Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite material including reinforcing fiber layers and a resin layer sandwiched therebetween, wherein conductive particles having a sphericity of 85% or more are disposed in the resin layer, and the fiber-reinforced composite material has a portion where upper and lower reinforcing fiber layers are connected by one conductive particle and has a portion where a conductive particle is sunk in a reinforcing fiber layer. Provided is a fiber-reinforced composite material having sufficient electrical conductivity in a thickness direction with a small addition amount of conductive particles.

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apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet; and then applying a resin film to a primary impregnate prepreg withdrawn from the coating section.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: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing a prepreg, for applying a coating liquid to a reinforcing fiber sheet, the apparatus including: a coating section including: a liquid pool storing the coating liquid and having a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously and vertically downward, and a narrowed section having a slit-like outlet in communication with the lower end of the liquid pool; a running mechanism for allowing the reinforcing fiber sheet to run vertically downward and be introduced into the coating section; a take-up mechanism for taking up the reinforcing fiber sheet downward from the coating section; wall constituent members opposed to each other in the thickness direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet to form the narrowed section; and an external force application mechanism for applying an external force to the wall constituent members in the thickness direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a prepreg formed by applying a matrix resin to a reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the method can effect continuous running without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and effect efficient impregnation of the reinforcing fiber sheet with a 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 obtain a matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet in which the matrix resin is applied to the reinforcing fiber sheet and at least heating the matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing a prepreg, for applying a coating liquid to a reinforcing fiber sheet, the apparatus including: a coating section including: a liquid pool storing the coating liquid and having a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously and vertically downward, and a narrowed section having a slit-like outlet in communication with the lower end of the liquid pool; a running mechanism for allowing the reinforcing fiber sheet to run vertically downward and be introduced into the coating section; a take-up mechanism for taking up the reinforcing fiber sheet downward from the coating section; wall constituent members opposed to each other in the thickness direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet to form the narrowed section; and an external force application mechanism for applying an external force to the wall constituent members in the thickness direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.

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 method is described for producing a prepreg formed by applying a matrix resin to a reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the method can effect continuous running without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and effect efficient impregnation of the reinforcing fiber sheet with a 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 obtain a matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet in which the matrix resin is applied to the reinforcing fiber sheet and at least heating the matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.

Abstract: An automobile rear body structure includes a roof panel, for forming an upper surface of a roof portion of a vehicle body, which is provided with an integrally formed downwardly extending portion to form an outer surface of a rear pillar at a rear side portion thereof. The rear body structure also includes a rear fender panel joined to a lower end of the downwardly extending portion for forming an outer surface of a rear side wall, a quarter panel located inside the rear fender panel, and a reinforcement member for connecting the rear fender panel and the quarter panel at a location near a lower end of the rear pillar. The reinforcement member may be formed by bending the rear fender panel inwardly from a joint between the rear fender panel and the downwardly extending portion of the roof panel. Alternatively, the reinforcement member may be formed of a separate reinforcement element.