Abstract: A solar module (2) comprising; (a) an active portion (4) and (b) a support portion (6), wherein the support portion (8) includes a plurality of reinforcement ribs (20) in a series of interconnected or partially interconnected patterns. The solar module (2) may include an intermediate portion (6C) acting as a structural interface between the active portion (4) and the support portion (6). The intermediate portion (6C) may include one or more gate locations (10, 12). The plurality of reinforcement ribs (20) may extend at an angle along the support portion (6) so that an effective modulus of the support portion (6) along a width direction is substantially equal to an effective modulus of the support portion (6) along a length direction.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprising: a base plate and a photovoltaic laminate that are connected together; wherein the photovoltaic module is configured to be directly connected to a roofing structure and provide roofing functions, and wherein the photovoltaic laminate is removable from the base plate without damaging the base plate and the base plate retains its roofing functions when the photovoltaic laminate is removed.

Abstract: A solar module (2) comprising: (a) a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic cells (4); (b) a forward protective layer (22); (c) a rearward protective layer (24); and (d) an reinforcement (10); wherein the reinforcement is integrally located within the solar module and extends from a location substantially proximate to the forward protective layer to a location substantially proximate to the rearward protective layer.

Abstract: The invention is a flexible photovoltaic article having excellent environmental barrier and mechanical protection for the photovoltaic system. The article comprises top side protective layers that include a flexible thin film glass under a top side stress relieving layer and on the opposite side of the photovoltaic cell a backside stress relieving layer.

Abstract: A solar module (2) comprising; (a) an active portion (4) and (b) a support portion (6), wherein the support portion (8) and the active portion (4) each comprise: (i) an upper surface (60), (ii) a lower surface (62), (iii) or both; wherein the upper surface (60) or the lower surface (62) of the support portion (6) includes: a plurality of reinforcement ribs (20); and wherein the solar module (2) includes one or more of the following: (A) the support portion includes an intermediate portion (6C) and an overlap support portion (6A) and the intermediate portion (6C) acts as a structural interface between the active portion (4) and the support portion (6), and the intermediate portion (6C) includes one or more gate locations (10, 12); (B) the plurality of reinforcement ribs (20) extend at an angle along the support portion (6) so that an effective modulus of the support portion (6) along a width direction is substantially equal to an effective modulus of the support portion (6) along a length direction; or (C) the

Abstract: An improved ceramic honeycomb structure is comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement layer comprised of a cement layer has at least two regions of differing porosity or cement layer where the ratio of toughness/Young's modulus is at least about 0.1 MPa·m1/2/GPa.

Abstract: A solar module (2) comprising: (a) a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic cells (4); (b) a forward protective layer (22); (c) a rearward protective layer (24); and (d) an reinforcement (10); wherein the reinforcement is integrally located within the solar module and extends from a location substantially proximate to the forward protective layer to a location substantially proximate to the rearward protective layer.

Abstract: The present invention: is premised upon an improved photovoltaic building sheathing member (“PV device”), more particularly to a flexible high modulus photovoltaic building sheathing member, the member comprising: a flexible photovoltaie eel! assembly, a body portion comprised of a body material and connected to a peripheral edge segment of the photovoltaic cell assembly, wherein; the body portion has a cross-sectional area of at least 35 mm2 within 1 cm oft at least 95 percent of points along the peripheral edge segment; wherein the body material comprises a composition having a modulus of 1600 to 9000 MPa between a temperature of ?40 to 85° C., with a coefficient of thermal expansion (GTE) between 5×10?6/° C. and 55×10?6/° C. and the body portion exhibiting a warpage value of less than 15 mm.

Abstract: A skin is applied to a ceramic honeycomb. The skin is formed by applying a skin-forming composition and drying it. The skin-forming composition includes a carrier liquid, colloidal silica and/or colloidal alumina, and an inorganic filler. The filler includes an inorganic fiber. The filler may contain low aspect ratio particles that have the same or nearly the same CTE as the inorganic fiber. The filler may include a small proportion of a low aspect ratio filler particle that has a different CTE than the inorganic fiber.

Abstract: The present invention is premised upon -m improved photovoltaic building sheathing member (“PV device”), more particularly to a flexible low modulus photovoltaic building sheathing member, the member comprising: a flexible photovoltaic cell assembly, a body portion comprised of a body material and connected to a; peripheral edge segment of the photovoltaic cell assembly, wherein the body portion has a cross-sectional area of at least 35 mm2 within 1 cm on at least 95 percent of points along the peripheral edge segment: wherein the body material comprises a composition having a modulus of 5 to 200 MPa between a temperature of ?40 to 85° C., with a coefficient of thermal expansion (GTE) below 100×10?6/° C., and the body portion exhibiting a warpage value of less than 15 mm.

