Abstract: The invention relates to an intermediate material (132) for the manufacture of composite components, having a prepreg layer (116) and an interleaving layer (120) made up of at least two sections of thermally joined thermoplastic interleaving material sections (120a, 120b). The invention also relates to a method of manufacture of such an intermediate material.

Abstract: A fiber tow spreading apparatus comprising: fiber supply for supplying a fiber tow; a fiber spreader for spreading the filaments of the fiber tow to form a spread tow having an increased width; a guide member for directing the fiber tow in relation to the fiber spreader; a driver for driving the fiber tow in relation to the fiber spreader; wherein the driver comprises a moveable contacting surface to which the fiber is adhered.

Abstract: A method of controlling a process for the manufacture of a multicomponent sheet material having a desired pre-determined parameter comprising applying an acoustic or an electromagnetic signal to interact with the sheet material whereby the interaction modifies the applied signal, detecting the modified signal, comparing the modified signal or data derived from it with data relating to the pre-determined parameter and modifying at least one step of the process whereby the data relating to the modified signal is modified towards the data relating to the pre-determined parameter.

Abstract: A method of controlling a process for the manufacture of a multicomponent sheet material having a desired pre-determined parameter comprising applying an acoustic or an electromagnetic signal to interact with the sheet material whereby the interaction modifies the applied signal, detecting the modified signal, comparing the modified signal or data derived from it with data relating to the pre-determined parameter and modifying at least one step of the process whereby the data relating to the modified signal is modified towards the data relating to the pre-determined parameter.