WO2021181253A1

WO2021181253A1 - Article made of composite material and method for manufacturing thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2021181253A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/051930
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enrico Raimondo
Original assignee: Er S.R.L.
Priority date: 2020-03-09
Filing date: 2021-03-09
Publication date: 2021-09-16
Also published as: EP4117894A1; IT202000004858A1

Abstract

An article comprising at least one area (30) comprising or consisting of a plurality of laminar elements made of composite material (10) mutually coupled so as to define a substantially unitary laminar element (S') made of composite material. Each of the laminar elements made of composite material (10) consists of a fibrous reinforcement element (10) embedded in a curable polymeric matrix (20). The fibrous reinforcement element (10") has an outer surface (10'), said curable polymeric matrix (20) being optically transparent to allow an observer to view the outer surface (10') of the fibrous reinforcement element (10").

Description

ARTICLE MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of composite materials, and in particularly it relates to an article at least partially made of composite material, as well as to a method for manufacturing thereof.

Definitions

In the present document, the expression "fibrous reinforcement element" or derivatives thereof of a composite material is used to indicate a laminar element consisting of one or more layers of mutually interwoven or woven fibres. The fibres may be made of any natural or synthetic material, for example carbon fibre, aramid fibre, basalt fibre or the like.

In the present document, the expression "polymeric matrix" or derivatives thereof of a composite material is used to indicate the assembly of one or more polymeric layers in which the fibrous reinforcement element is embedded.

In the present document, the expression "optically transparent" or derivatives thereof relating to a material is used to indicate the ability of such material to be traversed by light, possibly in a widespread manner.

In the present document, the term "food grade" or derivatives thereof relating to a material is used to indicate the ability of that material to meet the requirements of the legislation in force at the time and in the country of interest.

In this document, the expression "article'' refers to any object that can be reproduced regularly and repetitively by man, including by means of machines.

In the present document, the expression "providing" or derivatives thereof is used to indicate the preparation of an element of interest to a process step of interest, thus including any preventive treatment aimed at the optimal execution of the step of interest, from simple collection and possible storage to heat and/or chemical and/or physical pre treatments and the like.

In the present document, the expression "compatible materials" or derivatives thereof is used to indicate materials chemically/physically compatible with each other, that is materials that, once coupled, form a joint suitable to support the transfer of tractive or shearing forces through the contact surface. Thus, the maximum compatibility will be observed in identical materials or materials having matrices of the same base.

State of the Art

Articles made of composite material, for example made of carbon or aramid fibre embedded in a matrix of thermosetting epoxy resin are known.

Such articles are used in various industries, for example food, clothing, furniture, bags, construction, aeronautical, automotive, nautical, medical or sports, due to the high mechanical properties and the aesthetic impact of the composite material.

As known, products made of composite material are rather expensive, both due to the high cost of the raw material and the manufacturing process thereof.

In particular, the process for manufacturing the articles made of composite material entails a high manufacturing scrap, generally consisting of cuttings of composite material of variable size.

This entails, within the same company, high disposal costs typical of a composite material, which is a special waste. Such costs have a significant impact on the overall manufacturing cost of the article.

Furthermore, the environmental impact of such manufacturing process is very high.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an article at least partially made of composite material having a high aesthetic impact.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article at least partially made of composite material which allows to reuse the composite material processing manufacturing scrap.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article at least partially made of composite material which allows to reduce the overall manufacturing costs thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article at least partially made of composite material having a minimal environmental impact.

These and other objects that will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by an article and a manufacturing method thereof as described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a roll of composite material comprising the article described, illustrated and/or claimed herein, as well as a manufacturing method thereof may be provided for.

