Abstract: The invention relates to a reinforcing material (1) consisting of a unidirectional reinforcing web (2) formed of one or more carbon reinforcing yarns (3), associated on each of its faces with a veil of polymeric fibers (4, 5) chosen from among nonwoven materials, the polymeric portion of the reinforcing material representing from 0.5% to 10% of the total weight of the reinforcing material (1), and preferably from 2% to 6% of its total weight, said unidirectional reinforcing web (2) comprising one or a series of reinforcing yarns (3) individually twisted having a twist of 3 turns/m to 15 turns/m, preferably from 6 turns/m to 12 turns/m.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intermediate composite element (200) comprising: —at least one molded portion (300) comprising an assembly of reinforcing fibers integrated into a thermoset polymer matrix, —at least one dry stack (400) of layers of reinforcing fibers, comprising at least one polymeric porous layer inserted between two successive layers of reinforcing fibers, the molded portion (300) being affixed to the surface of the stack and bonded to the latter, characterized in that the thermoset polymer penetrates into a portion of the thickness of the dry stack (400) from the surface of the dry stack (400) on which the molded portion (300) is affixed, thereby providing the bond between the dry stack (400) and the molded portion (300). The invention also relates to a process for the production thereof, the processes for producing composite parts using such an element and the resulting composite parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preforming a composite material (I) in the form of a plate comprising reinforcing fibers bonded together, in particular by a plastic polymer material. In particular, such a process comprises an intermediate forming phase (b) comprising at least the following operations: introducing gas (III) into the second chamber (4), while maintaining the pressure P2 of the second chamber (4) below the external pressure Pext, and in particular atmospheric pressure, when the external pressure Pext is equal to atmospheric pressure, and thereby locally maintaining the upper diaphragm (2) at a distance from the lower diaphragm (1), and while maintaining, at the contact zone (5), both the alignment and the contact between the composite material (I) and the two diaphragms (1 and 2), evacuating gas (III) contained in the first chamber (3), so as to press the lower diaphragm (1) over the entire forming surface (22) present at the bottom (21) of the mold (20).

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 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 concerns a multilayer element comprising a reinforcing material suitable for producing composite parts combined on at least one of the faces of same with a support layer characterized in that the reinforcing material and the support layer are combined by means of electrostatic forces, and a method for preparing such a material and a method for producing a composite part produced from at least one reinforcing material obtained from such an element, after having removed the support layer.

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 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: 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stack of fibrous materials including at least two unidirectional carbon fiber layers, each extending in different directions, wherein each one of the unidirectional layers is connected by means of at least one of the surfaces thereof to an adjacent web of thermoplastic fibers, at least one web being inserted between two consecutive unidirectional layers, characterized in that the link between each unidirectional layer and each adjacent web is provided by the web, by weld points which produce an intermittent overall weld, and in that said weld points also guarantee the cohesion of the stack, as well as the method for manufacturing same.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new intermediate material to be associated with a thermosetting resin for making composite parts, consisting 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 a material and the resulting composite parts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing 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, the method comprising: —a step consisting in depositing powder formed from a polymeric material on at least one of the faces of the tape, preferably on both faces; —a step consisting in heating in order to at least partially soften the deposited powder then of tightening the tape in order to adjust its width to the width desired and to cause at least a portion of the powder to penetrate into the thickness of the tape between the filaments, and of cooling the tape to fix its width and provide cohesiveness because of the powder; and—to tapes obtained using said method.

Abstract: A method for producing a diffusion layer of an electrochemical device, including: superimposition of multiple unidirectional webs of carbon filaments, filaments of each web positioned parallel with, and next to, one another; needle punching of the webs, breaking a proportion of the filaments such that broken portions of the filaments are tangled with other filaments of the webs; and cutting a proportion of the multiple unidirectional webs, the carbon filaments forming one electrically conducting outer surface of the diffusion layer. The needle punching is accomplished all the way through the multiple unidirectional webs, and/or through two principal opposite faces of the multiple unidirectional webs, and/or with an impact density against the multiple unidirectional webs of between approximately 100 and 300 impacts/cm2.

Abstract: An intermediate material made up of an array of individualized ribbons, each ribbon being composed of a tape of unidirectional reinforcing fibers associated, by adhesion, on each of its faces with a veil of thermoplastic fibers.