Abstract: A mandrel assembly has a hollow main tube and two annular sleeves, wherein an inner diameter of the two annular sleeves is larger than an outer diameter of the two main tube ends. The two annular sleeves are sleeved respectively on the two main tube ends, which can be easily disengaged from the mandrel assembly when applied with an external force.

Abstract: A process for the production of sandwich structures made of fiber-reinforced ceramics, the base substance of the ceramic matrix consisting of a Si-organic polymer and a ceramic or metallic powder. A cross-linking of the Si-organic polymer takes place under increased pressure and at an increased temperature. After the joining of the facings and the honeycomb core, the sandwich structure is pyrolysed to form a ceramic material.

Abstract: A method of making an article from a fiber reinforced polymer composite material including the steps of providing at least two mandrels, wrapping at least one of the mandrels with a first layer of a fiber reinforced polymer composite material, disposing the at least two mandrels in a predetermined orientation, wrapping a second layer of a fiber reinforced polymer composite material around the mandrels, and curing the wrapped assembly.

Abstract: A multi-vane structure for incorporation in an aircraft gas turbine engine has vanes of complex geometry made of braided fibers which are continuous about the cavities defined by the vanes. These complex geometry parts are prepared by providing a plurality of removable mandrels, stacking the mandrels along a horizontal axis in a cavity end to cavity end configuration, braiding about the mandrels, cutting the mandrels adjacent the cavity end faces, side stacking the mandrels so the faces are placed in a parallel orientation and molding. Utilizing braided fibers instead of hand lay-up woven fibers eliminates seams and produces cavities having continuous fibers about the periphery thereof which substantially increases the strength and dimensional reproducibly of the part.

Abstract: A coated abrasive backing consisting of an endless, seamless, loop is provided. The backing loop includes about 40-99% by weight of an organic polymeric binder, based upon the weight of the backing; and an effective amount of a fibrous reinforcing material engulfed within the organic polymeric binder material. The endless, seamless backing loop includes a length with parallel side edges, and at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material engulfed within the organic polymeric binder material such that there are regions of organic binder material free of fibrous reinforcing material on opposite surfaces of the layer of fibrous reinforcing material. The fibrous reinforcing material can be in the form of individual fibrous strands, a fibrous mat structure, or a combination of the these. A method for preparing the endless, seamless backing loop for a coated abrasive belt is also provided.

Abstract: A mobile vehicular antenna for use in accessing stationary geosynchronous and/or geostable satellites. A multi-turn quadrifilar helix antenna is fed in phase rotation at its base and is provided with a pitch and/or diameter adjustment for the helix elements, causing beam scanning in the elevation plane while remaining relatively omni-directional in azimuth. The antenna diameter and helical pitch are optimized to reduce the frequency scanning effect. A technique is provided for aiming the antenna to compensate for any remaining frequency scanning effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a device for manufacturing parts made from resin and reinforcing fibers by winding. Molding means including a plurality of female forms corresponding each to a print of the part to be manufactured are produced. The forms are arranged one after the other, substantially helically, so as to make a continuous groove, then said groove is filled by winding with fibers coated with a polymerizable resin by rotating the prints round the axis of the helix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for manufacturing a body to be reinforced with a fiber-composite material, especially bottles or containers or metal or plastic for holding a pressurized gaseous medium, in which a plurality of light, high-strength inorganic or organic, non-conductive or conductive as well as non-metallic yarns are wrapped around the body, whereby individual fiber strands or fibers are unwound and are bundled and, prior to being wound on the body, are impregnated with a plastic material. The wrapping of the yarns is carried out with controllable, pre-tensioned yarns. During wrapping, the individual yarns are again impregnated with a polymer melt of thermoplastic and each individual wrapping layer is smoothed and/or cooled by a temperature-controlled roller.

Abstract: A heated shoe and cooled pressure roller assembly for composite prepreg application is provided. The shoe assembly includes a heated forward contact surface having a curved pressure surface. The following cooled roller provides a continuous pressure to the thermoplastic while reducing the temperature to approximately 5.degree. C. below glass transition temperature. Electric heating coils inside the forward portion of the shoe heat a thermoplastic workpiece to approximately 100.degree. C. above the glass transition. Immediately following the heated contact surface, a cooled roller cools the work. The end sharpened shape of the heated shoe trailing edge tends to prevent slag buildup and maintain a uniform, relaxed stress fabrication.

