Toray Industries, Inc.

Akihiko Kitano

Masato Honma

Noriyuki Hirano

Atsuki Tsuchiya

Eisuke Wadahara

Ichiro Taketa

Masanobu Kobayashi

Tomoyuki Shinoda

Kenichi Noguchi

Masahiro Yamanouchi

Takuya Karaki

Shoji Murai

Masayoshi Yamagiwa

Yasushi Iida

Hitoshi Nishiyama

Kenichi Yoshioka

Toshihide Sekido

Masaaki Yamasaki

Fumiaki Noma

Takehiko Hirabara

Kaori Narimatsu

Motoi Ito

A composite prepreg base includes a raw prepreg base comprising a fiber sheet including discontinuous reinforcing fibers arranged in one direction and having a fiber length of 1-300 mm and a matrix resin infiltrated into the fiber sheet; and an additional resin layer formed on at least one surface of the raw prepreg base. The composite prepreg base is produced by a process including (i) the step of preparing the raw prepreg base and (ii) the step of forming an additional resin layer on at least one surface of the raw prepreg base prepared. A layered base includes two or more sheets of the composite prepreg base which have been superposed so that the additional resin layer is present on at least one surface; and a fiber-reinforced plastic formed by heating and pressing the layered base.

Process for producing composite prepreg base, layered base, and fiber-reinforced plastic

A composite prepreg base which includes a raw prepreg base comprising a fiber sheet comprising discontinuous reinforcing fibers arranged in one direction and having a fiber length of 1-300 mm and a matrix resin infiltrated into the fiber sheet; and an additional resin layer formed on at least one surface of the raw prepreg base. The composite prepreg base is produced by a process including (i) the step of preparing the raw prepreg base and (ii) the step of forming an additional resin layer on at least one surface of the raw prepreg base prepared. Also provided are: a layered base including two or more sheets of the composite prepreg base which have been superposed so that the additional resin layer is present on at least one surface; and a fiber-reinforced plastic formed by heating and pressing the layered base.

A fiber-reinforced plate-like plastic having a plate and a protrusion rising on the plate, wherein the plate and the protrusion each contain a laminated structure composed of plural reinforcing fiber sheets which each include many fibers of 10 to 100 mm in fiber length arranged in a fixed direction and at least two of the layers constituting the laminated structure are different in the direction of arrangement of reinforcing fibers and wherein at least part of the reinforcing fibers extend continuously from the plate to the protrusion and at least one of the layers constituting the laminated structure of the protrusion has a shape similar to the shape of the protrusion; and a process for the production of fiber-reinforced plastic which includes cutting a unidirectional prepreg sheet composed of many reinforcing fibers arranged in a fixed direction and a matrix resin into prepreg base material sheets with the above fiber length, laminating the prepreg base material sheets with the directions of arrangement of reinforcing fibers of the base material sheets being different from each other to form a prepreg laminate, and heating and pressure-molding this laminate in a mold provided with a recess for forming the production.

Fiber-reinforced plastic and process for production thereof

This invention is an impact energy absorption device, in which a long part () made of a high strength material is disposed with its lengthwise direction kept different from an impact direction, and both terminals of the long part () are connected with columns () through upper platens () covering the upper faces of the columns () kept standing apart from each other with a predetermined distance (L), comprising a structural system, in which a deformation of the long part () caused by the impact force applied to it, causes the upper platens () to move for compressing or deflecting the columns (), thereby absorbing the impact energy. The conventional column type energy absorption member is weak against an impact applied in a direction within a wide angle (&#x3b8;) such as an impact applied in an oblique direction. However, the energy absorption device of this invention can exhibit an impact energy absorption capability even against an impact applied in the direction within such a wide angle, equivalent or superior to that in the case where it fails in the axial direction. Furthermore, even if the parts used are damaged, they can be easily exchanged to allow restoration as an energy absorption device.

Impact energy absorption device

A fiber-reinforced composite material including reinforcing fibers and a matrix resin, wherein at least some of the reinforcing fibers have their ends in the matrix resin, and a second resin having an elastic modulus less than that of the matrix resin is present in contact with fiber ends of at least some of reinforcing fibers having above-mentioned ends and only in the neighborhood thereof.

