Formable fiber composite

A reinforcement-matrix composite comprising:

• a substrate, which substrate is a webbed batt of nonwoven synthetic resin fibers and is a reinforcement phase;
• a foil layer affixed to said substrate by needling;
• and
• a matrix phase in which at least part of the substrate is embedded, and which matrix phase is a resin.

A composite structure comprising:

• a substrate formed of a webbed batt;
• a hardened resin matrix phase in which at least a portion of the substrate is embedded;
• and
• a foil layer is needled to the webbed batt, and which foil layer is at least partially embedded in the matrix phase, and which foil is a metal suitable for the attenuation of radioactive emissions.

A parabolic antenna comprising:

• a substrate formed of a webbed batt;
• a hardened resin matrix phase, in which at least a part of the substrate is embedded;
• and
• a foil layer needled onto the webbed batt, and which is at least partially embedded in the matrix phase.

A structural housing for an electronic apparatus comprising:

• a substrate formed of a webbed batt;
• a hardened resin matrix phase, in which at least a part of the substrate is embedded;
• and
• a foil layer needled onto the webbed batt, and said foil layer is at least partially embedded in the matrix phase.

A method for manufacturing a contoured composite, which comprises the steps of:

• affixing a foil onto a fibrous batt substrate of nonwoven fibers of at least one synthetic thermoplastic resin by passage of the foil and the substrate through a needle loom to form a composite;
• heating the composite for a period of time to the temperature of softening point of at least one synthetic thermoplastic resin, the heated composite being set against a predetermined contour;
• and
• cooling the heated, contoured composite.