Disclosed is a method of producing a pattern for a decorative panel. The method includes applying a clear gel coat on a mold to form a clear layer. The clear layer is cured and then digitally printed with one or more inks so as to produce a pattern on the clear layer. Also disclosed is a decorative panel including a clear layer, an opaque layer and a pattern digitally printed on the clear layer, between the clear and opaque layers, such that the pattern is visible through the clear layer.

A trim element for a vehicle element, where the trim element comprises a shell with an inner surface intended to be oriented towards the interior of the vehicle element and an outer surface intended to form a rear surface of the vehicle element, and a pocket fixed to the outer surface of the shell, where the pocket comprises a panel which has a lower and lateral edges and at least one stiffening element arranged in the lower and lateral edges. The shell further comprises at least one groove in which are housed at least one from the lateral edges and/or the lower edge of the panel for assembly of the panel with the shell.

A method of manufacturing a coated article comprises injecting a feedstock with a polymer resin to provide a resin-injected feedstock, pulling the resin-injected feedstock through a pultrusion die to form a pultrusion substrate having one or more profile surfaces, adhering an adhesive material comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane onto at least a portion the one or more profile surfaces to form one or more adhesive tie layers on the pultrusion substrate, and applying one or more coating materials onto the one or more adhesive tie layers to form one or more coating layers on the one or more adhesive tie layers to provide a coated pultrusion article, wherein an adhesion strength between the one or more coating layers and the one or more adhesive tie layers is higher than a corresponding adhesion strength would be between the one or more coating layers and the pultrusion substrate.

An imprinting apparatus 100 includes a control unit 126 that controls movement of a stage 104. During a period after a pattern is formed in a first region of regions until a pattern is formed in a second region that differs from the first region of the regions, the control unit 126 does not allow the first region to pass through a facing portion that faces a discharge ports 122b. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the discharging unit 106 finally discharges a imprint material 127 to the substrate with an airstream generated along a substrate from the facing portion at the facing portion that faces the discharge ports 122b, the control unit 126 controls movement of the stage such that the regions in which the pattern is formed are allowed to pass through the facing portion.

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 improved mold assembly for cultured marble molding is provided. The mold assembly can comprise a male mold portion and a female mold portion. The assembly can further comprise a molding tool. The molding tool can have a side wall having an upper curved s and a lower curved portion. The molding tool can be constructed from a flexible and/or soft material. The lower curved portion of the molding tool can be coated with a gel coat having a first color. The molding tool can facilitate molding of a countertop having a recessed bowl portion having a color different from a counter portion of the countertop.

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 process for the production of an article for the cladding of floors or walls, comprising the steps of, in a mold: a) optionally applying a gel coat layer, based on a first curing polymer resin, on the inside of the mold in order to obtain a coated mold, and b) introducing into the core of the mold or into the core of the coated mold from step a) a filling composition which is based on a second curing polymer resin supplemented with at least one mineral filler, wherein core contains at least 5% wt and at most 20% wt of curing polymer resin, relative to the dry amount of filling composition, and the filling composition contains only one single initiator in a concentration of 0.5% wt to 5.0% wt relative to the amount of curing polymer resin in the filling composition.

The improved mold assembly for cultured marble molding is provided. The mold assembly can comprise a male mold portion and a female mold portion. The assembly can further comprise a molding tool. The molding tool can have a side wall having an upper curved s and a lower curved portion. The molding tool can be constructed from a flexible and/or soft material. The lower curved portion of the molding tool can be coated with a gel coat having a first color. The molding tool can facilitate molding of a countertop having a recessed bowl portion having a color different from a counter portion of the countertop.

Uncured composite structures, cured composite structures, and methods of curing uncured composite structures are disclosed herein. The uncured composite structures include a structural layer that includes an uncured structural resin and a surface layer that includes an uncured surface resin. The cured composite structures include a cured structural layer that includes a cured structural resin, a cured surface layer that includes a cured surface resin, and an interface region between the cured surface layer and the cured structural layer. The methods include initially heating the uncured composite structure to an initial temperature to generate a partially cured composite structure. The initially heating is sufficient to gel the uncured surface resin but insufficient to gel the uncured structural resin. The methods also include subsequently heating the partially cured composite structure to a final cure temperature, which is greater than the initial temperature, to generate the cured composite structure.