Nv Bekaert Sa

Basf Se Corporation

Polynorm N. V.

Voestalpine Polynorm Van Niftrik Bv

Jeroen Gallens

Veerle Van Wassenhove

Filip Acx

Geert Braekevelt

Hendrik Rommel

Willem Dekeyser

Lode Puype

Paul Corscadden

Cornelis Gerardus Van Koert

Alain Leplae

Erwin Lokere

An impact beam () comprises a polymer matrix and a reinforcing structure, the structure comprises a number of metal reinforcing cords () and non-metal elongated binding elements () or non-metal coated elongated binding elements arranged between the cords for holding the metal reinforcing cords together. Each of the metal cords has a metallic cross-sectional area Ametal, and the ratio of the metallic area Ametal to the area of the circumscribed circle (TTdcord2/4) is at least 0.60. The metal cords further have a non chemically binding with the matrix, and non-metal elongated binding elements or non-metal coated elongated binding elements have a chemical bond with said polymer matrix. By not having a mechanical interlocking and a non chemically binding with the matrix, the whole metal cord is stressed and not a local point while in the latter case the metal cord would locally break due to the very high impact forces. Therefore, the structural integrity of the impact beam as subject of the invention can be improved significantly during and after impact.

Non-anchoring cords with non-chemically binding with the matrix in impact beam

A metal wire is first coated with a coating. In this first coating, retro-reflective beads are partly embedded. Thereafter the beads and the first coating are covered by a protective coating. The metal wire is made from a strand or wire made of stainless steel, or low carbon steel, or high carbon steel. The retro-reflective metal wire is used for diverse applications, such as spoke wire, signalization means, or bookbinding wire.

Retroreflecting elongated metal wire product

A woven fabric in which warp elements are provided out of metal. The fabric further comprising at least a first set of substantially parallel binding elements present in warp direction of the fabric. This first set of binding elements bind the warp elements to the weft elements by means of a leon weave at at least a part of the intersection points of warp and weft elements. The fabric as subject of the invention is characterized in that each binding element of the first set of binding elements crosses more than one warp element between consecutive intersection points bound by this binding element.

Woven fabric comprising leno weave bound metal

An impact beam as subject of the invention comprises a polymer matrix and a metal reinforcing structure for impact reinforcement, which metal reinforcing structure comprises at least one woven fabric. The woven fabric comprises metal cords being essentially parallel to each other, and the metal cords are bond to the polymer matrix, so that a load can be transmitted directly between the polymer matrix and the metal cords.

Reinforced impact beam with woven fabric

Growing community of inventors

Kortrijk, Belgium

Jeroen Gallens