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US 11,655,346 B2Granted
Adjustable CTE polymer compositions for extrusion and additive manufacturing processes
AssigneeAirtech International, Inc.
InventorsAubrey Gerald Jackson, Zachary Ian Skelton, Philip Lunn, Guy Rene Schindler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A polymer composition capable of being additively manufactured includes a polymer matrix and an NTE additive. The NTE additive enables tailoring of the CTE of the polymer composition and the additively manufactured structure made using the composition.
Claims20
A method of making a composite part, the method comprising:
- additively manufacturing or extruding a polymer composition to form a tool, the polymer composition comprising a polymer matrix and a negative thermal expansion (NTE) additive, and a volume of the NTE additive in the polymer composition being configured to yield the tool having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE);
- applying a composite part composition or composite part laminate on or to the tool, the composite part composition or composite part laminate being configured to yield the composite part having a second CTE that is generally matched to the first CTE of the tool;
- and
- exposing the tool to sufficient heat to cure the composite part composition or composite part laminate to yield the composite part having the second CTE that is generally matched to the first CTE of the tool.
1 more element
A method of making a composite part, the method comprising:
- additively manufacturing or extruding a polymer composition to form a tool, the polymer composition comprising a polymer matrix, one or more strengtheners, and a negative thermal expansion (NTE) additive, and a volume of the NTE additive in the polymer composition being configured to yield the tool having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE);
- applying a composite part composition or composite part laminate on or to the tool, the composite part composition or composite part laminate configured to yield the composite part having a second CTE that is generally matched to the first CTE of the tool;
- and
- exposing the tool to sufficient heat to cure the composite part composition or composite part laminate to yield the composite part having the second CTE that is generally matched to the first CTE of the tool.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.