Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing the carbon fiber (or the nonwoven fabric configured of the aforementioned carbon fiber) of which the surface area, the graphitization degree, and the fiber diameter are large, high, and small, respectively, and yet of which dispersion is small. The method of producing the carbon fiber nonwoven fabric includes a dispersion liquid preparing step of preparing a dispersion liquid containing resin and pitch, an electrospinning step of producing the nonwoven fabric that is comprised of carbon fiber precursors with electrospinning from the aforementioned dispersion liquid, and a modifying step of modifying the carbon fiber precursors of the nonwoven fabric obtained in the aforementioned electrospinning step into the carbon fiber.

Abstract: A hybrid fiber consists of a continuous phase base material that permeates the length of the hybrid fiber and a plurality of fibrils or nanotubes that are dispersed throughout the hybrid fiber interior in the form of a yarn woven from the plurality of fibrils or nanotubes. The method of making the hybrid fiber involves coating the yarn with the continuous phase base material and infusing the continuous phase base material into the plurality of fibrils or nanotubes that form the yarn.

Abstract: A method for making a discontinuous fiber molding compound from carbon fiber tow. The method involves using remnants of carbon fiber tows from spent carbon fiber spools. The remnants are chopped into pieces to form an assembly of chopped carbon fiber tows that are from 1 cm to 10 cm long. The chopped carbon fiber tows are then mixed with a powdered resin to form a blend of chopped carbon fiber tows and powdered resin. The blend is heated to soften/melt the particles of resin and then cooled to form a discontinuous fiber molding compound.

Abstract: Provided is a method of efficiently producing carbon fibers that can impart sufficient electrical or thermal conductivity to a material even by the addition of a small amount of the carbon fibers. The method of producing carbon fibers involves preparing a catalyst by allowing a carrier composed of silica-titania particles comprising silica in the core and titania in the shell of the particle to support a catalytic element, such as Fe element, Co element, Mo element, or V element, and bringing the catalyst into contact with a carbon element-containing material, such as methane, ethane, ethylene, or acetylene, under heating region at about 500 to 1000° C.

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNT) fibers having a resistivity lower than 120 ??*cm are prepared by a wet spinning process including the steps of supplying a spin-dope of carbon nanotubes to a spinneret, extruding the spin-dope through at least one spinning hole in the spinneret to form spun carbon nanotubes fibers, and coagulating the spun carbon nanotubes fibers in a coagulation medium to form coagulated carbon nanotubes fibers. The carbon nanotubes fibers are drawn at a draw ratio higher than 1.0. The carbon nanotubes have a length of at least 0.5 ?m. The carbon nanotubes fibers can further have a resistivity lower than 50 ??*cm. At the same time, the CNT fibers can have high modulus.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite comprising carbon nanotubes coated with a polymer, wherein the polymer comprises at least one hydrophobic monomer unit. This invention also relates to a process for the production of a composite comprising a polymer and carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A composite electrostatic rod may include a body comprising a length L and cross sectional area A. The body may include an outer portion comprising a first material, and a core comprising a second material different than the first material and surrounded by the outer portion, wherein a natural frequency of the composite electrostatic rod is greater than that of a graphite rod having the length L and cross sectional area A.

Abstract: Fibers sized with a coating of amorphous polyetherketoneketone are useful in the preparation of reinforced polymers having improved properties, wherein the amorphous polyetherketoneketone can improve the compatibility of the fibers with the polymeric matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates inter alia to an arrangement comprising a carrier (10), a layer and a material (20) enclosed between the carrier and the layer. According to the invention, it is provided that the layer is formed by a single two-dimensionally crosslinked layer (40) or by a plurality of two-dimensionally crosslinked layers which are indirectly or directly connected to one another.

Abstract: The carbon fiber forming raw material is a carbon fiber forming raw material (Z) as a prepreg including sizing agent-coated carbon fibers and a thermosetting resin or a carbon fiber forming raw material (Y) as a forming material that includes sizing agent-coated carbon fibers and has a woven fabric form or a braid form. The sizing agent includes components (A) and (B). The component (A) is an epoxy compound having two or more epoxy groups or two or more types of functional groups. The component (B) is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of a tertiary amine compound, a tertiary amine salt, a quaternary ammonium salt, a quaternary phosphonium salt, and a phosphine compound. The component (B) is contained in an amount of 0.1 to 25 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the component (A).

Abstract: Provided is a viscoelastic body that has small tack, is excellent in handleability, and generates a small amount of outgas even under a high-temperature condition. Also provided is a viscoelastic body that has small tack, is excellent in handleability, and exhibits excellent viscoelasticity in a wide temperature range of from low temperature to high temperature. A viscoelastic body according to one embodiment of the present invention has an outgas amount of 20 mg/cm3 or less when stored at 400° C. for 1 hour. A viscoelastic body according to another embodiment of the present invention has a G? in crimp type viscoelastic spectrum evaluation of 1.0×106 Pa or less in a temperature range of from ?150° C. to 500° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous carbon fiber/thermoplastic resin fiber composite yarn and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the carbon fiber composite yarn provides excellent mechanical properties, is light in weight, moldable, and has excellent impregnating ability. In particular, the composite yarn is provided with these superior properties by including a continuous carbon fiber having excellent mechanical properties, a thermoplastic resin fiber, and the like, and by using a false twist processing machine or a solution bath, and the like in order to manufacture the composite yarn.

Abstract: Sizing agent-coated carbon fibers includes: a sizing agent including an aliphatic epoxy compound (A) and at least containing an aromatic epoxy compound (B1) as an aromatic compound (B); and carbon fibers coated with the sizing agent, wherein the sizing agent-coated carbon fibers have an (a)/(b) ratio of 0.50 to 0.90 where (a) is a height (cps) of a component at a binding energy (284.6 eV) assigned to CHx, C—C, and C?C and (b) is a height (cps) of a component at a binding energy (286.1 eV) assigned to C—O in a C1s core spectrum of a surface of the sizing agent applied onto the carbon fibers analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using AlK?1,2 as an X-ray source at a photoelectron takeoff angle of 15°.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel secondary structure of carbon nanostructures, a bundle thereof and a composite comprising the same. The secondary structure according to the present invention is characterized that it is formed by a plurality of carbon nanostructures (CNSs) assembled to have a tube form in whole or in part. The novel secondary structure according to the present invention, the bundle thereof and the composite comprising the same are highly applicable in fields of energy materials, functional composites, batteries, semiconductors and the like.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube aggregate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, in which: the carbon nanotubes each have a plurality of walls; a distribution width of a wall number distribution of the carbon nanotubes is 10 walls or more; a relative frequency of a mode of the wall number distribution is 25% or less; and a length of each of the carbon nanotubes is more than 10 ?m. A carbon nanotube aggregate according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, in which: the carbon nanotubes each have a plurality of walls; a mode of a wall number distribution of the carbon nanotubes is present at a wall number of 10 or less; a relative frequency of the mode is 30% or more; and a length of each of the carbon nanotubes is more than 10 ?m.

Abstract: A unitary graphene-based continuous graphitic fiber comprising at least 90% by weight of graphene planes that are chemically bonded with one another having an inter-planar spacing from 0.3354 to 0.4 nm and an oxygen content of 0.01 to 5% by weight, wherein the graphene planes are parallel to one another and parallel to a fiber axis direction and the graphitic fiber contains no core-shell structure, have no helically arranged graphene domains, and have a porosity level less than 5% by volume. This fiber can be produced by a continuous filament of graphene oxide gel having living graphene oxide molecules or functionalized graphene chains dissolved in a fluid medium. The filament is deposited onto a supporting substrate under a molecule-aligning stress condition along the filament axis direction and then subjected to drying and heating treatments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a composition comprising 10 to 45% of the total solids weight lignin, polyacrylonitrile or a polyacrylonitrile copolymer, and a solvent to form a lignin-based polyacrylonitrile-containing dope and the resulting products. The dope can be processed to produce fibers, including precursor, oxidized and carbonized fibers. The oxidized fibers are of value for their flame resistant properties and carbonized fibers are suitable for use in applications requiring high strength fibers, or to be used to form composite materials.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an improved electrode with high voltage standoff characteristics and improved graphene-based materials and methods of making them for use therein. A graphene-based thin film material is described that may be applied or transferred to a current collector to create the improved electrode. The thin film comprises high aspect ratio graphene platelets applied to the surface of a current collector or other substrate in a known ratio to a film binder material. The film is produced with a desired layer thickness and graphene-to-binder ratio to produce a desired voltage standoff for the electrode. The film may include additional materials to achieve the desired dielectric and mechanical characteristics for the application, such as ferroelectric ceramic nanorods with a high aspect ratio and high dielectric constant and/or graphene sheets.

