Abstract: An armor panel provides a continuous armored strike face defined within a periphery. The panel is manufactured from a composite material having a plurality of armor tiles embedded in a polymeric matrix that is structurally reinforced by a layer of fiber fabric. The armored strike face may be contoured to accommodate the base upon which it will be mounted. In some applications, an armor system is assembled from at least two of the armor panels. In such a system, at least a portion of the periphery of each armor panel defines an internal seam edge of the armor system. Each such periphery portion is in a lapping relationship with the corresponding internal seam edge of another armor panel.

Abstract: The invention concerns an under-roof screen (100) comprising: a first layer (102) produced from a first metallic or metallized material forming a thermal reflection barrier; a second layer (108) produced from a second woven material bonded to the first layer (102); a third layer (106) produced from a third insulating material and bonded to the second layer (108); and a fourth layer (104) produced from a fourth metallic or metallized material forming a thermal reflection barrier and bonded to the third layer (106); the first layer (102) and the second layer (108) being provided with micro-perforations (110) providing permeability to water vapor and impermeability to water and the fourth layer (104) being provided with perforations (112) providing permeability to water vapor.

Abstract: A flexible insulation blanket having a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) outer layer, and a method of producing a flexible insulation blanket having a smooth, aerodynamically suitable, outer surface by infiltrating ceramic material within the outer ceramic fabric layer of the flexible insulation blanket and curing the ceramic material to form a CMC layer. The CMC layer is cured while the blanket is under compression such that the resulting CMC layer has a smooth surface.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) is constructed from ceramic fabric sheets and a ceramic matrix to yield matrix rich zone of reduced dimensions between fabric sheets. This reduction in dimension decreases the occurrence of delamination between the fabric sheets. The fabric is optimized to reduce the size of matrix rich zones in the composite by increasing the number of fabric plies in a given thickness of composite.

Abstract: A method and apparatus form electrical connections between electronic circuits and conductive threads (102, 104, 106, 108) that are interwoven into textile material (130). Electronic circuits (128), such as semiconductor dies, are connected to a carrier (132) and electrical connections (136) are made to conductive connection areas (110, 112, 114, 116) on the carrier (132). Conductive stitching (202, 204, 206, 208) provides electrical contacts for both the conductive connection areas (110, 112, 114, 116) on the carrier (132) and the conductive threads (102, 104, 106, 108) that are interwoven into the textile material (130). Optionally, a thin, flexible substrate material (132) is perforated during the stitching process.

Abstract: A ceramic fabric and a resin are combined to form a fire protection sheet capable of being co-cured onto a parent laminate structure. The resulting monolithic composite firewall shows fire protection ability comparable to that of the conventional titanium structure, without the problems associated therewith, such as titanium panel separation and disbonding. The fire protection sheet easily conforms to the shape of the parent laminate and is also useful as a repair material for damaged conventionally protected firewalls.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive, drillable, reduced CTE laminate and circuitized structures comprising the reduced CTE laminate, is provided. One embodiment of the reduced CTE laminate comprises: from about 40% to 75%, preferably from about 55% to 65%, by weight resin; from about 0.05% to 0.3%, preferably from about 0.08% to 0.10%, by weight curing agent; from about 25% to 60%, preferably from about 30% to 40%, by weight, woven cloth; from about 1% to 15%, preferably from about 5% to 10%, by volume, non-woven quartz mat. The method for making reduced CTE laminate and laminate structures comprises the following steps: providing non-woven quartz mat; providing a prepreg, preferably B-stage cured to not more than about 40%, preferably not more than 30% of full cure; sandwiching the non-woven quartz mat between two layers of prepreg, and reflowing the resin of the prepreg into the quartz mat.

Abstract: The conformal thermal insulating blanket may have generally rigid batting material covered by an outer insulating layer formed of a high temperature resistant woven ceramic material and an inner insulating layer formed of a woven ceramic fiber material. The batting and insulating layers may be fastened together by sewing or stitching using an outer mold layer thread fabricated of a high temperature resistant material and an inner mold layer thread of a ceramic fiber material. The batting may be formed to a composite structure that may have a firmness factor sufficient to inhibit a pillowing effect after the stitching to not more than 0.03 inch. The outer insulating layer and an upper portion of the batting adjacent the outer insulating layer may be impregnated with a ceramic coating material.

Abstract: A flexible composite expansion joint material comprises a fluoropolymer containing woven fabric substrate with mutually perpendicular warp and fill yarns. The substrate is subdivided into plural segments which are arranged successively in a longitudinally extending assembly with the warp and fill yarns of each segment extending obliquely with respect to the assembly length. At least one other component extends over the assembly length. The successively arranged substrate segments are spliced together and integrally joined to the other component by lamination under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure.

Abstract: A light weight composite layer arrangement for providing protection for a metal surface from a fire for a predetermined period of time in compliance with Federal Airworthiness Regulation 25. The arrangement which may be easily installed on a metal surface, which typically is an aluminum alloy, includes a silicone rubber sealant layer that is applied to the metal surface in an uncured non-flowing state. A layer of ceramic fiber fabric is then applied to the first silicone rubber sealant layer and due to its inherent flexibility easily conforms to the contours of the underlying metal surface. A second silicone rubber sealant layer may then be applied in its uncured non-flowing state over the ceramic fiber layer to essentially embed the ceramic fabric layer between the two silicone rubber layers. The silicone rubber sealant layers may then be cured at room temperature.

Abstract: An arrangement for reducing tire/road noise caused by a moving motor vehicle includes a spray water protective lining 3 in a wheel box 2 and/or a spray protective flap 41 mounted on the wheel box 2. The spray water protective lining 3 includes a composite layer structure which has at least one layer 17 for absorbing sound and at least one layer 11 for reducing spray mist.

Abstract: An improved flexible blanket includes a nickel-based alloy foil layer brazed to a nickel-based alloy fabric layer. The fabric layer is stitched to an underlying ceramic insulation layer.

Abstract: A main body of a hollow cylindrical member is formed of a wound preimpregnation sheet made of reinforcing fibers impregnated with synthetic resins. A synthetic resins layer with a metallic member is provided onto an outer periphery of the main body for reinforcing and/or decorative property. The metallic member is in the form of a thin film bonded to an outer periphery of the synthetic resins layer or a net-like metallic member embedded in the layer.

Abstract: Thermodynamically stable ceramic composites are provided for use in high temperature reactive environments. A phosphate selected from monazites and xenotimes functions as a weak bond material in the composite. Monazite comprises a family of minerals having the form MPO.sub.4, where M is selected from the larger trivalent rare earth elements of the lanthanide series (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, and Tb) and coupled substituted divalents and tetravalents such as Ca or Sr with Zr or Th. Xenotimes are phosphates similar to monazite where M is selected from Sc, Y, and the smaller trivalent rare earth elements of the lanthanide series (Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu).

Abstract: A thermal insulation system comprising an insulator core formed of ceramic material and, an outer layer integrally connected on an inner surface to a first side of the insulator core, the outer layer comprising a woven material impregnated with a ceramic matrix. In one embodiment, a thermal insulation blanket is formed having a flexible insulator core formed of ceramic fibrous materials, an outer layer integrally connected to one side of the insulator core, and an inner layer connected to a second side of that core. The inner layer is formed of woven material. In a second embodiment, a thermal insulation tile is formed including a rigid insulator core formed of ceramic material and an outer layer integrally connected to an inner surface to a first side of insulator core. The outer layer comprises a woven ceramic material impregnated with a ceramic matrix.