The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a bottle;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a cup;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a cooking pot;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a plate;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views of an article 1 in the form of a bag;

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of a pair of superimposed layers 30;

FIG. 6B is a top schematic view of mutually juxtaposed laminar elements 10;

FIGS. 6C and 6D are schematic views of an exposed layer 30 respectively coated with scratch-resistant paint 40 and with the food grade polymeric layer 50;

FIG. 6E is a sectional schematic view of mutually juxtaposed laminar elements 10;

FIG. 6F is a sectional schematic view of laminar elements 10 mutually surmounted for a surmounting portion 1 ;

FIG. 6G is a sectional schematic view of laminar elements 10 mutually partially superimposed for a superimposition portion 11";

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a table that can be used in the nautical industry;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a seat that can be used in the aeronautical industry;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a bumper for a motor vehicle;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a dashboard for a motor vehicle;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an article 1 in the form of a furnishing chair;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a first example of a method for manufacturing an article 1;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a further example of a method for manufacturing an article 1;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are respectively lateral and top schematic views of a system for manufacturing a roll 110 of pre-impregnated composite material.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is an article 1 in the form of a bottle, a cooking pot, a plate, a cup, a bag, a table, a seat, a bumper, a dashboard, a furnishing chair or any kind of article, in particular in the food, clothing, furniture, bags, construction, aeronautical, automotive, nautical, medical or sports industries.

The present invention may include various parts and/or similar or identical elements. Unless otherwise specified, similar or identical parts and/or elements will be indicated using a single reference number, it being clear that the described technical features are common to all similar or identical parts and/or elements.

The article 1 may include one or more areas 30 comprising or they are entirely made of composite material, and possibly the entire article 1 may be entirely made of composite material.

Even though illustrated hereinafter is a single area 30, it is clear that the article 1 may have one or more areas made of composite material or they may be entirely made of composite material without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

For example, FIGS. 1 - 4 and 7 - 11 illustrate articles 1 entirely made of composite material, while FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate articles 1 which, as better specified hereinafter, comprise an area 30 made of composite material and another area 60 made of a different material, mutually coupled.

In turn, the area 30 may comprise an exposed outer layer made of composite material, for example as illustrated in FIG. 6A, or it may consist of a single wall made of composite material, for example as illustrated in FIGS. 6C and 6D.

The composite material of the area 30 may consist of a plurality of laminar elements made of composite material 10, mutually coupled to form a unitary laminar element 5'. In a per se known manner, each laminar element made of composite material 10 may consist of a fibrous reinforcement element 10", which may in turn consist of one or more layers of mutually interwoven or woven fibres, embedded in a curable polymeric matrix 20, for example at least one layer of thermosetting or UV-curable resin. For example, the curable polymeric matrices 20 of the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may be resins such as the DT120 resin marketed by Deltatech^®, the IMP503 resin marketed by Impregnatex^®, the ET443/ET443 resin marketed by C.I.T.^®, the MTM28 resin marketed by Cytec^®, or a similar resin.

Advantageously, the curable polymeric matrices 20 of the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may be mutually compatible, and preferably all identical. In this manner, the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material may include a substantially unitary curable polymeric matrix consisting of the curable polymeric matrices 20 of the laminar elements made of composite material 10.

For example, the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may be composite material processing scrap. This allows to reduce the environmental impact of the article 1 to the minimum, given that the scrap from previous manufacturing processes is actually reused in a logic of circular economy.

Such circular economy may be obtained in the same company that produces the manufacturing scrap or in another company, after collection and transportation of the scrap of production between the two companies.

Furthermore, there will be no costs linked to the disposal of the manufacturing scrap or to the purchase of raw materials, with obvious overall economic benefit.

The dimensions, shape and/or orientation of the fibres of the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may be any, also in the light of the fact that the manufacturing scrap - due to the nature thereof - have variable and unpredictable characteristics.

Advantageously, each of the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may have a shape and/or size different from at least 80% of the remaining laminar elements made of composite material 10, preferably different from at least 85% of the remaining laminar elements made of composite material 10, even more preferably different from at least 90% of the remaining laminar elements made of composite material 10 and even more preferably different from at least 95% of the remaining laminar elements made of composite material 10.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, each of the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may have a shape and/or size different from the remaining laminar elements made of composite material 10. As regards the dimensions, in a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95%, and even more preferably at least 98% of the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may have a surface comprised between 3 cm² and 500 cm², preferably comprised between 3 cm² and 300 cm², even more preferably comprised between 5 cm² and 250 cm² and even more preferably comprised between 10 cm² and 200 cm².

