Abstract: A composite powder including particles and each particle including a plurality of reinforcement elements contained within a matrix. The composite powder may be applied in a powder bed to form a multilayered composite component. Each layer being formed by a composite powder bed. As each layer is applied, the reinforcement elements of the powder particles may be moved into alignment with an electromagnetic field.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a composite material, a catalyst material is patterned within a deposition area to form an array of catalyst regions. A first array of bundles of filaments is grown on the catalyst regions. Adjacent filaments in the bundle are spaced by an inter-filament gap. Adjacent bundles are spaced in the array by an inter-bundle gap substantially free of filaments. The free tips of the filaments are drawn together within each bundle, so that the inter-filament gaps become smaller at the tip of each bundle than at the base of each bundle where the filaments remain attached to the catalyst region. These steps are repeated to provide a second array of bundles of filaments. The second array are positioned or grown at least partly in the inter-bundle gaps of the first array. The inter-filament gaps and inter-bundle gaps of both arrays are impregnated with a matrix material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite material, the method comprising: growing two or more layers of reinforcement in-situ; and impregnating each layer with a matrix before growing the next layer. The reinforcement layers may be formed by a chemical vapor deposition process. The method can be used as an additive layer manufacturing technique to form a component with a desired shape and physical characteristics.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite component comprising the steps of: loading a preform into a component forming environment, filling the environment with a solvent carrying a catalyst material in solution or suspension, draining this liquid from the mould thereby leaving a residue of the catalyst material on the perform and/or the interior surface of the forming environment, heating the forming environment and subsequently or concurrently introducing a carbonaceous gas under such conditions as to grow a carbon nanotube structure on the preform and/or the forming environment surfaces, removing the carbonaceous gas, and introducing a liquid resin material into the forming environment whereby the resin disperses through the preform and carbon nanotube structure thereby forming the finished composite component once the resin is cured or set.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite material, the method comprising: providing a first layer (14) of CNTs reinforcement elements (13) with liquid matrix material in interstitial gaps between the reinforcement elements; dipping a second layer of reinforcement elements into the liquid matrix material in the interstitial gaps such that the reinforcement elements in the second layer become partially embedded in the first layer of reinforcement elements and partially protrude from the first layer of reinforcement elements, impregnating the protruding parts of the reinforcement elements in the second layer with liquid matrix material; and curing the liquid matrix material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite material, the method comprising: providing a first layer (14) of CNTs reinforcement elements (13) with liquid matrix material in interstitial gaps between the reinforcement elements; dipping a second layer of reinforcement elements into the liquid matrix material in the interstitial gaps such that the reinforcement elements in the second layer become partially embedded in the first layer of reinforcement elements and partially protrude from the first layer of reinforcement elements, impregnating the protruding parts of the reinforcement elements in the second layer with liquid matrix material; and curing the liquid matrix material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component from a composite material, the composite material comprising a matrix and a plurality of reinforcement elements (CNTs), the method comprising: forming a series of layers of the composite material, each layer being formed on top of a previous layer; and applying an electromagnetic field to the composite material before the next layer is formed on top of it, the electromagnetic field causing at least some of the reinforcement elements to rotate. An apparatus comprising a build platform, a system for forming a series of layers of composite materials on the build platform and an electrode for applying an electromagnetic field is also disclosed. A composite powder comprising CNTs and a matrix and the method of fabrication are disclosed as a second aspect of the application.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite component comprising the steps of: loading a preform into a component forming environment, filling the environment with a solvent carrying a catalyst material in solution or suspension, draining this liquid from the mould thereby leaving a residue of the catalyst material on the perform and/or the interior surface of the forming environment, heating the forming environment and subsequently or concurrently introducing a carbonaceous gas under such conditions as to grow a carbon nanotube structure on the preform and/or the forming environment surfaces, removing the carbonaceous gas, and introducing a liquid resin material into the forming environment whereby the resin disperses through the preform and carbon nanotube structure thereby forming the finished composite component once the resin is cured or set.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite material, the method comprising: growing a layer of reinforcement; and impregnating the layer with a matrix. The reinforcement layer may be formed by a chemical vapour deposition process. The method can be used as an additive layer manufacturing technique to form a component with a desired shape and physical characteristics, or can be used to form a thin sheet material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite material, the method comprising: growing two or more layers of reinforcement in-situ; and impregnating each layer with a matrix before growing the next layer. The reinforcement layers may be formed by a chemical vapour deposition process. The method can be used as an additive layer manufacturing technique to form a component with a desired shape and physical characteristics.