Abstract: Solid, non-melting polyurethanes having a glass transition temperature of at least 40° C. and free isocyanate groups are self-bonding materials that are useful in a variety of adhesive and molding operations. Under conditions of heat and moisture, these polyurethanes will self-bond. The polyurethanes can be used as adhesive coatings, which are solid and non-tacky and thus can be transported and stored easily under ambient conditions. These polyurethane adhesives are especially useful in applications in which, due to the location and/or orientation of the substrates, liquid or melting materials cannot be applied easily or will run off the substrates.

Abstract: A method of making a flexible magnetized sheet is provided. The method may comprise the steps of (1) using cold extrusion to produce a highly viscous fluid magnetizable sheet, (2) passing the sheet through a magnetic field to create an uncured magnetized sheet, and (3) curing the sheet with electron beam curing. The fluid mixture may comprise magnetizable particles with a random charge orientation and an acrylic resin. The components of the mixture are cool when passed through an extrusion die. The extruded fluid sheet allows for the sheet to be magnetized and then, instead of curing by cooling, cured by the bombardment of electrons via an electron beam (EB) generator. The method can eliminate the heat of extrusion and can allow for more freedom of orientation because the sheet does not cure until it reaches the electron beam curing station.

Abstract: Decorative films, useful for making a wide range of decorative laminates, that have a relatively deep texture on one major face and a relatively smoother, print receptive surface on the other major face. Notwithstanding the deep texture, the films have superb tracking characteristics and are compatible with a wide variety of automated printing operations. This allows automated printing equipment to print information directly onto the films.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layered structural component (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, preferably a floor component for a motor vehicle, comprising at least two fiber layers (14) which each include a fiber material and a thermoplastic binder and are arranged one above the other in a stacking direction (S), and at least one metal layer (12) having a thickness (d) of at most 1 mm which is arranged between the two fiber layers (14), wherein the fiber layers (14) each have, at least in certain regions, a porosity of at least 75%, and wherein the structural component (10) comprises at least three metal layers (12) which are arranged one above the other in a stacking direction (S) and each have a thickness (d) of at most 1 mm, with each of the two fiber layers (14) being arranged between two metal layers (12) that are adjacent to one another in the stacking direction (S).

Abstract: Method of manufacturing bond panels and bond panel assemblies are provided. In various embodiments, the method may comprise laying up a top skin on a tool comprising a mandrel. The method may further comprise laying out core on the top skin. The method may further comprise laying up back skin to create an assembly. The assembly may comprise the top skin, the core, and the back skin. The method may further comprise placing the assembly in a bag to provide a bagged assembly. The method may also comprise placing the bagged assembly in an autoclave. The method may further comprise subjecting the bagged assembly to a pressure and a temperature for a determined amount of time. In this regard, the back skin, the core, and the top skin may be co-cured in a single autoclave pressurization and heating operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display panel which is operable to enable content to be displayed on a step of an escalator, the method comprising the steps (102) of printing desired advertising content on a surface of a generally rigid plastic sheet; manufacturing (104) a vacuum formed sheet by vacuum forming the printed plastic sheet to fit a desired part of an escalator step profile; trimming (106) the vacuum formed sheet on all four sides; and applying (110) an adhesive substance to an operatively back surface of the vacuum formed sheet.

Abstract: A decorative molding film includes a base film provided with a protective layer, a coloring layer containing a polyolefin based hot melt adhesive and pigment, and an adhesive layer containing a polyolefin based hot melt adhesive, stacked in that order on one side of the base film.

Abstract: An insert is assembled to a base interior part at either an edge or a corner of the part that is later wrapped with a cut and sewn jacket cover. The assembly comprises a substrate, an insert and a cover. The substrate has a base edge and the insert has a contour defining edge attached to the substrate with the contour defining edge aligned with the base edge. The cover is wrapped over the insert and the substrate to provide a wrapped edge that covers over the contour defining edge. A method of manufacturing a covered interior part of a vehicle comprises securing an insert having a contour defining edge to the interior panel and wrapping the insert and the interior panel with a cover.

Abstract: Methods of making a golf ball that includes a lattice reinforced layer, which is a layer made of at least two materials with different properties, includes various injection and compression molding steps. In some embodiments, the lattice reinforced layer is manufactured using a shutoff molding technique so that the entire lattice reinforced layer is molded in the same mold. In other embodiments, a grid for the lattice layer is formed first, then filled using an injection molding technique.

