Patent ID: 7192634

Claim:
A support structure comprising a flexible polymer element in combination with reinforcing fibers for use in a curable composition with a resin matrix component wherein the flexible polymer element is a mono or multi fiber or mixtures or weave thereof and is in solid phase adapted to undergo at least partial phase transition to fluid phase on contact with the resin matrix component of the curable composition in which it is soluble at a temperature which is less than the temperature for substantial onset of gelling or curing of the curable composition characterized in that the phase transition to fluid phase is by solution of the soluble polymer in the resin matrix component, wherein the matrix resin is curable and is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, an addition-polymerisation resin, a bis-maleimide resin, a formaldehyde condensate resin, a formaldehyde-phenol resin, a cyanate resin, an isocyanate resin, a phenolic resin and mixtures of two or more thereof, wherein the flexible polymer element comprises at least one polyarylsulphone comprising ether-linked repeating units or thioether-linked repeating units, the units being selected from the group consisting of -(PhAPh) n - and -(Ph) a - wherein A═CO or SO 2 , Ph is phenylene, n=1 to 2 and can be fractional, a=1 to 4 and, can be fractional and when a exceeds 1, said phenylenes are linked linearly through a single chemical bond or a divalent group other than —CO— or —SO 2 — or are fused together directly or via a cyclic moiety, such as acid alkyl group, a (hetero) aromatic or cyclic ketone, amide, imide, imine.