Abstract: A reinforced composite is provided that includes at least one planar fiber reinforcement or fabric formed from a plurality of fibers. The fiber reinforcement or fabric has a first side and a second side. The reinforced composite further includes a chemical treatment coated on at least one of said first side and second side and a matrix material.

Abstract: A composition and method for making composite fibers used in the reinforcement of concrete is provided. The composite fibers comprise a plurality of silica-coated glass fibers. The silica particles provide an improved interface between the composite fibers and the concrete matrix.

Abstract: A reinforced composite is provided that includes at least one planar fiber reinforcement or fabric formed from a plurality of fibers. The fiber reinforcement or fabric has a first side and a second side. The reinforced composite further includes a chemical treatment coated on at least one of said first side and second side and a matrix material.

Abstract: A process for preparation of a complex for resin impregnation includes the production of a sheet having at least one layer of a fibrous reinforcing structure and a layer of a thickening material that considerably thickens the sheet, the layers associated in a juxtaposed manner. The process also includes needle bonding of the sheet on the side of the fibrous reinforcing structure by means of barbed needles. The barbed needles pass through at least the layer of a fibrous reinforcing structure and at least partially through the layer of thickening material. The needles move in the direction of the sheet at essentially the same speed as the sheet when they pass through it, with an impact density ranging from 1 to 25 impacts per cm2. The invention also relates to the complex made by the process and to a composite material obtained by impregnation of the complex. The invention makes faster impregnation of the complex possible during manufacture of the composite.

Abstract: The invention relates to glass strands intended for the reinforcement of polymer materials which are coated with a sizing composition comprising, as adhesive film-forming agents, the blend of at least one polyvinyl acetate and at least one polyvinylpyrrolidone, said at least polyvinyl acetate representing 70 to 90% by weight of the solid matter of the size. The glass strands obtained are used as reinforcements in the manufacture of molded parts having a thermosetting matrix obtained by the technique of spray-up molding of said strands and resin, especially by LFI (Long Fiber Injection) molding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mat made of needle-punched strands comprising a strand made of mineral glass that has been sized by a composition comprising water, where the solids content of said composition comprises 1-30 wt % coupling agent and 30-99 wt % polyvinylpyrrolidone. The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of a mat comprising a) the deposition or projection of sized strands onto a moving belt to form a blanket of said strands, which is driven by said belt, then b) the needle punching with barbed needles which pass through said blanket and move in the direction of the blanket at substantially the same speed as the blanket when they pass through it, with a punch density ranging from 1 to 25 punches per cm2.

Abstract: A method for preparing a mat, including: a) deposition or projection of threads onto a traveling belt to form a lap of the threads that are driven by the belt, then b) needling by bearded needles passing through the lap and being displaced in the direction of the lap at substantially the same speed as that when they pass through the lap, with a stroke density ranging from 1 to 25 strokes per cm2. By the method the mat obtained can easily be deformed by hand to be placed in a mold for manufacture of a composite material by injection of resin (RTM). The mat may also be incorporated into a preimpregnated sheet (SMC) and be molded under pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet molding compound comprising a thermosetting resin and a fibrous structure bonded by a solvent soluble in said thermosetting resin. During manufacture by hot compression molding of the composite, the binder dissolves and frees the fibers of the fibrous structure, allowing the structure to flow and fill the entire mold for manufacturing the composite. A fibrous structure containing continuous strands or chopped strands may be used. The binder allows the fibrous structure to be handled, wound and stored before it is incorporated into the sheet molding compound.

Abstract: An installation and a method of preparing a continuous strand mat, the strands coming from at least one roving thrown onto a conveyor belt. In the method at least one roving package supported on a spindle is paid out via the outside, a rate of the pay-out imposed by a motor acting directly on the roving package so that linear speed of the paid-out roving is constant; then the roving passes through a nozzle, by passing through an entry and then an exit of the nozzle, the nozzle also provided with a transverse injection of at least one fluid mainly directed toward the exit of the nozzle, inducing a tension toward the bottom of the roving, the fluid also dividing the roving; and then the strands forming the roving are thrown in an oscillatory movement onto the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A method for preparing a mat, including: a) deposition or projection of threads onto a traveling belt to form a lap of the threads that are driven by the belt, then b) needling by bearded needles passing through the lap and being displaced in the direction of the lap at substantially the same speed as that when they pass through the lap, with a stroke density ranging from 1 to 25 strokes per cm2. By the method the mat obtained can easily be deformed by hand to be placed in a mold for manufacture of a composite material by injection of resin (RTM). The mat may also be incorporated into a preimpregnated sheet (SMC) and be molded under pressure.

Abstract: A mat formed of continuous yarns made of alkali-resistant glass. A composite includes the mat and a cementing matrix.

Abstract: A plant for the manufacture of mats formed of continuous yarns originating from bobbins and thrown onto a conveyor belt. The plant includes at least one bobbin supported on a spindle, a guide for guiding a fiber bundle leaving the bobbin, a mechanism for pulling the fiber bundle, and a mechanism for throwing the yarns that make up the fiber bundle onto the conveyor belt. The guide for guiding, the mechanism for pulling, and the mechanism for throwing the fiber bundle are fixed, located in the continuation of one another and at one and a same level. The throwing mechanism includes a swinging arm for throwing the yarn transversely to the conveyor belt and the guide is arranged such that the fiber bundle is paid out from the bobbin from the outside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mat comprising discontinuous natural fibers and discontinuous glass fibers, and to the fibrous structures that can be produced using said mat, said structures being intended to reinforce composites. The presence of natural fibers in the mat gives the latter the property of being easy to handle, especially by eliminating the annoying tendency of mats made exclusively of glass fiber to wrinkle uncontrollably. In addition, the mechanical properties of the final composite are remarkable, in particular with regard to the tensile modulus and flexural modulus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fibrous structure, especially made of glass, comprising at least one layer of randomly distributed continuous strands and at least one reinforcing fabric layer, such as a chopped strand layer, the various layers of the structure being linked together by a mechanical means, such as stitching or needle punching, and/or a chemical means, such as a binder. This structure may be produced continuously or in a batch process. It has good permeability and good deformability when it is used to produce a composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant for the manufacture of mats formed of continuous yarns originating from bobbins (1) and thrown onto a conveyor belt (10), comprising: