Cosmetic repair of a thermoplastic carbon fiber composite
AssigneesGM Global Technology Operations LLC, Teijin Limited
InventorsXiaosong Huang, Selina X. Zhao, Elisabeth J. Berger, William R. Rodgers, Tomohiro Ryutani, Glen Novak
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Abstract
Methods of repairing a defect in a polymeric composite structure are provided. The methods include disposing a patch over a defect in a polymeric composite structure; disposing a textured sheet over the polymeric patch, applying pressure to the polymeric patch and the textured sheet; and heating the polymeric patch. The textured sheet has a surface texture that is a negative of a surface texture of the polymeric composite structure.
Claims15
A method of repairing a defect in a polymeric composite structure, the method comprising:
- filling the defect in its entirety with a filling material, the filling material comprising a thermoplastic polymer or a thermoset polymer;
- smoothing the filling material so that the filling material has a surface that is flush with the exposed surface of the polymeric composite structure;
- hardening the filling material in the defect;
- disposing a polymeric patch over the defect;
- disposing a textured sheet over the polymeric patch, wherein the textured sheet has a first surface texture that is a negative of a second surface texture of the exposed surface of the polymeric composite structure;
- applying pressure to the polymeric patch and the textured sheet;
- heating the polymeric patch so that the polymeric patch softens, and
- cooling the polymeric patch,
- wherein the applying pressure and the heating causes the textured sheet to transfer the first surface texture to the polymeric patch, such that the polymeric patch has a third surface texture that matches the second surface texture of the polymeric composite structure, and
- wherein the cooling causes the polymeric patch to adhere to the polymeric composite structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.