′ in the range of 1.0×10.sup.3 to 2.0×10.sup.8 Pa as measured at a temperature of 40° C. and an angular frequency in the range of 0.06 to 314 rad/s: [A] carbon fiber, [B] epoxy resin comprising a m- or p-aminophenol epoxy resin [b1] and either a glycidyl ether epoxy resin or a glycidyl amine epoxy resin [b2] that has two or more glycidyl groups in a molecule, [C] curing agent, and [D] thermoplastic resin.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a denatured cellulose fiber cake including carrying out a solid-liquid separation of a dispersion containing denatured cellulose fibers under the conditions of a centrifugal force of a centrifuge of 50 G or more and 600 G or less (step A). According to the present invention, a new method for producing a resin composition containing denatured cellulose fibers, and a new method for producing a denatured cellulose fiber cake, a shortened anionically denatured cellulose fiber cake, modified cellulose fibers, or fine cellulose fibers which can be used therefor can be provided.

A carbon fiber composite material comprising: (i) a carbon fiber having an outer surface, a thickness of at least 1 micron, and an aspect ratio of at least 1000; (ii) a sizing agent coated on the outer surface of the carbon fiber, wherein the sizing agent has a thickness of up to 200 nm; and (iii) nanoparticles having a size in at least one dimension of up to 100 nm embedded within the sizing agent, wherein the nanoparticles have a metal carbide, metal oxide, metal nitride, and/or metal boride composition. A method for producing the fiber composite material comprises: (a) continuously feeding and coating a continuous carbon fiber with a liquid containing a solvent, sizing agent, and nanoparticles in a continuous feed-through process to result in said sizing agent and nanoparticles coating the surface of the continuous carbon fiber; and (b) removing the solvent from the coated fiber.

A moulding material which comprises: (a) a structural reinforcement layer comprising a fibrous reinforcement material optionally in combination with a second resin composition; and (b) a surface enhancing layer, for contacting a surface of a mould or tool, comprising a first non-woven fibre carrier in combination with a first resin composition containing a rheology modifier and a curing agent, wherein the first resin composition provides an external mould or tool-contacting surface of the moulding material. The moulding material can be cured to form a moulded article having a high quality surface finish that requires minimal preparation before painting and/or application in its intended use. The moulded article may be provided with sacrificial discontinuous indicator means to assist in uniform removal of a part of the surface enhancing layer of the moulded article for specific applications.