Abstract: A fiber reinforced polymer material having an improved combination of characteristics. The polymer material generally comprises a fiber reinforced polymer resin containing reinforcing fibers and having a porosity between about 0% to about 95% by volume of the polymer material. The fiber reinforced polymer material may form a panel or substrate material that helps resist impact and/or environmental loading. Typically, such a material includes a fiber reinforced thermoplastic or thermoset support layer that has a skin layer on one or both sides, which are joined to one another to form the substrate or panel material. The exterior skin layer typically includes a polymer resin that may also include a support structure, such as reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: A twin-sheet thermoforming process for the manufacture of vehicle headliners. In the process a first sheet and second sheet of SuperLite material are mounted onto respective frames. The frames transfer the sheets into an oven, where they are heated to a desired temperature using IR. The first sheet is combined with a cover-stock material using compression molding forming a covered first headliner part. The covered first headliner part is then transferred to a second mold station. The second sheet is heated and then transferred from the oven to the second mold station where it is vacuum-formed on the upper half mold, forming a second headliner part. The upper and lower mold halves are pressed together fusing and sealing the first and second headliner parts into a unified part. The unified part is then unloaded and trimmed as necessary forming a headliner.