An installation for depositing a shaped filled roving intended to be used to manufacture a composite-material component, includes a device for feeding a fibrous roving impregnated with a composition including a binder and ceramic or carbon fillers, a die for shaping and draining the binder defined by at least one porous surface, the die having an evolving section between an inlet section and an outlet section, the inlet section being larger than the outlet section, a support in communication with the die outlet on which the shaped roving is to be deposited, and a first conveying device configured to convey the roving from the feed device through the die and to the support.

A method of separating carbon fiber tows. The method includes separating two or more first carbon fiber tows from a first tow band onto a second elevation to form two or more second carbon fiber tows from a second tow band. The two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band leave gaps next to first adjacent tows of the two or more first carbon fiber tows remaining from the first tow band after the separating step. The first adjacent tows from the first tow band leave gaps next to second adjacent tows of the two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band.

A method of separating carbon fiber tows. The method includes separating two or more first carbon fiber tows from a first tow band onto a second elevation to form two or more second carbon fiber tows from a second tow band. The two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band leave gaps next to first adjacent tows of the two or more first carbon fiber tows remaining from the first tow band after the separating step. The first adjacent tows from the first tow band leave gaps next to second adjacent tows of the two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band.

Described herein is a device for impregnating individual fibers, individual threads, or individual rovings with a matrix material, including a porous material that is soaked with the matrix material, and a metering installation for metering matrix material into the porous material, where an installation by way of which the individual fiber to be impregnated, the individual thread to be impregnated, or the individual roving to be impregnated can be pressed against an end face of the porous material is included, or where the porous material is received in a sleeve and the individual fiber, the individual thread, or the individual roving can be guided through the porous material in the sleeve.

Also described herein is a method for producing a component from impregnated individual fibers, individual threads, or individual rovings.

Described herein is a device for impregnating individual fibers, individual threads, or individual rovings with a matrix material, including a porous material that is soaked with the matrix material, and a metering installation for metering matrix material into the porous material, where an installation by way of which the individual fiber to be impregnated, the individual thread to be impregnated, or the individual roving to be impregnated can be pressed against an end face of the porous material is included, or where the porous material is received in a sleeve and the individual fiber, the individual thread, or the individual roving can be guided through the porous material in the sleeve.

Also described herein is a method for producing a component from impregnated individual fibers, individual threads, or individual rovings.

Disclosed is a fiber-reinforced composite and methods and apparatuses for making the same. Some fiber-reinforced composites include a matrix material including a thermoplastic material and a non-woven fibrous region having a plurality of continuous fibers dispersed in the matrix material, wherein the width and the length of the non-woven fibrous region are substantially equal to the width and the length, respectively, of the fiber-reinforced composite, wherein the non-woven fibrous region has a mean relative area fiber coverage (RFAC) (%) of from 65 to 90 and a coefficient of variance (COV) (%) of from 3 to 20, and wherein each of the plurality of continuous fibers is substantially aligned with the length of the fiber-reinforced composite.

Disclosed is a fiber-reinforced composite and methods and apparatuses for making the same. Some fiber-reinforced composites include a matrix material including a thermoplastic material and a non-woven fibrous region having a plurality of continuous fibers dispersed in the matrix material, wherein the width and the length of the non-woven fibrous region are substantially equal to the width and the length, respectively, of the fiber-reinforced composite, wherein the non-woven fibrous region has a mean relative area fiber coverage (RFAC) (%) of from 65 to 90 and a coefficient of variance (COV) (%) of from 3 to 20, and wherein each of the plurality of continuous fibers is substantially aligned with the length of the fiber-reinforced composite.

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for impregnating fibers (1) with a matrix material, including a unit for soaking the fibers with the matrix material. A unit for setting the fiber content by volume (100) includes at least one opening (107) through which the soaked fibers (1) are guided. Each opening (107) includes a minimum opening cross section (111) dimensioned such that matrix material is removed such that the desired fiber content by volume is achieved. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for impregnating fibers in the apparatus.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.