In a further preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, all laminar elements made of composite material 10 may have a surface comprised between 3 cm² and 500 cm², preferably comprised between 3 cm² and 300 cm², even more preferably comprised between 5 cm² and 250 cm² and even more preferably comprised between 10 cm² and 200 cm².

Furthermore, suitably each of the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may have an orientation of the fibres of the fibrous reinforcement element 10" different from the one of the adjacent laminar elements made of composite material 10.

With regard to the above, the area 30 of an article 1 will differ from the area 30 of a different article 1. As a result, despite the production method being almost constant, each article 1 will be unique in its peculiar aesthetic appearance.

As clearly observable, the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material will have, as illustrated above, a substantially unitary curable polymeric matrix and a reinforcement element consisting of the assembly of the reinforcement elements 10 of the individual laminar elements 10

However, the individual reinforcement elements 10" will not be interwoven or woven, so that the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material will have lower mechanical properties as compared to those it would have had with a conventional reinforcement element consisting of woven or interwoven fibres.

On the other hand, the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material will have a "mosaic" effect which is particularly appealing to the eye. Therefore, the curable polymeric matrix 20 of the individual laminar elements 10 may be optically transparent, so as to allow an observer to view the outer surface 10' of the fibrous reinforcement elements 10 of the individual laminar elements 10.

To this end, the laminar elements 10 may be mutually coupled to define the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material.

According to a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the laminar elements 10 may be mutually juxtaposed, as illustrated in FIGS. 6B and 6E, then arranged side by side and contiguous without superimposition at the edges 11 thereof.

According to another preferred embodiment, illustrated for example in FIG. 6F, the laminar elements 10 may be slightly mutually surmounted for a surmounting portion 11', which for example may be comprised between 2 mm and 10 mm, for example 5 mm.

According to another preferred embodiment, illustrated for example in FIG. 6G, the laminar elements 10 may be mutually partially superimposed for a superimposition portion 11", which is larger than the surmounting portion 1 but not such to cause full superimposition between the laminar elements 10. By way of non-limiting example, the superimposition portion 11" may be about one third, half or two thirds of the length or width of the underlying laminar element.

It is clear that the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material may have laminar elements 10, mutually juxtaposed and/or slightly surmounted and/or partially superimposed, both individually and in any combination, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Therefore, the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material may comprise laminar elements 10 only mutually juxtaposed, or only slightly surmounted, or only partially juxtaposed, or juxtaposed and slightly surmounted but not partially superimposed, or slightly surmounted and/or partially superimposed but not mutually juxtaposed, or juxtaposed and partially superimposed but not slightly surmounted, or juxtaposed, partially superimposed and slightly surmounted.

In any case, the laminar elements 10 will not be fully superimposed, if not to a minimum part, so as not to jeopardise the "mosaic" effect.

Advantageously, the laminar elements 10 may be mutually coupled as illustrated above so that the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material appears continuous to the view of an observer. To this end, the laminar elements 10 may be mutually coupled as illustrated above without leaving space between them, that is without discontinuity, or in any case a minimum space, with size such not to be perceived in the overall view by an observer. Suitably, the exposed area 30 may be coated with a scratch-resistant paint 40 that is optically transparent and compatible with the polymeric matrix 20, so as to prevent possible damage to the material.

Likewise, in the case of articles 1 in the food industry, the exposed area 30 may be covered by an additional food grade polymeric layer 50 that is optically transparent and compatible with the polymeric matrix 20, so as to prevent possible damage to the material, while maintaining the reinforcement elements 10 exposed.

In the latter case, the additional layer 50 may be for example made of the Duraloid AL-30^® resin marketed by Prochima^®.

Such material may have characteristics such to remain substantially intact even after exposure to high temperatures, for example of 60°C - 70°C.

As a result, the article 1 may be used at contact with food-stuffs having a temperature comprised between -20°C and 70°C remaining substantially intact.