Abstract: A fiber structure for forming a rope structure has a base matrix of base fiber material and at least one lubricity portion of lubricity material. The lubricity material determines a lubricity of at least a portion of a surface of the fiber structure.

Abstract: A fractal microstructure which includes multi-walled carbon nanotubes suited for customizable volumetric energy and power densities. Electrode monoliths can be formed from a variety of process steps including some or all of RF polymerization, RF coalescence and ripening at intersections, and multi-walled carbon nanotube crosslinking. The resulting nanocomposite is capable of performing all five functions of an electrode while at the same time offering robust mechanical strength and significantly improved energy storage capabilities through, among other things, intra- and inter-particle interlocking.

Abstract: A novel fine carbon fiber is produced by vapor growth, in which a graphite-net plane consisting of carbon atoms alone forms a temple-bell-shaped structural unit comprising closed head-top part and body-part with open lower-end, where an angle ? formed by a generatrix of the body-part and a fiber axis is less than 15°, 2 to 30 of the temple-bell-shaped structural units are stacked sharing a central axis to form an aggregate, and the aggregates are connected in head-to-tail style with a distance, thereby forming a fiber. Furthermore, a fine short carbon fibers with excellent dispersibility can be obtained by shortening the fine carbon fiber.

Abstract: Carbon fibers and carbon fiber yarn consisting of carbon fibers, the fibers having been pretreated by electrochemical oxidation, characterized in that they have a finish consisting of epoxy resin(s), a vinyl component, and a plasticizer in an amount of 0.3 to 5 wt. % relative to the carbon fibers, which are to be provided with the finish.

Abstract: Fiber-like or film-like moldings are produced from a plastified mixture which, based on its weight, is from 60 to 10% by weight of a carrier component and from 40 to 90% by weight of a phase change material. The carrier component contains from 5 to 20% by weight of a polymer or polymer blend from the group of LDPE (low density polyethylene), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, or mixtures thereof, from 5 to 20% by weight of a styrene block copolymer, and from 0 to 20% by weight of one or more additives. Especially suitable phase change materials include natural and synthetic paraffins, polyethylene glycol (=polyethylene oxide), and mixtures thereof. The plasticized mixture is extruded through a spinneret or a slit die at a temperature of from 130 to 220° C. and is stretched.

Abstract: Nanoparticles can include a core linked to a polymerizable moiety that can be polymerized, cross-linked or cured. The polymerizable nanoparticles can be included in a composition for a polymerization, cross-linking or curing reaction in an amount and disposition sufficient for inhibiting or preventing volume shrinkage during polymerization, cross-linking or curing reaction. Also, the nanoparticles can be included with monomers, dendrimers, oligomers or polymers in the compositions that can be reacted to form a polymerized, cross-linked or cured product.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an article includes the steps of applying a quantity of a refractory metal sufficient to produce a coating on a carbon based felt; processing thermally a refractory metal coated carbon based felt at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form a ceramic based felt; and cooling the ceramic based felt under a controlled atmosphere.

Abstract: Fibers sized with a coating of amorphous polyetherketoneketone are useful in the preparation of reinforced polymers having improved properties, wherein the amorphous polyetherketoneketone can improve the compatibility of the fibers with the polymeric matrix.

