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.

A reinforcement fiber bundle and method for joining reinforcement fibers to reinforcement fiber bundles for reinforcement wherein a curable material is provided in which reinforcement fibers are bundled in a substantially parallel position and at least at the ends are joined, in which at least the ends of the reinforcement fibers are joined by means of an adhering substance that is substantially inert in relation to the non-cured curable material and that, when the reinforcement fiber bundles are mixed with at least the curable material, loses its cohesion.

A method for distinguishing between a semi-soft magnetic material, having a magnetic saturation field H sub s ranging from 100A/m to 3000 A/m, and a soft magnetic material, having a magnetic saturation field H sub s ranging from 3 A/m to 100 A/m, includes (a) emitting an electromagnetic drive signal of one or more particular frequencies to an article so that any present semi-soft magnetic material or soft magnetic material in the article go into saturation for both positive and negative magnetic fields; (b) detecting an electromagnetic detection signal (20) emanating from the article; (c) measuring time or relative phase delays (A, B) between one or more reference points of the drive signal and points at which positive and negative peaks of the detection signal occur; (e) comparing the measured time or relative phase delays with values which are typical for semi-soft magnetic or soft magnetic features in order to make a decision whether the material is soft magnetic or semi-soft magnetic.

A burner membrane has at least one layer consisting of a compressed, needled fiber web with a porosity of between 60% and 95%, and that is constructed of heat-resistant stainless steel fibers. A method for its manufacture includes the steps of providing a fiber web composed of heat-resistant stainless steel fibers, needling the fiber web, and compressing the needled fiber web to the desired porosity.