Disclosed are a mould system and a clamping tong for securing a mould item part in a mould of a mould system. The clamping tong comprises: a primary tong segment comprising a primary clamping surface for applying clamping pressure on a clamping portion of a mould item part; a secondary tong segment coupled to the primary tong segment and comprising a secondary clamping surface for applying clamping pressure on a clamping portion of the mould. The clamping tong being configured to change between a clamping state and a release state, wherein the distance between the primary clamping surface and the secondary clamping surface in the clamping state is shorter than the distance between the primary clamping surface and the secondary clamping surface in the release state.

A method for closing an injection mold for manufacturing a revolution part made of composite material, the mold including a mandrel supporting a fiber preform and angular sectors comprising an annular base to come into contact with the fiber texture, the annular base extending between first and second side edges along a circumferential direction. The method includes successive positioning and fixing the angular sectors on the mandrel, the annular base of each sector compacting the fiber preform portion present oppositely, the side edges of the annular base of each angular sector being in contact with the side edges of the annular base of the adjacent sectors. Before the positioning and fixing of the angular sectors on the mandrel, strip s are placed on the exposed surface of the fiber preform, each strip covering an area of the fiber preform located facing a junction area between two adjacent angular sectors.

The present invention provides a fiber-reinforced-resin composite molded article including: a rigid layer that is formed of a fiber-reinforced-resin material for a rigid layer; a shaping layer that is formed, at least on one side of the rigid layer, of a shaping-layer compound composed of a thermosetting resin and fibers that are shorter than fibers contained in the fiber-reinforced-resin material for a rigid layer; and a cured resin being formed of a liquid-state resin that is deposited on the surface of the shaping layer. The fiber-reinforced-resin composite molded article has a structure in which the fiber-reinforced-resin material for a rigid layer, the shaping-layer compound, and the liquid-state resin are cured under heat and pressure in a layered state.

A system and method for forming a composite part. The apparatus comprises a sleeve that molds a composite material. The sleeve has a first face and a second face. The second face has features to mold the composite material. The first face comprises a first inclined surface having an angle less than about 90 degrees and greater than about 0 degrees.

Disclosed herein are methods for isolating a composite material from the environment, as well as the isolated composite material. Also disclosed herein are methods for shaping a composite material that include the use of isolated composite materials. For example, disclosed is a method for mechanical thermoforming of a composite material to form a shaped composite material.

The disclosed composite structure provides a reinforced thermoplastic polymer composite part with a high-quality surface finish. This may be used as a vehicle part or body panel, such as an interior vehicle part or exterior body panel. Additionally, the surface finish may be coloured, such that the surface does not need to be painted or wrapped to achieve a desired surface colour, and the surface may protect inner layers from UV radiation, either by virtue of the material of the surface itself, or the incorporation of a UV-absorbing additive. Specifically, the disclosed composite structure comprises a structural layer comprising reinforcing fibres, such as glass or carbon fibres, and a thermoplastic body polymer. The structure further comprises a surface layer providing a surface finish to the composite structure, the surface layer comprising a thermoplastic surface polymer substantially free from reinforcing fibres.

A fiber-reinforced resin molded article is produced by pressing a plurality of thermoplastic base material sheets, each of which contains a plurality of reinforcing fibers, in a stacked state where the base material sheets are stacked so that the fiber directions (orientation direction of the reinforcing fibers) are alternated. Each base material sheet is provided with a cut including: a plurality of lengthwise cut lines extending parallel to the fiber direction; and a plurality of crosswise cut lines extending parallel to a direction that is perpendicular to the fiber direction. A plurality of cut interruption parts for interrupting the lengthwise cut lines in the fiber direction are formed. The cut interruption parts are arranged in a staggered manner so as to be displaced from each other in the fiber direction.

A composite airfoil is disclosed. In various embodiments, a composite airfoil as disclosed herein includes an outer skin comprising one or more layers of carbon fiber composite material, the outer skin defining an aerodynamic surface having a leading edge; and a reinforcement material comprising a roll of fiberglass reinforced fabric positioned behind the outer skin along at least a portion of the leading edge.

An improved composite stiffener and methods and tooling used to form the same. The stiffener includes one or more base flanges, a composite rod extending in an axial direction, a bulb cap surrounding the composite rod, and an upright web extending from the one or more base flanges to the base cap. The upright web includes a non-linear profile in the axial direction providing the improved lateral stiffness. The method includes providing tooling including a first compression tool extending in the axial direction and including a first web portion having a non-linear profile, and a second compression tool extending in the axial direction and including a second web portion having a non-linear profile. Plies are placed within the tooling and compressed such that at least a portion of plurality of plies are compressed in the web forming portion thereby forming a web of the bulb stiffener having a non-linear profile.

Disclosed herein are fully automated methods for shaping a composite material.