Provided is a fiber for rubber reinforcement that can be produced using a bio-derived raw material and hardly breaks even when compounded with a rubber material. A first fiber for rubber reinforcement uses a protein fiber containing a hydrophobic protein. A second fiber for rubber reinforcement uses a protein fiber having an initial tensile modulus of elasticity of 2.0 GPa or more when wet. These fibers for rubber reinforcement preferably have a coating layer made of a water-based adhesive composition on the surface thereof.

Disclosed is a method for processing a carbon fiber bundle, which can adjust bundling property, winding property and wear resistance of sizing fibers. The method includes following steps: (i) coating a sizing agent on at least one carbon fiber bundle, in which the sizing agent includes a thermoplastic resin; (ii) drying the carbon fiber bundle by hot air; and (iii) heating the carbon fiber bundle by an infrared light, in which a heating temperature of the heating is equal to or higher than a melting point of the thermoplastic resin.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fiber-sizing agent which when applied to an inorganic reinforcement material contained in a resin composition, can provide a molded article having excellent impact resistance and high surface gloss properties. The fiber-sizing agent according to the present invention contains a modified olefin wax (A), a polyolefin resin (B), and a silane-coupling agent (C), wherein the mass ratio (A)/(B) of the modified olefin wax (A) to the polyolefin resin (B) is in the range of 0.2-10.

Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.

Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.

The present invention is directed to plant fiber-reinforced thermoplastic compositions and a method for reinforcing thermoplastic resins. The present invention provides a use for the cellulose portion of a plant material, which is the portion left over after processing the selected plant materials to separate the hemi-cellulose and lignin from the cellulose.

The present invention is directed to plant fiber-reinforced thermoplastic compositions and a method for reinforcing thermoplastic resins. The present invention provides a use for the cellulose portion of a plant material, which is the portion left over after processing the selected plant materials to separate the hemi-cellulose and lignin from the cellulose.

A method and system for the production of fibers for use in biocomposites is provided that includes the ability to use both retted and unretted straw, that keeps the molecular structure of the fibers intact by subjecting the fibers to minimal stress, that maximizes the fiber's aspect ratio, that maximizes the strength of the fibers, and that minimizes time and energy inputs, along with maintaining the fibers in good condition for bonding to the polymer(s) used with the fibers to form the biocomposite material. This consequently increases the functionality of the biocomposites produced (i.e. reinforcement, sound absorption, light weight, heat capacity, etc.), increasing their marketability. Additionally, as the disclosed method does not damage the fibers, oilseed flax straw, as well as all types of fibrous materials (i.e. fiber flax, banana, jute, industrial hemp, sisal, coir) etc., can be processed in bio composite materials.

Disclosed are a reinforcing fiber bundle composed of a carbon fiber bundle treated with an emulsion; a carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin molded body using the same; and a method for producing a reinforcing fiber bundle; wherein the emulsion contains a modified polyolefin (A1) comprising at least a metal carboxylate bonded to the polymer chain, and 0.1 to 5,000 moles of an amine compound (B) represented by the following general formula (1), per one mole of the carboxylate group in the modified polyolefin (A1);

R—NH.sub.2  (1) wherein the formula (1), R is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Provided are tubular carbon fiber reinforced composite material and having excellent cylindrical bending strength and a golf club shaft using the same. This tubular carbon fiber reinforced composite material is formed by laminating and curing a straight layer and a bias layer. The straight layer comprises carbon fibers S coated with a sizing agent S and arranged in parallel in a direction of −20° to +20° with respect to the axis of the tubular body, and contains a thermosetting resin S. The bias layer comprises carbon fibers B coated with a sizing agent B and arranged in parallel in a direction of +25° to +65° with respect to the axis of the tubular body, and contains a thermosetting resin B. The carbon fiber reinforced composite material constituting the bias layer has an interlaminar shear strength of not less than 110 MPa. A cured product of the thermosetting resin S has an elastic modulus of not less than 4.0 GPa.