Abstract: The reinforcing material comprises a unidirectional reinforcing web (2) formed of one or a plurality of carbon yarns (3), associated on at least one of its faces, preferably on each of its faces, with a porous polymeric layer (4, 5), the polymeric portion of the reinforcing material representing from 0.5% to 10% of its total weight and preferably from 2% to 6% of its total weight, characterized in that said carbon yarns (3) are individually twisted having a twist from 3 turns/m to 15 turns/m, preferably from 6 turns/m to 12 turns/m, and comprise at least one S-twist yarn and at least one Z-twist yarn, from a selection according to claim 1.

Abstract: The present invention concerns preforms made with a new intermediate material composed of a unidirectional layer of carbon fibers with a weight of 100 to 280 g/m2, associated on each of its faces, with a web of thermoplastic fibers having a thickness of 0.5 to 50 microns, preferably 3 to 35 microns, the intermediate material having a total thickness of 80 to 380 microns, preferably from 90 to 320 microns, and a process for manufacturing composite parts from such preforms and the resulting composite parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying spot transverse forces to an intermediate material composed of a layer of unidirectional reinforcing fibers associated on at least one of its faces to a layer of thermoplastic and/or thermosetting material that does not represent more than 10% of the total weight of the intermediate material, wherein the spot transverse forces are applied while the intermediate material is under tension in the direction of the unidirectional reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape with a given width, said tape being composed of an assembly of filaments extending in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the tape, and between which a powder of a polymeric material is distributed, each face of said tape being associated with a nonwoven of polymeric fibers.

Abstract: The present invention concerns preforms made with a new intermediate material composed of a unidirectional layer of carbon fibers with a weight of 100 to 280 g/m2, associated on each of its faces, with a web of thermoplastic fibers having a thickness of 0.5 to 50 microns, preferably 3 to 35 microns, the intermediate material having a total thickness of 80 to 380 microns, preferably from 90 to 320 microns, and a process for manufacturing composite parts from such preforms and the resulting composite parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fabric comprising carbon threads, said fabric having a mass per unit area within the range of 40 g/m2 to 100 g/m2, preferably from 40 g/m2 to 80 g/m2, specifically from 60 g/m2 to 80 g/m2, and characterized in that it comprises staple fibers, said staple fibers extending out from the threads constituting the fabric from which they originate and extending in a direction that is not parallel to the direction of the thread from which they originate and/or in that the fabric is needled. The invention also relates to the use of this fabric in a diffusion layer for a fuel cell and a method for manufacturing this diffusion layer.

Abstract: The present invention concerns preforms made with a new intermediate material composed of a unidirectional layer of carbon fibers with a weight of 100 to 280 g/m2, associated on each of its faces, with a web of thermoplastic fibers having a thickness of 0.5 to 50 microns, preferably 3 to 35 microns, the intermediate material having a total thickness of 80 to 380 microns, preferably from 90 to 320 microns, and a process for manufacturing composite parts from such preforms and the resulting composite parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying spot transverse forces to an intermediate material composed of a layer of unidirectional reinforcing fibers associated on at least one of its faces to a layer of thermoplastic and/or thermosetting material that does not represent more than 10% of the total weight of the intermediate material, wherein the spot transverse forces are applied while the intermediate material is under tension in the direction of the unidirectional reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing a ribbon of reinforcement strands or filaments associated on each of its faces with a polymeric binder, said ribbon having a given width substantially constant over its entire length, in which the strands or filaments extend in a direction parallel to the length of the ribbon, wherein it comprises the following steps: a) adjustment of the ribbon width to the desired width thanks to a dimensioning device, b) association of the ribbon on each of its faces with a polymeric binder allowing the assurance of a homogenous cohesion of the ribbon, such that the total weight of the binder does not exceed 25% of the total weight of the obtained ribbon, as well as the ribbons obtainable by such a process.

