Cytec Industries Inc.

Cytec Industrial Materials (derby) Limited

Advanced Composites Group Limited

Umeco Structual Materials (derby) Limited

Umeco Structural Materials (derby) Limited

Umeco Structural Materials Limited

Mark Raymond Steele

Andrew Steven Gibbs

Thomas Joseph Corden

Amy Grace Atkinson

Amy Grace Atinkson

Arshad Choudry

Andrew Gibbs

Thomas Corden

The present invention relates to low or zero-tack composite materials such as pre-pregs and their use in automated manufacturing, particularly robotic pick and place. The present invention further relates to an automated process for preparing an article, particularly a molded article, from a fiber-reinforced composition material. The molded articles prepared by the process described herein are particularly suitable as components for transport applications, and particularly the automotive industry. The automotive components prepared by the present invention are particularly suitable as mid- or high-volume automotive parts, in which cost and speed of production are paramount. The present invention provides a process in which the cutting and handling of pre-preg materials is greatly simplified, providing advantages of efficiency and economy. The lay-up time according to the present invention is significantly reduced, allowing a reduction in the unit cost per component and/or allowing the high volume of component production desired in the automotive industry.

Process for preparing moulded articles from fibre-reinforced composite materials&#x2014;I

Curative fibre components comprise one or more fibres for filaments of curative suitable to cure curable resins such as thermoset resin. In curative fibre components comprising a plurality of fibres of curative, the fibres can be commingled, such as twisting, to form a thread or yarn. Curative fibre components can be used to form a material in the form of a sheet, fabric, layer, textile or mat of woven or non-woven curative fibres. Curative fibre components can be used to produce composite materials such as fibre reinforced resinous composite materials. The curative fibre components can be commingled, including interwoven, stitched and layered with other fibres or fibrous materials, such as fibrous reinforcement, fibrous curable resin, fibrous thermoplastic, other non-reinforcing fibres to form composite materials, prepregs, preforms and articles.

Curative fibre components

The present invention relates to thermoset resin fiber components, composite materials including thermoset resin fiber components, composite articles manufactured using such composite materials and methodologies for manufacturing same. The thermoset resin fiber components may include a single fiber of thermoset resin or a plurality of fibers commingled together. The properties and characteristics of the thermoset resin used are chosen according to the material to be produced therefrom. The thermoset fiber components may be woven into reinforcement fibers to form prepregs. Thermoplastic fibers may be commingled and co-woven with the thermoset fiber components.

Thermoset resin fibres

A tool for use in forming moulded articles, the tool comprising a tool body formed of a foamed material, a resinous material on the tool body and elastomeric material between said tool body and resinous material to inhibit the movement of resin from the resinous material into the tool body. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a tool, a method of moulding articles using such a tool, and elastomeric material for use in forming a tool. One particular application of the tools of the present invention is in the formation or manufacture of moulded articles using curable, resinous composite materials.

Foamed tools

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Belper, United Kingdom

Mark Raymond Steele