Abstract: A mandrel assembly has a hollow main tube and two annular sleeves, wherein an inner diameter of the two annular sleeves is larger than an outer diameter of the two main tube ends. The two annular sleeves are sleeved respectively on the two main tube ends, which can be easily disengaged from the mandrel assembly when applied with an external force.

Abstract: A frame for a game racquet such as a tennis racquet is formed by helically winding a tow of filament material and thermoplastic material over an elongated mandrel to form a tube. The tube is positioned in a mold having the shape of a game racquet frame and auxiliary pieces for handle and yoke sections are added. This preform is heated to melt the thermoplastic while the interior of the tube is pressurized. The preform is then allowed to cool and harden to form the game racquet frame.

Abstract: A coated abrasive backing consisting of an endless, seamless, loop is provided. The backing loop includes about 40-99% by weight of an organic polymeric binder, based upon the weight of the backing; and an effective amount of a fibrous reinforcing material engulfed within the organic polymeric binder material. The endless, seamless backing loop includes a length with parallel side edges, and at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material engulfed within the organic polymeric binder material such that there are regions of organic binder material free of fibrous reinforcing material on opposite surfaces of the layer of fibrous reinforcing material. The fibrous reinforcing material can be in the form of individual fibrous strands, a fibrous mat structure, or a combination of the these. A method for preparing the endless, seamless backing loop for a coated abrasive belt is also provided.

Abstract: Method for embodying hollow articles made of composite material including at least one access orifice via winding/laying down fibers on an expansible mandrel, the resulting articles and a recoverable and removable mandrel. The method includes placing preimpregnated fibers on an expansible, extractable mandrel having a longitudinal axis by at least one of winding and laying down the preimpregnated fibers on the mandrel, the placing of circumferential fibers of the preimpregnated fibers comprising placing the circumferential fibers at an angle to approach or reach 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis and to form on the mandrel a sinuous line and/or plural, discontinuous elements, so as to enable the preimpregnated fibers to be expanded circumferentially during radial expansion of the mandrel; and expanding the mandrel inside a shaper while polymerizing the preimpregnated fibers.

Abstract: A ceramic composite is provided comprising ceramic fibers, glass microballoons and/or diatoms, bound together with a ceramic reinforcing cloth with a sol-gel ceramic binder. The composite is particularly useful as a high strength, high temperature insulation material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for depositing threads such as textile threads and in particular glass fibre threads, the threads being continuously supplied on a curved path onto a support plate and around fixed points which are arranged movably on it, formed by movable pins, so as to be laid down in a controlled manner in any desired configuration, in order for example to form a reinforcement for fibre-reinforced articles made chiefly of plastics, in which the individual threads are arranged directed along the lines of stress and also in the regions of high thread density no excessive thickenings are produced at the points where they cross.

Abstract: Glass-fibre reinforced plastic tank, for example for liquid petroleum gas under high pressure, compressed air for air brakes or for storage of acetylene. The tank is composed of two halves (10, 12), the open ends of which are conically bevelled to form a male end (20) and a female end (22), which are joined to each other by an adhesive. The reinforcement in the outer and inner layers of the halves contains essentially longitudinal glass-fibre strands and the intermediate layer contains essentially transverse glass-fibre strands. In the half with the male end (20), the longitudinal glass-fibre strands in the inner layer (35) are densely located adjacent to each other, while the longitudinal glass-fibre strands in the outer layer lie in separate groups (30) of densely arranged glass-fibre strands with the predetermined spacing between the groups to form channel-shaped spaces (31). In the half with the female end (22), the order is reverse.

Abstract: Composite pressure vessels having improved fiber strength translation of the unidirectional, axial, impregnated strand are obtained by a process in which chemorheologically viscosity tailored matrix resin formulations containing surface-active agents or compounds acting as surface-active agents are employed. The use of chemorheologically viscosity tailored matrix resin formulations containing surface-active agents reduces the strength variation of pressure vessels produced from prepregs of the disclosed matrix resin formulations.

Abstract: A frame for a game racquet such as a tennis racquet is formed by winding a resin-free filament over a mandrel to form a tube, inserting the wound tube into a mold, and injecting resin into the mold.

