Abstract: An image reconstruction device, image reconstruction method and image reconstruction system for monitoring a medical or cosmetic skin condition wherein the image reconstruction device includes a camera, a calibration tube, a wireless communication system and a graphical user interface. The calibration tube (allows for the controlled reconstruction of a calibration image) of the surrounding tissue of a region of interest of the skin at a calibration distance. A panoramic image of the region of interest of the skin is registered without the calibration tube at a panoramic distance. A near-distance image of the region of interest is registered at a near distance. Additional information about the region of interest of the skin may be registered through one or more sensors. The calibration image, the panoramic image and the near-distance image are calibrated and superposed to obtain a three-dimensional image useful in the monitoring of a medical or cosmetic skin condition.

Abstract: A curable composite laminate having an interlaminar region formed between adjacent layers of reinforcement fibers. The interlaminar region contains soluble polyimide particles that are dissolvable in the one or more thermoset resins at a curing temperature of the curable matrix resin, and insoluble thermoplastic particles that remain as discrete particles in the interlaminar region at the same curing temperature. Such curable composite laminate is capable of high resistance to the propagation of delamination upon curing.

Abstract: A curable matrix resin composition containing a thermoset resin component and metastable thermoplastic particles, wherein the metastable thermoplastic particles are particles of semi-crystalline thermoplastic material with an amorphous polymer fraction that will undergo crystallization upon heating to a crystallization temperature Tc. A fiber-reinforced polymeric composite material containing metastable thermoplastic particles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced polymeric composite structure having chemically active thermoset particles positioned in an interlaminar region between adjacent layers of reinforcement fibers and method of making the same. Upon curing of the composite structure, the chemically active functional groups on the thermoset particles form covalent bonds with the matrix resin surrounding the particles. In one embodiment, the particles are formed of a partially cured thermoset polymer with a degree of cure of less than 100%. In another embodiment, the particles are derived from a thermosettable resin composition, wherein the stoichiometry is such that there is a deficiency or an excess in the amount of curing agent that is necessary for reacting with 100% of the thermoset resin component. In some embodiments, the composition of the chemically active thermoset particles is the same or substantially the same as that of the matrix resin of the composite structure.

Abstract: A resin system containing: (i) a thermosetting resin precursor component comprising one or more multi-functional epoxy resin precursor(s) having a functionality of at least three, preferably wherein said precursor(s) are selected from a tri-functional epoxy resin precursor and/or a tetra-functional epoxy resin precursor; (ii) a thermoplastic polyamide particle component wherein the polyamide particles have a melting temperature TPA; and (iii) one or more curing agent(s), wherein the resin precursor component, the thermoplastic particle and the curing agent(s) are selected such that gelation of the epoxy matrix during the cure cycle of the resin system occurs at a gelation temperature TGEL which is at or below TPA.

Abstract: A resin system containing: (i) a thermosetting resin precursor component comprising one or more multi-functional epoxy resin precursor(s) having a functionality of at least three, preferably wherein said precursor(s) are selected from a tri-functional epoxy resin precursor and/or a tetra-functional epoxy resin precursor; (ii) a thermoplastic polyamide particle component wherein the polyamide particles have a melting temperature TPA; and (iii) one or more curing agent(s), wherein the resin precursor component, the thermoplastic particle and the curing agent(s) are selected such that gelation of the epoxy matrix during the cure cycle of the resin system occurs at a gelation temperature TGEL which is at or below TPA.

Abstract: A curable matrix resin composition containing a thermoset resin component and metastable thermoplastic particles, wherein the metastable thermoplastic particles are particles of semi-crystalline thermoplastic material with an amorphous polymer fraction that will undergo crystallization upon heating to a crystallization temperature Tc. A fiber-reinforced polymeric composite material containing metastable thermoplastic particles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A curable matrix resin composition containing a thermoset resin component and metastable thermoplastic particles, wherein the metastable thermoplastic particles are particles of semi-crystalline thermoplastic material with an amorphous polymer fraction that will undergo crystallization upon heating to a crystallization temperature Tc. A fiber-reinforced polymeric composite material containing metastable thermoplastic particles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A resin system containing: (i) a thermosetting resin precursor component comprising one or more multi-functional epoxy resin precursor(s) having a functionality of at least three, preferably wherein said precursor(s) are selected from a tri-functional epoxy resin precursor and/or a tetra-functional epoxy resin precursor; (ii) a thermoplastic polyamide particle component wherein the polyamide particles have a melting temperature TPA; and (iii) one or more curing agent(s), wherein the resin precursor component, the thermoplastic particle and the curing agent(s) are selected such that gelation of the epoxy matrix during the cure cycle of the resin system occurs at a gelation temperature TGEL which is at or below TPA.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced polymeric composite structure having chemically active thermoset particles positioned in an interlaminar region between adjacent layers of reinforcement fibers and method of making the same. Upon curing of the composite structure, the chemically active functional groups on the thermoset particles form covalent bonds with the matrix resin surrounding the particles. In one embodiment, the particles are formed of a partially cured thermoset polymer with a degree of cure of less than 100%. In another embodiment, the particles are derived from a thermosettable resin composition, wherein the stoichiometry is such that there is a deficiency or an excess in the amount of curing agent that is necessary for reacting with 100% of the thermoset resin component. In some embodiments, the composition of the chemically active thermoset particles is the same or substantially the same as that of the matrix resin of the composite structure.

Abstract: A curable matrix resin composition containing a thermoset resin component and metastable thermoplastic particles, wherein the metastable thermoplastic particles are particles of semi-crystalline thermoplastic material with an amorphous polymer fraction that will undergo crystallization upon heating to a crystallization temperature Tc. A fiber-reinforced polymeric composite material containing metastable thermoplastic particles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A curable prepreg ply formed by applying two outer resin films to the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of a layer of resin-impregnated reinforcement fibers. The outer resin films contains insoluble toughening particles, and partially soluble or swellable toughening particles, but the resin matrix which impregnates the reinforcement fibers does not contain the same toughening particles. The insoluble toughening particles are insoluble in the resin matrix of the resin films upon curing of the prepreg ply. The partially soluble or swellable toughening particles are partially soluble or swellable in the resin matrix of the resin films upon curing of the prepreg ply, but remain as discreet particles after curing.

Abstract: A curable prepreg ply formed by applying two outer resin films to the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of a layer of resin-impregnated reinforcement fibers. The outer resin films contains insoluble toughening particles, and partially soluble or swellable toughening particles, but the resin matrix which impregnates the reinforcement fibers does not contain the same toughening particles. The insoluble toughening particles are insoluble in the resin matrix of the resin films upon curing of the prepreg ply. The partially soluble or swellabbe toughening particles are partially soluble or swellable in the resin matrix of the resin films upon curing of the prepreg ply, but remain as discreet particles after curing.

Abstract: A curable prepreg ply formed by applying two outer resin films to the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of a layer of resin-impregnated reinforcement fibers. The outer resin films contains insoluble toughening particles, and partially soluble or swellable toughening particles, but the resin matrix which impregnates the reinforcement fibers does not contain the same toughening particles. The insoluble toughening particles are insoluble in the resin matrix of the resin films upon curing of the prepreg ply. The partially soluble or swellable toughening particles are partially soluble or swellable in the resin matrix of the resin films upon curing of the prepreg ply, but remain as discreet particles after curing.