Abstract: The invention is a flexible photovoltaic article having excellent environmental barrier and mechanical protection for the photovoltaic system. The article comprises top side protective layers that include a flexible thin film glass under a top side stress relieving layer and on the opposite side of the photovoltaic cell a backside stress relieving layer.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement comprised of inorganic fibers and a binding phase wherein the smaller honey-combs and fibers are bonded together by the binding phase which is comprised of an silicate, aluminate or alumino-silicate. The fibers have a multi-modal size distribution in which some fibers have lengths of up to 1000 micons and other fibers have lengths in excess of 1 mm. The cement composition may be made in the absence of other inorganic and organic additives while achieving a shear thinning cement, for example, by mixing oppositely charged inorganic binders in water together so as to make a useful cement composition for applying to the smaller honeycombs to be cemented.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement comprised of inorganic fibers and a binding phase wherein the smaller honeycombs and fibers are bonded together by the binding phase which is comprised of an amorphous silicate, aluminate or alumino-silicate glass and the cement has at most about 5% by volume of other inorganic particles. The cement may be made in the absence of other inorganic and organic additives while achieving a shear thinning cement, for example, by mixing oppositely charged inorganic binders in water together so as to make a useful cement for applying to the smaller honeycombs to be cemented.

Abstract: An improved ceramic honeycomb structure is comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement layer comprised of a cement layer has at least two regions of differing porosity or cement layer where the ratio of toughness/Young's modulus is at least about 0.1 MPa·m1/2/GPa.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement comprised of inorganic fibers and a binding phase wherein the smaller honey-combs and fibers are bonded together by the binding phase which is comprised of an silicate, aluminate or alumino-silicate. The fibers have a multi-modal size distribution in which some fibers have lengths of up to 1000 micons and other fibers have lengths in excess of 1 mm. The cement composition may be made in the absence of other inorganic and organic additives while achieving a shear thinning cement, for example, by mixing oppositely charged inorganic binders in water together so as to make a useful cement composition for applying to the smaller honeycombs to be cemented.

Abstract: A skin is applied to a ceramic honeycomb. The skin is formed by applying a skin-forming composition and drying it. The skin-forming composition includes a carrier liquid, colloidal silica and/or colloidal alumina, and an inorganic filler. The filler includes an inorganic fiber. The filler may contain low aspect ratio particles that have the same or nearly the same CTE as the inorganic fiber. The filler may include a small proportion of a low aspect ratio filler particle that has a different CTE than the inorganic fiber.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement comprised of inorganic fibers and a binding phase wherein the smaller honeycombs and fibers are bonded together by the binding phase which is comprised of an amorphous silicate, aluminate or alumino-silicate glass and the cement has at most about 5% by volume of other inorganic particles. The cement may be made in the absence of other inorganic and organic additives while achieving a shear thinning cement, for example, by mixing oppositely charged inorganic binders in water together so as to make a useful cement for applying to the smaller honeycombs to be cemented.

Abstract: A concrete article comprised of concrete having therein a reinforcing fiber, where at least about 50 percent of the reinforcing fibers are frayed only at an end or ends of the reinforcing fibers, may be made by mixing concrete, water and a reinforcing fiber for a sufficient time to fray the ends of at least 50 percent of the fibers and curing the mixture to form the concrete article. The fiber may be a reinforcing fiber comprised of at least two filaments bonded together and the filaments being comprised of a polymeric core and a polymeric sheath comprised of a fusing-fraying polymer, such that the reinforcing fiber, when mixed with inorganic particulates, frays predominately only at an end or ends of the fiber.

Abstract: A concrete article comprised of concrete having therein a reinforcing polymer that has a surface comprised of a thermoplastic hydroxy-functionalized polyether or polyester. The concrete article is made by mixing concrete, water and a reinforcing polymer that has a surface comprised of a thermoplastic hydroxy-functionalized polyether or polyester and curing said concrete mixture forming the concrete article.

Abstract: A concrete article comprised of concrete having therein a reinforcing fiber, where at least about 50 percent of the reinforcing fibers are frayed only at an end or ends of the reinforcing fibers, may be made by mixing concrete, water and a reinforcing fiber for a sufficient time to fray the ends of at least 50 percent of the fibers and curing the mixture to form the concrete article. The fiber may be a reinforcing fiber comprised of at least two filaments bonded together and the filaments being comprised of a polymeric core and a polymeric sheath comprised of a fusing-fraying polymer, such that the reinforcing fiber, when mixed with inorganic particulates, frays predominately only at an end or ends of the fiber.