Abstract: A swinging bucket rotor constructed of composite material has a central rotor body including strap retaining surfaces. Wound endless composite fiber straps are provided having central portions which are attached to the respective top and bottom of the central rotor body and loop portions remote from the central rotor body for mounting the swinging buckets. These wound endless straps attach centrally to the central rotor body at the strap retaining surfaces and define bucket retaining loops symmetrically spaced from the spin axis of the rotor at the central rotor body. In the preferred embodiment, each bucket retaining loop holds spaced apart bushings for receiving a trunion shaft. Paired trunions on either side of a central sample tube receiving ring are provided. The trunions fit to the composite loop portions of the endless composite material straps. Typically, four sample receiving buckets are placed within and held by the central sample tube receiving rings.

Abstract: A process for producing a composite material part having a central hollow body with edge ailerons extending outwardly therefrom in which peripheral mandrels 1 are joined and a peripheral mandrels 1 then being turned round and pressed against a central mandrel 16 on which another filament has been wound. The filaments are impregnated and polymerized to form the desired part.

Abstract: Spiral bands having a plurality of convolutions of a high tensile strength composite material are formed by feeding a plurality of continuous high tensile strength fibers through an uncured resin to form a web, depositing the web on a release web having at least one substantially planar surface to form a laminate, winding the laminate around the mandrel to form a plurality of overlapping convolutions, curing the resin in the composite web to set the convolutions in a spiral configuration, and then removing the release web from the composite web. The convolutions of the spiral bands in accordance with this process have substantially planar surfaces and an elastic memory. These bands can be used to reinforce axially extending structures having internal forces directed radially outward therefrom by wrapping the band around the structure with a layer of adhesive applied to hold the convolutions in place.

Abstract: Textile fabrics, yarns and cords are impregnated with rubber, resin and particulate materials by dipping in an aqueous dispersion comprising an aqueous rubber latex, resin and the particulate material, the dispersion further containing a very minor amount of a water-soluble silicate, such as sodium silicate. After drying, the products can be used as reinforcement for mechanical rubber goods and friction materials such as clutch facings and the like.

Abstract: A hollow, tapered, fiber-reinforced plastic utility pole, and a method for making the pole. The pole is designed by a computer-modelling technique that simulates applying resin-coated, reinforcing strands over the outer surface of a mandrel. A plurality of test stations are incrementally spaced from the tip portion to the butt portion of the pole simulated on the mandrel. The thickess-to-diameter ratio must be equal to or greater than an established constant at each station or additional circuits of resin-coated, reinforcing strands deemed to have been applied, as required. One then calculates the stress resistance at each successive station to determine if the acceptable stress is greater than the stress resistance required. Whatever additional circuits of resin-coated, reinforcing strands are necessary are then deemed to have been applied.

Abstract: According to this method windings of reinforcing fibers are impregnated with resin and are wound, along a given length, around a flexible sheath placed onto a rigid rotary-driven mandrel. At least one additional winding of said impregnated reinforcing fiber around the flexible sheath is wound over a different length and according to a different pitch.

Abstract: A novel form of sandwich construction is disclosed. The lattice core sandh construction comprises of elongate lattice cells in side-by-side abutment, to present common, lengthwise flat sides that have facesheets co-cured thereto without any secondary bonding. Each lattice cell is formed by wrapping, in alterate patterns, fiber-reinforced, composite bands around commonly-shaped mandrels. Opppositely disposed face sheets are placed against flat sides and the construction co-cured. After co-curing, the mandrels are removed.

Abstract: A universal pin ring for use in securing filament in a stationary position with respect to a mandrel during a filament winding process is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the universal pin ring has two rows of pins along its length. The pins of the first row are adapted to serve as anchor pins to secure filament in a stationary position with respect to a mandrel. The pins of the second row are adapted to serve as guide pins to cause filament to quickly conform to the contour of a mandrel after turning of the filament during filament winding, thereby minimizing the size of the turnaround area. In some applications, both rows of pins would serve to anchor filament. In other applications the guide pins serve both to guide filament and to anchor filament that has slipped from an anchor pin. Reinforcing ribs and flex grooves on the universal pin ring are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating, and a resulting structure for, a seamless, reusable and collapsible mandrel suitable for forming a plurality of seamless and hollow fiber wound vessels upon is disclosed. A destructible mandrel is used to form the seamless reusable mandrel. The destructible mandrel is preferably formed from a material which can be destroyed by dissolving, for example, materials such as foam or plaster. The seamless, collapsible, and reusable mandrel includes a plurality of different layers including a gas impermeable layer, a continuous fiber wound layer, and a release surface forming the outermost layer of the seamless, collapsible, and reusable mandrel. The resulting seamless, reusable and collapsible mandrel has advantages over mandrels which include a seam. Such advantages include a longer useful life and consistently high quality fiber wound vessels at a relatively low cost.