Abstract: The present invention related to an electrical element (100, 101, 102) including an electrically conductive element (3, 5, 10, 31, 32, 51), characterized in that the electrical element also includes a first layer (1) of a polymer material with electrical conductivity gradient obtained from a polymer composition including at least one polymer and conductive carbonaceous fillers.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to conductive films and methods for forming conductive films. In some examples, a substrate may be provided having a dispersion of silica nanoparticles provided on a surface thereof. Carbon nanotubes may be adhered to the dispersion of silica nanoparticles on the surface of the substrate to provide the conductive film on the substrate.

Abstract: A polyacrylonitrile-based polymer which satisfies at least one of [a] to [d]: [a] Z-average molecular weight (Mz) determined by gel-permeation chromatograph is 800,000 to 6,000,000 and degree of polydispersity (Mz/Mw) (Mw denotes weight average molecular weight) is 3.0 to 10.0; [b] Z+1-average molecular weight (Mz+1) determined by GPC method is 3,000,000 to 10,000,000 and degree of polydispersity (Mz+1/Mw) is 6.0 to 25.0; [c] Mzm determined by gel-permeation chromatograph multi-angle laserlight scattering photometry is 400,000 to 1,000,000 and degree of polydispersity (Mzm/Mwm) is 3.0 to 10.0; and [d] Z-average radius of gyration (Rz) determined by gel-permeation chromatograph multi-angle laserlight scattering photometry is 25 to 45 nm and its ratio to weight average radius of gyration (Rz/Rw) is 1.3 to 2.5.

Abstract: A reinforced object of the invention comprises: at least one structural layer; and at least one reinforcing rod positioned on or within the at least one structural layer, wherein the object is an elongated object, with the at least one reinforcing rod longitudinally positioned essentially parallel to a central axis thereof. A method of manufacturing the reinforced object comprises steps of: providing a mold; and positioning the at least one reinforcing rod such that it is positioned on or within the at least one structural layer in the reinforced object formed in the mold.

Abstract: A structure, comprising: a semiconductor structure having an electrically and thermally conductive layer disposed on one surface of the semiconductor structure; an electrically and thermally conductive heat sink; a electrically and thermally conductive carrier layer; a plurality of electrically and thermally nano-tubes, a first portion of the plurality of nano-tubes having proximal ends disposed on a first surface of the carrier layer and a second portion of the plurality of nano-tubes having proximal ends disposed on an opposite surface of the carrier layer; and a plurality of electrically and thermally conductive heat conductive tips disposed on distal ends of the plurality of nano-tubes, the plurality of heat conductive tips on the first portion of the plurality of nano-tubes being attached to the conductive layer, the plurality of heat conductive tips on the second portion of the plurality of nano-tubes being attached to the heat sink.

Abstract: A fiber sizing agent is described, which is capable of imparting sufficient sizing properties and fiber spreading properties to reinforced fiber bundles for producing fiber-reinforced composite materials. A fiber sizing agent composition (E) includes a sizing agent (A) having a viscosity of 50 to 3,000 Pa·s at 35° C., and has a thixotropic index of 3 to 15. The sizing agent (A) is preferably an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyether resin or a vinyl ester resin.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of molecularly imprinted polymers for detecting target molecules.

Abstract: A carbon fiber sizing agent imparts good bonding performance to carbon fiber, is used to reinforce a thermoplastic matrix resin, and provides a carbon fiber strand applied with the sizing agent and a fiber-reinforced composite reinforced with the carbon fiber strand. The sizing agent for carbon fiber is used to reinforce thermoplastic matrix resin. The sizing agent essentially contains a polymer component having a glass transition temperature of at least 20 deg.C. and exhibits no endothermic peaks indicating an endothermic heat of fusion due to crystalline melting of at least 3 J/g in a determination with a DSC. The weight ratio of the polymer component is 10 to 100 wt % of the nonvolatile components of the sizing agent. The polymer component is at least one component selected from the group consisting of an aromatic polyester resin, aromatic polyester-polyurethane resin and amine-modified aromatic epoxy resin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to carbon fibers having high tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for making the carbon fibers. The method comprises advancing a precursor fiber through an oxidation oven wherein the fiber is subjected to controlled stretching in an oxidizing atmosphere in which tension loads are distributed amongst a plurality of passes through the oxidation oven, which permits higher cumulative stretches to be achieved. The method also includes subjecting the fiber to controlled stretching in two or more of the passes that is sufficient to cause the fiber to undergo one or more transitions in each of the two or more passes. The invention is also directed to an oxidation oven having a plurality of cooperating drive rolls in series that can be driven independently of each other so that the amount of stretch applied to the oven in each of the plurality of passes can be independently controlled.

