Abstract: Voided carbon fiber tapes comprising from 18K to 125K carbon fibers, a thermoplastic resin having a viscosity of about 10 to about 150 Pa·s, at least 3 void areas, a fiber fraction ranging from about 35 to 70 percent, a void volume ranging from about 2 to about 50 percent, and at least 10 percent wetted carbon fibers may be used to prepare consolidated thermoplastic composites which exhibit flexural strengths greater than or equal to 75 percent of the theoretical flexural strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel glass-carbon composites presenting very high directional properties in the UD carbon layer direction greater with improved failure mode as compared to full carbon fiber and standard composite fibers. The invention further relates to a process of preparation of such glass-carbon composites and to articles made from such glass-carbon composites.

Abstract: A conductive paste composition comprises (i) an inorganic powder comprising at least a conductive powder, (ii) at least one microgel polymer, and (iii) a solvent. The paste composition may be used in a process for manufacturing an electrical device comprising: preparing a substrate; applying the conductive paste onto the substrate in a preselected pattern; and heating the applied conductive paste to form a conductive structure that provides an electrode for connecting the device. The paste composition beneficially permits the formation of narrow, high aspect ratio features in the conductive structure.

Abstract: An unconsolidated impact and penetration resistant laminate comprises a plurality of cross-plied sheets, each cross-plied sheet further comprising (i) first and second layers of fibrous or non-fibrous ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and (ii) first and second layers of thermoplastic adhesive, each adhesive layer having a basis weight of no greater than 5 gsm, wherein (a) the layers of polyethylene and thermoplastic adhesive alternate within the sheet, (b) at least 50 percent of the polyethylene layers are arranged such that the orientation of the first polyethylene layer is offset with respect to the orientation of the second polyethylene layer, and (c) the plurality of cross-plied sheets form a stack that, when subjected to compaction at a pressure of 255 bar and a temperature of 132 degrees C., will not suffer a pressure loss greater than 8 bar within the first two minutes as measured by Test Method B.

Abstract: An impact penetration resistant laminate comprises a plurality of alternating layers of (i) non-fibrous ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene monolayers and (ii) a thermoplastic adhesive, the adhesive having a basis weight of no greater than 5 gsm and a zero-shear-rate viscosity, determined from an oscillating disc rheometer in a frequency sweep between 0.1 rad/s and 100 rad/s, conducted per ASTM D 4440 at 125° C., and calculated from fitting to a Carrea-Yasuda four parameter model, of at least 1500 Pa-s, wherein (a) at least 90 percent of the monolayers are arranged such that the orientation of one monolayer is offset with respect to the orientation of an adjacent monolayer, and (b) the modulus of elasticity through the thickness of the laminate is at least 3 GPa.

Abstract: An impact penetration resistant laminate comprises a plurality of alternating layers of (i) non-fibrous ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene monolayers and (ii) a thermoplastic adhesive, the adhesive having a basis weight of no greater than 5 gsm and a zero-shear-rate viscosity, determined from an oscillating disc rheometer in a frequency sweep between 0.1 rad/s and 100 rad/s, conducted per ASTM D 4440 at 125° C., and calculated from fitting to a Carrea-Yasuda four parameter model, of at least 1500 Pa-s, wherein (a) at least 90 percent of the monolayers are arranged such that the orientation of one monolayer is offset with respect to the orientation of an adjacent monolayer, and (b) the modulus of elasticity through the thickness of the laminate is at least 3 GPa.

Abstract: Provided are treated carbon fibers particularly suited for making thermoplastic composites with polyamide resin, and methods to make such treated carbon fibers.

Abstract: An impact penetration resistant laminate comprises a plurality of alternating layers of (i) non-fibrous ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene monolayers and (ii) a thermoplastic adhesive, the adhesive having a basis weight of no greater than 5 gsm and a zero-shear-rate viscosity, determined from an oscillating disc rheometer in a frequency sweep between 0.1 rad/s and 100 rad/s, conducted per ASTM D 4440 at 125° C., and calculated from fitting to a Carrea-Yasuda four parameter model, of at least 1500 Pa-s, wherein (a) at least 90 percent of the monolayers are arranged such that the orientation of one monolayer is offset with respect to the orientation of an adjacent monolayer, and (b) the modulus of elasticity through the thickness of the laminate is at least 3 GPa.

Abstract: An unconsolidated impact and penetration resistant laminate comprises a plurality of cross-plied sheets, each cross-plied sheet further comprising (i) first and second layers of fibrous or non-fibrous ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and (ii) first and second layers of thermoplastic adhesive, each adhesive layer having a basis weight of no greater than 5 gsm, wherein (a) the layers of polyethylene and thermoplastic adhesive alternate within the sheet, (b) at least 50 percent of the polyethylene layers are arranged such that the orientation of the first polyethylene layer is offset with respect to the orientation of the second polyethylene layer, and (c) the plurality of cross-plied sheets form a stack that, when subjected to compaction at a pressure of 255 bar and a temperature of 132 degrees C., will not suffer a pressure loss greater than 8 bar within the first two minutes as measured by Test Method B.