Abstract: A process for making a material adapted for the production of composite parts by a process in which a thermoplastic or thermosetting matrix is diffused within said material. The material includes at least one sheet of unidirectional carbon fibers associated on at least one of its faces with at least one conductive component associated or integrated with a permeable layer in a thermoplastic material or in a mixture of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intermediate material composed of an assembly of overlapping and interlaced tapes, characterized in that at least some of the tapes, preferably all of the tapes, known as veiled tapes, are composed of a series of reinforcing yarns or filaments that extend in a direction parallel to the length of the tape to form a unidirectional sheet that is associated on each of its faces with a nonwoven formed from thermoplastic fibers, said two nonwovens providing said veiled tape with cohesiveness because of their thermoplastic nature, to a production method using said material for producing composite parts, and to the composite parts obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates especially to an intermediate material comprising, or even constituted exclusively by, an array of individualised ribbons, each ribbon being composed by a tape of unidirectional reinforcing fibres associated, by adhesion, on each of its faces with a veil of thermoplastic fibres, characterised in that the ribbons are disposed in successive layers, in such a way that the ribbons of two successive layers are superposed with or without crossing but without interlacement, the bond between a ribbon and the ribbon or ribbons with which it is superposed being ensured by adhesion, and in that in each layer the ribbons are disposed substantially parallel to each other over at least the major part of their length, while being independent and spaced from each other and in that the ribbons of at least two layers extend in two different directions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing a ribbon of reinforcement strands or filaments associated on each of its faces with a polymeric binder, said ribbon having a given width substantially constant over its entire length, in which the strands or filaments extend in a direction parallel to the length of the ribbon, wherein it comprises the following steps: a) adjustment of the ribbon width to the desired width thanks to a dimensioning device, b) association of the ribbon on each of its faces with a polymeric binder allowing the assurance of a homogenous cohesion of the ribbon, such that the total weight of the binder does not exceed 25% of the total weight of the obtained ribbon, as well as the ribbons obtainable by such a process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite material in which at least one reinforcement thread is deposited on a surface according to a path having at least one curved area on the deposition surface, wherein the reinforcement thread is connected to the surface by a polymeric binder. A twist is applied to the reinforcement thread before the deposition thereof at least in order to compensate the length differences of the extreme paths of the thread on either side of the width as measured in a direction parallel to the deposition surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a composite part including an assembly of superimposed webs of reinforcement threads imbedded at least partially in a polymer matrix, said part including at least one curved area and the method comprising steps of draping or stacking plies of a composite material, characterized in that, in at least one area adjacent to a curved area, at least one draping or stacking step is carried out with a ply of composite material, that comprises a web, or twisted thread web, including at least one twisted reinforcement thread in order to at least compensate the length differences of the extreme paths of the thread on either side of the width as measured in a direction parallel to the surface of the web; the invention also relates to the composite materials thus obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intermediate product intended for the production of a composite part in combination with a resin matrix, formed by at least two unidirectional sets of reinforcing yarns, the yams of each set extending in a different direction, whereby the sets are interlinked by means of stitching or knitting using at least one stitching or knitting yarn. The invention is characterized in that the stitching or knitting yarn has a yarn count of less than or equal to 30 dTex, preferably less than or equal to 25 dTex, in accordance with standard EN ISO 2060.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing a ribbon of reinforcement strands or filaments associated on each of its faces with a polymeric binder, said ribbon having a given width substantially constant over its entire length, in which the strands or filaments extend in a direction parallel to the length of the ribbon, wherein it comprises the following steps: a) adjustment of the ribbon width to the desired width thanks to a dimensioning device, b) association of the ribbon on each of its faces with a polymeric binder allowing the assurance of a homogenous cohesion of the ribbon, such that the total weight of the binder does not exceed 25% of the total weight of the obtained ribbon, as well as the ribbons obtainable by such a process.

Abstract: A method for spreading a textile sheet where the sheet is caused to run between at least two rotary rollers, the axes of which extend parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the running direction of sheet. The sheet under pressure is caused to pass between at least one pressure generator of the rollers driven into axial oscillation and in phase opposition. At least one pressure generator of the rollers has adjustable pressure values along the generator in order to spread the sheet with a low thickness variability.

Abstract: A process for making a material adapted for the production of composite parts by a process in which a thermoplastic or thermosetting matrix is diffused within said material. The material includes at least one sheet of unidirectional carbon fibres associated on at least one of its faces with at least one conductive component associated or integrated with a permeable layer in a thermoplastic material or in a mixture of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material (I) adapted for the production of composite parts by a process in which a thermoplastic or thermosetting matrix is diffused within said material, comprising at least one sheet (1) of unidirectional carbon fibers (2) associated on at least one of its faces with at least one conductive component (5) associated or integrated with a permeable layer (3a, 3b, 10) in a thermoplastic material or in a mixture of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials, said permeable layer being in the form of a fabric, a powder, a porous film, a knit, or, preferably, a non-woven (3a, 3b, 10), a process for fabricating composite parts using such a material and the composite parts that can be obtained by such a process.