Abstract: The present invention discloses cured composites having improved surfaces and processes of making and methods of using same. Such processes use ultra-short pulse lasers, for example, a femto-second laser to ablate material without the detrimental heat affected zones of other laser processes. Such process can not only increases surface roughness and clean contaminates, but can also selectively remove the matrix material and expose the surface fibers of cured composites. The treated cured composites have improved thermal and electrical pathways that can dissipate unwanted heat and electricity when two or more prepregs and/or cured composites are bonded or cured to form a single article.

Abstract: The present invention discloses cured composites having improved surfaces and processes of making and methods of using same. Such processes use ultra-short pulse lasers, for example, a femto-second laser to ablate material without the detrimental heat affected zones of other laser processes. Such process can not only increases surface roughness and clean contaminates, but can also selectively remove the matrix material and expose the surface fibers of cured composites. The treated cured composites have improved thermal and electrical pathways that can dissipate unwanted heat and electricity when two or more prepregs and/or cured composites are bonded or cured to form a single article.

Abstract: Novel ether-ketone-imide hyperbranched polymers with non-reactive benzophenone or thermally reactive phenylethynyl endgroups were prepared from the corresponding AB2 monomer and benzophenone-based endcapping agent in one-pot fashion. The resulting polymer has repeating units of the formula: where the chain-end groups, Ar's, are 4-benzophenone or 4-benzophenone with ortho, meta- or para-phenylethynyl substituents in the 4?-position.