Furthermore, the material of the additional layer 50 may be flexible and resistant to impacts and scratches.

Furthermore, such polymeric material can keep its external appearance intact over time, for example, also following the numerous washing cycles in the dishwasher to which the article 1 may be subjected, in the form of a cooking pot, a plate, a cup and the like.

This food grade material will therefore be able to withstand the attacks of acidic and/or basic agents, for example washing detergents, as well as alcohol with up to 96% volume, such as for example alcohol for cleaning or for food use.

The food grade polymeric material may also be suitable to be written and/or silk- screen printed and/or painted.

Suitably, the layer 50 may be a mixture, known in the prior art, suitable to cover the area 30, corresponding to the exposed layer in the case of several superimposed layers 30, so as to make the article 1, for example in the form of a cooking pot, suitable for use with induction technology, for temperatures up to 400 °C.

For example, such mixture may comprise 45 - 50 % of a resin, 35 - 45 % of a hardener and 5 - 15 % of a pigmenting agent.

According to a further example, such mixture may consist of 49.5% resin, 40.5% hardener and 10% pigmenting agent. According to a further embodiment, the article 1 may include one or more laminar inserts 60, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

Such inserts may be made of any material, preferably fabric or leather, even more preferably recycled fabric or leather.

The area 30 and the insert 60 may be joined along the respective edges by means of joining means 70, for example seams, studs or the like.

This will allow to obtain a design article 1 having a high aesthetic impact and durability over time.

From a manufacturing point of view, the article 1 or the area 30 thereof may be obtained by providing the laminar elements 10 in a mould 100 and by curing the polymeric matrices 20, in a per se known manner.

Suitably, the laminar elements 10 may be pre-impregnated in the polymeric matrix 20 so that it hardens during the treatment step inside the mould 100.

On the other hand, the laminar elements 10 may be positioned dry inside the mould, so as to be subsequently embedded in the polymeric matrix 20 which is injected into the mould 100 in a per se known manner and subsequently cured.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, for example illustrated in FIG. 13, the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may be inserted in the mould 100 mutually separated and subsequently coupled as illustrated above in the same mould.

In another preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, for example illustrated in FIG. 12, the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material may be inserted into the mould 100. In this case, the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may be coupled as illustrated above prior to insertion into the mould.

For example, the latter operation may be carried out on a work table, possibly coupling the laminar elements made of composite material 10 on a substrate.

However, the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material may be advantageously obtained by cutting a portion from a roll 110 of composite material.

The roll 110 may include a planar base film 120 on which the laminar elements made of composite material 10 of the pre-impregnated type are arranged. In turn, the latter may or may not be provided with one or more protective films.

The film 120 may be inserted in the mould 100 together with the laminar elements made of composite material 10 and treated therewith, or it may be removed prior to insertion, in which case it can be designed in a way to be removable.

Advantageously, for example as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material may be substantially coextensive with the planar base film 120.

Furthermore, the roll 110 may suitably further comprise a further protective film 130 mutually coupled with the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material on the side opposite to the one occupied by the planar base film 120.

The protective film 130 may be inserted in the mould 100 together with the laminar elements made of composite material 10 and treated therewith, or it may be removed prior to insertion, in which case it can be designed in a way to be removable.

It is clear that the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material consisting of the laminar elements made of composite material 10 may be directly or indirectly coupled to the films 120 and/or 130. For example, further layers may be provided for between the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material and the films 120 and/or 130, for example a release layer.

However, the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material and the films 120 and/or 130 may preferably be at mutual contact.

The system 200 illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, in which the film 120 advances continuously by means of special advancement means, for example cylinders 155, and the laminar elements made of composite material 10 are arranged continuously thereon to form the substantially unitary laminar element 5' made of composite material, may be used to obtain the roll 110.

The arrangement may be obtained by means of special automatic arrangement means, for example an automated arm 150 preferably provided with an optical system suitable to couple - as illustrated above - the various laminar elements 10 so as to create the unitary laminar element 5' on the film 120.