Abstract: Provided are: a polyacrylonitrile-based precursor fiber for the production of a carbon fiber having a large single-fiber fineness, said precursor fiber ensuring high heat stability of a spinning dope and excellent productivity; and a copolymer suitable for the production of said precursor fiber. Also provided are: high-quality carbon fiber bundles which have a large single-fiber fineness and excellent productivity; a process for producing the same; and a process for producing flameproofed fiber bundles suitable for the production of the carbon fiber bundles. A polyacrylonitrile-based copolymer which comprises 93.0 to 99.4 mol % of acrylonitrile units, 0.5 to 4.0 mol % of (meth)acrylamide-based units, and 0.1 to 3.

Abstract: Provided herein are carbon nanotubes conformally coated with diamond nanocrystals or silicon carbide, or both, methods of their preparation, methods of their use and compositions and materials comprising the conformally coated carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A composite cord includes a rubber core and a rubber sheath surrounding, at least in part, the rubber core. A formulation of the core is different from that of the sheath. The rubber core includes at least one diene elastomer and more than 30 phr of a filler A. The filler A includes nanoparticles having a weight-average size of less than 500 nm. The rubber sheath includes at least one diene elastomer, from 0 to less than 30 phr of a filler A?, and more than 70 phr of a filler B. The filler A? includes nanoparticles having a weight-average size of less than 500 nm. The filler B includes microparticles having a weight-median size of greater than 1 ?m.

Abstract: A multibranched N-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) and the process of production are described. The CNT includes a first-stage stalk having a direction comprising a first-stage base, and a first-stage top opposite to and attached with the first-stage base, at least two second-stage bundles, each of which comprises a second-stage base attached to the first-stage top, and second-stage top opposite to and attached with the second-stage base, and wherein the second-stage bundles branch from the first-stage stalk in substantially the direction of the first stage stalk, and a plurality of third-stage nanotubes each of which comprises a third-stage base attached to the second-stage top, a third-stage top opposite to and attached with the third-stage base, and wherein the plurality of third-stage nanotubes branch from the second-stage bundles.

Abstract: Provided is an assembly including a block co-polymer film and a plurality of nano-rods; where the plurality of nano-rods are oriented at the surface of the block co-polymer film, substantially perpendicular to at least one interface between block co-polymer domains. Further provided are methods of assembly formation and devices including such assemblies.

Abstract: The carbon nanofiber has a content of oxygen controlled in a range of 8% by mass to 20% by mass and excellent dispersibility in polar solvents by means of an oxidization treatment carried out on a raw material of the carbon nanofiber. The above-described oxidization treatment is preferably carried out at 100° C. or higher using an mixed acid of nitric acid and sulfuric acid in which the nitric acid concentration is in a range of 10% by mass to 30% by mass. A carbon nanofiber dispersion liquid is obtained by dispersing the above-described carbon nanofiber in a polar solvent, and a carbon nanofiber composition contains the above-described dispersion liquid and a binder component.

