Apparatus and method for screeding/rodding concrete (and method of manufacture of the same), comprising: a rigid base member configured to comprise a tight tolerance of levelness along its length, and a mounting structure for securely attaching a working layer; attachment of a preferably fiberglass working layer comprising a durable material deposited on the rigid base member and capable of being finished to a smooth surface suitable for advantageous direct contact with poured wet concrete.

A thermoplastic surfacer for providing lightning strike protection to a composite component of an aircraft, methods of manufacturing the surfacer, and methods of applying the surfacer to a composite part. The thermoplastic surfacer includes a broadgood having a thermoplastic resin, one or more fillers embedded into the broadgood, and a lightning strike protection mesh or foil embedded into the broadgood. When applying the surfacer to a composite part of an aircraft, the method includes draping the surfacer on an at least partially unconsolidated composite part, consolidating the at least partially unconsolidated composite part by heating the part to a temperature at or above a melt temperature of a resins used in the part and in the surfacer, and filling at least one surface defect in the consolidated part using the thermoplastic polymer resin and milled fibers provided in the thermoplastic surfacer.

Manufacturing method of a body protection and resulting body protection, wherein the method comprises producing a structural shell (10) with a maximum thickness of 5 mm, made of thermoplastic material, and defining a concave interior (11) and a convex exterior (12); over-moulding an expanded polystyrene layer (20) overlapping the concave interior (11) of the structural shell (10), producing its adhesion by close contact to the structural shell (10); and wherein the structural shell (10) is produced by means of the distributed placement, in a mould, of a mixture of thermoplastic material and of reinforcing fibres stable at temperatures equal to or lower than the melting temperature of the thermoplastic material, the closure and heating of the mould causing the melting of the thermoplastic material without damaging the reinforcing fibres, and the subsequent cooling of the mould, hardening the thermoplastic material with the reinforcing fibres embedded therein.

Manufacturing method of a body protection and resulting body protection, wherein the method comprises producing a structural shell (10) with a maximum thickness of 5 mm, made of thermoplastic material, and defining a concave interior (11) and a convex exterior (12); over-moulding an expanded polystyrene layer (20) overlapping the concave interior (11) of the structural shell (10), producing its adhesion by close contact to the structural shell (10); and wherein the structural shell (10) is produced by means of the distributed placement, in a mould, of a mixture of thermoplastic material and of reinforcing fibres stable at temperatures equal to or lower than the melting temperature of the thermoplastic material, the closure and heating of the mould causing the melting of the thermoplastic material without damaging the reinforcing fibres, and the subsequent cooling of the mould, hardening the thermoplastic material with the reinforcing fibres embedded therein.

A method for forming a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic part may comprise the steps of locating a lightning strike protection layer on a mold surface of a mold tool, locating a thermoplastic layer over the mold tool, heating the thermoplastic layer to a pliable forming temperature, conforming the thermoplastic layer to a mold surface of the mold tool, and depositing a plurality of fiber strips over the thermoplastic layer.

Collapsible containers and a method of their manufacture are disclosed herein. The collapsible containers have one or more collapsible wall sections and a stiff upper and lower tier. The wall sections have living hinges and three or more tiers between the hinges. A thermoplastic elastomer layer may join separately made portions of the container together. The containers may be made by molding and overmolding. The containers include inter alia bulk liquid containers, jugs, tubs, baskets, bottles, and food containers. The method of manufacturing includes placing a container component and a matching container body comprising a stiff first tier, a stiff second tier, and a collapsible wall section in a mold; assembling the container body with the container component to close one end of the container body; and overmolding a thermoplastic layer around the container body and the container component.

The invention relates to a shut-off flap (26) for a motor vehicle shut-off device, notably for a device for shutting off an air inlet in the front face of a motor vehicle, comprising a flap body (28), the flap body (28) being at least partially made of a fibre reinforced composite material, notably one that uses continuous reinforcing fibres (42, 44). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle shut-off device comprising such a flap and to methods of manufacturing this flap and this shut-off device for a motor vehicle.

A carbon fiber reinforced plastic structure has a low surface roughness and has reduced deformation due to residual stress, changes in temperature, etc., and a processing apparatus that uses the structure, are disclosed. The carbon fiber reinforced plastic structure (CFRP structure) includes a carbon fiber reinforced plastic member (CFRP member), and a resin layer formed on a first surface of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic member, the resin layer including an opposite surface that is opposite to a surface facing the first surface, the opposite surface having a surface roughness that is less than a surface roughness of the first surface of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic member.

Systems and methods are provided for a caul plate having a feature for removal. One embodiment is a caul plate for forming a composite part. The caul plate includes a body that includes a lower surface which faces the composite part, and an upper surface that is opposite to the lower surface. The caul plate also includes a groove in the upper surface to accept a tool to slide the caul plate laterally from the composite part.

A component having a flat reinforcing element of a first stiffness and a flat material of a second stiffness. The first stiffness is higher than the second stiffness. The flat reinforcing element has a first end on a first narrow side. The flat material, on a second narrow side thereof, has a second end that bifurcates into two strips. The two strips of the second end enclose the first end on both sides in a zone of enclosure.