A pressing roller 140 may also be provided for to apply the removable protective film

130.

Means 160 may also be provided for to wind the product exiting from the system 200 around a reel or the like to obtain the roll 110. In light of the above, it is clear that the invention attains the pre-set objectives.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. An article comprising at least one area (30) comprising or consisting of a plurality of laminar elements made of composite material (10) mutually juxtaposed and/or slightly surmounted and/or partially superimposed so as to define a substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material, each of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) consisting of a fibrous reinforcement element (10") embedded in a curable polymeric matrix (20), said fibrous reinforcement element (10") having an outer surface (10'), said curable polymeric matrix (20) being optically transparent so as to allow an observer to see the outer surface (10') of said fibrous reinforcement element (10").

2. Article according to claim 1, wherein each of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) has one or more peripheral edges (11), each peripheral edge (11) of each laminar element made of composite material (10) being substantially at contact with or mutually superimposed on at least one peripheral edge (11) of the adjacent laminar elements made of composite material (10).

3. Article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material appears continuous to the view of an observer.

4. Article according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material is substantially without discontinuity between the laminar elements made of composite material (10), so as to appear continuous to the view of an observer.

5. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) has a shape and/or size different from at least 80% of the remaining laminar elements made of composite material (10), preferably different from at least 85% of the remaining laminar elements made of composite material (10), even more preferably different from at least 90% of the remaining laminar elements made of composite material (10) and even more preferably different from at least 95% of the remaining laminar elements made of composite material (10).

6. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) has a shape and/or size different from the remaining laminar elements made of composite material (10).

7. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least 80% of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) have a surface comprised between 3 cm² and 500 cm², preferably comprised between 3 cm² and 300 cm², even more preferably comprised between 5 cm² and 250 cm² and even more preferably comprised between 10 cm² and 200 cm².

8. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least 90% of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) has a surface comprised between 3 cm² and 500 cm², preferably comprised between 3 cm² and 300 cm², even more preferably comprised between 5 cm² and 250 cm² and even more preferably comprised between 10 cm² and 200 cm².

9. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least 95% of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) has a surface comprised between 3 cm² and 500 cm², preferably comprised between 3 cm² and 300 cm², even more preferably comprised between 5 cm² and 250 cm² and even more preferably comprised between 10 cm² and 200 cm².

10. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least 98% of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) has a surface comprised between 3 cm² and 500 cm², preferably comprised between 3 cm² and 300 cm², even more preferably comprised between 5 cm² and 250 cm² and even more preferably comprised between 10 cm² and 200 cm².

11. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said laminar elements made of composite material (10) have a surface comprised between 3 cm² and 500 cm², preferably comprised between 3 cm² and 300 cm², even more preferably comprised between 5 cm² and 250 cm² and even more preferably comprised between 10 cm² and 200 cm².

12. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) has an orientation of the fibres of said fibrous reinforcement element (10") different from that of the adjacent laminar elements made of composite material (10).

13. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fibrous reinforcement element (10") consists of at least one layer of mutually interwoven or woven fibres. 14. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said polymeric matrix (20) consists of at least one layer of thermosetting or UV-curable resin.

15. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the curable polymeric matrices (20) of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) are compatible with each other.

16. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material includes a substantially unitary curable polymeric matrix consisting of the curable polymeric matrices (20) of the laminar elements made of composite material (10).

17. Article according to the preceding claim, wherein said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material comprises at least one scratch-resistant (40) and/or a food grade protective layer (50) superimposed on said substantially unitary curable polymeric matrix.

18. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material has a variable thickness, in particular at the superimposition area between two mutually surmounted laminar elements made of composite material (10).

19. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one area (30) comprises at least two superimposed layers, the exposed outer layer of said at least one area (30) consisting of said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material.

20. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one area (30) consists of said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material.

21. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one laminar insert (60) made of a material other from said composite material, preferably leather and/or fabric, said at least one area (30) and said at least one laminar insert (60) being mutually coupled.

22. Article according to any one of claims 1 to 20, exclusively consisting of said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material.

23. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slightly surmounted laminar elements made of composite material (10) have a portion of surmounted material (1 ) comprised between 2 mm and 10 mm.

24. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said laminar elements made of composite material (10) are composite material processing scrap.

25. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said laminar elements made of composite material (10) are of the pre-impregnated type.

26. Article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of: a bottle, a cooking pot, a plate, a cup, a bag, a table, a seat, a bumper, a dashboard, a furniture chair.

27. A roll of pre-impregnated composite material comprising:

- at least one planar base film (120); and

- an article according to one or more of the preceding claims exclusively consisting of said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material; wherein said laminar elements made of composite material (10) are of the pre impregnated type, said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material being mutually coupled with said at least one planar base film (120).

28. Roll according to the preceding claim, wherein said planar base film (120) is of the removable type.

29. Roll according to claim 27 or 28, wherein said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material is at contact with said planar base film (120).

30. Roll according to claim 27, 28 or 29, further comprising a further protective film (130) mutually coupled with said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material on the side opposite to the one occupied by said planar base film (120), said protective film (130) being possibly removable.

31. Roll according to the preceding claim, wherein said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material is at contact with said protective film (130).

32. Roll according to any one of claims 27 to 31, wherein said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material is substantially coextensive with said planar base film (120).

33. Method for obtaining at least one area (30) of an article according to one or more of claims 1 to 26, comprising the steps of:

- providing - in a mould (100) - said plurality of laminar elements made of composite material (10) mutually juxtaposed and/or slightly surmounted and/or partially superimposed so as to define a substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material, each of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) consisting of a fibrous reinforcement element (10") embedded in a curable polymeric matrix (20);

- cure of the polymeric matrices (20) of said laminar elements made of composite material (10); so that the substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material has a substantially unitary cured polymeric matrix.

34. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the article exclusively consists of said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material.

35. Method according to claim 33 or 34, wherein said provision step includes a step of inserting - into said mould (100) - the laminar elements made of composite material (10) separated from each other, said laminar elements made of composite material (10) being mutually juxtaposed and/or slightly surmounted and/or partially superimposed in said mould.

36. Method according to claim 33 or 34, wherein said provision step includes a step of inserting - into said mould (100) - said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material consisting of the mutually juxtaposed and/or slightly surmounted and/or partially superimposed laminar elements made of composite material (10).

37. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein said step of inserting - into said mould (100) - said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material is carried out starting from a roll (110) of composite material according to one or more of claims 27 to 32, said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material to be inserted into said mould consisting of a portion of said roll (110) of planar composite material to which said planar base film (120) of the removable type is possibly removed.

38. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein before inserting - into said mould (100) - said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material consisting of said portion of said roll (110) of composite material, said further removable protective film (130) is removed therefrom. 39. A method for obtaining a roll of pre-impregnated composite material according to one or more of claims 27 to 32, comprising the steps of:

- providing at least one planar base film (120);

- providing said laminar elements made of composite material (10);

- mutual coupling of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) and of said at least one planar base film (120) so as to obtain - on the latter - said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material.

40. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein said step of providing said substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material includes a step of arranging said laminar elements made of composite material (10) on said at least one mutually juxtaposed and/or slightly surmounted and/or partially superimposed planar base film (120).

41. A system for the continuous production of a roll of pre-impregnated composite material according to one or more of claims 27 to 32, comprising:

- means (155) for the continuous advancement of at least one planar base film

(120);

- means (150) for the automatic positioning - on said planar base film (120) - of a plurality of laminar elements made of composite material (10) mutually juxtaposed and/or slightly surmounted and/or partially superimposed so as to define a substantially unitary laminar element (5') made of composite material, said laminar elements made of composite material (10) being of the pre-impregnated type; wherein each of said laminar elements made of composite material (10) consists of a fibrous reinforcement element (10") embedded in a curable polymeric matrix (20), said fibrous reinforcement element (10") having an outer surface (10'), said curable polymeric matrix (20) being optically transparent to allow an observer to view the outer surface (10') of said fibrous reinforcement element (10").