PREPARATION OF FIBER REINFORCED PLASTICS

PURPOSE:To prepare easily an axis symmetrical body having a concave curved surface or an open hole and comprising fiber reinforced plastics with a high fiber content by a method wherein continuous fibers are braided around a metal surface in the mesh form, impregnated with matrix at a reduced pressure and molded under an external pressure through a rubber elastic body. CONSTITUTION:A mold 2 with a concave curved surface 1 of which the external periphery is braided 3 by continuous fibers is dipped in the matrix 5 in an impregnating tank 4 at a reduced pressure. The internal part of the tank is evacuated through an exhaust port 6, and kept at a reduced pressure to impregnate said fibers with said matrix. The braided mold 2 after impregnation with the matrix is inserted into the internal periphery of an elastic body 8 expanded by forming a vacuum through an air port 11 of the external pressure loading device. Then, the vacuum state is changed into the compression state to pressure-mold the braided 3 position by the elastic body 8 and the mold 2. In this way, it is posible to easily obtain an FRP axis symmetrical body with concave curved surface.