A method for manufacturing an overhead storage compartment for an aircraft cabin, including providing a shell part extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the shell part has a first edge at the first end and a second edge at the second end. A first end wall and a second end wall are provided. The shell part and the first and second end walls are assembled, wherein the first edge is attached to the first end wall and the second edge is attached to the second end wall, such that the shell part, the first end wall and the second end wall together surround an interior space. An object, to provide a simple and fast method for manufacturing an overhead storage compartment, wherein possibly little handwork is required, is achieved in that the first end wall and/or the second end wall include an undirected long fiber reinforced plastic material.

A method for impregnating a fibrous material with a curable resin to form a prepreg is disclosed. The method includes conveying a web material through at least one moving pressure nip formed between a moving pressure roller and a moving supporting surface, wherein the moving pressure roller and the moving supporting surface travel at different velocities relative to each other resulting in a relative velocity between the web material and the pressure nip. The at least one moving pressure nip travels in the same direction as the web material while applying sufficient pressure to compress the web material and to affect impregnation of the fibrous material with the curable resin. Also disclosed is a system for implementing the disclosed impregnation method.

A method for manufacturing an overhead storage compartment for an aircraft cabin, including providing a shell part extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the shell part has a first edge at the first end and a second edge at the second end. A first end wall and a second end wall are provided. The shell part and the first and second end walls are assembled, wherein the first edge is attached to the first end wall and the second edge is attached to the second end wall, such that the shell part, the first end wall and the second end wall together surround an interior space. An object, to provide a simple and fast method for manufacturing an overhead storage compartment, wherein possibly little handwork is required, is achieved in that the first end wall and/or the second end wall include an undirected long fiber reinforced plastic material.

A structural assembly (900) and method of fabricating the same, the method comprising: providing a first member (204) comprising a bond surface (800) and a plurality of protrusions (802) extending from the bond surface (800), a length of each of the protrusions (802) from the bond surface (800) being less than or equal to 2 mm; providing a second member (202) comprising a fibre-reinforced composite material, the fibre-reinforced composite material comprising a plurality of elongate fibres (902) embedded in a polymer matrix (904); while the polymer matrix (904) is in its plastic state, forcing the second member (202) against the bond surface (800) and the protrusions (802) so as to cause the second member (202) to form onto the bond surface (800) and the protrusions (802); and thereafter causing the polymer matrix (904) to harden, thereby fixing the first member (204) to the bond surface of the second member (202).

A prepreg fabrication system provided with an impregnation zone, which includes: (i) a movable support surface for supporting a continuous web material during impregnation; (ii) an endless roller chain carrying a plurality of linking, rotatable idler rollers, a portion of the roller chain facing the movable support surface; and (iii) pressure applicators for pressing at least some of the idler rollers facing the support surface against the support surface to form pressure nips. The movable support surface is configured to move at a first velocity during operation and the roller chain is configured to revolve at a second velocity different from the first velocity so as to establish a relative velocity between the revolving roller chain and the moving support surface, and wherein the relative movements of the support surface and the roller chain create pressure nips that are moving in the same direction as the moving direction of the support surface.

The assembly consists of at least one metal insert and one reinforcing sheet. The reinforcing sheet contains reinforcing fibers longer than or equal in length to one centimeter. The metal insert comprises protrusions shaped to traverse the sheet, passing between the reinforcing fibers, and to fold by plastic deformation, enclosing the reinforcing fibers when said protrusions are subjected to a longitudinal compression force.

A prepreg fabrication system provided with an impregnation zone, which includes: (i) a movable support surface for supporting a continuous web material during impregnation; (ii) an endless roller chain carrying a plurality of linking, rotatable idler rollers, a portion of the roller chain facing the movable support surface; and (iii) pressure applicators for pressing at least some of the idler rollers facing the support surface against the support surface to form pressure nips. The movable support surface is configured to move at a first velocity during operation and the roller chain is configured to revolve at a second velocity different from the first velocity so as to establish a relative velocity between the revolving roller chain and the moving support surface, and wherein the relative movements of the support surface and the roller chain create pressure nips that are moving in the same direction as the moving direction of the support surface.

Described herein are thermoplastic composites and methods of making thereof. The thermoplastic composites disclosed herein can include at least one randomly-oriented carbon fiber layer in the laminate to improve induction heating efficiency of the thermoplastic composite.

A method for joining unidirectional tapes is provided. The method includes placing a plurality of unidirectional tapes by abutting without overlapping an end of one of the unidirectional tapes with an end of other one of the unidirectional tapes at a butt joint. The unidirectional tapes includes a resin material and a plurality of fibers running in a running direction. The method further includes placing a prepreg including a resin material and a plurality of short fibers over the butt joint to cover an area surrounding the butt joint such that the short fibers run in the running direction. The method further includes fusing the prepreg by applying heat such that the short fibers are fused into a matrix of the unidirectional tapes at the butt joint.