Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cell structures are provided that include a structural mesh support layer at the interface between the surface of the cathode and the cathode current collector. The structural mesh layer can have a mesh open area of 25% to 45%. In addition to providing structural support, the structural mesh layer can reduce or minimize ohmic resistance at the interface between the cathode and the cathode current collector.

Abstract: A sail includes at least two layers of durable sailcloth material (e.g., Mylar), a scrim of load bearing yarns arranged in predetermined load path orientations, and at least one heat-activated adhesive layer securing the layers of material to the scrim, such that the scrim is positioned between the layers of material. At least one of the layers of material includes visible content on an outside surface thereof. The visible content is preferably applied to the outside surface(s) of the layer(s) of material using dye sublimation to provide durable imaging. An opaque layer may be optionally included between the two outer layers of material to prevent the passage of light through the sail. Alternatively, the adhesive layer(s) may be dyed or otherwise colored to effectuate an opaque layer. The sail is preferably manufactured using a high temperature, vacuum lamination process to mitigate the quantity of voids between the layers of material.

Abstract: A sail includes at least two layers of durable sailcloth material, a scrim of load bearing yarns arranged in predetermined load path orientations, and at least one heat-activated adhesive layer securing the layers of material to the scrim, such that the scrim is positioned between the layers of material. An opaque layer may be included between the two outer layers of material to prevent the passage of light through the sail. Alternatively, the adhesive layer or layers may be dyed or otherwise colored to effectuate an opaque layer. The sail is preferably manufactured using a high temperature, vacuum lamination process to mitigate the quantity of voids between the layers of material and to transfer visible content from one or more image transfer mediums to the outside surface(s) of the layer(s) of material using dye sublimation to provide durable imaging. After lamination, the image transfer medium or media may be discarded.

Abstract: A spinnaker sailboat sail is fabricated, according to one embodiment, from at least one transfer medium and at least one sheet of durable spinnaker sailcloth material. The transfer medium includes dyes forming backwards-imaged, visible content. The sheet of sailcloth material includes tightly woven fibers and has two sides. The transfer medium is positioned upon a first side of the sailcloth material at a location at which the visible content is desired to be affixed. Heat and pressure are applied to the transfer medium and the sailcloth material sufficient to force the dyes from the transfer medium completely through the sailcloth material by transferring the dyes from a solid state directly to a gas state to flow past the tightly woven fibers of the sailcloth material. The heat and pressure are then removed to enable the dyes from the transfer medium to become permanently affixed to the sheet of sailcloth material.

Abstract: A sailboat sail includes a sheet of material that contains stretchable webs that assume a planar orientation when placed against a planar surface, but which can stretch into a sail or airfoil orientation when mounted to a sailboat and exposed to wind loading. The sheet includes at least two webs of PVC vinyl laminated together between which is disposed a scrim of polyester yarn. The yarn is cross-hatched in a predetermined directional pattern. The sail has informational content, such as advertising, printed thereon or otherwise imparted thereto. A method for manufacturing such a sail includes providing a sheet of the aforementioned sail material, printing on one or both sides of the sheet information content to be displayed while the sail is mounted upon a sailboat, and cutting the sheet into the shape of a sail. The sheet may be cut before or after the information is imprinted thereon.

Abstract: A sailboat sail includes a sheet of material that contains stretchable webs that assume a planar orientation when placed against a planar surface, but which can stretch into a sail or airfoil orientation when mounted to a sailboat and exposed to wind loading. The sheet includes at least two webs of PVC vinyl laminated together between which is disposed a scrim of polyester yarn. The yarn is cross-hatched in a predetermined directional pattern. The sail has informational content, such as advertising, printed thereon or otherwise imparted thereto. A method for manufacturing such a sail includes providing a sheet of the aforementioned sail material, printing on one or both sides of the sheet information content to be displayed while the sail is mounted upon a sailboat, and cutting the sheet into the shape of a sail. The sheet may be cut before or after the information is imprinted thereon.

Abstract: A sailboat sail and method of manufacture thereof, the sail material being chosen from a group of materials which lay substantially flat at all points when laid against a planar surface but which stretch under wind loading when attached to a sailboat to assume the conventional airfoil shape desirable of a sail. The sail has informational content such as advertising (eg: product photographs and logos) or other messages printed on or otherwise imparted thereto. One method of providing such a sail includes the steps of providing a flat sheet of stretchable material having physical properties capable of withstanding conventional wind load-induced forces in near-shore sailing conditions, printing on one or both sides of the sheet information content to be displayed while the sail is mounted upon a sailboat, and cutting the sheet into the shape of a sail. The steps of printing and cutting may be transposed.

Abstract: A sailboat sail and method of manufacture thereof, the sail material being chosen from a group of materials which lay substantially flat at all points when laid against a planar surface but which stretch under wind loading when attached to a sailboat to assume the conventional airfoil shape desirable of a sail. The sail has informational content such as advertising or other messages printed or otherwise imparted thereto. One method of providing such a sail includes the steps of providing a flat sheet of stretchable material having physical properties capable of withstanding conventional wind load-induced forces in near-shore sailing conditions, printing on one or both sides of the sheet information content to be displayed while the sail is mounted upon a sailboat, and cutting the sheet into the shape of a sail. The steps of printing and cutting may be transposed.