Abstract: Pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) is provided that can be cured to form composite parts that have high levels of damage tolerance. The matrix resin includes a thermoplastic particle component that is a blend of particles that have a melting point above the curing temperature and particles that have a melting point at or below the curing temperature.

Abstract: A non-fibrous, apertured membrane comprises at least one thermoplastic polymeric material and has a discrete porous structure. The membrane is soluble in the thermoset matrix polymer of a composite material.

Abstract: An uncured fiber reinforced assembly that includes a reinforcement layer containing a fibrous material and at least one highly reactive curing agent. A matrix film layer is applied to the reinforcement layer so that it does not substantially impregnate the reinforcement layer. The matrix film layer includes at least one uncured epoxy resin and at least one latent epoxy curing agent. The assembly is designed for use in making snowboards and skis.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition comprising an epoxy resin component combined with a sufficient amount of an imidazole curative to provide curing of the epoxy resin composition. The epoxy resin composition further includes a non-hydroxyl containing cure accelerator for the imidazole curative.

Abstract: Pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) is provided that can be cured to form composite parts that have high levels of damage tolerance. The matrix resin includes a thermoplastic particle component that is a blend of particles that have a melting point above the curing temperature and particles that have a melting point at or below the curing temperature.

Abstract: An uncured fiber reinforced assembly that includes a reinforcement layer containing a fibrous material and at least one highly reactive curing agent. A matrix film layer is applied to the reinforcement layer so that it does not substantially impregnate the reinforcement layer. The matrix film layer includes at least one uncured epoxy resin and at least one latent epoxy curing agent. The assembly is designed for use in making snowboards and skis.

Abstract: A composite material (1) comprising at least one prepreg (3), said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and optionally at least one fibrous reinforcement; and a conducting ink (2) applied to at least one surface of said prepreg (3); where the conducting ink (2) has a surface tension lower than the surface energy of the at least one surface of said prepreg (3) to which the ink (2) is applied.

Abstract: Surfaces are bonded together using a thermoplastic toughened epoxy adhesive wherein the adhesive contains an epoxy component, a thermoplastic component, a core/shell particle component and a curing agent. The thermoplastic toughened epoxy adhesive is only heated during bonding to a relatively low curing temperature of between 140° C. and 160° C. for a sufficient time to cure the adhesive and provide surfaces that are bonded together with a high-strength bond.

Abstract: A resin composition that is storable at ambient temperatures. The resin composition forms a cured resin when exposed to a curing agent and heated to a curing temperature that is relatively close to ambient temperature. The resin composition includes a resin component that is composed of a liquid part that is made up of one or more liquid thermosetting resins and a solid part that includes particles of one or more solid thermosetting resins. The liquid part further includes a gelation agent that is present in a sufficient amount to maintain the particles in suspension within the liquid part at ambient temperatures. The viscosity of the resin component changes from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state when the temperature is increased from ambient temperature to the curing temperature. The high viscosity state is substantially more viscous than the low viscosity state.

Abstract: A resin composition that is storable at ambient temperatures. The resin composition forms a cured resin when exposed to a curing agent and heated to a curing temperature that is relatively close to ambient temperature. The resin composition includes a crystalline resin component that is sandwiched between two non-crystalline resin components to provide a zone that is rich in crystalline thermosetting resin. The crystalline thermosetting resin has a melting point that is above ambient temperature, but below the curing temperature. The viscosity of the resin component changes from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state when the temperature is increased from ambient temperature to the curing temperature.

Abstract: The surface finish of composite materials is improved by reducing the amount of “print-through” that occurs as the surface ages. A resin matrix, which is modified with rubber particles, is used in combination with a surface finish film to provide extremely flat and durable surface finishes.

Abstract: The adhesion between an underlying composite material and its surface finish is increased by including an adhesion promoting layer at the interface where the uncured composite material and the surface finish meet during the lay up of the uncured composite assembly. The adhesion promoting layer includes a cure accelerating agent for the composite material matrix resin.

Abstract: A resin composition that is storable at ambient temperatures. The resin composition forms a cured resin when exposed to a curing agent and heated to a curing temperature that is relatively close to ambient temperature. The resin composition includes a crystalline resin component that is sandwiched between two non-crystalline resin components to provide a zone that is rich in crystalline thermosetting resin. The crystalline thermosetting resin has a melting point that is above ambient temperature, but below the curing temperature. The viscosity of the resin component changes from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state when the temperature is increased from ambient temperature to the curing temperature.

Abstract: A curable resin with at least one electrically conductive metal region on its surface formed by depositing on the surface a composition comprising activator, contacting the activator with a solution of a reducing agent and a solution of a metal ion, the reducing agent and metal ion undergoing chemical reaction activated by the activator to form an electrically conductive metal region on the surface, and method of forming is provided.

Abstract: A composite material assembly (1) comprises a) a surface enhancing layer (5) comprising at least one layer of fibres, having a length to width aspect ratio of more than 5:1 and b) a structural layer (7) comprising at least one reinforcing fibre and at least one polymeric matrix.

Abstract: An uncured assembly which comprises a fibrous reinforcement. Associated with said reinforcement is a resin material comprising at least one solid amine-terminated epoxy resin, at least one solid epoxy-terminated epoxy resin and optionally at least one cure catalyst.

Abstract: A resin composition comprising: (i) one or more polymerisable liquid thermoset resin components; (ii) optionally one or more curing agents for said one or more polymerisable liquid resin components; and (iii) at least one gelator, wherein said gelator interacts within said composition to form a gel at ambient temperatures, said gel being thermally reversible such that the gelled composition can undergo a transition from the gelled state to a state of lower viscosity when the composition is treated to facilitate the cure of said polymerisable resin component.

Abstract: Composite materials composed of a structural fibrous reinforcement and a matrix resin composition. The matrix resin composition includes at least one thermoset resin component, at least one curative component and at least one inorganic nano-scale particulate. The cured composite material exhibits a fatigue performance such that it achieves greater than 300,000 cycles under a flexural load of 850 MPa at 90° C.

Abstract: A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.

Abstract: The invention provides a continuous pultrusion process for producing structural profiles wherein a) one or more textile sheets are impregnated with a resin composition comprising a combination of (i) at least one epoxy resin which is a tri- or tetrafunctional epoxy resin and (ii) a curing agent system comprising at least two types of reactive groups of different reactivity b) the impregnated textile sheets are subjected to heat to cause a partial reaction between the at least one epoxy resin and the curing agent system, so that the viscosity of the resin composition is increased, and c) the partially reacted impregnated resin composition is gelled using heat and/or pressure.