Abstract: A non-fibrous film has a non-weakened portion and a weakened portion having at least one mechanical property having a value that is lower than the value of the mechanical property of the non-weakened portion. The film has an optical characteristic including a clarity of at least 75 percent.

Abstract: A non-fibrous film has at least one film body that is non-fibrous, and at least one film element that is non-fibrous. The film element is coupled to the film body at an interface that is non-continuous across a film width of the non-fibrous film. The non-fibrous film has at least one of the following characteristics: the interface has at least one mechanical property having a value that is different than the value of the mechanical property of at least one of the film element and the film body, and/or the film element has at least one mechanical property having a value that is different than the value of the mechanical property of the film body.

Abstract: A composite structure includes a resin, a plurality of polymer nanoparticles in the resin to form a resin mixture, and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the resin mixture. At least some of the polymer nanoparticles are either fully soluble in the resin during curing or solidifying of the resin mixture to form a cured composite structure, or semi-soluble in the resin during curing or solidifying of the resin mixture to form the cured composite structure.

Abstract: A kinetic energy absorption method includes receiving a force from kinetic energy at a composite article and distributing a load associated with the force across a designated pattern of lower strength length portions or lower modulus length portions of fibers within the composite article, where the load is distributed by: plastically deforming a ply and a matrix material; separating multiple substantially parallel fibers at the lower strength length portions or plastically stretching the multiple substantially parallel fibers at the lower modulus length portions; and creating gaps in the ply where the multiple substantially parallel fibers are separated or creating shear boundaries in the ply where the multiple substantially parallel fibers are plastically stretched.

Abstract: A reinforced composite article includes a first ply, a second ply, and a third ply. A first interface material is between the first ply and the second ply. A second interface material is between the second ply and the third ply. A designated pattern of material property variation, geometric structure variation, spatial variation, or combinations thereof is distributed to selected locations identified in the first interface material or distributed between selected locations identified in the first interface material compared to the second interface material. The pattern is sufficient to measurably vary adhesion, toughness, strength, modulus, or combinations thereof. The article allows distribution of a load across the pattern when the first, second, and third plies receive a force from kinetic energy above a separation threshold by partially delaminating the first ply from the second ply, the second ply from the third ply, or both.

Abstract: A kinetic energy absorptive composite article includes a first ply and a plurality of inherently straight first fibers contained in the first ply. First length portions of the first fibers are arranged with first localized ripples that deviate from and return to individual first routes of respective first length portions. The article includes a second ply parallel to the first ply, a plurality of inherently straight second fibers contained in the first ply or the second ply, and a matrix material at least partially encapsulating the first and second plies. Second length portions of the second fibers are arranged without localized ripples or with second localized ripples that deviate from individual second routes of respective second length portions to a lesser extent than the first localized ripples and return to the individual second routes. The second routes are substantially parallel to the first routes.

Abstract: A composition may include the resin and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles included in the resin to form a resin mixture. The resin may have a resin coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), a resin cure shrinkage, and/or a resin heat of reaction. The polymer nanoparticles may have a nanoparticle cure shrinkage less than the resin cure shrinkage, a nanoparticle CTE different than the resin CTE, and/or a nanoparticle heat of reaction less than the resin heat of reaction.

Abstract: A kinetic energy absorption method includes receiving a force from kinetic energy at a composite article and distributing a load associated with the force across a designated pattern of lower strength length portions or lower modulus length portions of fibers within the composite article, where the load is distributed by: plastically deforming a ply and a matrix material; separating multiple substantially parallel fibers at the lower strength length portions or plastically stretching the multiple substantially parallel fibers at the lower modulus length portions; and creating gaps in the ply where the multiple substantially parallel fibers are separated or creating shear boundaries in the ply where the multiple substantially parallel fibers are plastically stretched.

Abstract: A composition may include a resin and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles included in the resin to form a resin mixture. At least some of the polymer nanoparticles may have a greater distortion capability than the resin due to the nature of the polymer backbone of the polymer nanoparticles, and/or due to the nanoparticle free volume being greater than the free volume of the resin, and/or due to the nanoparticle porosity being greater than a porosity of resin. The incorporation of the polymer nanoparticles in the resin may result in an improvement in the strain and/or distortional capability of the resin mixture which may improve the performance of the composite structure.

Abstract: A kinetic energy absorptive composite article includes a first ply and a plurality of inherently straight first fibers contained in the first ply. First length portions of the first fibers are arranged with first localized ripples that deviate from and return to individual first routes of respective first length portions. The article includes a second ply parallel to the first ply, a plurality of inherently straight second fibers contained in the first ply or the second ply, and a matrix material at least partially encapsulating the first and second plies. Second length portions of the second fibers are arranged without localized ripples or with second localized ripples that deviate from individual second routes of respective second length portions to a lesser extent than the first localized ripples and return to the individual second routes. The second routes are substantially parallel to the first routes.

