A fibre-reinforced polymer component is provided which comprises a main portion comprising fibre-reinforced polymer and at least one surface and at least one raised feature extending from said surface. The at least one raised feature consists of non-reinforced polymer and is shaped to incur visually perceptible damage when the component is subject to an impact with an energy above a predetermined impact energy threshold and to resist an impact with an energy below the predetermined impact energy threshold. The at least one raised feature thus provides a clear visual aid as to when a component has experienced an impact with an energy above the impact energy threshold. Because the raised feature consists of polymer without fibre reinforcement, it is more fragile than the fibre-reinforced polymer main portion 204 and thus reduces the energy at which impacts may be detected.

The invention relates to a blade (3) of a fan (1) of a turbomachine having a structure made of a composite material comprising a fibrous reinforcement (5) obtained by three-dimensional weaving and a matrix in which the fibrous reinforcement (5) is embedded, the fibrous reinforcement (5) comprising first strands (9) having a predetermined elongation at break, a portion of the fibrous reinforcement (5) further comprising second strands (10) having an elongation at break higher than that of the first strands (9).

Methods and systems, and components made according to the methods and systems, are disclosed relating to improved methods for fabricating resin-containing composite prepreg materials, wherein the prepreg plies are treated with a particulate material to achieve predetermined spatially variable shear and tack values at a predetermined location on at least one prepreg ply surface of at least one prepreg ply.

An ergonomic frame-filler placement tool is manually operable to supply a vacuum fluid flow at a distal end of the tool that can be used by a worker to pick up and hold a piece of frame-filler material to the distal end of the tool, which enables the worker to manipulate the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material over a desired location of a fuselage mandrel and then manually stop the vacuum fluid flow at the distal end of the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material at the desired location on the mandrel.

A process for manufacturing a structural component made of composite material comprising a skin and at least one stiffening stringer applied rigidly and integrally to one face of the skin. The process comprises a) arranging, on a tool, a plurality of first layers of uncured or pre-cured composite material, forming the stringer and having a raised portion protruding from at least one flange; b) arranging, on the tool, a plurality of second layers of uncured or pre-cured composite material forming the skin; c) making a face of the skin and the flange of the stringer adhere to each other; d) applying a predetermined temperature and pressure on the assembly to compact the layers together, possibly curing the uncured material and rigidly joining the skin to the stringer; and e) performing a cutting operation on the free end side edge/s of the flange in a slanted direction.

A process for manufacturing a structural component made of composite material comprising a skin and at least one stiffening stringer applied rigidly and integrally to one face of the skin. The process comprises a) arranging, on a tool, a plurality of first layers of uncured or pre-cured composite material, forming the stringer and having a raised portion protruding from at least one flange; b) arranging, on said tool, a plurality of second layers of uncured or pre-cured composite material forming said skin; c) making a face of said skin and flange adhere to each other; d) applying predetermined temperature and pressure on the assembly, possibly curing the uncured material and rigidly joining said skin to said stringer; e) performing a cutting operation on the free end side edge/s of said flange; and f) cover said end side edge/s of the end of said flange with a coating of composite material.

A prepreg, carbon fiber reinforced composite, and a process for prepreg production including the steps of: (a) providing a fast curing resin composition; (b) forming a film from the resin of step (a) on one side surface of a release substrate sheet; (c) providing a fiber fabric substrate sheet having a varying fiber areal weight cross-sectional thickness; (d) contacting at least one side surface of the fiber fabric substrate sheet of step (c) with the film of step (b); (e) applying pressure on the other side surface of the release substrate sheet opposite the resin film of step (b) to impregnate the fiber fabric substrate sheet of step (c) with the resin composition of step (a); and (f) allowing the fiber fabric substrate sheet impregnated with the resin composition of step (e) to partially cure to form a prepreg product. Also S-wrap compaction roll assembly having at least three rolls, wherein the second nip roller that is positioned between the other two includes a modified diameter.

Composite materials having carbon reinforcement fibers impregnated with a matrix material are augmented with functionalized graphene nanoplatelets having amine groups formed on a surface of the graphene nanoplatelets and epoxide groups formed on at least one edge of the graphene nanoplatelets as a supplement to or a replacement for resin matrix material to increase strength of the composite materials. Related methods of increasing strength of composite materials include mixing the functionalized graphene nanoplatelets into the matrix material prior to impregnating the carbon reinforcement fibers, depositing the functionalized graphene nanoplatelets onto the matrix material to form an interlayer, and depositing the functionalized graphene nanoplatelets onto a bed of carbon reinforcement fibers with no resin matrix material. The composite materials and related methods for increasing strength of composite materials may include graphene nanoplatelets having holes formed through the graphene nanoplatelets.

A composite product substantially reduced the impact force imposed by hard impactor which travelled at the speed in the range of 400 m/s to 1400 m/s simultaneously damping the vibrations and shocks appeared therein is disclosed. At the same time it is light weight with the weight lower than that of 22 to 38 kg/m2 and is flexible to adopt the shape suitable for the end applications. A method of manufacturing the composite product of the invention is also disclosed.

A fibrous texture to form the fibrous reinforcement of a turbomachine blade made of composite material, the texture being made in one piece and having a three-dimensional weaving, and includes blade root, blade airfoil and blade support portions. The blade support portion includes a first area extending transversely from a first edge of the texture to form a leading edge and a second area extending transversely from the first area up to a second edge of the texture to form a trailing edge, the first area including warp yarns or strands made of second fibers different from the first fibers, the second fibers having an elongation at break greater than that of the first fibers, the first area having a first volume ratio in yarns or strands made of second fibers strictly greater than a second volume ratio in yarns or strands made of second fibers in the second area.