Abstract: The reinforcing material comprises a unidirectional reinforcing web (2) formed of one or a plurality of carbon yarns (3), associated on at least one of its faces, preferably on each of its faces, with a porous polymeric layer (4, 5), the polymeric portion of the reinforcing material representing from 0.5% to 10% of its total weight and preferably from 2% to 6% of its total weight, characterized in that said carbon yarns (3) are individually twisted having a twist from 3 turns/m to 15 turns/m, preferably from 6 turns/m to 12 turns/m, and comprise at least one S-twist yarn and at least one Z-twist yarn, from a selection according to claim 1.

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 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 a method for making a composite part including an assembly of superimposed webs of reinforcement threads imbedded at least partially in a polymer matrix, said part including at least one curved area and the method comprising steps of draping or stacking plies of a composite material, characterized in that, in at least one area adjacent to a curved area, at least one draping or stacking step is carried out with a ply of composite material, that comprises a web, or twisted thread web, including at least one twisted reinforcement thread in order to at least compensate the length differences of the extreme paths of the thread on either side of the width as measured in a direction parallel to the surface of the web; the invention also relates to the composite materials thus obtained.

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 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 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 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: 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.

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 process for placing at least one fiber element on a surface is disclosed so as to provide a deposited fiber element having a width that varies longitudinally. The process may provide a step in which the width of the fiber element is modified upstream of the deposition step using a width control device. A device for performing the process is also disclosed. Further, fibrous sheets containing one or more deposited fiber element having a width that varies longitudinally are also disclosed. Preforms formed from one or more of the fibrous sheets are also disclosed.

Abstract: An applicator head for cutting yarn into segments of yarn and depositing the segments of yarn on a deposition surface. The applicator head includes a single mechanism that moves the yarn towards said deposition surface and also cuts the yarn into segments.

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

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: Applicator head for reinforcement yarns (2) on a deposition surface (3), said head comprising: a cutting mechanism (8) for reinforcement yarns (2) upstream of an application zone (5), including at least one cutting unit (10) and one motor unit (11) for moving the cutter (10), first along a forward stroke (f1) to avow the cutting of the reinforcement yarns (2), and secondly along a return stroke (f2) in a reverse direction, to allow the release of the cutter (10) from the reinforcement yarns (2), and a redirection system (16) for the reinforcement yarns after cutting, at least up to the application zone (5), The cutting mechanism (8) powers the redirection system (16) with means designed to, firstly not feed the reinforcement yarns (2) in the forward stroke (f1) of the cutter (10) and, secondly, to feed the reinforcement yarns (2) at least up to the application area (5), during the return stroke (f2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a composite part including an assembly of superimposed webs of reinforcement threads imbedded at least partially in a polymer matrix, said part including at least one curved area and the method comprising steps of draping or stacking plies of a composite material, characterised in that, in at least one area adjacent to a curved area, at least one draping or stacking step is carried out with a ply of composite material, that comprises a web, or twisted thread web, including at least one twisted reinforcement thread in order to at least compensate the length differences of the extreme paths of the thread on either side of the width as measured in a direction parallel to the surface of the web; the invention also relates to the composite materials thus obtained.