The present invention concerns a sizing composition for glass fibers comprising the following components: (a) A silane based coupling agent which is not an aminosilane; (b) A film former; (c) A borate; (d) A lubricant Characterized in that, at least 75 wt. % of the silane coupling agent present in the composition is dialkoxylated. It also concerns a glass fiber sized with the reaction product of said sizing composition, as well as a polymeric composite reinforced with such glass fibers.

A hybrid reinforcement material (18) is disclosed that includes a plurality of reinforcement fibers (12) and a plurality of carbon fibers (14) comingled with the reinforcement fibers (12). The reinforcement fibers (12) are selected from natural fibers, organic fibers, and inorganic fibers and form a single hybrid assembled roving with the carbon fibers (14). The carbon fibers (14) are post-coated with a compatibilizer. The hybrid assembled roving (18) may be formed using a hybrid of glass and carbon fibers.

A prepreg includes; sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D) and a latent hardener (E), and optionally includes an additive (F) other than the thermosetting resin (D) and the latent hardener (E). The (a)/(b) ratio is within a predetermined range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, C—C, and C═C and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C—O in a C.sub.1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

A prepreg includes; sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D) and a latent hardener (E), and optionally includes an additive (F) other than the thermosetting resin (D) and the latent hardener (E). The (a)/(b) ratio is within a predetermined range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, C—C, and C═C and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C—O in a C.sub.1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

A prepreg includes; sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D) and a latent hardener (E), and optionally includes an additive (F) other than the thermosetting resin (D) and the latent hardener (E). The (a)/(b) ratio is within a predetermined range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, C—C, and C═C and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C—O in a C.sub.1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The invention aims to provide a tape-shaped prepreg including unidirectionally oriented reinforcing fibers and a thermoplastic resin composition and being high in handleability during molding and high in adhesiveness to other members. The tape-shaped prepreg includes unidirectionally oriented reinforcing fibers and a thermoplastic resin composition and has an arithmetic average roughness (Ra) of 0.1 to 10 m in a direction perpendicular to the orientation direction of the reinforcing fibers, as measured according to JIS B 0601: 2013, and a warpage rate of 5% or less as determined by the procedure specified in (i) to (iii) below: (i) place a test piece of the above tape-shaped prepreg having a length of 100 mm in the fiber orientation direction on a plane in such manner that the end portions curl upward, (ii) measure the vertical distance from the highest position at the right end of the curled tape to the plane, which is denoted by a, and the vertical distance from the highest position at the left end to the plane, which is denoted by b, and calculate the arithmetic average of a and b, which is defined as the warpage distance, and (iii) calculate the warpage rate by the following equation: warpage rate (%)=warpage distance (mm)/100 (mm)100.

A manufactured hemp product comprising a plurality of adhesively bonded and pressed hemp strands where the majority of the hemp strands are of generally the same length and comprise a naturally-occurring, generally elongate internal structure extending generally along one axis of the strand that has been at least partially laterally broken and at least permeated by an adhesive. The hemp strands are oriented roughly parallel to one another along their length. The manufactured hemp product comprises an amount of adhesive between about 5% to about 49% by weight. The manufactured hemp product can be used as a wood substitute in terms of appearance and performance. The manufactured hemp products may have aesthetic and structural qualities that are suitable for high traffic, high visibility applications such as boards, blocks, beams, panels, flooring, furniture, building materials and other wood products.

The invention aims to provide a tape-shaped prepreg including unidirectionally oriented reinforcing fibers and a thermoplastic resin composition and being high in handleability during molding and high in adhesiveness to other members. The tape-shaped prepreg includes unidirectionally oriented reinforcing fibers and a thermoplastic resin composition and has an arithmetic average roughness (Ra) of 0.1 to 10 ?m in a direction perpendicular to the orientation direction of the reinforcing fibers, as measured according to JIS B 0601: 2013, and a warpage rate of 5% or less as determined by the procedure specified in (i) to (iii) below: (i) place a test piece of the above tape-shaped prepreg having a length of 100 mm in the fiber orientation direction on a plane in such manner that the end portions curl upward, (ii) measure the vertical distance from the highest position at the right end of the curled tape to the plane, which is denoted by a, and the vertical distance from the highest position at the left end to the plane, which is denoted by b, and calculate the arithmetic average of a and b, which is defined as the warpage distance, and (iii) calculate the warpage rate by the following equation: warpage rate (%)=warpage distance (mm)/100 (mm)?100.

A prepreg includes; sizing agent-coated carbon fibers coated with a sizing agent; and a thermosetting resin composition impregnated into the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers. The sizing agent includes an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and an aromatic compound (B) at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1). The thermosetting resin composition includes a thermosetting resin (D) and a latent hardener (E), and optionally includes an additive (F) other than the thermosetting resin (D) and the latent hardener (E). The (a)/(b) ratio is within a predetermined range where (a) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to CHx, CC, and CC and (b) is the height of a component at a binding energy assigned to C) in a C.sub.1s core spectrum of the surfaces of the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

A manufactured hemp product comprising a plurality of adhesively bonded and pressed hemp strands where the majority of the hemp strands are of generally the same length and comprise a naturally-occurring, generally elongate internal structure extending generally along one axis of the strand that has been at least partially laterally broken and at least permeated by an adhesive. The hemp strands are oriented roughly parallel to one another along their length. The manufactured hemp product comprises an amount of adhesive between about 5% to about 49% by weight. The manufactured hemp product can be used as a wood substitute in terms of appearance and performance. The manufactured hemp products may have aesthetic and structural qualities that are suitable for high traffic, high visibility applications such as boards, blocks, beams, panels, flooring, furniture, building materials and other wood products.