Certain configurations of composite panels are described that comprise at least one aesthetic edge. In some embodiments, the composite panel with the aesthetic edge comprises a sandwich panel coupled to a shell layer. The sandwich panel may comprise skin layers and a core layer.

The present invention describes a prepreg for the manufacture of fibre reinforced resin matrix composite materials, the prepreg comprising: a surface film comprising a thermosetting resin and a particulate filler material dispersed therein, and a fibrous layer on which the surface film is disposed, the fibrous layer comprising a plurality of non-woven carbon fibres which are substantially randomly oriented, wherein the fibrous layer has interstices between the carbon fibres dimensioned for absorbing at least a portion of the thermosetting resin during a resin infusion step and filtering at least a portion of the particulate filler material in the surface film to remain in the surface film during the resin infusion step.

A carbon fiber reinforced plastic plate and a method of producing a carbon fiber reinforced plastic plate which can satisfy processability, smoothness after processing and strength are provided. A carbon fiber reinforced plastic plate includes: a first carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer including a carbon fiber woven fabric and a base material; and a second carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer including a carbon fiber nonwoven fabric and a base material and having a thickness of 3 mm or less, wherein the second carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer is laminated on the first carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer.

A reinforcing article includes a porous substrate layer separating a plurality of parallel first continuous fiber elements spaced apart from each other and extending along a first direction from a plurality of parallel second continuous fiber elements spaced apart from each other and extending along a different direction. Each first and second continuous fiber elements include a plurality of parallel and co-extending continuous fibers embedded in a thermoplastic resin.

A process for manufacturing an apron board of a high-speed rail equipment cabin using a composite material is disclosed. The material includes aramid fiber honeycomb, PET foam, 3K twill carbon fiber flame retardant prepreg, unidirectional carbon fiber flame retardant prepreg, glass fiber flame retardant prepreg, aramid flame retardant prepreg, and 300 g/m.sup.2 single component medium temperature curing blue epoxy adhesive. The process includes manufacturing an apron main plate (3); manufacturing apron-board trim strips (1, 2), wherein there are two apron-board trim strips (1) and two apron-board trim strips (2); and obtaining the apron board through the apron main plate (3) and the apron-board trim strips (1, 2), wherein the two apron-board trim strips (1) are respectively stuck at two opposite sides of the apron main plate (3), the two apron-board trim strips (2) are respectively stuck at another two opposite sides of the apron main plate (3).

The present invention relates to low or zero-tack composite materials such as pre-pregs and their use in automated manufacturing, particularly robotic pick and place. The present invention further relates to an automated process for preparing an article, particularly a molded article, from a fiber-reinforced composition material. The molded articles prepared by the process described herein are particularly suitable as components for transport applications, and particularly the automotive industry. The automotive components prepared by the present invention are particularly suitable as mid- or high-volume automotive parts, in which cost and speed of production are paramount. The present invention provides a process in which the cutting and handling of pre-preg materials is greatly simplified, providing advantages of efficiency and economy. The lay-up time according to the present invention is significantly reduced, allowing a reduction in the unit cost per component and/or allowing the high volume of component production desired in the automotive industry.

An impregnation system and a method for impregnating a textile fabric for composite components are described. A matrix 2 can be applied to a textile fabric 1 in such a way that the matrix 2 penetrates it at least partially and/or at least on one side. A first and a second endless belt 1 each designed as a belt loop are provided for the impregnation system. Between the first 4 and the second belt loop 5, the textile fabric 1 can guided on the mutually facing surfaces 6 of the belt loops and can be impregnated there. The deflection rollers 7 are provided in the respective belt loop 4, 5 of the respective endless belts at the deflection areas, with at least one roller being adjustable in the direction of the mutually facing surfaces 6 of the belt loops 4, 5. By adjusting the rollers 8 in the y direction, the wrap angle and thus the pressure exerted on the textile fabric during impregnation is controlled.

The technology in accordance with embodiments of the present technology provides a hybrid fiber reinforced material comprising a plurality of conditioned bamboo fibers, a plurality of carbon fibers arranged with the plurality of conditioned bamboo fibers, and a resin matrix encapsulating the arrangement of conditioned bamboo fibers and carbon fibers. The encapsulated arrangement can be formed when heated a first time into a first shape and cooled a first time. The encapsulated arrangement can be reformable into a second shape different than the first shape when heated a second time and cooled a second time.

A method for producing a component from a fiber-composite material, wherein a plurality of fiber-tape pieces, which each comprise a thermoplastic fiber-tape piece matrix with fiber-tape-piece fibers embedded therein, are provided, the fiber-tape pieces are picked up in the solid state and arranged so as to form a fiber-tape pattern, a backing layer, which comprises a thermoplastic backing-layer matrix with backing-layer fibers embedded therein, is provided and heated such that the backing-layer matrix softens or melts, a preform is formed from the backing layer and the fiber-tape pattern in that the fiber-tape pattern is applied in the solid state to the heated backing layer and is heated thereby so that the fiber-tape-piece matrices soften or melt such that the preform is in a deformable state in which both the backing-layer matrix and the fiber-tape-piece matrices have been softened or melted, the preform in the deformable state is deformed.

The present invention relates to a composite armour (1) for a flexible pipe. Armour (1) comprises a composite profile (2) and a reinforcement tape (5). Composite profile (2) consists of longitudinally oriented reinforcement fibres (4) embedded in a polymer matrix (3). Reinforcement tape (5) consists of a woven tape comprising fibres impregnated with a polymer material, in such a way that the weft thread of the reinforcement tape is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the profile, and the warp thread is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the profile.