EXPANSILE FIBER COMPLEX STRUCTURE AND ITS PRODUCING METHOD

摘要

PURPOSE: To keep a partially continuous cell structure by impregnating a compressed fiber mat with a plastic material and lowering compression force in such a state that the impregnated material is still soft under high compression force to spring back the fibers in the mat to expand the thickness of the mat. CONSTITUTION: An unimpregnated fiber mat 10 having first height Hm is impregnated with an impregnating material such as plastic or resin and compression force and heat are applied to the impregnated material to form a void-free composite structure. At this time, the structure 12 is held to certain height Hvf (void free) by compression force. When the compression force holding the impregnated mat 12 to the height Hvf is reduced in such a state that plastic is soft, the impregnated mat 12 is returned to the original state by a predetermined quantity to expand. By this constitution, individual fibers return to a matrix low in plugging degree and gap voids 28 are formed in an expanded composite structure 14 and a continuous three-dimensional monolithic structure is formed.