| abstract |
A process for the manufacture of a composite article is described wherein the process comprises the steps of (i) providing on a tool ( 22 ) a fibrous material ( 14 ) having associated therewith in at least one region thereof an in-situ polymerisable non-fibrous form of a thermoplastic material; (ii) applying heat and a vacuum to said material; and additionally (iii) drawing into the fibrous material, from a source external to the tool, additional thermoplastic pre-polymer material. The process described is particularly useful for the manufacture of a large composite structure such as thermoplastic composite wind turbine blade, for example. |