Abstract:
Strips or sheets of material comprising filaments impregnated in a binder material are stressed in a stressing machine to a sufficient degree to cuase a number of the filaments to break. The strips or sheets are then layered and molded together to form a laminated composite. The composite material so formed is found to have significantly improved structural characteristics.
Abstract:
Boron filaments are laid out linearly, either vertically or horizontally, and held at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time. The filaments are also preferably exposed to a gas or gaseous mixture including nitrogen. The heating in the manner described stress-relieves the filaments, while the exposure to the gas heals defects in the surface thereof, substantially improving the tensile strength and variability in strength of the filament.