Abstract: The micropin array is comprised of a plurality of micropins having a given diameter and being aligned in parallel to one another at a given pitch, insulating tubular coatings disposed to cover individual micropins, and an adhesive provided to fill spacings among the insulating tubular coatings. This micropin array is produced by the steps of preparing a plurality of coated wire materials composed of a metal core having a given diameter and an insulating tubular coating of a given thickness formed around the metal core, aligning closely and successively the coated wire materials to form a bundle thereof, fixing the bundle of the coated wire materials by means of an adhesive, and cutting the fixed bundle of the coated wire materials by a given length to form a micropin array.

Abstract: A flexible, aerodynamic inflatable nose fairing for use in combination with flat nosed canister launched missiles having a wide circular cylindrical shape. The inflatable nose fairing is fabricated as a fiber-reinforced elastomeric membrane having a laminate construction which includes a silicone rubber inner or base layer as the gaseous pressure membrane or bladder, surrounded by two or more ply layers made up of resin-impregnated yarns. In a preferred embodiment, the silicone rubber bladder is applied to a generally conical shaped mandrel. The first ply layer is fabricated by hoop winding resin impregnated yarns on a constant diameter cylinder and then cutting to form gores. The gores are applied to the conical shaped mandrel such that the gore fibers are oriented in the axial direction of the conical shaped mandrel.

Abstract: A thread, intended to form a carcass reinforcement, is wound in contiguous hoops on a rigid core through an eyelet fastened on a chain mounted on pulleys arranged around the core. The eyelet carries out a reciprocating movement around the core so as to progressively and contiguously lay a hoop upon each forward movement and a hoop upon each return movement.

Abstract: A control architecture involves two control loops, one for controlling heat input to a moving composite structure and the other controlling the speed of the structure to control quality of the product being formed. Since velocity and heat input affect the temperature of the composite there is cross coupling between the control loops so that either or both can be used to control the temperature. Preferably the invention uses the velocity or speed of the composite as the primary control, i.e., the controller automatically seeks the proper laydown velocity for the current heat input. If the energy source is not providing sufficient heat, the process slows down until the proper temperature is reached. This ensures that the composite material passing through the process is always at the proper temperature.

Abstract: Method for laying filaments on a convex axisymmetric surface, especially a hemispherical surface, provided with a circular hole or a dead zone centered on the pole, wherein a regular set of points are defined on a reference circle of the surface, the filament being laid along a geodesic path from one first departure point to one first arrival point on the reference circle, the same laying process being reproduced for a second pair of departure and arrival points so as to lay a set of filaments (so-called a lap) and then the same laying process is repeated via successive shifts until each point of the reference circle is at the same time and solely a single departure and arrival point, so as to obtain a layer, and possibly restarting the process until the desired thickness is obtained.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filament wound composite crank arm includes forming unidirectional filament wound first and second elongated rings and a first reinforcement disk having a center hole. A second reinforcement disk having a threaded center hole is made of steel. The first ring is placed in the bottom of a hollow, heated mold. The inserts are placed onto mandrels within the mold so that they reside within the first ring. Resin-impregnated fiber filler is placed into the mold. A strand of resin-impregnated fiber is wound around a special plunger to form a torsion-resistant member comprising an elongate truss framework integrally interposed between two opposing walls of an elongated cylindroid. The second ring is positioned around the torsion-resistant member at one of its edges, and the torsion-resistant member is placed into the mold to become circumscribed by the first ring at its other edge and to surround the inserts.

