Abstract: A self-sealing liquid bladder having a plurality of layers including a liquid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and at least one sealing layer that is conformally arranged to span a surface area of the liquid impermeable material layer and that is separated from a liquid held in the bladder by the liquid impermeable layer, the sealing layer including a sealing means that, in response to a penetration of both the liquid impermeable material layer and the sealing layer, substantially seals the penetration.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a composite article may include a resin-wetting control layer configured to be placed in contact with a composite ply of a composite preform. The resin-wetting control layer may be configured complementary to a ply surface of the composite ply.

Abstract: A self-sealing liquid bladder having a plurality of layers including a liquid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and at least one sealing layer that is conformally arranged to span a surface area of the liquid impermeable material layer and that is separated from a liquid held in the bladder by the liquid impermeable layer, the sealing layer including a sealing means that, in response to a penetration of both the liquid impermeable material layer and the sealing layer, substantially seals the penetration.

Abstract: A system may include a composite structure and a light source. The composite structure may include a matrix having a matrix refractive index, a plurality of fibers embedded in the matrix, and a light-reactive material in the matrix. The light source may be capable of emitting light of an activation wavelength that induces a reaction in the light-reactive material causing a change in the matrix refractive index.

Abstract: Magnetic fiber structures include a fiber and a plurality of permanent magnet particles carried by the fiber.

Abstract: A composition may include a resin and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles in the resin to form a resin mixture. The polymer nanoparticles may be soluble or semi-soluble in the resin. At least partial dissolution of the polymer nanoparticles may result in the alteration of one or more of the properties of the resin.

Abstract: A composition may include a resin and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles included in the resin to form a resin mixture. At least some of the polymer nanoparticles may have a greater distortion capability than the resin due to the nature of the polymer backbone of the polymer nanoparticles, and/or due to the nanoparticle free volume being greater than the free volume of the resin, and/or due to the nanoparticle porosity being greater than a porosity of resin. The incorporation of the polymer nanoparticles in the resin may result in an improvement in the strain and/or distortional capability of the resin mixture which may improve the performance of the composite structure.

Abstract: Magnetic fiber structures include a fiber and a plurality of permanent magnet particles carried by the fiber.

Abstract: A reinforcing fiber for reinforcing a transparent matrix composite. The fiber includes a substantially transparent fiber ribbon having an elongated cross-sectional geometry. The fiber ribbon includes edges that are substantially opaque. Light is substantially prevented from passing through the opaque edges to reduce or eliminate light distortion through the fiber. A composite utilizing the reinforcing fibers and a method for making a window assembly and a method for manufacturing a vehicle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite article may include attaching a polymer element to a tool. The polymer element may be pre-stretched prior to attachment to the tool. The method may further include annealing the polymer element at a predetermined temperature while constraining a length of the polymer element using the tool. In addition, the method may include curing or solidifying resin associated with the polymer element. The annealing step may be performed prior to the curing or solidifying step. Alternatively, the annealing step may be performed concurrently with the curing or solidifying step.

Abstract: A composition may include a thermosetting resin containing a plurality of polymer nanoparticles. At least some of the polymer nanoparticles may release either a catalyst or a hardener during a resin curing process. The catalyst or hardener may alter the reaction rate of the resin.

Abstract: A filament network for a composite structure may include a number of fiber layers, wherein each fiber layer includes a fiber bundle and a filament layer at least partially covering the fiber bundle, the filament layer including discontinuous filaments including at least one of different length filaments including first length filaments and second length filaments, wherein the first length filaments include a first length and the second length filaments include a second length, and wherein the first length is different than the second length and different type filaments including first type filaments and second type filaments, wherein the first type filaments include a first material composition, wherein the second type filaments include a second material composition, and wherein the first material composition is different that the second material composition, and a resin binding the number of fiber layers together.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite article may include attaching a polymer element to a tool. The polymer element may be pre-stretched prior to attachment to the tool. The method may further include annealing the polymer element at a predetermined temperature while constraining a length of the polymer element using the tool. In addition, the method may include curing or solidifying resin associated with the polymer element. The annealing step may be performed prior to the curing or solidifying step. Alternatively, the annealing step may be performed concurrently with the curing or solidifying step.

Abstract: A composition may include the resin and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles included in the resin to form a resin mixture. The resin may have a resin coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), a resin cure shrinkage, and/or a resin heat of reaction. The polymer nanoparticles may have a nanoparticle cure shrinkage less than the resin cure shrinkage, a nanoparticle CTE different than the resin CTE, and/or a nanoparticle heat of reaction less than the resin heat of reaction.

Abstract: A composite structure may include a resin, a fiber at least partially embedded within the resin, and one or more resin-rich pockets associated with the fiber. The composite structure may include modifiers in the one or more resin-rich pockets. The modifier may have at least one modifier characteristic that is different than a resin characteristic for altering the resin characteristics within the resin-rich pockets and thereby mitigating or preventing crack initiation or crack growth within the resin-rich pockets of the composite structure.

Abstract: A composition may include a resin and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles included in the resin to form a resin mixture. The polymer nanoparticles may alter the properties of the resin mixture and improve the processing, manufacturability, and performance of an article manufactured with the polymer nanoparticles.

Abstract: A fiber tow may include a plurality of reinforcing filaments each having a filament cross-sectional width. At least a portion of the polymer nanoparticles may be coupled to at least one of the reinforcing filaments and/or to other polymer nanoparticles. The polymer nanoparticles may have a particle cross-sectional width that is less than the reinforcing filament cross-sectional width. The polymer nanoparticles may provide a local filament spacing between the reinforcing filaments to reduce or avoid direct contact between reinforcing filaments, to allow for resin flow between the filaments, and/or to meet fiber volume fraction requirements.

Abstract: A composite material includes a polymeric matrix, at least one transparent region including a plurality of optically clear elements provided in the polymeric matrix and at least one opaque region including a plurality of opaque reinforcing elements provided in the polymeric matrix generally adjacent to the at least one transparent region. A structural window and a method for reinforcing a composite material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A macro fiber for a composite article may include a plurality of inner fibers. Each one of the inner fibers may have an inner fiber final cross-sectional size of less than approximately 100 nanometers. The inner fibers may be surrounded by matrix material.

Abstract: A composite structure may include a plurality of fibers at least partially embedded within a matrix. The fibers may be connected to one another at a at least one connection site.