To improve the range of application of manufacturing methods for fiber-reinforced polymer or metal hybrid composite components, and preferably to enable the introduction of fiber bundles into a larger number of geometries, such as branches, merging points and intersections, a production method for producing a component including a composite material with a fiber reinforcement which is formed from fiber bundles and resin is disclosed. A component body with tube-like cavities is initially provided. Curable resin is introduced into the cavities. A pulling apparatus for the fiber bundles is also inserted into at least one of the cavities. The pulling apparatus includes at least one pulling member suitable for pulling the fiber bundles and transmitting compressive force. As a result of pulling of the pulling member, the fiber bundles are pulled into the cavities.

This relates to a composite structural element, in particular a rib or a spar, specifically for use in a torsion box of an aircraft structure such as a vertical tailplane, wherein the structural element defines a coordinate system with a first axis “a” wherein the structural element comprises a substantially planar main section defining a coordinate system with a first axis “a” extending along the longitudinal axis “L” of the structural element and a second axis “b” extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis “L” within the planar main section and defining an angle of +90° with the first axis “a”, wherein the structural element contains a lay-up of single plies consisting of a fiber-reinforced composite material with a substantially unidirectional fiber orientation.

A rigid coupler for use in electrically isolating an electrically conductive fluid conveyance system is described. The rigid coupler includes a nonconductive liner having a first end configured to couple to a first adjoining section of the fluid conveyance system, and a second end, opposite said first end, configured to couple to a second adjoining section of the fluid conveyance system. A reinforcing structure circumscribes the nonconductive liner and is coupled to a portion of the nonconductive liner extending between the first and second ends of the nonconductive liner. The reinforcing structure includes a multi-axial braided fiber material impregnated with a matrix material. A fiber overwrap is hoop wound about at a least a portion of the reinforcing structure between the first and second ends of the nonconductive liner.

Bi— or multicomponent fibre (3) comprising a reinforcing core (1) of a first material and at least one sheath (2) of a second, thermoplastic or pre-polymerized thermoset material, for the manufacturing of composite parts, the matrix of which composite parts consists of the material of said sheath (2), wherein said first material has a degradation temperature, ignition temperature, glass transition temperature, melting temperature or liquidus temperature which is higher than the melting temperature, flowing temperature, r softening temperature of said second, thermoplastic or pre-polymerized thermoset material, wherein said reinforcing core (1) has a core volume fraction (v.sub.f) defined as the volume fraction of the reinforcing core (1) in the bi- or multicomponent fibre (3), which is in the range of 0.3-0.8, and wherein along a longitudinal axis (Z) of the bi- or multicomponent fibre outer surface (4) of the sheath (2) has a corrugated, preferably irregular corrugated shape.

Bi— or multicomponent fibre (3) comprising a reinforcing core (1) of a first material and at least one sheath (2) of a second, thermoplastic or pre-polymerized thermoset material, for the manufacturing of composite parts, the matrix of which composite parts consists of the material of said sheath (2), wherein said first material has a degradation temperature, ignition temperature, glass transition temperature, melting temperature or liquidus temperature which is higher than the melting temperature, flowing temperature, r softening temperature of said second, thermoplastic or pre-polymerized thermoset material, wherein said reinforcing core (1) has a core volume fraction (v.sub.f) defined as the volume fraction of the reinforcing core (1) in the bi- or multicomponent fibre (3), which is in the range of 0.3-0.8, and wherein along a longitudinal axis (Z) of the bi- or multicomponent fibre outer surface (4) of the sheath (2) has a corrugated, preferably irregular corrugated shape.

Methods of manufacturing a belt include laying up a first elastomeric layer of a belt build on a mandrel, laying up a tensile reinforcement layer on the first elastomeric layer, where the tensile reinforcement layer contains cords coated with a water based urethane compound, and laying up a second elastomeric layer on the first elastomeric layer and the tensile reinforcement layer. The belt build may be cured in a profile-forming mold, and afterward, cut to a predetermined belt width and/or length.

Methods of manufacturing a belt include laying up a first elastomeric layer of a belt build on a mandrel, laying up a tensile reinforcement layer on the first elastomeric layer, where the tensile reinforcement layer contains cords coated with a water based urethane compound, and laying up a second elastomeric layer on the first elastomeric layer and the tensile reinforcement layer. The belt build may be cured in a profile-forming mold, and afterward, cut to a predetermined belt width and/or length.

A technique for stable, high-speed treatment of reinforcement fiber. In a state where a unidirectional fiber bundle is held between a supporting surface of a support and a pressing surface of a resonator ultrasonically vibrating in a pressing direction perpendicular to the supporting surface, a pressed part of the unidirectional fiber bundle pressed by the pressing surface is moved in a longitudinal direction of the unidirectional fiber bundle. By doing so, the unidirectional fiber bundle can be stably treated at high speed when the unidirectional fiber bundle is opened or impregnated with a resin.

A technique for stable, high-speed treatment of reinforcement fiber. In a state where a unidirectional fiber bundle is held between a supporting surface of a support and a pressing surface of a resonator ultrasonically vibrating in a pressing direction perpendicular to the supporting surface, a pressed part of the unidirectional fiber bundle pressed by the pressing surface is moved in a longitudinal direction of the unidirectional fiber bundle. By doing so, the unidirectional fiber bundle can be stably treated at high speed when the unidirectional fiber bundle is opened or impregnated with a resin.

The present invention relates especially to an intermediate material comprising, or even constituted exclusively by, an array of individualised ribbons, each ribbon being composed by a tape of unidirectional reinforcing fibres associated, by adhesion, on each of its faces with a veil of thermoplastic fibres, characterised in that the ribbons are disposed in successive layers, in such a way that the ribbons of two successive layers are superposed with or without crossing but without interlacement, the bond between a ribbon and the ribbon or ribbons with which it is superposed being ensured by adhesion, and in that in each layer the ribbons are disposed substantially parallel to each other over at least the major part of their length, while being independent and spaced from each other and in that the ribbons of at least two layers extend in two different directions.