Process for preparing a fiber reinforced resin matrix preform

A process for preparing a fiber reinforced resin matrix preform for a composite article comprising:

• dissolving the resin in a solvent solution and applying said solution with said dissolved resin to the fiber while braiding said fiber into a preform shape on a mandrel;
• heating the braided preform on the mandrel in an oven in a first heating step to a temperature of about 58.degree. C. and maintaining said 58.degree. C. temperature for about 1 hour followed by raising said temperature to about 100.degree. C. and maintaining said 100.degree. C. temperature for about 7 hours to reduce the volatile content to from about 13% to about 28% by weight of the preform;
• cooling the preform on the mandrel and removing said preform from said mandrel, whereby said preform is self-supporting when removed from said mandrel while having sufficient volatile content to minimize a loss of resin due to handling;
• and heating said self-supporting preform in an oven in a second heating step to a tempeature of about 185.degree. C. and maintaining said 185.degree. C. temperature for about 30 minutes to reduce the volatile content to from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the preform and then consolidating the preform in a mold with heat and pressure to form a composite article.