Abstract: A fiber-reinforced polymer blade has a blade having at least a portion of itself including a fiber-reinforced polymer, a portion of the fiber-reinforced polymer including a chopped fiber-reinforced polymer. The invention further includes methods of manufacture of the blade.

Abstract: A method is provided for designing and producing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) pistons. Pistons made with FRP have a lower mass than prior art metal pistons conferring advantageous engine efficiency and stability. FRP pistons also increase the thermal efficiency of engines by having a lower thermal conductivity, with tighter piston-to-bore clearance, and/increased air-fuel ratio than pistons of metal. The technical parameters of the piston are identified, and a piston body blank is produced. The blank is then machined, a bearing surface for the pin bore is created, the piston blank is optionally coated, is optionally subjected to Heavy Metal Ion Implantation (HMII) treatment and is subjected to sodium silicate impregnation to produce the final pistons.

Abstract: A method is provided for designing and producing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) pistons. Pistons made with FRP have a lower mass than prior art metal pistons conferring advantageous engine efficiency and stability. FRP pistons also increase the thermal efficiency of engines by having a lower thermal conductivity, with tighter piston-to-bore clearance, and/increased air-fuel ratio than pistons of metal. The technical parameters of the piston are identified, and a piston body blank is produced. The blank is then machined, a bearing surface for the pin bore is created, the piston blank is optionally coated, is optionally subjected to Heavy Metal Ion Implantation (HMII) treatment and is subjected to sodium silicate impregnation to produce the final pistons.