Embodiments of the present invention replace relatively bulky nonwoven thermal insulating materials used in thermal liners with thin, lightweight, flexible films that maintain or improve TPP performance while reducing the thickness, and enhancing the flexibility, of the thermal liner so as to increase wearer comfort. Moreover, the films incorporated into the thermal liners can be both air and vapor permeable such that the TPP performance is not realized at the expense of THL performance. Rather, the THL performance of garments incorporating embodiments of thermal liners contemplated herein is comparable toif not improved overgarments formed with traditional thermal liners.

A method produces a flat semi-finished product from a fiber composite material that contains individual carbon fibers, carbon fiber bundles, or a mixture thereof in a defined anisotropic fiber orientation and a thermoplastic matrix material. The anisotropy of the carbon fibers is created in a carding process using the high orientability of admixed non-carbon textile fibers, at least some of the non-carbon textile fibers being thermoplastic, and the carbon fibers having been isolated from waste or used parts. The flat fibrous web which is produced by a carding process and which has a specific orientation of the carbon fibers in the longitudinal direction is compressed into a sheet material under the effect of heat. This enables the use of carbon fibers, for example from production waste, as reinforcing fibers, whereby a less expensive raw material is provided and the carbon fibers are contained in the waste materials are recycled.

Embodiments of the present invention replace relatively bulky nonwoven thermal insulating materials used in thermal liners with thin, lightweight, flexible films that maintain or improve TPP performance while reducing the thickness, and enhancing the flexibility, of the thermal liner so as to increase wearer comfort. Moreover, the films incorporated into the thermal liners can be both air and vapor permeable such that the TPP performance is not realized at the expense of THL performance. Rather, the THL performance of garments incorporating embodiments of thermal liners contemplated herein is comparable toif not improved overgarments formed with traditional thermal liners.

A helmet shell is formed having an outer section of fibrous layers, a middle section of fibrous layers and an inner section of fibrous layers. The outer section layers contain high tenacity abrasive fibers in a resin matrix. The middle section layers contain high strength polyolefin fibers and are in the form of woven or knitted fabrics with a resin matrix. The inner section layers contain high strength polyolefin fibers and are in the form of non-woven fabrics with a resin matrix. The helmet is lightweight and resists penetration of rifle bullets.

A resin-soluble thermoplastic polymer veil toughening element for a curable composition wherein the polymer element is a non-woven veil in solid phase adapted to undergo at least partial phase transition to fluid phase on contact with a component of the curable resin matrix composition in which it is soluble at a temperature which is less than the temperature for substantial onset of gelling and/or curing of the curable composition and which temperature is less than the polymer elements melt temperature; a method for the preparation thereof, a preform support structure for a curable composition comprising the at least one thermoplastic veil element together with structural reinforcement fibers, methods for preparation thereof, a curable composition comprising the at least one thermoplastic veil element or the support structure and a curable resin matrix composition, a method for preparation and curing thereof, and a cured composite or resin body obtained thereby, and known and novel uses thereof.