The present disclosure relates to a first molding station (1) for the partial-moulding (210) and pre-molding (220) of molded parts (10) made of fibrous material, a fiber molding system (100) with such a first molding station (1) and a method (200) for operating this first molding station (1) or the fiber moulding system (100), and a molded part (10) produced using such a method.

The present disclosure relates to a first molding station (1) for the partial-moulding (210) and pre-molding (220) of molded parts (10) made of fibrous material, a fiber molding system (100) with such a first molding station (1) and a method (200) for operating this first molding station (1) or the fiber moulding system (100), and a molded part (10) produced using such a method.

A method for forming fiber composite preforms, the preform (1) include a web (2), a flange (3) and a bent part (2.1), and the method includes: laying-up a laminate (4) onto a tooling (5), the laminate (4) comprising lateral and transverse edges (4.1, 4.2) and the tooling (5) comprising a male part (7) comprising a surface (7.1) and a lateral wall (7.2), the web (2) being configured to be located over the surface (7.1) of the male part (7) and the flange (3) being configured to be located over the lateral wall (7.2) of the male part (7); forming the preform (1) over the male part (7); clamping the lateral edges (4.2) of the laminate (4) to the tooling (5) such that the web (2) and the flange (3) of the laid-up laminate (4) are kept under tensional loads, and bending a longitudinal portion of the male part (7).

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg product includes a belt or conveyor, a prepreg applicator that positions a thermoplastic prepreg atop the belt or conveyor, a foam applicator that applies a foam mixture atop the thermoplastic prepreg, a heating mechanism that heats the thermoplastic prepreg and the foam mixture to cause the foam mixture to react atop the thermoplastic prepreg, and a laminator that is configured to press the thermoplastic prepreg and foam mixture to control a thickness of the resulting thermoplastic prepreg product. The thermoplastic prepreg includes a fabric, mat, or web of fibers and a thermoplastic material that is impregnated within the fabric, mat, or web of fibers. The thermoplastic material is formed from in situ polymerization of monomers and oligomers. The foam mixture includes an isocyanate, a polyol blend, and a blowing agent.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg product includes a belt or conveyor, a prepreg applicator that positions a thermoplastic prepreg atop the belt or conveyor, a foam applicator that applies a foam mixture atop the thermoplastic prepreg, a heating mechanism that heats the thermoplastic prepreg and the foam mixture to cause the foam mixture to react atop the thermoplastic prepreg, and a laminator that is configured to press the thermoplastic prepreg and foam mixture to control a thickness of the resulting thermoplastic prepreg product. The thermoplastic prepreg includes a fabric, mat, or web of fibers and a thermoplastic material that is impregnated within the fabric, mat, or web of fibers. The thermoplastic material is formed from in situ polymerization of monomers and oligomers. The foam mixture includes an isocyanate, a polyol blend, and a blowing agent.

A carbon fiber tape material is favorable in followability to molds and impregnation with matrix resins, and capable of enhancing the productivity in producing a reinforcing fiber laminate by a method of fiber placement and capable of providing a molded body with high mechanical strength when the material is impregnated with a resin and molded. The carbon fiber tape material has a carbon fiber bundle group including a plurality of carbon fiber bundles arranged in parallel with the fiber orientation direction and a fabric are integrated, and satisfies (a) to (c): (a) the fabric includes one or more thermoplastic resins; (b) the carbon fiber tape material excluding the fabric is between 120 g/m.sup.2 and 400 g/m.sup.2 in basis weight; and (c) the fabric elongation rate with a load of 80 mN/50 mm applied to the fabric is 5% to 100% in at least one direction of the fabric.

A carbon fiber tape material is favorable in followability to molds and impregnation with matrix resins, and capable of enhancing the productivity in producing a reinforcing fiber laminate by a method of fiber placement and capable of providing a molded body with high mechanical strength when the material is impregnated with a resin and molded. The carbon fiber tape material has a carbon fiber bundle group including a plurality of carbon fiber bundles arranged in parallel with the fiber orientation direction and a fabric are integrated, and satisfies (a) to (c): (a) the fabric includes one or more thermoplastic resins; (b) the carbon fiber tape material excluding the fabric is between 120 g/m.sup.2 and 400 g/m.sup.2 in basis weight; and (c) the fabric elongation rate with a load of 80 mN/50 mm applied to the fabric is 5% to 100% in at least one direction of the fabric.

A molding system and methods of forming a structure are presented. The molding system is configured to sequentially form features of a structure. The molding system comprises a first tool comprising a number of features configured to completely form a first set of radii of a structure and a number of partial forming features configured to partially form a second set of radii of the structure, and a second tool comprising a number of completion features configured to complete shaping of the second set of radii.

A fibrous preform obtained by three-dimensional weaving, comprising a first skin, a second skin, and a central portion connecting them and forming a stiffening element. In a transverse plane, transverse threads of the first skin and the second skin are woven in pairs in the first skin and the second skin on either side of the central portion; the threads of a first pair of the first skin and of a second pair of the second skin are separated into two unitary threads at the central portion by being woven with longitudinal threads, and a thread of the first pair crosses a thread of the second pair at least twice in the central portion.

A fibrous preform obtained by three-dimensional weaving, comprising a first skin, a second skin, and a central portion connecting them and forming a stiffening element. In a transverse plane, transverse threads of the first skin and the second skin are woven in pairs in the first skin and the second skin on either side of the central portion; the threads of a first pair of the first skin and of a second pair of the second skin are separated into two unitary threads at the central portion by being woven with longitudinal threads, and a thread of the first pair crosses a thread of the second pair at least twice in the central portion.