| abstract |
In accordance with the present invention, structural materials and other composite materials having excellent performance characteristics including high compressive strength, high tensile strength, high shear strength, and high specific strength, and methods for their production have been developed. The inventive material has the additional advantage of being easy to manufacture and can be manufactured at low cost. The superior performance characteristics of the inventive materials make such materials useful for a wide variety of end uses. For example, many substances can be applied to the inventive material without melting, dissolving or degrading the basic structure for the inventive material. This facilitates bonding of the inventive material to virtually any surface or substrate. Furthermore, the bond between the inventive material and many substrates is extremely strong, making the resulting bonded article suitable for a variety of demanding applications. Inventive materials can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and densities, such as in multiple layers. |