Patent ID: 8778106

Claim:
A method for preparing a pre-form, comprising: providing layers of oriented fibre tows, wherein a plurality of the layers of fibre tows consist exclusively of unidirectionally oriented, continuous fibres; providing an adhesive between the layers of fibres to at least partially immobilize the fibres; and providing a resin in contact with at least one of the layers of fibre tows, the resin consisting essentially of a thermosetting material and containing no thermoplastic materials, wherein at least one of the layers of oriented fibre tows is positioned off the edge of a preceding layer of oriented fibre tows so that the pre-form is tapered. wherein the adhesive is provided in a non-continuous layer between adjacent layers of fibres, thereby forming gas escape pathways having pathway outlets directed in at least two orthogonal directions, the at least two orthogonal directions being transverse to the unidirectional orientation of the fibres such that the at least two orthogonal directions include a primary orthogonal direction oriented through a thickness defined by the layers of oriented fibre tows in combination and a secondary orthogonal direction oriented parallel to the plurality of the layers of oriented fibre tows, and such that the gas escape pathways promote gas escape during curing or pre-curing of the resin and adhesive in the at least two orthogonal directions through the pathways outlets.