A sizing agent for matrix-resin-reinforcement fibers that simultaneously attains excellent cohesion and abrasion resistance of sized fibers, uniform size application on fiber surface and good bonding between sized fiber and a matrix resin; a synthetic fiber strand sized therewith; and a fiber-reinforced composite material reinforced by the sized fiber strand. The sizing agent contains a polyamide (A), a carbodiimide group-containing compound (B) and water (C), wherein the polyamide (A) has a melt viscosity ranging from 100 to 15,000 mPa.Math.s at 150° C. and the compound (B) has at least two carbodiimide groups per molecule. The polyamide (A) is preferably a water-soluble polyamide.

A carbon fiber tape material is favorable in followability to molds and impregnation with matrix resins, and capable of enhancing the productivity in producing a reinforcing fiber laminate by a method of fiber placement and capable of providing a molded body with high mechanical strength when the material is impregnated with a resin and molded. The carbon fiber tape material has a carbon fiber bundle group including a plurality of carbon fiber bundles arranged in parallel with the fiber orientation direction and a fabric are integrated, and satisfies (a) to (c): (a) the fabric includes one or more thermoplastic resins; (b) the carbon fiber tape material excluding the fabric is between 120 g/m.sup.2 and 400 g/m.sup.2 in basis weight; and (c) the fabric elongation rate with a load of 80 mN/50 mm applied to the fabric is 5% to 100% in at least one direction of the fabric.

Provided is a liquid crystal polymer composition having a low coefficient of static friction and a low coefficient of kinetic friction both during sliding between a liquid crystal polymer molded body and a metallic material and during sliding between liquid crystal polymer molded bodies. The liquid crystal polymer composition contains a liquid crystal polymer (A), a polytetrafluoroethylene resin (B), and barium sulfate (C).

Carbon fiber composites containing lignin carbon fibers are described. The lignin carbon fibers can be derived from organosolv lignin obtained from single source lignocellulosic feedstocks or combinations of such feedstocks or lignin obtained via other pulping or extraction methods. Also described are methods of preparing the carbon fiber composites.

Provided is an electromagnetic wave shielding and absorbing molded article which has excellent shielding properties and absorbency for electromagnetic waves having a specific frequency. The electromagnetic wave shielding and absorbing molded article includes a thermoplastic resin composition including stainless steel fibers, and the content ratio of the stainless steel fibers in the molded article is from 0.5 to 20 mass %. The electromagnetic wave shielding and absorbing molded article has a thickness from 0.5 mm to 5 mm, and a shielding property of 10 dB or greater and an absorbency of 25% or greater for electromagnetic waves having any frequency in a frequency domain from 59 GHz to 100 GHz.

A method and a mineral wool product include a multiple of lamellae, such as a sandwich panel core. The product includes a plurality of lamellae cut from a mineral wool web, and bonded together by applying an adhesive on the surfaces of two adjacent lamellae to form a web-like product, wherein the adhesive comprises at least one hydrocolloid.

A fiber-reinforced fabric, composite materials formed from such fabrics, and methods of making the fiber-reinforced fabric or composite materials, are provided. The fabrics and composite materials demonstrate improved fatigue performance relative to conventional fiber-reinforced fabrics.

A fiber-reinforced fabric, composite materials formed from such fabrics, and methods of making the fiber-reinforced fabric or composite materials, are provided. The fabrics and composite materials demonstrate improved fatigue performance relative to conventional fiber-reinforced fabrics.

A thermoplastic polymer-based composite material and a preparation method thereof are provided. The thermoplastic polymer-based composite material is obtained by impregnating a reinforcing material with a mixture or oligomer of an epoxy resin, a bismaleimide resin, and a bifunctional amine (calculated based on active hydrogen), and then performing an in-situ polymerization. The thermoplastic polymer-based composite material has excellent impregnation effect, excellent secondary processing performance, relatively high heat resistance, excellent flame retardancy, and mechanical properties, and excellent comprehensive performance.

Co-curable epoxy-based composite materials coated with co-curable polyurethane-based coating materials to form co-curable and co-cured polyurethane coated epoxy-based composite materials, with the polyurethane-based coating materials comprising UV-stabilizer agents and cure control agents are disclosed, along with components and large structures comprising the co-cured materials.