Abstract: An interior trim component (100) for an automobile comprising a structure formed from at least one polyolefin material and reinforcement particles dispersed within the at least one thermoplastic olefin. The reinforcement particles comprise less than or equal to 10% of a total volume of the rigid structure. At least 40% of the reinforcement particles have a thickness less than about 50 nanometers. The interior trim component (100) is constructed and arranged to be devoid of any decorative coating layer disposed thereon in its final finished form for installation into a vehicle so that the trim component (100) is provided with an unpainted visible surface finish.

Abstract: This invention provides a composite material having a matrix of structural material containing embedded zones of soft elastic material and zones of solid relatively high density material within the soft elastic material. By selecting a particular resonance frequency for the subunits of soft elastic material and solid high density material, frequencies just lower than the resonance frequencies will be unable to propagate through the material and be strongly reflected or absorbed. Such material may be used in the manufacture of filters or shields against particular target frequencies. Subunits having a variety of resonance frequencies may provide a broader range of frequencies that the material may shield.

Abstract: A part of a piston is composed of a metal matrix composite. The metal matrix composite is composed of a matrix of a light metal alloy and reinforcements formed of metallic fibers mixed in the matrix. The reinforcements are formed of an alloy that consists mainly of Fe and Cr and contains Al and/or Si. The Cr content and the Al and/or Si content of the reinforcements range from 5 to 30% and from 3 to 10%, respectively. The fiber diameter of the reinforcements ranges from &phgr;20 &mgr;m to &phgr;100 &mgr;m. The reinforcements are formed by the melt extraction method and have irregular peripheral surfaces. Solution-treatment of the metal matrix composite is carried out within a temperature range from 470° C. to 500° C. such that formation of intermetallic compounds is restrained.

Abstract: A metal matrix composite and method of making same wherein a metallic matrix includes fibrous reinforcements and non-fibrous pest particles that have shell walls controlled thick enough to improve fatigue properties of the composite.

Abstract: Provided are carbon fiber composite materials which have a structure including a skeletal part and a matrix formed integrally around the skeletal part. The skeletal part is mainly composed of carbon fiber bundles and silicon carbide and metallic silicon formed in the carbon fiber bundles and/or on the outer surface of the carbon fiber bundles. The matrix is mainly composed of silicon carbide and metallic silicon. Alternatively, the carbon fiber composite materials have a structure including a skeletal part and a matrix formed integrally around the skeletal part and have a porosity of 0.5-5% and a two-peak type distribution of average pore diameter. The skeletal part is formed of carbon fibers and a carbon component other than the carbon fibers and/or silicon carbide, and the matrix being formed of silicon carbide at least 50% of which is of &bgr; type. These carbon fiber composite materials are suitable for the uses as aerospace materials.

Abstract: A non-asbestos friction material is made by molding and curing a composition comprising a fibrous base, an inorganic filler, an organic filler and a binder. The inorganic filler, typically zirconium silicate, has a 90% particle size of 0.1 to 8 &mgr;m, a Mohs hardness of 6 to 8, and accounts for 0.1 to 10% by volume of the overall composition. The friction material is useful as brake linings and has a high braking effectiveness in normal use, a small speed spread, low change over time in braking effectiveness, and can prevent morning effect and jerky low-speed braking.

Abstract: Ceramic oxide pre-forms comprising substantially continuous, alpha alumina fibers, and methods for making the same. The ceramic oxide pre-forms are useful, for example, as in making metal matrix composites reinforced with substantially continuous, alpha alumina fibers.

Abstract: A composite material incorporating vapor-phase-epitaxial carbon fibers and metal.

Abstract: A preform for metal matrix composite material comprising: inorganic particles, small-diameter inorganic fibers, and large-diameter inorganic fibers. An average particle diameter of the inorganic particles is 1 to 50 &mgr;m. An average fiber diameter of the small-diameter inorganic fibers is 2 to 5 &mgr;m, and an average fiber length of the small-diameter inorganic fibers is 10 to 200 &mgr;m. An average fiber diameter of the large-diameter inorganic fibers is 4 to 20 &mgr;m, and an average fiber length of the large-diameter inorganic fibers is 10 to 200 &mgr;m. The small-diameter inorganic fibers catch and disperse the inorganic particles in a process of forming a formed body, and the large-diameter inorganic fibers create voids in cooperation with the small-diameter inorganic fibers in the process of forming the formed body.

Abstract: A metal matrix composite includes a plurality of fibers having an average diameter of about eight micrometers with a coating, and a metal or alloy distributed with said fibers, a fibers-to-metal or alloy ratio has a range is has a range of about 9:1 to less than about 1:1.

Abstract: The heat resisting fiber-reinforced composite material of the invention is a heat-resisting fiber-reinforced composite material used for a product or a part that generates temperature disribution; wherein the thermal expansion coefficient at a portion corresponding to a medium to low temperature range is greater than the thermal expansion coefficient at a portion corresponding to a high temperature range, and the boundary between the portion corresponding to medium to low temperature range and the portion corresponding to the high temperature range is a transition region.

Abstract: An exterior autobody part of reinforced plastic intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle. The expression “exterior autobody part” refers to the autobody part being entirely or partly visible when the motor vehicle is viewed from the outside. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and an arrangement for forming such an exterior autobody part. The exterior autobody part according to the invention comprises a number of functional layers, including load-bearing layer(s) and surface layer(s), intended to provide the properties which are required for the application, and is characterized in that load-bearing layers comprise(s) fiber-reinforced thermoplastic which forms internal cavities and/or that one or several recesses has/have been created in surface layers and load-bearing layers and that surface layers and load-bearing layers together with cavities and/or recesses thereby provide a load-bearing material structure.

