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Abstract

Molded articles are described herein having a surface feature thereon, the articles being formed so as to include a polymeric composite material having reinforcing fibers in a polymeric matrix material. The surface feature(s) is created during heat molding of the polymeric composite material to form the article and the surface feature(s) include the polymeric matrix material and the reinforcing fibers therein. A method is also described which provides surface feature(s) to a molded article by providing a composite material as noted, placing the composite material in a mold for forming an article having a surface feature thereon, and molding the composite material using bladder inflation molding and pushing the reinforcing fibers into the surface feature of the molded article during molding using a heat molding process having a bladder inflation molding step, wherein the surface feature is created during the molding of the polymeric composite material to form the molded article and the reinforcing fibers are present in the polymeric matrix material defining the surface feature in the molded article.

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First Claim