Abstract: An improved air exhauster for a vehicle is provided, comprising a non-woven filter with a covering sheet of material fastened to the filter face. The filter may be assembled into a frame and the covering sheet may acts as valve to allow air outflow from the interior of the vehicle, yet restrict outside noise from entering. The covering sheet may be a relatively more dense non-woven material than the filter or may be a polymer film. The covering sheet may be attached at the centerline of the filter to function as a pleat separator and reduce the incidence of pleat collapse under high flow rate or increased pressure drop.

Abstract: An improved air exhauster for a vehicle is provided, comprising a non-woven filter with a covering sheet of material fastened to the filter face. The filter may be assembled into a frame and the covering sheet may acts as valve to allow air outflow from the interior of the vehicle, yet restrict outside noise from entering. The covering sheet may be a relatively more dense non-woven material than the filter or may be a polymer film. The covering sheet may be attached at the centerline of the filter to function as a pleat separator and reduce the incidence of pleat collapse under high flow rate or increased pressure drop.

Abstract: A moldable composite sheet having improved adhesion characteristics, particularly at elevated service temperatures, as well as improved sound absorption and attenuation of transmitted sound intensities. In one aspect, the composite sheet may be a porous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic comprising discontinuous reinforcing fibers and having an adhesive skin layer covering. Generally, the-composite sheet may have a void content or porosity from about 5% to about 95% by volume of the sheet, an areal weight between about 400 g/m2 to about 4000 g/m2 and a fiber content from about 20% to about 98% by weight. The composite sheet can be molded via low pressure processes, such as thermoforming, match metal molding on stops, vacuum forming and pressure forming, to produce durable automotive interior trim parts capable of withstanding service temperatures exceeding 100° C. for extended periods of time along with improved sound absorption capabilities exceeding a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) rating of 0.5.

Abstract: A composite material is provided in which certain properties, or combinations of properties, are improved relative to similar comparative composite materials. The composite material generally comprises a fiber reinforced thermoplastic core that includes a thermoplastic resin and discontinuous fibers dispersed within the thermoplastic resin. The fibers are particularly subject to certain conditions, namely a content of about 15 wt. % to about 65 wt. % of the thermoplastic core, a diameter of from about 17 ?m to about 22 ?m, and a length of from about 17 mm to about 25 mm.

Abstract: A composite sheet material includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a permeable core that includes a plurality of reinforcing fibers bonded together with a thermoplastic resin, and about 0.01 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of a mineral filler. The permeable core includes a surface region.

Abstract: A composite sheet material includes, in an exemplary embodiment a porous core that includes at least one thermoplastic material and from about 20 weight percent to about 80 weight percent of natural fibers based on a total weight of the porous core. The natural fibers include at least one of kenaf fibers, jute fibers, flax fibers, hemp fibers, cellulosic fibers, sisal fibers, and coir fibers.

Abstract: A multi-layered fiber reinforced thermoplastic sound absorbing panel includes a porous fiber reinforced thermoplastic core layer having a first surface and a second surface, and includes a thermoplastic material and from about 20 weight percent to about 80 weight percent fibers, a tie layer covering the second surface of the core layer and including a thermoplastic material, and a barrier layer covering the tie layer. The barrier layer includes a thermoplastic material having a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the core layer thermoplastic material. The tie layer bonds the barrier layer to the core layer. The panel also includes a non-woven layer including a fabric bonded to the barrier layer. The non-woven layer forms an outer surface of the panel.

Abstract: A composite sheet material that includes at least one porous core layer including a thermoplastic material and from about 20 weight percent to about 80 weight percent fibers based on a total weight of the porous core layer, and at least one skin covering a surface of the core layer. The skin includes at least one of a thermoplastic film, a fiber based scrim, a non-woven fabric, and a woven fabric.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an instrument panel assembly (10) includes an elongate beam structure (14) and a plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers (16) coupled to the beam structure. The instrument panel assembly also includes at least one knee bolster (116) positioned adjacent the plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers and an instrument panel (90).

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an instrument panel assembly (10) includes an elongate beam structure (14) and a plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers (16) coupled to the beam structure. The instrument panel assembly also includes at least one knee bolster (116) positioned adjacent the plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers and an instrument panel (90).