A process for the manufacture of a degradable polycyanurate bulk molding composition includes: contacting a liquid cyanate ester monomer with an additive material and a polymerization catalyst to form a reaction mixture; maintaining a temperature of the reaction mixture at about 80° C. to about 100° C. to form a polycyanurate product having a viscosity of about 120 to about 200 centipoise at 23° C.; heating a reinforcing filler at a temperature of about 50 to about 150° C. to form a pre-heated reinforcing filler; and blending the polycyanurate product with the pre-heated reinforcing filler to form the degradable polycyanurate bulk molding composition. The bulk molding composition can be used to form a degradable polycyanurate article.

Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having enhanced flexural properties, which correlates to low composite backface signature. The composites are useful for the production of hard armor articles, including helmet armor.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite sheet comprising high performance polyethylene fibres and a polymeric resin comprising the steps of assembling HPPE fibres to a sheet, applying an aqueous suspension of a polymeric resin to the HPPE fibres, partially drying the aqueous suspension, optionally applying a temperature and/or a pressure treatment to the composite sheet wherein the polymeric resin is a homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene and/or propylene. The invention further relates to composite sheets obtainable by said method and articles comprising the composite sheet such as helmets, radomes or a tarpaulins.

Polyurethane foams and methods of manufacturing are described herein. The foam can include (a) a polyurethane formed by the reaction of (i) one or more isocyanates selected from the group consisting of diisocyanates, polyisocyanates, and mixtures thereof, and (ii) one or more polyols; and (b) a filler. The amount of filler in the foam can be from 50 to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the foam. The filler can include a plurality of fibers and/or a particulate filler. The polyurethane foams described herein are made without adding a surfactant to the reaction mixture. The density of the polyurethane foam can be at least 5 lb/ft.sup.3.

A curable matrix resin composition containing a thermoset resin component and metastable thermoplastic particles, wherein the metastable thermoplastic particles are particles of semi-crystalline thermoplastic material with an amorphous polymer fraction that will undergo crystallization upon heating to a crystallization temperature T.sub.c. A fiber-reinforced polymeric composite material containing metastable thermoplastic particles is also disclosed.

Organic polymer aerogels, articles of manufacture, and uses thereof are described. The aerogels include an organic polymer matrix and microstructures dispersed within the aerogels, which provides for superior thermal conductivity and mechanical properties.

A resin impregnating device (1) is used in a method for producing a reinforcing bar and has a chamber for holding a liquid thermoplastic resin. A plurality of guide plates (4A-4C) is arranged in the chamber along a traveling direction of a plurality of strands of reinforcing fiber material (Fb). Through holes (41) in two of the guide plates (4A, 4C) guide or spread the strands of the reinforcing fiber material Fb away from each other, and a single through hole (42) in an intermediate one of the guide plates (4B) guides or converges all the strands of the reinforcing fiber material (Fb) towards each other.

Electrically conductive nanocomposite particles including a core of a C1-C6 alkyl polyacrylate homopolymer or a copolymer of C1-C6 alkyl acrylate and of an α,β-unsaturated amide comonomer, a shell of polyaniline, and a non-ionic surfactant, for printing on a stretchable substrate. Also, a printed stretchable substrate obtained from the electrically conductive nanocomposite particles, which is usable, for example, in the field of printed electronics or connected clothing.

Polyurethane foams and methods of manufacturing are described herein. The foam can include (a) a polyurethane formed by the reaction of (i) one or more isocyanates selected from the group consisting of diisocyanates, polyisocyanates, and mixtures thereof, and (ii) one or more polyols; and (b) a filler. The amount of filler in the foam can be from 50 to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the foam. The filler can include a plurality of fibers and/or a particulate filler. The polyurethane foams described herein are made without adding a surfactant to the reaction mixture. The density of the polyurethane foam can be at least 5 lb/ft.sup.3.

Fiber-reinforced organic polymer aerogels, articles of manufacture and uses thereof are described. The reinforced aerogels include a fiber-reinforced organic polymer matrix having an at least bimodal pore size distribution with a first mode of pores having an average pore size of less than or equal to 50 nanometers (nm) and a second mode of pores having an average pore size of greater than 50 nm and a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 30 mW/m.Math.K at a temperature of 20° C.