A method for producing a shaped article includes a second web forming step, in which a mixture containing fibers and a binding material is deposited in the air, the binding material containing starch and an alkali metal salt; a moistening step, in which the mixture is supplied with water; and a sheet-forming step, in which heat and pressure are applied to the mixture supplied with water to give a sheet. The alkali metal salt content of the binding material is 2.0% by mass or less of the total mass of the starch.

There is provided a reinforcing carbon fiber bundle of the present invention is a reinforcing carbon fiber bundle with a sizing agent adhered to surfaces of carbon fibers, and characterized in that the sizing agent is constituted by at least two components, a first component does not melt at 150° C., and a second component in flowable at 150° C., and the reinforcing carbon fiber bundle is improved in impregnation property and openability and is excellent in workability and optimum for a composite.

There is provided a reinforcing carbon fiber bundle of the present invention is a reinforcing carbon fiber bundle with a sizing agent adhered to surfaces of carbon fibers, and characterized in that the sizing agent is constituted by at least two components, a first component does not melt at 150° C., and a second component in flowable at 150° C., and the reinforcing carbon fiber bundle is improved in impregnation property and openability and is excellent in workability and optimum for a composite.

A method of manufacturing a flexible element configured for pressing against composite material received on a mold surface of a mold during cure, including placing a porous material over the mold surface, forming a sealed enclosure containing the mold surface and the porous material, infusing a curable liquid material such as silicone in liquid form into the enclosure under vacuum and through the porous material, curing the liquid material to form the flexible element, and opening the enclosure and disengaging the flexible element from the mold. In a particular embodiment, the flexible element is a pressure pad.

A method of manufacturing a flexible element configured for pressing against composite material received on a mold surface of a mold during cure, including placing a porous material over the mold surface, forming a sealed enclosure containing the mold surface and the porous material, infusing a curable liquid material such as silicone in liquid form into the enclosure under vacuum and through the porous material, curing the liquid material to form the flexible element, and opening the enclosure and disengaging the flexible element from the mold. In a particular embodiment, the flexible element is a pressure pad.

A disclosed reinforcer includes a shrinkable layer able to shrink in a direction of shrinkage, under the effect of a heat-shrink heat treatment, from an initial state to a shrunk state, a first corrugatable layer, which includes a gridwork of filaments added against the shrinkable layer and connected to the shrinkable layer by connection lines spaced apart and extending transversely with respect to the direction of shrinkage, the first corrugatable layer exhibiting a shrinkage that is substantially zero or that is smaller than that of the shrinkable layer, so that, when the shrinkable layer is in the initial state, portions of the first corrugatable layer, each defined between two consecutive connection lines, are bent over and, when the shrinkable layer is in the shrunk state, the portions of the first corrugatable layer are curved.

A disclosed reinforcer includes a shrinkable layer able to shrink in a direction of shrinkage, under the effect of a heat-shrink heat treatment, from an initial state to a shrunk state, a first corrugatable layer, which includes a gridwork of filaments added against the shrinkable layer and connected to the shrinkable layer by connection lines spaced apart and extending transversely with respect to the direction of shrinkage, the first corrugatable layer exhibiting a shrinkage that is substantially zero or that is smaller than that of the shrinkable layer, so that, when the shrinkable layer is in the initial state, portions of the first corrugatable layer, each defined between two consecutive connection lines, are bent over and, when the shrinkable layer is in the shrunk state, the portions of the first corrugatable layer are curved.

The present invention concerns a two-part sizing composition comprising: (A) A precursor comprising: (a) An aminosilane (e.g. A1100) and (b) a polymer or copolymer containing carboxylic acid and/or anhydride, both having a functionality, F≧3, and (B) A binder comprising a multi-functional epoxy resin of functionality, F≧3. Glass fibres sized with the reaction product of the above composition yield a higher resistance to hydrolysis of polymeric matrix composite materials reinforced with such fibres. The sizing composition of the present invention is particularly advantageous for use with polyester resins, such as PET.

Fibers, prepreg materials, compositions, composite articles, and methods of producing composite articles are disclosed herein. A fiber may include at least one polymeric fiber and a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The at least one polymeric fiber extends in a lengthwise direction. The at least one polymeric fiber is a nanofiber.

A repair patch includes a composite material to repair a a repair target of a composite material. The repair patch includes bonding surfaces which face a bonded surface of a counterbored hole formed in the part to be repaired, and are bonded to the counterbored hole; and an opposite surface opposite to the bonding surfaces in a thickness direction. The opposite surface has a curved plane with a first surface side curvature radius protruding toward the opposite surface in a cross section cut along a plane intersecting an axial direction in the opposite surface. The bonded surface has a curved plane with a second surface side curvature radius protruding toward the bonding surfaces facing the bonded surface in a cross section cut along a plane intersecting an axial direction in the bonded surface. The first surface side curvature radius is smaller than the second surface side curvature radius.