A method for producing elastic laminates includes gripping first and second continuous elastic films in respective gripping zones by respective first and second stretching members, transversely stretching the first and second continuous elastic films by rotating said first and second stretching members about respective first and second axes of rotation inclined with respect to each other, and releasing the transversely stretched first and second continuous elastic films from the respective first and second stretching members in respective release zones aligned along a common transverse release line.

A fiber reinforced resin hollow molded body 30 in which a resin-integrated fiber sheet is used. The resin-integrated fiber sheet includes unidirectional continuous fibers that are spread fibers of a continuous fiber group and arrayed unidirectionally in parallel, and thermoplastic resin that is present at least on a surface of the unidirectional continuous fibers. In the hollow molded body, in a state where the resin-integrated fiber sheet or a plurality of the resin-integrated fiber sheets 30 are stacked, the resin-integrated fiber sheet or the plurality of resin-integrated fiber sheets are wound to produce a wound body having an overlapping portion. The thermoplastic resin is impregnated in the unidirectional continuous fibers. The resin-integrated fiber sheet or the plurality of resin-integrated fiber sheets are consolidated.

A multi-laminate film includes a first biaxially oriented film having a first machine direction angle and a first spiral cut oriented film having a second machine direction angle different than the first machine direction angle. The multi-laminate film also includes at least one of a second biaxially oriented film having the first machine direction angle or a second spiral cut oriented film. The first biaxially oriented film, the first spiral cut oriented film and the at least one of the second biaxially oriented film or second spiral cut oriented film are laminated together.

A multi-laminate film includes a first biaxially oriented film having a first machine direction angle and a first spiral cut oriented film having a second machine direction angle different than the first machine direction angle. The multi-laminate film also includes at least one of a second biaxially oriented film having the first machine direction angle or a second spiral cut oriented film. The first biaxially oriented film, the first spiral cut oriented film and the at least one of the second biaxially oriented film or second spiral cut oriented film are laminated together.

Shaped optical films and methods of shaping optical films are described. The method includes securing at least portions of a perimeter of the optical film in a first plane so that the secured portions do not move relative to one another; and stretching the optical film by displacing a portion of the optical film along at least a first direction perpendicular to the first plane such that one of a radial and circumferential stretching of the optical film is substantially constant from a center to the perimeter of the optical film, and the other one of the radial and circumferential stretching of the optical film substantially changes from the center to the perimeter of the optical film. The optical film is a reflective polarizer including a plurality of alternating polymeric layers.

Shaped optical films and methods of shaping optical films are described. The method includes securing at least portions of a perimeter of the optical film in a first plane so that the secured portions do not move relative to one another; and stretching the optical film by displacing a portion of the optical film along at least a first direction perpendicular to the first plane such that one of a radial and circumferential stretching of the optical film is substantially constant from a center to the perimeter of the optical film, and the other one of the radial and circumferential stretching of the optical film substantially changes from the center to the perimeter of the optical film. The optical film is a reflective polarizer including a plurality of alternating polymeric layers.

A method of preparing a multi-layer assembly, or of protecting a surface of a multi-layer substrate from damage and/or contamination and/or debris, said method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a composite film comprising a polymeric base layer having a first and second surface and disposed on the first surface thereof a polymeric protective layer having a first surface and a second surface such that the first surface of the said base layer is in contact with the first surface of the polymeric protective layer, wherein said polymeric protective layer comprises an ethylene-based copolymer, and preferably wherein the polymeric base layer comprises a polyester derived from one or more diol(s) and one or more dicarboxylic acid(s); (ii) removing said polymeric protective layer from the first surface of said base layer; (iii) disposing on the exposed first surface of said base layer one or more functional layers to provide a multi-layer substrate, wherein the, or at least the uppermost, functional layer comprises zinc and/or tin in an amount of from about 5 to about 80 wt % of said functional layer; and (iv) disposing a polymeric protective layer comprising an ethylene-based copolymer onto the exposed surface of the, or at least the uppermost, functional layer comprising zinc and/or tin to provide a multi-layer assembly.

A method of preparing a multi-layer assembly, or of protecting a surface of a multi-layer substrate from damage and/or contamination and/or debris, said method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a composite film comprising a polymeric base layer having a first and second surface and disposed on the first surface thereof a polymeric protective layer having a first surface and a second surface such that the first surface of the said base layer is in contact with the first surface of the polymeric protective layer, wherein said polymeric protective layer comprises an ethylene-based copolymer, and preferably wherein the polymeric base layer comprises a polyester derived from one or more diol(s) and one or more dicarboxylic acid(s); (ii) removing said polymeric protective layer from the first surface of said base layer; (iii) disposing on the exposed first surface of said base layer one or more functional layers to provide a multi-layer substrate, wherein the, or at least the uppermost, functional layer comprises zinc and/or tin in an amount of from about 5 to about 80 wt % of said functional layer; and (iv) disposing a polymeric protective layer comprising an ethylene-based copolymer onto the exposed surface of the, or at least the uppermost, functional layer comprising zinc and/or tin to provide a multi-layer assembly.

A laminated body having at least two or more different layers, wherein the laminate body is characterized by satisfying the following requirements (1) to (5): (1) the laminate body has a heat-sealing layer as at least one of the outermost layers, wherein the heat-sealing layer includes a polyester based component containing ethylene terephthalate as a main constituent component, and a sealing strength of 8 N/15 mm to 30 N/15 mm; (2) at least one layer other than the heat-sealing layer is an inorganic thin film layer; (3) a water vapor permeation rate of 0.1 g/m.sup.2.Math.d to 6 g/m.sup.2.Math.d; (4) an oxygen permeation rate of 5 ml/m.sup.2.Math.d.Math.MPa to 30 ml/m.sup.2.Math.d.Math.MPa; and (5) a heat shrinkage rate of −5% to 5%.

The present invention relates to a multilayer composite comprising a first monolayer comprising high-performance fibers, aligned in a first direction and a first matrix material and a second monolayer comprising high-performance fibers, aligned in a second direction and a second matrix material and a third polymeric film located in between the first and the second monolayer, with the third polymeric film having a tensile modulus of at least 0.75 GPa measured by ASTM D882. Preferably the high-performance fibers comprise UHMWPE fibers. A thermoplastic polyurethane is in contact with the first monolayer to form a first outer layer of the composite and in contact with the second monolayer to form a second outer layer of the composite, opposite to the first outer layer. The present invention further relates to the use of the multilayer composite in backpacks, packs, bags, medical gear, outdoor products, sail cloths, tents, tarps, shelters, clothing, ponchos, foul weather gear, mats, outerwear, jackets, sleeping bags, lift bags, parachutes, large kites, inflatable structures, beams, balloons, backraft, inflatable gear, liferaft, inflatable sculptures, airship (HAA: High Altitude Airships), space applications, flexible circuits, footwear and umbrella's.