The invention relates to a pre-impregnated fibre-reinforced composite material in laminar form, obtained impregnating a fibrous mass with a polymeric binder composition and intended to be subjected to successive forming and complete curing operations to produce a fibre-reinforced composite material. The polymeric binder composition comprises one or more resins chosen in the group consisting of siloxane resins and silsesquioxane resins, and can optionally comprise one or more organic resins. The polymeric binder composition appears as a liquid with viscosity between 55000 and 10000 mPas at temperatures between 50° C. and 70° C. The polymeric binder composition forms a polymeric binder matrix, not cross-linked or only partially cross-linked, that fills the interstices of the fibrous mass. The invention also relates to a method for making said pre-impregnated fibre-reinforced composite material in laminar form. The invention also relates to a manufactured article obtained by hot forming and complete curing of the aforesaid pre-impregnated fibre-reinforced composite material, as well as a method for making said manufactured article.

A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.

Forming systems and assemblies as disclosed herein comprise a composite material comprising a structural component and a resin component combined with the reinforcing component. A forming element is disposed within the composite material and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than that of the composite material. The forming element is positioned to provide a desired integral structural reinforcement and/or surface feature to the composite. The composite material may comprise one or more passages extending from a surface thereof to the forming element. The composite material may be cured by heat to take a set configuration and then allowed to cool. The cooling of the composite material and the forming element enables the forming element to contract relative to the composite material and become delaminated therefrom to facilitate easy removal, and thereby provide an improved method and assembly for making structural reinforcing features in composite structures.

A patient securing overlay is provided that includes a sheet of fabric for supporting a patient's torso on a surgical table. The sheet of fabric has an upper surface configured to face the patient and a lower surface configured to face a surgical table mattress or underbody support. The sheet of fabric includes friction enhancing elements applied to at least a portion of the upper surface thereof. The sheet of fabric can include an extension at a foot end of the sheet of fabric that provides material to be tucked under a foot end of the surgical table mattress or underbody support for securing the foot end of the sheet of fabric to the surgical table mattress or underbody support. The extension can include one or more friction enhancing elements.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

Described are improved dental materials and appliances made therefrom that have a range of flexibility and strength and exhibit improved comfort and effectiveness in orthodontic and other treatment.

Floor element comprising a top layer (102) attached to a substrate layer (104), in which the top layer (102) is itself layered, the top layer (102) comprising: —an optional backing layer (122) made of flexible polymer, —a flexible or semi-rigid polymer layer (124), onto or into which optionally at least one reinforcing layer (126) is attached or embedded, and —a finishing layer comprising a decorative layer (132), a wearing layer (134) thereon and optionally a coating (136) thereon; the substrate layer (104) being a rigid substrate layer.

A sheathing material includes a layer of ceramic paper to help prevent the burning of the sheathing during a fire. The material may include insulation disposed between the ceramic paper and the substrate to further reduce damage to the substrate, and may include a thin layer of wood or paper placed over the ceramic paper to protect the ceramic paper and to allow the sheathing to be used in a manner similar to that of a conventional sheathing material.

Embodiments disclosed herein include multilayer films that have at least two layers. More particularly, disclosed in embodiments herein are multilayer films that include at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer includes at least one polyethylene polymer, wherein the second layer includes at least one water-soluble polymer, wherein the second layer is insoluble in water at a temperature of less than 20° C., wherein the second layer is soluble in water at a temperature of 20° C. or greater, and wherein the first layer has one or more openings through the first layer to expose the second layer. Also disclosed herein are methods of using such multilayer films for extracting metal from metal ore.

A method for producing a sandwich panel with a reinforced foam core includes inserting rod-shaped, thermoplastic reinforcing elements into a thermoplastic foam material such that the reinforcing elements extend through the foam material. End regions of the reinforcing elements project out of the foam material. The foam material is thermoformed to form a reinforced foam core, wherein the end regions of the reinforcing elements are integrally formed by applying temperature and pressure to the cover surfaces of the foam material and are bonded to the foam material in a fused connection. A thermoplastic cover layer is laminated on either side by applying temperature and pressure to the reinforced foam core on the cover surfaces of the foam material in order to form the sandwich panel, wherein the cover layers are bonded to the reinforced foam core in a fused connection.