Abstract: A tubular structure, such as a pipe or pressure vessel, is provided with a wall formed from plastic, composites and elastomeric materials. The composite materials are spirally wound and are separated by elastomeric strips. The wall has an inner wall element formed by a continuous flexible plastic cylinder with a spiral projection on its outer surface. An outer layer is formed from alternating spirally wound strips of composite and elastomer. The composite strip has a radially inward projection axially spaced from the projection on the plastic cylinder but overlapping in the radial direction. The cylinder and layer are separated by an intermediate layer formed from composites and elastomeric strips. A composite strip is located between each pair of adjacent projections and separated from the projections by an elastomeric strip. An outer wall element is formed from alternating spirally wound composite and elastomeric strips having pitch greater than the inner wall element.

Abstract: Hydraulic cylinders made of fiber-resin composite materials have a central piston chamber section and bell-shaped internally threaded end sections. Cylinders are made by winding resin coated fibers over a mandril over which externally threaded sleeves are slipped and spaced apart so as to define the end sections. After curing the resin, the winding is cut in the areas of the sleeves to separate the cylinders. An expendable strip is wound onto the sleeves and in the cutting operation is cut into. A bearing, a seal cavity and an enlarged inside diameter at a piston rod end of the cylinder may also be provided using a method of the invention, with the cylinders being cut apart between the ends of sleeves and between the other ends of the cylinders.

Abstract: A method is described for forming a prestressed composite which comprises steps of applying matrix material to the fibers, selectively tensioning the fibers, winding the fibers on an adjustable mandrel and curing the matrix material with the fibers under tension.

Abstract: A hybrid composite automotive leaf spring comprises parallel glass and polyethylene terephthalate fibers distributed in a pattern replicated throughout a resin matrix. A method of producing the hybrid composite leaf spring comprises winding various proportions of glass and polyethylene terephthalate or nylon fibers together into a homogeneous mass in an epoxy matrix in a mold to form a blank, which is then compressed and cured into a leaf spring having a predetermined homogeneous mixture of parallel fibers distributed throughout the cross-section of the spring. The unitary spring has a spring rate that is a composite of the resin-bonded glass and other fibers. Different spring rates are obtained by varying the percentage content of the glass and other fibers, while maintaining the homogeneity of the resultant leaf spring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a composite thread formed by the association or blending of continuous glass filaments and continuous filaments thermoplastic organic matter. The thermoplastic filaments are, while in the form of a sheet, blended with a cluster or sheet of glass filaments after having been heated to a temperature in excess of their transformation temperature, stretched and then cooled in their stretched state.

Abstract: A method of forming a tapered tubular part including the steps of: providing tows of filaments, the filaments being adapted to fuse together when subjected to combined heat and pressure; braiding the tows of filaments into a sleeve; providing a tapered mold and a matingly tapered mandrel; sliding the sleeve into the mold and securing the sleeve to the mold; forcing the mandrel into the mold to compress the wall of the sleeve and to stretch the length of the sleeve while applying heat to the mold to fuse the filaments of the sleeve together into a tube; cooling the mold; withdrawing the mandrel from the mold and removing the cooled tube from the mold.

Abstract: A method of producing a replaceable one piece annular outer race having an axial bore, an uninterrupted inner annular concave raceway facing into the bore and an outer surface. The method comprises the steps of applying an overlayment of filaments onto a cylindrical axially split mold assembly to form a one piece outer race substrate. The mold assembly includes first and second separable semi-cylindrical mold halves each having a semi-cylindrical convex outer mold surface, a mounting bore extending axially through the mold assembly, a removal axis normal to the mounting bore axis and a support removably mounted in the mold assembly mounting bore. A coat of hardenable liquid resin is applied to penetrate the filament overlayment substrate, after which the coated substrate is cured to form a hardened one piece outer race on the mold assembly. The cylindrical mold halves are removed from the hardened outer race to yield a single piece annular outer race.

Abstract: A packing material for formation of a seal for a rotary or reciprocating shaft is disclosed wherein a core element is enveloped by a sheet of expanded graphite material. The core element is preferably formed of a wire mesh and solid graphite. The enveloping process is accomplished in such a manner as to wrap the core element with a self-lubricating surface material. The packing material of the present invention provides the advantages of graphite packings and metallic core packings.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding a narrow belt-shaped member in zigzag around a drum. The apparatus includes a support base, and a reciprocative motion device for reciprocatively moving the support base substantially along an axis of the drum between both ends of a predetermined region to maintain the distance between the drum and the support base at a constant value. The apparatus further includes a rocking base supported by the support base rockably about a rocking axis which is a normal to the outer surface of the drum, a rocking device for rocking the rocking base, and an attaching roller supported on the rocking base rotatably about an axis substantially in parallel with the axis of the drum for urging and attaching the supplied belt-shaped member to the drum after being wound partially around the attaching roller.

