Moulding materials

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the or one or more of the area(s) of relatively low resin content are substantially devoid of resin.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the or one or more of the area(s) of relatively low resin content comprise(s) substantially dry fibrous material.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the or one or more of the area(s) of relatively high resin content impregnate the fibrous layer, at least partially.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the or one or more of the area(s) of relatively high resin content extend through the fibrous layer to provide resinous surface area on both sides of the fibrous layer.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the fibrous layer comprises a prepreg.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the amount of resinous material in each relatively high resin content area is substantially the same.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which a pattern of areas of relatively high resin content is provided on the fibrous layer.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the resinous material is sufficiently viscous to substantially remain in the desired area(s) for a predetermined time.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the resinous material comprises a thermosetting material including any one or more of epoxy phenol novolaks, epoxy novolaks, epoxy cresol novolaks, bis phenol A epoxy resins, bis phenol F epoxy resins, multi functional resins, multi functional epoxy resin, phenolics, cyanate esters, BMI's, polyesters, thermoplastic materials, other thermosetting materials.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the resinous material comprises a thermoplastic material.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the fibrous layer comprises a single layer of fibrous material.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the fibrous material is generally continuous within the layer, such as woven material.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the fibrous material is generally discontinuous within the layer, such as chopped mat material.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the fibrous material comprises one or more of glass fibre, carbon fibre, aramid, PE, PBO, boron natural fibres, stitched fabric, UD tape, non-woven material such as glass and/or polyester thermoplastic fibres or blends thereof.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the fibrous layer is partially or wholly pre-impregnated with further resinous material.

Moulding material according to any preceding claim, in which the moulding material comprises a further layer of material such as fibrous material and/or resinous material conjoined to one or more of the area(s) of relatively high resin content to one side of the fibrous layer.

A moulding laminate comprising a plurality of layers of moulding material as defined in any of the preceding claims.

A method of producing a moulding material the method comprising providing at least one area of relatively high resin content and at least one area of relatively low resin content on a side of a layer of fibrous material.

Moulding material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

A moulding laminate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.