A team of robots may fabricate a tubular structure. Each robot may fabricate a tube by winding resin-covered fiber around an inflated, cylindrical mandrel of the robot. The resin may cure, resulting in a hardened tube segment The robot may extend the tube by fabricating additional segments of the tube, one segment at a time. After a first segment cures, the mandrel may deflate, then the robot may move up inside the tube, then the mandrel may inflate, and the robot may begin fabricating another tube segment. After completing a tube segment, the robot may tilt relative to that segment, before starting the next segment. By doing so, the robot may cause the tube to be curved. A computer may guide the team of robots during fabrication of the tubes, by executing a flocking algorithm. The algorithm may prevent collisions with already fabricated tube segments.

A fiber body forming method includes a step of applying, to a fiber body containing fibers, a liquid containing a thermoplastic resin which binds the fibers; and a step of heating the fiber body to which the liquid is applied, and in this method, the thermoplastic resin has a glass transition temperature of 10 C. or less, and the thermoplastic resin in the liquid has an average particle diameter of 30 nm or less.

A fiber body forming method includes a step of applying, to a fiber body containing fibers, a liquid containing a thermoplastic resin which binds the fibers; and a step of heating the fiber body to which the liquid is applied, and in this method, the thermoplastic resin has a glass transition temperature of 10 C. or less, and the thermoplastic resin in the liquid has an average particle diameter of 30 nm or less.

A composite material which includes a thermoplastic matrix resin and carbon fibers A including carbon fiber bundles A1 in which Li/(NiDi.sup.2) satisfies 6.710.sup.1 to 3.310.sup.3, wherein the carbon fibers A have a fiber length of 5-100 mm and have a value of Lw.sub.A1/(N.sub.A1aveD.sub.A1.sup.2) of 1.010.sup.2 to 3.310.sup.3, the carbon fiber bundles A1 having an average bundle width W.sub.A1 less than 3.5 mm and being contained in an amount of 90 vol % or larger with respect to the carbon fibers A A production method for producing a molded object from the composite material-is also provided.

A composite material which includes a thermoplastic matrix resin and carbon fibers A including carbon fiber bundles A1 in which Li/(NiDi.sup.2) satisfies 6.710.sup.1 to 3.310.sup.3, wherein the carbon fibers A have a fiber length of 5-100 mm and have a value of Lw.sub.A1/(N.sub.A1aveD.sub.A1.sup.2) of 1.010.sup.2 to 3.310.sup.3, the carbon fiber bundles A1 having an average bundle width W.sub.A1 less than 3.5 mm and being contained in an amount of 90 vol % or larger with respect to the carbon fibers A A production method for producing a molded object from the composite material-is also provided.

There are provided a holding strap, methods of making the same, and methods using such holding strap for tying down objects on a flatbed of a vehicle, retaining underground tanks, or lifting electrodes out of an electrolytic cell. The holding strap includes a chemically pre-treated strap component, an epoxy resin chemically bonded to the pre-treated strap component, and a hook component comprising a cavity that is configured and sized to receive at least a portion of the strap component, the epoxy resin being chemically bonded to internal surfaces of the cavity, so as to form the holding strap.

The present disclosure provides an impregnation method that includes the steps of providing a workpiece to be impregnated, placing the workpiece in a bath of impregnating agent inside a vessel, and oscillating movement of a vibrating body inside the vessel during an impregnation period. The vibrating body creates oscillating pressure changes inside the bath by acting on the bath. the method further includes removing the workpiece from the bath after the impregnation period.

Methods for forming carbon-based cellular structures and 3D structures that can be formed by use of the methods are described. Methods include shaping an essentially 2D sheet that includes an organic polymer to form a 3D precursor followed by heat treatment of the 3D precursor. Heat treatment carbonizes the polymer to form an amorphous carbon. A metal precursor solution can be applied to the 3D precursor, and subsequent heat treatment can form a metal carbide, metal nanoparticles, or other carbon-based materials on/in the cellular structures.

Methods for forming carbon-based cellular structures and 3D structures that can be formed by use of the methods are described. Methods include shaping an essentially 2D sheet that includes an organic polymer to form a 3D precursor followed by heat treatment of the 3D precursor. Heat treatment carbonizes the polymer to form an amorphous carbon. A metal precursor solution can be applied to the 3D precursor, and subsequent heat treatment can form a metal carbide, metal nanoparticles, or other carbon-based materials on/in the cellular structures.

A ready to use surface veil and surface film integrated prepreg layer which is suitable to use in the production of lightweight structural parts/panels with class A surfaces includes a curable bottom base resin formulation including a curable bottom base resin, at least one first toughening agent, at least one accelerator, at least one curing agent and at least one hardener. The prepreg layer further includes a release paper that is coated with the curable bottom base resin formulation to obtained curable bottom base resin formulation coated release paper as a first resin film; a reinforcement fabric; an outer resin formulation including the outer resin which is the curable bottom base resin being 10% more viscous than the resin, at least one thermoplastic toughening agent, at least one accelerator, at least one curing agent and at least one hardener agent.