Provided is a useful improvement in a CF-SMC manufacturing technique comprising an SMC manufacturing method using a continuous carbon fiber bundle having a filament number of NK and partially split into n sub-bundles in advance. In the SMC manufacturing method according to the present invention, a fragmentation processing using a fragmentation processing apparatus (A) below is performed on chopped carbon fiber bundles before being deposited on a carrier film. The fragmentation processing apparatus (A) comprises a first pin roller and a second pin roller, each of which has a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis direction of the rotary cutter. The first pin roller is rotationally driven such that its pins move downward from above on its side facing the second pin roller, and the second pin roller is rotationally driven such that its pins move downward from above on its side facing the first pin roller.

Provided is a useful improvement in a CF-SMC manufacturing technique comprising an SMC manufacturing method using a continuous carbon fiber bundle having a filament number of NK and partially split into n sub-bundles in advance. In the SMC manufacturing method according to the present invention, a fragmentation processing using a fragmentation processing apparatus (A) below is performed on chopped carbon fiber bundles before being deposited on a carrier film. The fragmentation processing apparatus (A) comprises a first pin roller and a second pin roller, each of which has a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis direction of the rotary cutter. The first pin roller is rotationally driven such that its pins move downward from above on its side facing the second pin roller, and the second pin roller is rotationally driven such that its pins move downward from above on its side facing the first pin roller.

A manufacturing method of an SMC of the present invention comprises (i) forming chopped carbon fiber bundles by chopping a continuous carbon fiber bundle having a filament number of NK with a rotary cutter, (ii) fragmentation-processing the chopped carbon fiber bundles by using a fragmentation-processing apparatus comprising a rotating body, (iii) forming a carbon fiber mat by depositing the fragmentation-processed chopped carbon fiber bundles on a carrier film traveling below the rotary cutter, and (iv) impregnating the carbon fiber mat with a thermosetting resin composition, wherein N is 20 or more, and the fragmentation-processing apparatus comprises a first pin roller and a second pin roller which are disposed side by side, each having a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis direction of the rotary cutter.

A method of preparing a woven ceramic fabric for use in a ceramic matrix composite includes transforming a woven fabric sheet having a first tow architecture into a separated woven fabric sheet having a second tow architecture, the first tow architecture including a plurality of warp tows and a plurality of weft tows, and the second tow architecture including a plurality of warp subtows and/or a plurality of weft subtows. Transforming the woven fabric sheet includes separating at least some of the plurality of warp tows and/or the plurality of weft tows into a greater number of corresponding warp subtows and/or weft subtows, respectively, such that second tow architecture includes more warp subtows and/or weft subtows than the first tow architecture comprises warp tows and weft tows, and wherein each of the warp subtows and/or weft subtows includes fewer filaments than corresponding warp tow and/or weft tow. Each of the plurality of warp subtows and/or weft subtows is spaced apart from the closest adjacent warp subtow and/or weft subtow, respectively, a distance of 25 to 230 microns.

An apparatus for manufacturing open carbon fiber superfine yarn comprises a yarn feeding part for feeding a carbon fiber bundle; a tank for storing water for opening carbon fiber to immerse the carbon fiber bundle in the water for opening carbon fiber; a first drying part for drying the open carbon fiber bundle formed by the immersion in the water for opening carbon fiber; an application part for applying a catalyst to the dried open carbon fiber bundle; a second drying part for drying the catalyst-applied open carbon fiber bundle to obtain open carbon fiber resin tape; a slitting part for slitting the open carbon fiber resin tape longitudinally; and a twisting part for twisting a plurality of the open carbon fiber resin tapes slit by the slitting part to form open carbon fiber superfine yarn.

An apparatus for manufacturing open carbon fiber superfine yarn comprises a yarn feeding part for feeding a carbon fiber bundle; a tank for storing water for opening carbon fiber to immerse the carbon fiber bundle in the water for opening carbon fiber; a first drying part for drying the open carbon fiber bundle formed by the immersion in the water for opening carbon fiber; an application part for applying a catalyst to the dried open carbon fiber bundle; a second drying part for drying the catalyst-applied open carbon fiber bundle to obtain open carbon fiber resin tape; a slitting part for slitting the open carbon fiber resin tape longitudinally; and a twisting part for twisting a plurality of the open carbon fiber resin tapes slit by the slitting part to form open carbon fiber superfine yarn.

A tow coating reactor system includes a reactor for receiving fiber tow, a wedge situated adjacent the reactor and configured to receive the tow at a tip end, such that as the tow moves across the wedge, the wedge spreads the tow into a plurality of sub-tows.

A tow coating reactor system includes a reactor for receiving fiber tow, a wedge situated adjacent the reactor and configured to receive the tow at a tip end, such that as the tow moves across the wedge, the wedge spreads the tow into a plurality of sub-tows.

A fiber spreading apparatus which is configured to spread a carbon fiber bundle, and includes a feeding roll, a winding roll, a vibrating roller, and a first nozzle. The vibrating roller is disposed between the feeding roll and the winding roll, and is in contact with the carbon fiber bundle. The vibrating roller is rotated according to an axis of rotation, and is vibrated along a vibrating direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The first nozzle is disposed between the vibrating roller and the winding roll, and blows the carbon fiber bundle.

A fiber spreading apparatus which is configured to spread a carbon fiber bundle, and includes a feeding roll, a winding roll, a vibrating roller, and a first nozzle. The vibrating roller is disposed between the feeding roll and the winding roll, and is in contact with the carbon fiber bundle. The vibrating roller is rotated according to an axis of rotation, and is vibrated along a vibrating direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The first nozzle is disposed between the vibrating roller and the winding roll, and blows the carbon fiber bundle.