Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to an integrally woven three-dimensional preform with at least one sidewall (12) in at least one direction constructed from a woven base fabric comprising two or more layers, and a method of forming thereof. A plurality of fibers (1) in a first direction is interwoven between at least the top layer and a second layer, such that top layer is foldable relative to the other layers and form, upon folding, an integral sidewall (12). A plurality of fibers may also be interwoven between the second-from-the-top layer and a second layer, such that the second-from-the-top layer is foldable relative to the other layers, upon folding, form a second integral sidewall (13) perpendicular to the first integral sidewall (12). The preform may optionally comprise a plurality of non-integral sidewalls formed by folding portions of the topmost layer.
Abstract:
This invention provides free-standing structures, functionalized free-standing structures and functional devices that are flexible, including nano- and micromachined flexible fabrics comprising woven networks and mesh networks. The present invention provides processing methods for making and functionalizing flexible free-standing structures having a wide range of integrated materials, devices and device components. The methods of the present invention are capable of providing large area functional electronic, optoelectronic, fluidic, and electromechanical devices and device arrays which exhibit good device performance in stretched, bent and/or deformed configurations. The method includes forming sacrificial layers (120. 150) under first and second patterned structural layers ( 130, 170). and removing the sacrificial layers to form a free-standing fabric (200) with interconnected structural elements that are independently displaceable.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a shading device (10) for a greenhouse (15), with a shading element (20) and at least one lighting element (50,50'), wherein the shading element (20) comprises an outer side (21) and an inner side (22), the shading element (20) is formed from interwoven electrically conductive first thread elements (30,30') and electrically insulating second thread elements (40), the first thread element (30,30') comprises a reflective mean (33), reflecting an ambient light (60), the lighting element (50,50') is arranged at the inner side (22) of the shading element (20) and connected with the first thread element (30,30'), and the lighting element (50,50') is driven by an electrical current, conducted by the first thread element (30,30'), resulting in the emission of an artificial light (51), illuminating a plant (80) growing in the greenhouse (15).
Abstract:
A woven reinforcement material (10) includes an elongated body (12) formed from a weave of warp strands and weft strands. The elongated body has a first end section (14), a second end section (16) and an intermediate section (18). The intermediate section has a first thickness A and the first and second end sections have a second thickness B where A > B.
Abstract:
A novel method of weaving is described wherein warp and weft are supplied in the form of tapes, and not yarns. The method, which is preferably carried out in vertical format, essentially includes feeding positively flat tensionless warp for shedding and taking-up; selecting, feeding positively and inserting weft tapes of different widths and thickness by gripping in its fore end in flat condition; depositing inserted weft at fabric-fell in a flat condition without beating-up; and taking-up the woven material that comprises either same or different widths of flat wefts. The warps and wefts, preferably of partially stabilized type of fibrous tapes, can be overfed in a tensionless, positive and controlled manner when required to make the fibres of constituent fibrous tapes occur non-linearly in the form of wave/texture during weaving. Extra warps and wefts can be also fed in tandem whereby the warps and wefts become composed of two or more unconnected, mutually slipping, flat tapes in a stacked arrangement. These doubled warp and wefts function effectively as a unit warp and weft during weaving and in the fabric. The method also makes possible to produce other materials such as those with slant weft tapes in relation to warp, having a shape within the body of the fabric and warp and weft tapes of shaped edges. A variety of fibrous and non-fibrous materials are equally well processed.
Abstract:
A technical textile fabric, woven fabric and knitted fabric in particular, containing continuous carbon fibres where at least some roving or folded yarn of the basalt continuous filament with a fineness of 50 to 700 tex is used in at least one part of the weaving system, whereas at least one more part of the system contains some yarns or roving of the carbon fibres.
Abstract:
Composite materials formed from bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and structural fibers are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, a braid or mesh of interwoven bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and structural fibers is impregnated with a polymeric material to provide a composite of suitable biocompatibility and structural integrity. Most preferably, the mesh or braid is designed so that the bioactive fibers are concentrated at the surface of the implant to create a surface comprised of at least 30 % bioactive material, thereby providing enhanced bone ingrowth. The interweaving between the bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and the core of structural fibers overcomes the problems found in prior composite systems where the bioactive material delaminates from the polymer. Preferred bioactive materials include calcium phosphate ceramics and preferred structural fibers include carbon fibers. Further preferred bioactive materials include aluminum oxide at greater than 0.2 %, by mole. Improved prosthetic implants and methods of affixing an implant are thus also disclosed.
Abstract:
Composite materials formed from bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and structural fibers are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, a braid or mesh of interwoven bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and structural fibers is impregnated with a polymeric material to provide a composite of suitable biocompatibility and structural integrity. Most preferably, the mesh or braid is designed so that the bioactive fibers are concentrated at the surface of the implant (200) to create a surface comprised of at least 30 % bioactive material, thereby providing enhanced bone ingrowth. The interweaving between the bone bioactive glass or ceramic fibers and the core of structural fibers overcomes the problems found in prior composite systems where the bioactive material delaminates from the polymer. Preferred bioactive materials include calcium phosphate ceramics and preferred structural fibers include carbon fibers. Improved prosthetic implants (200) and methods of affixing an implant (200, are thus also disclosed.
Abstract:
A warp and weft fabric based on multifilament yarn. At least 80 wt % of the yarn has a combination of the following features: (a) the yarn count, for a given fabric substance, is greater than the conventional yarn count; (b) the yarn twist is no greater than the original twist of the yarn prior to weaving, which yarn, in an equal proportion, has 0 twists per metre; (c) the yarn width over the whole yarn length is at least as great as the original yarn width prior to weaving. Said yarn constitutes all the yarn in the direction comprising the majority by weight of the yarn when the weight ratio of weft yarn to warp yarn is at least 80/20, and all the fabric yarn when said ratio is below 80/20, and the fibre volume ratio is substantially constant in the fabric and at least as high as the volume ratio in a conventional fabric based on yarn with the same or a lower count.