Molding material, molding method using same, method for producing molding material, and method for producing fiber-reinforced composite material

Abstract

Provided is a molding material which includes a composite of 1 to 50 wt % of a continuous reinforcing fiber bundle (A) and 0.1 to 20 wt % of a poly(phenylene ether ether ketone) oligomer (B); and 30 to 98.9 wt % of a thermoplastic resin (C) adhering to the composite, wherein the component (B) has a melting point of not higher than 270° C. Also provided are a method for molding the molding material, a method for producing the molding material, and a method for producing a fiber-reinforced composite material. A molded article having high heat resistance and dynamic properties can be easily produced without impairing the economic efficiency and productivity during the process for producing a molding material. In addition, a fiber-reinforced composite material can be produced with more ease and high productivity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molding material comprising a reinforcing fiber substrate (A′), a poly (phenylene ether ether ketone) oligomer (B), and a polymerization catalyst (D), wherein the component (B) has a melting point of not higher than 270° C. 
     
     
         2 . The molding material according to  claim 1 , wherein the component (B) comprises a cyclic poly (phenylene ether ether ketone) in an amount of 60 wt % or more. 
     
     
         3 . The molding material according to  claim 1 , wherein the component (B) is a mixture of cyclic poly (phenylene ether ether ketone)s having different numbers of repeating units (m). 
     
     
         4 . The molding material according to  claim 1 , wherein the component (A′) is a carbon fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The molding material according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of the component (A′) is 30 wt % or more. 
     
     
         6 . The molding material according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of the component (D) is 0.001 to 20 mol % per 1 mol of ether ether ketone structural unit in the component (B).