Composite materials and uses thereof

A method of forming a reinforced wall for use in constructing a building, wherein the method comprises

• providing a blast-resistant wall, comprising:
• a layered composite panel, wherein the layered composite panel comprises a core having a first solid, open-cell phenolic resin foam panel bonded together with a second solid, open-cell phenolic resin foam panel and at least a third solid, open-cell phenolic resin foam panel by a bonding agent so as to form a monolithic core structure, and a reinforced webbing material bonded to or positioned across a rear surface of the layered composite panel;
• wherein the first solid open-cell phenolic resin foam panel is progressively non-elastically deformable;
• wherein the third solid, open-cell phenolic resin foam panel forms a sandwich with the first and second solid foam panels, such that two solid open-cell phenolic resin foam panels form outer panels which sandwich an inner panel of a solid open-cell phenolic resin foam panel, and wherein an inner solid foam panel of the sandwich has a resistance to deformation that is lower than the outer solid foam panels;
• and
• wherein the inner solid foam panel has a density of about 100 to about 140 kg·m−3, and the outer solid foam panels have a density of about 130 to about 170 kg·m3;
• and
• wherein the layered composite panel further includes a first surface layer of a sheet comprising polymeric material bonded to a surface of the monolithic core structure;
• and
• wherein the layered composite panel is capable of withstanding an energy wave having an impulse of at least 20 psi·ms−1.