Abstract: A prepreg having high processability and laminating performance and a method to produce such a prepreg is described, the prepreg comprising at least the components [A] to [E] shown below, and having a structure incorporating a first layer composed mainly of the component [A] and a first epoxy resin composition that contains the components [B] to [D] but which is substantially free of the component [E], and a second layer composed mainly of a second epoxy resin composition that contains the components [B] to [E], [A] carbon fiber, [B] epoxy resin, [C] curing agent, [D] thermoplastic resin, and [E] particles containing a thermoplastic resin as primary component and having a volume-average particle diameter of 5 to 50 ?m.

Abstract: A reinforcing fiber mat manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a reinforcing fiber mat manufacturing apparatus that includes a hitting mechanism (40) that comes into contact with a reinforcing fiber bundle to split the reinforcing fiber bundle into a plurality of pieces, and, disperses the plurality of pieces. The hitting mechanism (40) includes a rotation shaft (41), a pair of rotation plates (42) attached to portions of the rotation shaft (41) apart from each other, and a plurality of hitting pieces (43) arranged to extend in parallel to the rotation shaft (41) between the pair of rotation plates (42). The reinforcing fiber mat manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a simple apparatus that reliably hits a reinforcing fiber bundle to split the fiber bundle into thin bundles, and disperses the thin bundles to a wide range without causing air turbulence to manufacture a reinforcing fiber mat having a uniform fiber basis weight.

Abstract: A method of producing a prepreg is described, in which a matrix resin is applied to a reinforcing fiber sheet in which the sheet can continuously run without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and where the reinforcing fiber sheet can be efficiently impregnated with the matrix resin. A method of producing a prepreg includes allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet; and then applying a resin film to a primary impregnate prepreg withdrawn from the coating section.

Abstract: A prepreg having high processability and laminating performance and a method to produce such a prepreg in an industrially advantageous way is described, the prepreg comprising at least the components [A] to [E] shown below, and having a structure incorporating a first layer composed mainly of the component [A] and a first epoxy resin composition that contains the components [B] to [D] but which is substantially free of the component [E], and a second layer composed mainly of a second epoxy resin composition that contains the components [B] to [E] and which is disposed adjacent to each surface of the first layer, the second epoxy resin composition being characterized in that its component [D] has a weight-average molecular weight of 2,000 to 30,000 g/mol and accounts for 5 to 15 parts by mass relative to the total quantity of its components [B] to [E], which accounts for 100 parts by mass, [A] carbon fiber, [B] epoxy resin, [C] curing agent, [D] thermoplastic resin, and [E] particles containing a thermoplasti

Abstract: A method of producing a prepreg is described, in which a matrix resin is applied to a reinforcing fiber sheet in which the sheet can continuously run without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and where the reinforcing fiber sheet can be efficiently impregnated with the matrix resin. A method of producing a prepreg includes allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet; and then applying a resin film to a primary impregnate prepreg withdrawn from the coating section.

Abstract: A prepreg having a high processability and laminating performance in an automated lay-up device and serving to produce a cured product having good physical properties is described, and also a method for the production thereof, the prepreg comprising at least the components [A] to [E] listed blow and having a structure incorporating a first layer composed mainly of the component [A] and a first epoxy resin composition that contains the components [B] to [D] but is substantially free of the component [E] and a second layer composed mainly of a second epoxy resin composition that contains the components [B] to [E] and disposed adjacent to each surface of the first layer: [A] carbon fiber, [B] epoxy resin, [C] curing agent, [D] thermoplastic resin, and [E] particles containing a thermoplastic resin as primary component and having a volume-average particle diameter of 5 to 50 ?m.

Abstract: A reinforcing fiber mat manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a reinforcing fiber mat manufacturing apparatus that includes a hitting mechanism (40) that comes into contact with a reinforcing fiber bundle to split the reinforcing fiber bundle into a plurality of pieces, and, disperses the plurality of pieces. The hitting mechanism (40) includes a rotation shaft (41), a pair of rotation plates (42) attached to portions of the rotation shaft (41) apart from each other, and a plurality of hitting pieces (43) arranged to extend in parallel to the rotation shaft (41) between the pair of rotation plates (42). The reinforcing fiber mat manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a simple apparatus that reliably hits a reinforcing fiber bundle to split the fiber bundle into thin bundles, and disperses the thin bundles to a wide range without causing air turbulence to manufacture a reinforcing fiber mat having a uniform fiber basis weight.