Patent ID: 7435693
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: B29C,B29K,B32B,D03D,D10B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A unidirectional fabric comprising: a plurality of unidirectional, non-crimped structural tows; a plurality of weft tows woven around said plurality of structural tows generally perpendicular to said structural tows without crimping said structural tows, said weft tows having a thickness substantially less than that of said structural tows; a plurality of warp tows extending generally parallel to said structural tows, said weft tows being woven around said warp tows in between said structural tows, said structural tows, said warp tows and said weft tows forming a non-crimped, unidirectional fabric with said warp tows having a thickness substantially less than that of structural tows; said structural tows being separated by a distance of at least about 0.010 inch (0.254 mm) to enable infusion of a resin into said fabric; and a non-woven, toughening fabric having a plurality of fibers, with all of said fibers being completely melt-bonded to at least one surface of said non-crimped unidirectional fabric.