A drainable house wrap and method of making same includes a flexible weather-resistant sheet layer, and a plurality of raised spacers coupled to the sheet layer, wherein each spacer comprises at least a first strand overlapping a second strand, and wherein the plurality of raised spacers form at least one drainage path for the drainable house wrap.

The method of bonding a first object (1) to a second object (2) uses a connector, the connector having a first sheet portion and a second sheet portion (32). The first sheet portion has at least one outwardly protruding first attachment portion (33), and the second sheet portion has at least one outwardly protruding second attachment portion (34). The connector (3) further has a spacer between the first and second sheet portions. For bonding, the first and second objects (1, 2) and the connector (3) are positioned relative to each other so that the connector is placed between the first and second objects. Then the first and second objects (1, 2) are pressed against each other while mechanical vibration energy impinges on the first and/or second object until a first flow portion of thermoplastic material of the first object in contact with the first attachment portion(s) and a second flow portion of thermoplastic material in contact with the second attachment portion(s) become flowable allowing the respective attachment portions (33, 34) to be pressed into material of the first and second object, respectively. After re-solidification of the flow portions, a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects via the connector results. The spacer defines a width (w) of a gap between the first and second objects (1, 2) after bonding.

The method of bonding a first object (1) to a second object (2) uses a connector, the connector having a first sheet portion and a second sheet portion (32). The first sheet portion has at least one outwardly protruding first attachment portion (33), and the second sheet portion has at least one outwardly protruding second attachment portion (34). The connector (3) further has a spacer between the first and second sheet portions. For bonding, the first and second objects (1, 2) and the connector (3) are positioned relative to each other so that the connector is placed between the first and second objects. Then the first and second objects (1, 2) are pressed against each other while mechanical vibration energy impinges on the first and/or second object until a first flow portion of thermoplastic material of the first object in contact with the first attachment portion(s) and a second flow portion of thermoplastic material in contact with the second attachment portion(s) become flowable allowing the respective attachment portions (33, 34) to be pressed into material of the first and second object, respectively. After re-solidification of the flow portions, a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects via the connector results. The spacer defines a width (w) of a gap between the first and second objects (1, 2) after bonding.

A pultruded fibre-reinforced strip (50) configured to be stacked with one or more similar strips (50) to form a spar cap of a wind turbine blade (10), comprising—a core (51) comprising a plurality of first fibres embedded in a resin matrix, the plurality of first fibres being carbon fibres and/or glass fibres, and—a surface layer (52) enclosing and covering the core (51) and comprising a plurality of second fibres imbedded in the resin matrix, the majority of the plurality of second fibres having an elastic modulus less than 10 GPa.

A method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced structure includes the following. A mandrel of a first material comprises a hollow interior and an aperture that allows a fluid to enter the interior. A layer of a second material provided on the mandrel includes an uncured resin and fibers. The mandrel and the layer are placed in a mold cavity formed by a mold. A pressurized fluid is introduced into the interior of the mandrel via the aperture to generate a force acting to expand the mandrel outward. The mandrel is heated so that it becomes deformable and expand outward to press the layer against the mold. The layer is heated so that it cures. The mandrel is then heated to a temperature above its melting point of the first material so that it melts, after which it is removed.

A molding apparatus that adsorbs thermoplastic resin extruded in a sheet form from an extruding machine, onto a cavity of a mold, and shapes the thermoplastic resin into a shape according to the cavity is provided. The molding apparatus may include a frame that is positioned on a periphery of the mold and is movable relative to the mold, wherein a suction part for suctioning the thermoplastic resin is provided in a contact surface of the frame to contact the thermoplastic resin, and the suction part is provided in a linear shape along with a longitudinal direction of the frame positioned on the periphery of the mold.

Disclosed is a composite reed (55) for a wind instrument and to a method for producing such a reed. The reed has a matrix made of a polymer material and a plurality of reinforcing fibres made of another polymer material, embedded inside the matrix. The other polymer material is a thermoplastic polymer material.

A structure of case body selects a material of PET fibers or PET fibers with PP fibers to prepare a non-woven fabric layer block which is processed by baking and cold molding to form a case body. The case body is formed by combining a left shell and a right shell which are manufactured separately, and then combined into a case body with an accommodation space inside. The left shell is divided into a left top wall, a left sidewall and a left bottom wall which are continuously extended and molded. The right shell is divided into a right top wall, a right sidewall and a right bottom wall which are continuously extended and molded. The left and right top walls and the left and right bottom walls have a weight per unit area of 1200-2000 g/m.sup.2. The left and right sidewalls have a weight per unit area of 600-1200 g/m.sup.2.

In an embodiment, a thermoplastic composite comprises a thermoplastic polymer; and a dielectric filler having a multimodal particle size distribution; wherein a peak of a first mode of the multimodal particle size distribution is at least seven times that of a peak of a second mode of the multimodal particle size distribution; and a flow modifier.

A method for surface preparation of a composite substrate prior to adhesive bonding. The surface preparation method includes applying a resin-containing peel ply onto a composite substrate, followed by co-curing. The resin-containing peel ply contains a non-removable textile carrier and a removable woven fabric embedded therein. After co-curing, the peel ply is removed from the composite substrate such that the removable woven fabric is removed but the non-removable textile carrier and a film of residual resin remain on the composite substrate, thereby creating a modified, bondable surface on the composite substrate. The composite substrate with the modified surface can be bonded to another composite substrate, whereby the textile carrier remains an integrated part of the final bonded structure.