Articles of composite construction and methods of manufacture thereof

A method of manufacturing a composite hollow vessel in a hollow rotational mould, the method comprising:

• a) placing a layer of fibrous material against an inner surface of the hollow rotational mould, said mould having a predetermined internal shape;
• b) then placing the layer of fibrous material so that it conforms to a shape of an inner surface of the hollow rotational mould;
• c) then introducing a thermoplastic material into the hollow rotational mould and heating the material and rotating the mould;
• wherein the thermoplastic material is allowed to at least partially penetrate the layer of fibrous material;
• wherein the thermoplastic material is sufficiently heated to enable that material to morph from a solid to a flowable state;
• and
• wherein the thermoplastic material is allowed to flow at least part way through the thickness of the layer of fibrous material to form a wall of the composite vessel to be formed in the hollow rotational mould;
• d) allowing the thermoplastic material to cool so that at least some fibres of the layer of fibrous material are embedded in the thermoplastic material;
• e) removing the composite hollow vessel from the hollow rotational mould;
• wherein the mould is close ended and is simultaneously rotated about two axes;
• and
• f) then applying a thermosetting resin to fibres of the layer of fibrous material not embedded in the thermoplastic material to thereby form a bond between the thermoplastic material and the thermosetting resin.