Abstract: Packaging and a method of making the packaging is disclosed. The packaging includes a substrate with an asymmetrical coextrusion attached there to. The coextrusion includes an ethylene vinyl alcohol layer that is disposed toward the substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming cushions including the following four steps: (1) a compression step in which the structure (2) is compressed in a mold (3); (2) a thermal softening step in which the structure (2) is thermally softened by means of a heating medium; (3) a curing step in which the structure (2) directly undergoes forced cooling in a cooling medium, and is then cured; and (4) a mold release step in which the structure (2) is released from the mold (3).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating a panel from a molten composite material, and a panel product fabricated accordingly. Two platens in spaced relation define a gap which decreases uniformly from first ends of the platens toward second ends of the platens. Molten composite material is moved through the decreasing gap to compress the material between the platens. Cooling drums cool the composite panel shortly after extrusion. A mesh is rolled into a surface of the extruded panel; the screen remains partially exposed on the panel surface to provide a panel surface amenable to the application of adhesives.

Abstract: A process for fabricating shoes having an outer cork sole insert includes processing raw cork into sheets of predetermined thickness, adhering a thin fabric sheet to one side of the intermediate cork sheets, cutting out cork/fabric sole inserts and placing them into an injection mold, and cycling the plastic injection mold so as to form a cork insert into the plastic sole.

Abstract: A composite structure includes a first laminate, a second laminate, and at least one core component located between the first laminate and the second laminate. The at least one core component includes a honeycomb core and at least one locking ply extending from the honeycomb core between the first laminate and the second laminate. The at least one locking ply is configured such that a pressure applied during a cure cycle of the composite structure retains the at least one locking ply between the first laminate and the second laminate thereby preventing movement of core component.

Abstract: Described are in-mold coated products such as vehicular components, in-mold coating methods, and in-mold coating compositions, involving the use of aqueous acrylic copolymer dispersions, desirably self-crosslinking.

Abstract: This application relates to a method and apparatus for forming a textured stain resistant fabric. The stain resistant layer can be formed from a non-conventional anti-stain resistant resin that can conform to varying texturing geometries. In one embodiment, the stain resistant layer can be formed against a sheet of release paper having a texturing surface configured to form a textured surface on the stain resistant layer.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and/or methods are provided to substantially reduce warping of a reinforced polymer. For example, by pre-stressing a glass component proportional to the difference between coefficients of linear expansions of glass and polymers, warping may be reduced when the resulting glass-polymer compound is cooled.

Abstract: Methods are provided for manufacturing a thrust reverser cascade. One of these methods includes providing a first cascade segment and providing a second cascade segment. The first cascade segment includes a first frame rail, a second frame rail and an array of first vane segments laterally between the first and the second frame rails. The second cascade segment includes an array of second vane segments. The second cascade segment is bonded laterally to and between the first and the second frame rails and transversely to the array of first vane segments. In another method, first and second cascade segments are discretely molded. Each of the cascade segments includes an array of vane segments and comprises fiber reinforcement in a polymer matrix. The second cascade segment is bonded to the first cascade segment and is nested into the first cascade segment.

Abstract: A method of forming a thermoplastic article, comprises steps of: a) positioning at least one preheated first component being hollow and having at least one open end in two co-operating first mold halves; b) extruding a blow-moldable thermoplastic material into the first component and closing the mold halves; and c) blowing the blow-moldable thermoplastic material inside the mold halves to form an article on which the first component is fixedly engaged. The method is simple in implementation, low in cost and easy in modification, and by which a thermoplastic article of varied colors, patterns, materials, and/or functional components being fixedly mounted on its outer surface could be realized.

Abstract: A method of applying a graphic image on a target substrate using a liquid release coat applied to a carrier substrate, the release coat formulated to form a durable contiguous first film, a top coat applied to the first film and formulated to form a durable contiguous second film, a print coat applied to the second film and formulated to form a durable contiguous third film, wherein a transferred graphic image or material is superimposed on the third film and transferred to the target substrate to which a primer coat has been applied, the primer coat being formulated to form a contiguous fourth film on the target substrate, the carrier substrate with the superimposed graphic image is thereafter united with the target substrate, thereby sandwiching the graphic image between the primer coat of the target substrate on the one hand and the top coat of the carrier substrate on the other hand.