Abstract: A conductive paste composition comprises (i) an inorganic powder comprising at least a conductive powder, (ii) at least one microgel polymer, and (iii) a solvent. The paste composition may be used in a process for manufacturing an electrical device comprising: preparing a substrate; applying the conductive paste onto the substrate in a preselected pattern; and heating the applied conductive paste to form a conductive structure that provides an electrode for connecting the device. The paste composition beneficially permits the formation of narrow, high aspect ratio features in the conductive structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are composite structures having improved high modulus and strenght, processes for making them, and end use articles. The composite structures comprise two or more layers of a fibrous material made of carbon fibers with a basis weight greater than or equal to 150 g/m2, one or more layer of a fibrous material made of glass fibers with a basis weight greater than or equal to 200 g/m2 and a polyamide resin composition. The fibrous materials made of carbon and glass fibers are impregnated into the polyamide resin composition and each of the external layers of the composite structure is a layer of fibrous material made of carbon fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite structure having a surface, which surface has at least a portion made of a surface resin composition, and comprising a woven glass fiber fabric, said woven glass fiber fabric being fully impregnated with a matrix resin composition, wherein a. the matrix resin composition comprises a blend of PA6T/DT and PA66/6T, preferably with a weight ratio between from about 30:70 to about 70:30, more preferably with a weight ratio of about 50:50 b. the surface resin composition is independently selected from an amorphous polyamide composition comprising PA6I/6T or a polyamide composition comprising a blend of PA66 and PA6, preferably the weight ratio of PA66 and PA6 in the blend of the surface resin composition is of between 100:0 to 50:50, more preferably 75:25 and wherein c. the woven glass fiber fabric has a basis weight of between 280 to 320 g/m2 d. the coverage of the woven glass fiber fabric is of between 95% to 100%.

Abstract: Provided are treated carbon fibers particularly suited for making thermoplastic composites with polyamide resin, and methods to make such treated carbon fibers.

Abstract: Chitosan films and laminates made from the films are provided. The films and laminates can be used to make a variety of finished articles that can be used to provide protection from hazardous chemical and biological agents.

Abstract: An impact resistant composite article has two or more layers of ballistic fabric and ionomer layers disposed between the fabric layers. The ionomer is highly neutralized so that it has essentially no melt flow. A process also for making such a composite article that involves deposition of an aqueous colloid of the ionomer onto the fabric, followed by drying.

Abstract: Inclusion of a needle structured sepiolite clay in a chitosan film in an amount of about 0.5 weight percent to about 8 weight percent was found to reduce shrinkage of the film. The clay is processed into a substantially dispersed form. Laminates fabricated from this chitosan film including dispersed sepiolite clay can be used in making a variety of finished articles that can be used to provide protection from hazardous chemical and biological agents.

Abstract: Inclusion of a needle structured clay or the plate structured clay sodium montmorillonite in a chitosan film was found to reduce shrinkage of the film. The needle structured clay is purified and processed into a substantially dispersed form by subjecting an aqueous slurry of the clay with water-soluble phosphate dispersant to a high pressure, high shear mixing process or to sonication. Laminates fabricated from chitosan film including dispersed clay can be used in make a variety of finished articles that can be used to provide protection from hazardous chemical and biological agents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are composite structures, overmolded composites structures and processes for their preparation. The disclosed composite structures have a surface having at least a portion made of a surface resin composition, and comprise a fibrous material being impregnated with a matrix resin composition, wherein the matrix polyamide resin composition and the surface resin composition are selected from polyamide compositions comprising a blend of semi-aromatic polyamides.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are overmolded composite structures and processes for their preparation. The disclosed overmolded composite structures comprise i) a first component having a surface, of which at least a portion made of a surface resin composition, and comprising a fibrous material being impregnated with a matrix resin composition, ii) a second component comprising an overmolding resin composition, wherein said second component is adhered to said first component over at least a portion of the surface of said first component, and wherein the matrix resin composition and the surface resin composition are identical or different polyamide compositions.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating selectively permeable laminates are provided. In one process, continuous chitosan film is prepared by casting a chitosan solution directly onto a substrate that will be incorporated along with the film into a laminate. Alternatively, the chitosan solution is cast onto a work device (for example, such as glass or a polymer film), dried, detached, and then incorporated into a laminate in a separate step. In various embodiments, the laminates are useful for fabrication as a protective article and are substantially impermeable to hazardous chemical and biological agents, but sufficiently permeable to water vapor that, if worn as protective apparel, it is both protective and comfortable to wear.