Fiber-reinforced composite material and method for production thereof

This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a large FRP member including: disposing a preform containing a reinforcing fiber on a surface of a molding die; covering a molding portion with a bagging material or a mold and providing a suction port and a resin injection port for sealing; evacuating the molding portion through the suction port; heating the molding portion; injecting a thermosetting resin from the resin injection port for impregnating the reinforcing fiber with the resin while a temperature Tm of the molding die and a temperature Tv of the bagging material or the mold are both set to room temperature or more, and a difference &#x394;T in temperature between the Tm and the Tv is set to 10&#xb0; C. or less; and curing the resin by maintaining the molding portion at a predetermined temperature Tpc which is equal to or more than room temperature.

Method for producing upsized FRP member

A light-weight, highly rigid, high-strength environment-friendly fiber-reinforced plastic (hereinafter, CFRP) board having a surface quality that can endure long-term use suitable for use in automobiles and the like is provided. A method for making the same is also provided. The CFRP board includes a board member formed from a woven fabric as a reinforcing base material, the woven fabric including carbon fibers; and at least one of a gel coat and a paint provided on the board member, wherein the NSIC value of the surface of the CFRP board is 30% or more.

CFRP plate material and method for preparation thereof

The pressure vessel of the present invention comprises an inner shell capable of serving as a gas barrier and a pressure resistant outer shell provided to cover the inner shell, said outer shell being made of an FRP comprising reinforcing fibers and a resin and is 35 GPa or more in tensile modulus and 1.5% or more in tensile breaking strain. The present invention can provide a pressure vessel not only light in weight,.but also excellent in retaining its internal pressure against repetitive impacts and also excellent in reliability. The process for producing a pressure vessel of the present invention comprises the step of forming a pressure resistant outer shell made of an FRP comprising reinforcing fibers and a resin and is 35 GPa or more in tensile modulus and 1.5% or more in tensile breaking strain, around an inner shell capable of serving as a gas barrier, by a filament winding method or a tape winding method. The present invention can produce a pressure vessel excellent in retaining its internal pressure, excellent in reliability, and light in weight at a low cost.

Pressure vessel and process for producing the same

The present invention is an impact energy absorption member that is characterized by comprising a long member of fiber reinforced resin having a lengthwise direction and a thickness direction, wherein the ratio of the thickness t (mm) of the long member to the length L (mm) thereof is within the range of 1/11000 to 6/1000 as well as the direction of an external force is substantially in agreement with the thickness direction of the impact member. The member of the present invention sufficiently absorbs impact energy from a moving body when collision occurs and greatly increases safety to collision of transportation equipment, for example, a motor car and the like as well as is light in weight and compact, whereby the member can improve resistance against environment and saves energy. Further, when this member is applied to a house and a building against which the transportation equipment may collide, it can reduce the loss of social properties.

Impact energy absorbing member

Light metal/CFRP-made structural members which are characterized in that they are structural materials in which a CFRP material is stuck to the surface of a light metal material via an adhesive agent layer of thickness at least 10 &mgr;m and up to 500 &mgr;m, and the volume resistivity of the adhesive agent layer between said metal material and said CFRP material is at least 1&times;10 &OHgr;.cm and, furthermore, the adhesive strength at room temperature is at least 15 MPa. In accordance with the present invention, since conventional light metal/CFRP structural materials can be made lighter and, furthermore, since the resistance to galvanic corrosion is outstanding and it is possible to markedly enhance the strength and the impact energy absorption performance, the development of applications and large-scale expansion into new fields becomes possible. Weight reduction and enhancing the durability and reliability of structures also makes a considerable contribution in terms of environmental protection.

Light metal/CFRP structural member

The pressure vessel of the present invention comprises an inner shell capable of serving as a gas barrier and a pressure resistant outer shell provided to cover the inner shell, said outer shell being made of an FRP comprising reinforcing fibers and a resin and is 35 GPa or more in tensile modulus and 1.5% or more in tensile breaking strain. The present invention can provide a pressure vessel not only light in weight, but also excellent in retaining its internal pressure against repetitive impacts and also excellent in reliability. The process for producing a pressure vessel of the present invention comprises the step of forming a pressure resistant outer shell made of an FRP comprising reinforcing fibers and a resin and is 35 GPa or more in tensile modulus and 1.5% or more in tensile breaking strain, around an inner shell capable of serving as a gas barrier, by a filament winding method or a tape winding method. The present invention can produce a pressure vessel excellent in retaining its internal pressure, excellent in reliability, and light in weight at a low cost.

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Ehime, Japan

Akihiko Kitano