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US 10,538,019 B2Granted
Coating soluble tooling inserts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKevin O'Brien Gaw, Michael Harris Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The surface of a tooling insert is coated with a polymer layer having a low surface energy in order to cover surface irregularities and thereby provide a smooth surface against which a composite part may be compression molded.
Claims24
A method of forming a thermoplastic composite aerospace part having a smooth surface on a tooling insert having surface irregularities, comprising:
- forming a polyamic acid solution;
- applying the polyamic acid solution to a surface of the tooling insert;
- forming a polyimide coating on a surface of the tooling insert by heating the tooling insert;
- forming the thermoplastic composite aerospace part around the tooling insert;
- removing the tooling insert from the aerospace part by dissolving the tooling insert;
- and
- removing the polyimide coating from the aerospace part, after the tooling insert has fully dissolved.
4 more elements
A method of compression molding a fiber reinforced plastic aerospace part, comprising:
- coating a surface of at least one soluble tooling insert with a polyamic acid solution;
- placing the at least one soluble tooling insert inside a mold tool;
- introducing plastic into the mold tool;
- applying heat and pressure to the plastic within the mold tool;
- removing the soluble tooling insert from the mold tool by dissolving the soluble tooling insert;
- removing a polyimide coating formed from the polyamic acid solution after the soluble tooling insert has completely dissolved;
- and
- removing a molded aerospace part from the mold tool.
5 more elements
A method of making a thermoplastic composite aerospace part having an aerodynamic finish, comprising:
- forming a water-soluble inorganic tooling insert having surface irregularities;
- coating the tooling insert with a polyamic acid solution that covers the surface irregularities;
- forming a smooth outer finish on the tooling insert by evaporating a solvent from the polyamic acid solution;
- molding the aerospace part on the tooling insert, including heating a thermoplastic mold charge to a melt temperature of the thermoplastic mold charge;
- removing the tooling insert from the aerospace part by dissolving the tooling insert;
- and
- removing a polyimide coating formed from the polyamic acid solution from the aerospace part, after the tooling insert has fully dissolved.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.