US 10,118,315 B1 · Preparing tool surfaces for composites

Abstract

Techniques for producing composites outside of an autoclave that have smooth surface finishes are disclosed. The smooth composite surface, free of porosity, can be fabricated by curing the prepreg in a tool that includes a novel microstructure. In conventional composite manufacturing, some degree of porosity appears to originate from trapped gas bubbles that form during curing. The microstructure can provide a mechanism for the gas bubbles to escape from the tooling, thereby eliminating porosity and yielding a smooth surface finish on the out-of-autoclave composite. The microstructure can be applied to the tool surface using an inkjet process applying an acrylic resin curable with ultraviolet light.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for composite manufacture, comprising:

preparing a tool surface for composite manufacture for producing a microstructure thereon;
and
producing a microstructure of three-dimensional relief bonded to the tool surface, the microstructure comprising a patterned structure of topographical variation having varying height from the tool surface across the microstructure having valleys, the composite material comprising one or more layers of prepreg and a resin;
wherein the composite manufacture comprises laying up and curing the composite material against the microstructure after bonding the microstructure to the tool surface and a shape of the valleys is such that the resin is prevented from flowing into the valleys and restricting gas escape during curing.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/271,428Filed 6 May 2014 · us provisional application

Priority

6 May 2013

Granted

6 Nov 2018

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B29C 33/10
Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor: with incorporated venting means
B29C 33/424
Characterised by the shape of the moulding surface, e.g. ribs or grooves: moulding surfaces provided with means for marking or patterning
B29C 64/106
Processes of additive manufacturing: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
B29C 70/548
Measures for feeding or distributing the matrix material in the reinforcing structure: using distribution constructions, e.g. channels…

Preparing tool surfaces for composites

Life of this patent

Preparing tool surfaces for composites

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19