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US 11,090,909 B2Granted
Forming metal composites
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsKuan-Ting Wu, Chien Lung Yang, Cheng-Feng Liao
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Abstract
Examples of forming metal composites are described herein. In an example, a metal sheet is formed into a predetermined shape using superplastic thermal forming technique. Further, a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet is shaped into the predetermined shape by thermal forming. The metal sheet and the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet are coupled by applying an adhesive between the metal sheet and the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet, to form a metal composite.
Claims15
A method comprising:
- forming a metal sheet into a predetermined shape using a superplastic thermal forming technique wherein the superplastic thermal forming technique comprises heating the metal sheet and applying sufficient pressure from a pressurized gas to the heated metal sheet to form the metal sheet into the predetermined shape;
- shaping a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet into the predetermined shape by thermal forming, wherein the thermal forming comprises heating the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet and applying sufficient pressure from a pressurized gas to the heated carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet to form the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet into the predetermined shape;
- and
- coupling, to form a metal composite, the metal sheet and the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet by applying an adhesive between the metal sheet and the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet.
1 more element
A metal composite comprising:
- a metal sheet formed into a predetermined shape using superplastic thermal forming technique;
- and
- a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet coupled to the formed metal sheet by a hot-melt adhesive layer, wherein the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet is formed into the predetermined shape by thermal forming for coupling to the formed metal sheet to obtain the metal composite having the predetermined shape.
An apparatus comprising:
- a die having a cavity of a predetermined shape corresponding to a shape of a metal composite to be formed, wherein the die is to,
- receive a metal sheet to be deformed;
- and
- receive a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet to be deformed and coupled to the metal sheet;
- an adhesive dispensing unit to apply an adhesive between the metal sheet and the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet;
- and
- a forming assembly to,
- deform the metal sheet using superplastic thermal forming;
- and
- deform the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet using thermal forming, to couple the metal sheet and the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet for forming the metal composite, wherein the forming assembly comprises an applicator to apply pressure of a pressurized gas on the metal sheet and the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheet.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.