Abstract: A curable prepreg comprising a structural layer of unidirectional electrically conductive fibres having interstices therebetween, having a first outer face and an essentially parallel second outer face, and comprising thermosetting resin impregnated within the structural layer and present within the interstices, and a first layer of thermosetting resin in contact with the first outer face of the structural layer, wherein the ratio of the electrical conductivity in the x-direction, parallel to the conductive fibres, to the electrical conductivity in the y-direction perpendicular to the conductive fibres, is less than 1000.

Abstract: Bisorthohydroxy aromatic urones and their use as curatives and cure accelerators in resin systems particularly epoxy resin systems provide formulations with good outlife, low curing temperatures and desirable glass transition temperatures after curing, they are particularly useful in prepregs used in the production of components for the aerospace and wind turbine industries.

Abstract: A resin layer, having a generally planar form and having a first outer face and an essentially parallel second outer face, and supported on its first outer face by a supporting structure, parallel to and in contact with the first outer face, wherein the layer comprises a skeletal structure embedded within the resin, the skeletal structure comprising: a plurality of studs distributed throughout the plane of the layer, each stud having a length in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the layer, and terminating in a first end and a second end, the studs having a length extending from at least the first face to at least the second face; and a framework of solid connections, connecting each solid stud to a plurality of adjacent studs, particularly for use as part of a prepreg.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a moulding material comprising: a) A primary non-woven fibre layer; b) A secondary non-woven fibre layer, and c) A resin layer; wherein the resin layer bonds the secondary non-woven fibre layer to a first surface of the primary non-woven fibre layer, and the resin layer is exposed on the second surface of the primary non-woven layer.

Abstract: There is provided a surfacing material comprising an ultraviolet (UV) resistant polymer layer, a thermocurable or thermoplastic resin layer and a fibrous support, wherein a first surface of the UV resistant polymer layer forms an outermost surface of the surfacing material and the second surface of the UV resistant polymer layer contacts a first surface of the thermocurable or thermoplastic resin layer, and the second surface of the thermocurable or thermoplastic resin layer contacts a first surface of the fibrous support. There is also provided methods of forming cured composite structures having an ultraviolet resistant outer surface utilising a surfacing material of the invention, and cured composite structures incorporating a UV resistant surfacing layer of the invention.

Abstract: A moulding material which comprises: (a) a structural reinforcement layer comprising a fibrous reinforcement material optionally in combination with a second resin composition; and (b) a surface enhancing layer, for contacting a surface of a mould or tool, comprising a first non-woven fibre carrier in combination with a first resin composition containing a rheology modifier and a curing agent, wherein the first resin composition provides an external mould or tool-contacting surface of the moulding material. The moulding material can be cured to form a moulded article having a high quality surface finish that requires minimal preparation before painting and/or application in its intended use. The moulded article may be provided with sacrificial discontinuous indicator means to assist in uniform removal of a part of the surface enhancing layer of the moulded article for specific applications.

Abstract: Bisorthohydroxy aromatic urones and their use as curatives and cure accelerators in resin systems particularly epoxy resin systems provide formulations with good outlife, low curing temperatures and desirable glass transition temperatures after curing, they are particularly useful in prepregs used in the production of components for the aerospace and wind turbine industries.

Abstract: There is provided a resin composition for producing a composite part, comprising: a) from 30 to 90 wt % by weight of the composition of an epoxy resin component; and b) from 5 to 50 wt % by weight of the composition of a curative component; wherein the epoxy resin component comprises N,N,N?,N?-tetraglycidyl-4,4?-diamino-3,3?-dimethyldiphenylmethane (M-TGDDM) in an amount of at least 30 wt % by weight of the epoxy resin component; and further wherein the curative component comprises one or more of a diaminodiphenyl sulfone, a diaminobenzophenone, a fluorene diamine, a methylene bis aniline, including hybrid methylene bis anilines, or a substituted diamine toluene. There is also provided the use of N,N,N?,N?-tetraglycidyl-4,4?-diamino-3,3?-dimethyldiphenylmethane (M-TGDDM) as a compression performance improving additive in a resin composition for producing a composite part.

Abstract: A curative system comprising a combination of adipic acid dihydrazide and/or isophthalic dihydrazide and a clathrate in which the guest compound of the clathrate comprises an imidazole, an imidazoline or diazabicycloalkanes (DBCA).

Abstract: The host compound in a clathrate is an amino or hydroxyl containing aromatic phosphorous compound, clathrates containing a resin curative and their use in curable resin compositions to produce moulded articles particularly fibre reinforced articles.

