Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a carbon fiber felt which includes the steps of preparing a substantially unidirectional array of continuous carbonizable filaments in oxydized state, cross-laying other such filaments on one side of said array in a state of restraint from displacement from their cross-laid relationship, and needle-punching the resulting assembly from the same side.Also disclosed is a method of pre-sizing a high bulk, low density carbon fiber felt comprising the steps of impregnating said felt with a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin highly diluted in a solvent, and removing said solvent either before or while the assembly is being reduced to its final dimensions to leave the resin per se as a coating on the fibrous material serving to adhere individual elements together at cross-over points to prevent displacement thereof, all prior to the addition of the matrix material in which the carbon fiber is embedded to form the final composite.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a carbon fiber felt which includes the steps of preparing a substantially unidirectional array of continuous carbonizable filaments in oxidized state, cross-laying other such filaments on one side of said array in a state of restraint from displacement from their cross-laid relationship, and needle-punching the resulting assembly from the same side.Also disclosed is a method of pre-sizing a high bulk, low density carbon fiber felt comprising the steps of impregnating said felt with a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin highly diluted in a solvent, and removing said solvent either before or while the assembly is being reduced to its final dimensions to leave the resin per se as a coating on the fibrous material serving to adhere individual elements together at cross-over points to prevent displacement thereof, all prior to the addition of the matrix material in which the carbon fiber is embedded to form the final composite.