A thermal insulated composite wall panel for use in insulated trailers, containers and insulated compartments, including a first liner panel, a second liner panel having a layer of fibers and at least one structural polymer resin layer disposed coplanar to and bonded with the layer of fibers, thereby forming a laminate liner panel, and an insulated core layer disposed intermediate to and bonded with the first and the second liner panels. The layer of fibers is adjacent the insulated core layer and is lofted prior to being bonded to the insulated core layer.

The present invention relates to sandwich panels used as aircraft interior parts. In addition to provide a finishing function, the sandwich panels need to have certain mechanical properties and have sufficient fire resistance to retard the spread of fire within the vehicle interior. The present invention provides an aircraft interior panel with skins comprising natural fiber reinforced composites based either on an inorganic thermoset resin or a thermoplastic resin. Such panels provide the required flame and heat resistance, allow easy recycling and disposal, are cheaper and offer significant weight savings over conventional sandwich panels.

A method of making a joint for a structure comprises forming a thermoplastic filler, applying an uncured first thermoset layer into direct contact with the thermoplastic filler, applying an uncured second thermoset layer into direct contact with the thermoplastic filler, and applying an uncured third thermoset layer into direct contact with the thermoplastic filler. The method additionally comprises curing the uncured first thermoset layer, the uncured second thermoset layer, and the uncured third thermoset layer at a temperature below a melting temperature of the thermoplastic material to form a cured first thermoset layer, a cured second thermoset layer, and a cured third thermoset layer and bonding together the cured first thermoset layer, the cured second thermoset layer, the cured third thermoset layer, and the thermoplastic filler.

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to composite materials comprising untwisted fibers. In some embodiments, the article can include a core layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer and reinforcing fibers. In other embodiments, untwisted fibers can be disposed on the core layer. In certain examples, the article is effective to provide a Class A finish when painted.

Described are composite grid structures that have a plurality of ply layers, each one of the plurality of ply layers comprising a plurality of first elongate tapes oriented in a first direction and a plurality of second elongate tapes oriented in a second direction, the second direction being offset from the first direction by an angle of at least 25 degrees. In the grid structures: each of the first elongate tapes has a first length extending between opposing ends of each of the plurality of first elongate tapes and a first midpoint intermediate the opposing ends, and each of the second elongate tapes has a second length extending between opposing ends of each of the plurality of second elongate tapes and a second midpoint intermediate the opposing ends. Associated composite laminate structures, grid structures, and methods of manufacturing and/or using the same are also disclosed.

Provided are a composite material capable of further enhancing property derived from carbon nanotubes adhered to carbon fibers, a prepreg, a carbon-fiber-reinforced molded article, and a method for manufacturing a composite material. There is provided a composite material including: carbon fibers; and a structure which includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes and has a network structure in which the carbon nanotubes are in direct contact with each other, and in which the carbon nanotubes adhered to surfaces of the carbon fibers directly adhere to the surfaces of the carbon fibers. The carbon nanotubes have a bent shape having a bent portion.

A flexible sheet of aligned carbon nanotubes includes an array of aligned nanotubes held in a polymer matrix material. The carbon nanotubes have an average length of between about 50 microns and about 500 microns. The polymer matrix has an average thickness of between about 10 microns and about 500 microns. The flexible sheet has a density of about 0.2 to about 1.0 g/cc and includes between about 98 to about 60 weight percent aligned carbon nanotubes and between about 2 and about 40 weight percent polymer. A tape of aligned carbon nanotubes, a method for producing a tape of aligned carbon nanotubes, a method of producing the flexible aligned carbon nanotube sheet material and a method of increasing unidirectional heat conduction from a work piece are also disclosed.

An apparatus includes a first thermoset layer that includes a first fibrous material embedded in a first thermoset matrix. The apparatus also includes a second thermoset layer that includes a second fibrous material embedded in a second thermoset matrix. The second thermoset layer is coupled to the first thermoset layer to form a joint. Further, a gap is defined between the first thermoset layer and the second thermoset layer. The apparatus also includes a thermoplastic filler that is made from a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic filler is positioned within the gap.

An apparatus includes a first thermoset layer that includes a first fibrous material embedded in a first thermoset matrix. The apparatus also includes a second thermoset layer that includes a second fibrous material embedded in a second thermoset matrix. The second thermoset layer is coupled to the first thermoset layer to form a joint. Further, a gap is defined between the first thermoset layer and the second thermoset layer. The apparatus also includes a thermoplastic filler that is made from a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic filler is positioned within the gap.

The present invention provides a light-weight fiber-reinforced composite material that has excellent flame retardance and mechanical properties and never emits a halogen gas. The present invention also provides a prepreg and en epoxy resin composition suited to obtain the above described fiber-reinforced composite material. The present invention also provides an integrated molding which is produced using the above described fiber-reinforced composite material, thereby suitable for use in electric/electronic casings. The epoxy resin composition is such that it contains the following components [A], [B] and [C]: [A] epoxy resin, [B] amine curing agent, and [C] phosphorus compound,
wherein the concentration of the component [C] is 0.2 to 15% by weight in terms of phosphorus atom concentration.