Abstract: A sole for a boot and the boot incorporating the sole. The sole provides the wearer of the boot with a level of protection from explosive devices triggered by the wearer stepping on or near the explosive device. Tie sole includes at least one layer of corrugated blast-resistant material. The corrugations provide channels that effectively channel blast gases generated by the explosion of the explosive device sidewardly and so away from the foot of the wearer of the boot.

Abstract: To provide an epoxy resin composition suitable as a matrix resin for fiber reinforcement, and a yarn prepreg suitable in unwindability, excellent in higher processability due to drapability, high in the tensile strength of the epoxy resin composition after curing, and high in efficiency of the strength of reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: A wrapped slide bearing bushing consists of a composite bushing material including a metal bearing layer, a porous support layer sintered thereon, and a PTFE-based sliding layer, forming the sliding surface of an associated sliding member, said sliding layer also filling the pores of said support layer, and including at least 60 vol % of PTFE, 15-25 volume percent of a metal filler, preferably lead, and optionally 8-12 volume percent of PVDF. To obtain a low coefficient of friction, only varying in a narrow range over a long time period, said slide bearing bushing is formed such that the sliding layer includes 1-3 volume percent of carbon fibers, said carbon fibers being oriented substantially in a preferred direction relative to said composite bushing material, while the relative movement of said bearing bushing and said associated sliding member is substantially transverse to said preferred direction.

Abstract: A fiber-composite material (7) is comprised of a yarn aggregate (6) in which yarn (2A, 2B) including at least a bundle (3) of carbon fiber and a carbon component other than carbon fiber is three-dimensionally combined and integrally formed without separation from each other; and a matrix made of Si—SiC-based materials (4A, 4B, 5A, 5B) filled between the yarn (2A, 2B) adjacent to each other within the yarn aggregate (6).

Abstract: A thin flexible multi-layered printed circuit cable manufactured by a relatively simple process and having improved electro-magnetic interference and impedance characteristics is described. The cable includes: an insulating substrate layer; a wiring layer formed on the insulated substrate layer; a coating layer laminated on the wiring layer; a first non-woven metal fiber layer laminated on the coating layer; and a second non-woven metal fiber layer laminated on an opposite surface of the substrate layer. Because the cable is coated with a conductive non-woven or woven metal fabric, electromagnetic waves generated during transmission of high speed data are fully shielded. The non-woven or woven fabric having a wide surface area, is soft and can make good surface-to-surface contact.

Abstract: Friction linings for torque transmission devices, in particular for friction clutches, are based on an inorganic composite material of (a) a matrix of glass or glass ceramic, (b) inorganic reinforcing fibres and (c) one or more ceramic, vitreous or metallic fillers, the fillers providing the friction clutches with improved comfort characteristics.

Abstract: A part of a piston is composed of a metal matrix composite. The metal matrix composite is composed of a matrix of a light metal alloy and reinforcements formed of metallic fibers mixed in the matrix. The reinforcements are formed of an alloy that consists mainly of Fe and Cr and contains Al and/or Si. The Cr content and the Al and/or Si content of the reinforcements range from 5 to 30% and from 3 to 10%, respectively. The fiber diameter of the reinforcements ranges from ø20 &mgr;m to ø100 &mgr;m. The reinforcements are formed by the melt extraction method and have irregular peripheral surfaces. Solution-treatment of the metal matrix composite is carried out within a temperature range from 470° C. to 500° C. such that formation of intermetallic compounds is restrained.

Abstract: In a friction material including a fibrous reinforcement, a friction modifier and a binder, no whisker-like potassium titanate fiber is contained, but powdery or flaky potassium titanate with an aspect ratio of not higher than 3 is mixed as a friction component. The diameter of the powdery or flaky potassium titanate is preferably in a range of from 0.05 &mgr;m to 150 &mgr;m. In addition, the powdery or flaky potassium titanate is preferably subjected to surface treatment with a silane coupling agent, phenolic resin, or the like. Further, fibrous potassium titanate may be mixed at a volume ratio of not higher than 30% with respect to the powdery or flaky potassium titanate. The fibrous potassium titanate is a by-product when the powdery or flaky potassium titanate is produced and which has a length of not longer than 5 &mgr;m or a diameter of not smaller than 3 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An elongated part, of composite, metal matrix material, respectively comprises 35 to 45 vol. % of a matrix based on aluminum or magnesium alloy and 65 to 55 vol. % of continuous carbon fibers, arranged in sheets parallel to the length thereof. At least approximately 90% of the carbon fibers are ultra-high modulus fibers. In 25 to 60% of the sheets, said fibers are oriented at 0%±5° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the part, when the matrix is based on aluminum. In the other sheets, the fibers are then oriented between ±20 and ±40° with respect to said direction. When the matrix is based on magnesium, the ultra-high modulus fibers are oriented at 0°±5° in at least 90% of the sheets. This gives a high rigidity and high stability in the indicated direction, which favors applications in the space industry.

Abstract: This composite consists of an aluminum-alloy matrix containing by volume percent, 0.4 to 8.8 alumina, 1 to 4.4 carbon or graphite and 0.5 to 20 nickel-bearing aluminide. The alumina particles have an average size between 3 and 250 &mgr;m and the carbon and graphite particles have an average size between 10 and 250 &mgr;m. The composite is cast by stirring alumina and carbon or graphite contained in a molten aluminum or aluminum-base alloy to form a molten mixture. The molten mixture is cast directly from a temperature above the liquidus of the matrix alloy. While solidifying, carbon or graphite particles delay or hinder the settling of alumina to create a more uniform composite structure. The resulting composite structure contains an aluminum-base alloy, alumina, carbon or graphite and nickel-bearing aluminide dispersoids.