Abstract: A laminate product comprising a foam core having a pair of opposed major surfaces and a cover layer secured with respect to each major surface is described. The cover layer comprises a polymeric substrate having disposed therein a plurality of reinforcing fibrous material. It has been found that it is possible to produce a foam laminate product having improved stiffness if a lower amount of reinforcing material is used for a given amount of polymer substrate. In particular, it has been found possible to provide an improved foam laminate product having a relatively high ratio of stiffness to weight of reinforcing fibrous material. It has been further discovered that the stiffness of the resulting foam laminate product can be increased when the polymer substrate and the reinforcing fibrous material are present in a weight ratio of greater than 2.5. This is believed to be the result of improved encapsulation of the reinforcing fibrous material by the polymer substrate.

Abstract: A laminate product comprising a foam core having a pair of opposed major surfaces and a cover layer secured with respect to each major surface is described. The cover layer comprises a polymeric substrate having disposed therein a plurality of reinforcing fibrous material. It has been found that it is possible to produce a foam laminate product having improved stiffness if a lower amount of reinforcing material is used for a given amount of polymer substrate. In particular, it has been found possible to provide an improved foam laminate product having a relatively high ratio of stiffness to weight of reinforcing fibrous material. It has been further discovered that the stiffness of the resulting foam laminate product can be increased when the polymer substrate and the reinforcing fibrous material are present in a weight ratio of greater than 2.5. This is believed to be the result of improved encapsulation of the reinforcing fibrous material by the polymer substrate.