Abstract: A mass transfer device and method of construction thereof. The mass transfer device may be an oxygenator having a fiber bundle comprised of hollow gas permeable fibers. The method of making the fiber bundle used in the mass transfer device includes winding one or more hollow fibers around a supporting core which includes first and second core sections. First and second outer casing sections are mounted adjacent the exterior of the hollow fibers. The hollow fibers are then cut longitudinally in two circumferentially spaced locations to form first and second fiber bundles located between the first and second core and outer casing sections. The method results in the simultaneous construction of first and second fiber bundles which are useable in separate mass transfer devices.

Abstract: A composite plastic duct structure comprised of an outer layer of fabric material impregnated with a fire-resistant resin material and an inner liner layer of chemically corrosion resistant resin material impregnated with a fabric material. The invention includes a method wherein multiple wrappings of resin impregnated material are wound on a mandrel to form the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced, resin matrix, tank with an integral fitting, such as an internally threaded pipe connection, bulkhead door or manhole entryway. A thread form tool having a cylindrical bore and a rounded pattern thread forming outer surface at one end is provided. The tool is secured to a drive shaft extending through the tank forming mandrel with the thread forming end adjacent to the mandrel. A second, thread is formed on the opposite end of the threat form tool opposite the tank mandrel and carries a consolidation nut. A consolidation washer rides on a wider cylinder surface of the thread form tool intermediate the two threaded ends. At least one fabric doily or band is placed over the thread forming tool rounded threads and the tank mandrel is filament wound with high strength fibers impregnated with a resin in a conventional manner, with filaments overlapping the rounded thread area.

Abstract: A composite filament reinforced clevis includes a pair of apertured ends and a central hub area with a pair of clevis arms extending between the hub area and the apertured ends. The clevis is fabricated by winding reinforcing filaments around a pair of end mandrels and toward the central hub area. The end mandrels and the filaments wound thereon are rotated relative to the central hub area to a collinear orientation. The reinforcing filaments are cured with a bonding matrix while in the rotated orientation.

Abstract: In-line application of liquid adhesive to an optical fiber (10) while it is being wound onto a drum (14) is accomplished by a tube (58) interconnected with a pressurized adhesive source of supply (70). An end (60) of the tube provides adhesive in a beadlike strip which wets the drum or underlying winding layer just under the fiber lower surface before it is laid down onto the drum.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making an integral structure comprised of inner and outer coaxial shells mutually supported so as to define an annular passageway between the shells. The integral structure may be an air inlet housing for a gas turbine engine and the inner shell may be a hub member having a generally cylindrical passage extending therethrough for rotatably receiving a drive shaft. The inner shell is formed by braiding on a shaped mandrel a plurality of fibers such as fiberglass, boron, carbon, or the like, to form an inner shell preform having an outer surface of revolution. A plurality of duct preforms are similarly formed on a conical mandrel, then removed, and administered onto an outer peripheral surface of a duct mold so as to define a modified shape.

Abstract: The semi-finished product according to the invention consists exclusively of liquid crystal thermoplastic polymers (LCP), whereof at least one first liquid crystal thermoplastic polymer (LCP) is in the form of fibers (18) and has a given melting point, and whereof at least one second liquid crystal thermoplastic polymer (LCP) (16) has a melting point below that of the first LCP. This semi-finished product is in particular a fabric. By simply heating under pressure at a temperature equal to the melting point of the second LCP, followed by cooling, a composite material with improved mechanical and physicochemical performance characteristics are obtained.

Abstract: Composite pressure vessels having improved fiber strength translation of the unidirectional, axial, impregnated strand or tow strength delivered in tensile strength of hoop fibers of the composite pressure vessel are obtained by a process in which chemorheologically viscosity tailored matrix resin formulations containing surface-active agents or compounds acting as surface-active agents are employed. The use of chemorheologically viscosity tailored matrix resin formulations containing such agents in such a process also reduces the strength variation of pressure vessels produced from prepreg of the matrix resin formulations containing surface-active agents or compounds acting as surface-active agents.