A method is provided for forming a near-net thermoplastic composite component includes co-spraying a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer material and a chopped reinforcing material deposited onto at least one region associated with a tool having a first temperature and defining a near-net component shape. The mixture and adjacent tool is heated to a second temperature while the mixture is on the tool. The first temperature is below the solidification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer material and the second temperature is above the solidification temperature. Then, the mixture is exposed to a negative pressure to promote removal of gases from the mixture and put under compressive force to densify the mixture. The thermoplastic polymer material melts and flows. The tool is cooled to the first temperature and removing the mixture to form the near-net thermoplastic composite component having randomly oriented chopped reinforcement material distributed within a thermoplastic polymer matrix.

A method is provided for forming a near-net thermoplastic composite component includes co-spraying a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer material and a chopped reinforcing material deposited onto at least one region associated with a tool having a first temperature and defining a near-net component shape. The mixture and adjacent tool is heated to a second temperature while the mixture is on the tool. The first temperature is below the solidification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer material and the second temperature is above the solidification temperature. Then, the mixture is exposed to a negative pressure to promote removal of gases from the mixture and put under compressive force to densify the mixture. The thermoplastic polymer material melts and flows. The tool is cooled to the first temperature and removing the mixture to form the near-net thermoplastic composite component having randomly oriented chopped reinforcement material distributed within a thermoplastic polymer matrix.

The present invention relates to the use of thermoplastic polymer compositions for impregnating reinforcing materials in the form of fabric or industrial fabrics for the manufacture of composite materials. The field of the invention is that of composite materials as well as molding/consolidation processes and obtained parts. The invention more particularly relates to a method of manufacturing a composite article by injection molding comprising at least the steps of introducing at least one reinforcement fabric into a preheated mold, partial closure of the mold, a temperature rise step of the mold, optionally a step of maintaining the temperature of the mold before injection of a thermoplastic polymer composition, a step of injecting a thermoplastic polymer composition into the mold, a step of mold closure to the final part thickness allowing the flow of the resin through the reinforcing fabric, a cooling step and a recovery step of the obtained composite article.

A frame device for retaining and positioning sheet materials and possible reinforcing materials intended to be thermoformed to obtain objects made of composite material includes a first tubular element defining internally a first vacuum chamber for grasping by aspiration a first sheet material and a second tubular element defining internally a second vacuum chamber, separate from, and independent of the first vacuum chamber and configured for grasping by aspiration a second sheet material. The first tubular element and the second tubular element are fixed together permanently so as to define a grasping frame-structure configured as a single piece. A third vacuum chamber is defined in the grasping frame structure, separate and independent of the first and second vacuum chambers and configured for removing air from the zone that is interposed between the first and second sheet materials and which is intended for being possibly occupied by the reinforcing materials.

Class-A components (CAC) include a first and second skin layer each having a polymer matrix and a fiber reinforcing material embedded within the polymer matrix, a third layer disposed between the first and second skin layers and including a third polymer matrix and a filler material interspersed within the third polymer matrix, and a Class-A finish coat applied to the second skin layer. The fiber reinforcing materials include a plurality of substantially aligned carbon fibers and a plurality of low strength regions staggered throughout the carbon fibers. The CAC can be integrated with a rigid vehicle frame. The CAC can be a structural component. The CAC can be a door, a roof panel, or a hood. The CAC can include a layer of woven fibers between the Class-A finish coat and the second skin layer and a portion of the woven fibers can be visible through the Class-A surface layer.

A method of fabricating a gas turbine casing out of composite material of varying thickness, the method including making a strip-shaped fiber texture by three-dimensional weaving; winding the fiber texture as a plurality of superposed layers onto a mandrel of profile corresponding to the profile of the casing that is to be fabricated, so as to obtain a fiber preform of shape corresponding to the shape of the casing that is to be fabricated; and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix; wherein, before beginning to wind the fiber texture onto the mandrel, a reinforcing band of width smaller than the width of the fiber texture is placed on the mandrel in a zone that is to form a retention zone of the casing.

Forming features in the surface of a bicycle component involves depositing a substance onto a substrate in a geometric pattern to form a transfer medium. Forming features may also involve positioning the transfer medium relative to an unformed bicycle component, and forming a negative of the geometric pattern in the bicycle component through the application of heat and/or pressure to the transfer medium and the unformed bicycle component. The transfer medium may be configured for use in the molding of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (“CFRP”) bicycle components and may include a substrate formed of a flexible material, and a geometric pattern formed of a hard material, the hard material different than the flexible material.

Forming features in the surface of a bicycle component involves depositing a substance onto a substrate in a geometric pattern to form a transfer medium. Forming features may also involve positioning the transfer medium relative to an unformed bicycle component, and forming a negative of the geometric pattern in the bicycle component through the application of heat and/or pressure to the transfer medium and the unformed bicycle component. The transfer medium may be configured for use in the molding of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (“CFRP”) bicycle components and may include a substrate formed of a flexible material, and a geometric pattern formed of a hard material, the hard material different than the flexible material.

A method for manufacturing a fiber formed body includes forming a fiber board into a predetermined outer shape while forming a pattern on an outer surface of the fiber board by compressing the fiber board, a forming at least one positioning member by compressing the fiber board, and positioning, relative to a cutoff device, the fiber board using the positioning member, and cutting off a cutoff target part of the fiber board using the cutoff device. In the method for manufacturing the fiber formed body, formation of the pattern during the forming of the outer shape and formation of the positioning member during the forming of the positioning member are simultaneously performed.

A method for manufacturing a fiber formed body includes forming a fiber board into a predetermined outer shape while forming a pattern on an outer surface of the fiber board by compressing the fiber board, a forming at least one positioning member by compressing the fiber board, and positioning, relative to a cutoff device, the fiber board using the positioning member, and cutting off a cutoff target part of the fiber board using the cutoff device. In the method for manufacturing the fiber formed body, formation of the pattern during the forming of the outer shape and formation of the positioning member during the forming of the positioning member are simultaneously performed.