NEAR NET SHAPE PREPREG

A process for producing 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional near net shape prepregs suitable for use in preparing structural composite parts of complex shape, including (a) depositing at least 13 volume percent of reinforcing fibers onto one side of a foraminous screen having a vacuum means positioned on the opposite side thereof which maintains the fibers in position on the one side of the screen, (b) depositing resin matrix material onto the same side of the foraminous screen as the reinforcing fibers above wherein the vacuum means positioned on the opposite side of the foraminous screen maintains the resin matrix material with the fibers in position on the one side of the screen, (c) heating the resin matrix material sufficiently to bond resin matrix material to the fiber at the surface of the screen, and (d) allowing the resin and fiber structure to cool such that a near net prepreg is formed. The prepreg is placed in a compression mold; and heated and consolidated to produce a uniform composite part.