Abstract: Methods for growing a three-dimensional nanorod network in three-dimensional growth spaces, including highly confined spaces, are provided. The methods are derived from atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes, but use higher temperatures and extended pulsing and/or purging times. Through these methods, networks of nanorods can be grown uniformly along the entire inner surfaces of confined growth spaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a submicron-scaled graphitic fibril having a diameter or thickness less than 1 ?m, wherein the fibril is free of continuous thermal carbon overcoat, free of continuous hollow core, and free of catalyst. The fibril is obtained by splitting a micron-scaled carbon fiber or graphite fiber along the fiber axis direction. The diameter or thickness is preferably less than 500 nm and can be greater or less than 100 nm. These graphitic fibrils exhibit exceptionally high electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, elastic modulus, and strength. The present invention also provides several products that contain submicron graphitic fibrils: (a) paper, thin-film, mat, and web products; (b) rubber or tire products; (c) energy conversion or storage devices, such as fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors; (d) adhesives, inks, coatings, paints, lubricants, and grease products; (e) heavy metal ion scavenger; (f) absorbent (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemically functionalized submicron graphitic fibril having a diameter or thickness less than 1 ?m, wherein the fibril is free of continuous thermal carbon overcoat, free of continuous hollow core, and free of catalyst. The fibril is obtained by splitting a micron-scaled carbon fiber or graphite fiber along the fiber axis direction. These functionalized graphitic fibrils exhibit exceptionally high electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, high elastic modulus, high strength and good interfacial bonding with a matrix resin in a composite. The present invention also provides several products that contain submicron graphitic fibrils: (a) paper, thin-film, mat, and web products; (b) rubber or tire products; (c) energy conversion or storage devices, such as fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors; (d) adhesives, inks, coatings, paints, lubricants, and grease products; (e) heavy metal ion scavenger; (f) absorbent (e.g.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomer compositions are described comprising multigraft copolymers. The multigraft copolymers can comprise a rubbery polymeric backbone and a plurality of glassy polymeric side chains, each attached at one of a plurality of branch points randomly spaced along the backbone. The copolymer materials have high tensile strength, high strain at break, and low residual strain after elongation. The compositions can be used as adhesives and in a wide variety of high tech, medical, and commodity applications.

Abstract: Described herein are low add-on fiber lubricant compositions useful in the production of synthetic fibers. The compositions and methods described herein impart or enhance one or more properties of the fibers such as, for example, dry soil resistance, liquid repellency, or a combination thereof. Fibers produced with the lubricant compositions with the compositions described herein and articles comprising the treated fibers are also described herein. These compositions are composed of (a) a lubricant component, (b) a friction modifier, and (c) water.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to multilayered materials that are designed to roll spontaneously into micron-sized, cylindrical “jelly roll” or scroll structures. Specifically in this disclosure, at least one of the layers is comprised of a nanosheet material.

Abstract: The disclosed is a carbon fibrous conjunct in a granule form which comprises carbon fibrous structures and a binder by which the carbon fibrous structures are bound together, wherein mean diameter of the carbon fibrous conjunct is in the range of 0.03 mm-5 mm, and density of the carbon fibrous conjunct is in the range of 0.003-0.5 g/cm3, and wherein each of the carbon fibrous structures comprises carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm and a carbon granular part with which the carbon fibers are bound in the state that the carbon fibers extend outwardly from the granular part to form a three dimensional network of the carbon fibers, and wherein the granular part and the carbon fibers are bound together by carbon-carbon bonds.

Abstract: A thermal interface material (1) comprises a bulk polymer (2) within which is embedded sub-micron (c. 200 to 220 nm) composite material wires (3) having Ag and carbon nanotubes (“CNTs”) 4. The CNTs are embedded in the axial direction and have diameters in the range of 9.5 to 10 nm and have a length of about 0.7 ?m. In general the pore diameter can be in the range of 40 to 1200 nm. The material (1) has particularly good thermal conductivity because the wires (3) give excellent directionality to the nanotubes (4)—providing very low resistance heat transfer paths. The TIM is best suited for use between semiconductor devices (e.g. power semiconductor chip) and any type of thermal management systems for efficient removal of heat from the device.

Abstract: A composite rod for use in various applications, such as electrical cables (e.g., high voltage transmission cables), power umbilicals, tethers, ropes, and a wide variety of other structural members, is provided. The rod includes a core that is formed from a plurality of unidirectionally aligned fiber rovings embedded within a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The present inventors have discovered that the degree to which the rovings are impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer matrix can be significantly improved through selective control over the impregnation process, and also through control over the degree of compression imparted to the rovings during formation and shaping of the rod, as well as the calibration of the final rod geometry. Such a well impregnated rod has a very small void fraction, which leads to excellent strength properties. Notably, the desired strength properties may be achieved without the need for different fiber types in the rod.