Abstract: An adhesive composition comprising a silane-modified epoxy resin, a dicyclopentadiene novolac epoxy resin and a curing agent. The composition shows good oily steel bonding, even in the absence of CTBN rubber or rubber adducts as toughening agents, with good Tg values of the cured resin and good Tg retention after hot wet aging.

Abstract: This invention relates to a curative composition and its use in curing epoxy resins and prepregs, adhesives and moulded materials derived therefrom. The curative composition comprises a clathrate comprising a host component and a guest component, the host comprising a carboxylic acid or ester compounds as defined or phenolphthalin and the guest comprising an imidazole or imidazoline component.

Abstract: An assembly (113) for composite manufacture is provided. The assembly comprises a cured resin impregnated reinforcement material (112) comprising a fibre component and a resin matrix component, in which the resin matrix component comprises polyurethane, the assembly having a length to width ratio of at least 5:1, and the assembly defining a longitudinal direction (L) along its length; and a peel ply (116) in contact with the cured resin impregnated reinforcement material (112), the peel ply (116) comprising a woven layer having a plurality of longitudinal fibres (118) extending in the longitudinal direction (L); and a plurality of transverse fibres (120) extending in a transverse direction (T) normal to the longitudinal direction (L); in which the areal density of the plurality of transverse fibres (120) is higher than the areal density of the plurality of longitudinal fibres (118).

Abstract: A self-adhesive prepreg comprising a fibre reinforcement layer having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the fibre reinforcement layer has been pre-impregnated with a self-adhesive resin composition. The self-adhesive may be used as a structural reinforcement and is especially adapted for direct bonding to oily steel or galvanized steel in the automotive, aerospace and other sheet metal fabrication industries.

Abstract: The host compound in a clathrate is an amino or hydroxyl containing aromatic phosphorous compound, clathrates containing a resin curative and their use in curable resin compositions to produce moulded articles particularly fibre reinforced articles.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a moulding material comprising: a) A primary non-woven fibre layer; b) A secondary non-woven fibre layer, and c) A resin layer; wherein the resin layer bonds the secondary non-woven fibre layer to a first surface of the primary non-woven fibre layer, and the resin layer is exposed on the second surface of the primary non-woven layer.

Abstract: A moulding material which comprises: (a) a structural reinforcement layer comprising a fibrous reinforcement material optionally in combination with a second resin composition; and (b) a surface enhancing layer, for contacting a surface of a mould or tool, comprising a first non-woven fibre carrier in combination with a first resin composition containing a rheology modifier and a curing agent, wherein the first resin composition provides an external mould or tool-contacting surface of the moulding material. The moulding material can be cured to form a moulded article having a high quality surface finish that requires minimal preparation before painting and/or application in its intended use. The moulded article may be provided with sacrificial discontinuous indicator means to assist in uniform removal of a part of the surface enhancing layer of the moulded article for specific applications.

Abstract: A prepreg or semipreg precursor comprising a fibre reinforcement and a resin composition fused thereto, the resin composition containing at least one epoxy resin and a latent curing agent, wherein the epoxy resin and the latent curing agent form a solid phase at ambient temperature, the latent curing agent forming a discrete phase within the epoxy resin. The stabilized uncured resin composition and prepregs and semipregs incorporating the same are easy to handle, have desirable curing temperatures and show good outlife at ambient to mid range temperatures.

Abstract: A self-adhesive prepreg comprising a fibre reinforcement layer having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the fibre reinforcement layer has been pre-impregnated with a self-adhesive resin composition. The self-adhesive may be used as a structural reinforcement and is especially adapted for direct bonding to oily steel or galvanized steel in the automotive, aerospace and other sheet metal fabrication industries.

Abstract: An assembly (113) for composite manufacture is provided. The assembly comprises a cured resin impregnated reinforcement material (112) comprising a fibre component and a resin matrix component, in which the resin matrix component comprises polyurethane, the assembly having a length to width ratio of at least 5:1, and the assembly defining a longitudinal direction (L) along its length; and a peel ply (116) in contact with the cured resin impregnated reinforcement material (112), the peel ply (116) comprising a woven layer having a plurality of longitudinal fibres (118) extending in the longitudinal direction (L); and a plurality of transverse fibres (120) extending in a transverse direction (T) normal to the longitudinal direction (L); in which the areal density of the plurality of transverse fibres (120) is higher than the areal density of the plurality of longitudinal fibres (118).