Abstract: A kinetic energy absorptive composite article includes a ply containing multiple substantially parallel fibers having inherent failure strains and having inherent moduli. A matrix material at least partially encapsulates the ply. The ply includes multiple lower strength length portions or multiple lower modulus length portions. The multiple lower strength length portions are distributed along individual fibers of the multiple fibers and have failure strains less than the inherent failure strains. The multiple lower modulus length portions are distributed along individual fibers of the multiple fibers and have moduli less than the inherent moduli. A designated pattern of the lower strength length portions or of the lower modulus length portions is distributed to selected locations identified in the ply. An absorptive method includes distributing a load across the designated pattern when the ply receives a force from kinetic energy.

Abstract: A kinetic energy absorptive composite article includes a first ply and a plurality of inherently straight first fibers contained in the first ply. First length portions of the first fibers are arranged with first localized ripples that deviate from and return to individual first routes of respective first length portions. The article includes a second ply parallel to the first ply, a plurality of inherently straight second fibers contained in the first ply or the second ply, and a matrix material at least partially encapsulating the first and second plies. Second length portions of the second fibers are arranged without localized ripples or with second localized ripples that deviate from individual second routes of respective second length portions to a lesser extent than the first localized ripples and return to the individual second routes. The second routes are substantially parallel to the first routes.

Abstract: A composition includes a thermosetting resin and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles at least partially dissolved in the resin. The resin has a gradient of mechanical properties around each location of the at least partially dissolved polymer nanoparticles. Each gradient extends from a particle center toward the resin surrounding the polymer nanoparticle.

Abstract: A self-sealing liquid bladder having a plurality of layers including a liquid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and at least one sealing layer that is conformally arranged to span a surface area of the liquid impermeable material layer and that is separated from a liquid held in the bladder by the liquid impermeable layer, the sealing layer including a sealing means that, in response to a penetration of both the liquid impermeable material layer and the sealing layer, substantially seals the penetration.

Abstract: A kinetic energy absorptive composite article includes a ply containing multiple substantially parallel fibers having inherent failure strains and having inherent moduli. A matrix material at least partially encapsulates the ply. The ply includes multiple lower strength length portions or multiple lower modulus length portions. The multiple lower strength length portions are distributed along individual fibers of the multiple fibers and have failure strains less than the inherent failure strains. The multiple lower modulus length portions are distributed along individual fibers of the multiple fibers and have moduli less than the inherent moduli. A designated pattern of the lower strength length portions or of the lower modulus length portions is distributed to selected locations identified in the ply. An absorptive method includes distributing a load across the designated pattern when the ply receives a force from kinetic energy.

Abstract: A reinforced composite article includes a first ply, a second ply, and a third ply. A first interface material is between the first ply and the second ply. A second interface material is between the second ply and the third ply. A designated pattern of material property variation, geometric structure variation, spatial variation, or combinations thereof is distributed to selected locations identified in the first interface material or distributed between selected locations identified in the first interface material compared to the second interface material. The pattern is sufficient to measurably vary adhesion, toughness, strength, modulus, or combinations thereof. The article allows distribution of a load across the pattern when the first, second, and third plies receive a force from kinetic energy above a separation threshold by partially delaminating the first ply from the second ply, the second ply from the third ply, or both.

Abstract: A kinetic energy absorptive composite article includes a first ply and a plurality of inherently straight first fibers contained in the first ply. First length portions of the first fibers are arranged with first localized ripples that deviate from and return to individual first routes of respective first length portions. The article includes a second ply parallel to the first ply, a plurality of inherently straight second fibers contained in the first ply or the second ply, and a matrix material at least partially encapsulating the first and second plies. Second length portions of the second fibers are arranged without localized ripples or with second localized ripples that deviate from individual second routes of respective second length portions to a lesser extent than the first localized ripples and return to the individual second routes. The second routes are substantially parallel to the first routes.

Abstract: An extruder for depositing a material includes an extruder body including an extruder drive system and defining a body axis, and an extruder nozzle. The extruder nozzle includes a nozzle tip defining an exit orifice, a reconfigurable arm defining a material path in fluid communication with the exit orifice, the reconfigurable arm including a proximal end coupled to the extruder body and coaxial with the body axis, and a distal end coupled to the nozzle tip, and a plurality of actuators operatively associated with the reconfigurable arm and configured to move the reconfigurable arm between an initial configuration, in which the distal end of the reconfigurable arm is coaxial with the body axis, to a displaced configuration. In the displaced configuration, the distal end of the reconfigurable arm is at least one of positioned offset from the body axis and oriented at an angle relative to the body axis.

Abstract: A bladder having a fluid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and at least one impact protection layer that is conformally arranged to span a surface area of the liquid impermeable material.

Abstract: A non-fibrous film has a non-weakened portion and a weakened portion having at least one mechanical property having a value that is lower than the value of the mechanical property of the non-weakened portion. The film has an optical characteristic including a clarity of at least 75 percent.