Provided is a heating device including: a heating unit that heats a laminate which includes a plurality of sheet-like composite materials including reinforced fiber and thermoplastic resin, and heats, via a first contact surface disposed in contact with the laminate, the thermoplastic resin included in the laminate being in contact with the first contact surface to a softening temperature or higher; a cooling unit that cools, via a second contact surface disposed in contact with the laminate, the thermoplastic resin included in the laminate located outside of the second contact surface to a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and a pressing unit that applies a predetermined pressure to the laminate via the first contact surface and the second contact surface, the second contact surface being disposed so as to surround the first contact surface.

An applicator head (1) for the application of a composite tape (2) fed from a supply reel (3) to a surface for the deposition thereof; the tape (2) being formed by a layer of composite material (2.1) disposed on a supporting layer (2.2). The applicator head (1) comprises a cutting means (30), compaction means (40) and/or collection means (50). The cutting means (30) is displaced in a first direction of displacement of a first blade (31) at an angle with regard to a second direction of displacement of a second blade (32). The compaction means (40) has an application separator (41) configured to separate the layer of composite material (2.1) from the supporting layer (2.2) at a certain height from the surface for the deposition thereof. And the collection means (50) has a collection separator (52) configured to separate the unused layer of composite material (2.1) and to collect it in a collection container (53).

An object of the present invention is to obtain a fiber-reinforced composite material achieving both lightweight properties and mechanical properties at a high level. The present invention is a fiber-reinforced composite material including: a resin (A); and a reinforcing fiber (B), and including: a fiber-reinforced structure portion including an in-plane orientation portion having an average fiber orientation angle of the reinforcing fiber (B) of 0° or more and 45° or less and an out-of-plane orientation portion having an average fiber orientation angle of the reinforcing fiber (B) of more than 45° and 90° or less; and a cavity portion defined by the in-plane orientation portion and the out-of-plane orientation portion of the fiber-reinforced structure portion.

An object of the present invention is to obtain a fiber-reinforced composite material achieving both lightweight properties and mechanical properties at a high level. The present invention is a fiber-reinforced composite material including: a resin (A); and a reinforcing fiber (B), and including: a fiber-reinforced structure portion including an in-plane orientation portion having an average fiber orientation angle of the reinforcing fiber (B) of 0° or more and 45° or less and an out-of-plane orientation portion having an average fiber orientation angle of the reinforcing fiber (B) of more than 45° and 90° or less; and a cavity portion defined by the in-plane orientation portion and the out-of-plane orientation portion of the fiber-reinforced structure portion.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal conductor achieving both excellent light weight and excellent rigidity and also having excellent heat dissipation property. In order to achieve the above object, the thermal conductor according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a thermal conductor in which a sheet-shaped thermal conductive material (II) having an in-plane thermal conductivity of 300 W/m.Math.K or more is contained in a porous structure (I) configured of reinforcing fibers and a resin.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal conductor achieving both excellent light weight and excellent rigidity and also having excellent heat dissipation property. In order to achieve the above object, the thermal conductor according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a thermal conductor in which a sheet-shaped thermal conductive material (II) having an in-plane thermal conductivity of 300 W/m.Math.K or more is contained in a porous structure (I) configured of reinforcing fibers and a resin.

A method of fabricating a composite material, the method comprises the steps of a) providing a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a thermoset FRP, b) providing an array of thermoplastic islands across at least a proportion of a major surface of the first layer, c) providing a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a thermoset FRP, d) laying the second layer over at least some of the islands, and e) securing the first and second layers together. There is also disclosed a composite which comprises a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer and a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, between which is an intervening layer comprising an array of thermoplastic islands.

A method of fabricating a composite material, the method comprises the steps of a) providing a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a thermoset FRP, b) providing an array of thermoplastic islands across at least a proportion of a major surface of the first layer, c) providing a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, preferably a thermoset FRP, d) laying the second layer over at least some of the islands, and e) securing the first and second layers together. There is also disclosed a composite which comprises a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer and a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, between which is an intervening layer comprising an array of thermoplastic islands.

A composite which comprises a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer and a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, between which is an intervening layer comprising an array of thermoplastic islands.

A composite which comprises a first layer of a fibre reinforced polymer and a second layer of a fibre reinforced polymer, between which is an intervening layer comprising an array of thermoplastic islands.