System and method for curing thermoset composites
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAdriana Willempje Blom-Schieber, James Niemann Buttrick, Jr., Michael David Galuska
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for curing a thermoset composite may include a tooling die configured to receive and support an uncured thermoset composite part and to heat the uncured thermoset composite part; a pressure media bag configured to be placed over the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die and including a pressure media; and a mechanical press configured to apply a consolidation pressure to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die, the pressure media bag may be configured to distribute the consolidation pressure applied by the mechanical press to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die.
Claims20
A system for curing a thermoset composite, comprising:
- a tooling die configured to receive and support an uncured thermoset composite part and comprising a heating surface configured to heat the uncured thermoset composite part;
- a pressure media bag configured to be placed over the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die and comprising a pressure media;
- and
- a mechanical press configured to apply a consolidation pressure to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die,
- wherein the pressure media bag is configured to distribute the consolidation pressure applied by the mechanical press to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die,
- wherein the pressure media bag comprises a heating surface configured to contact at least a portion of the uncured thermoset composite part and heat at least said portion of the uncured thermoset composite part to a predetermined temperature,
- wherein the heating surface of the pressure media bag comprises a smart susceptor, and
- wherein the smart susceptor has a Curie temperature corresponding to the predetermined temperature.
A method for curing a thermoset composite, comprising:
- placing an uncured thermoset composite part on a tooling die comprising a heating surface configured to heat the uncured thermoset composite part;
- placing a pressure media bag over the uncured thermoset composite part placed on the tooling die, the pressure media bag containing pressure media;
- heating the uncured thermoset composite part to a predetermined temperature;
- applying a consolidation pressure, via a mechanical press, to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die;
- and
- distributing the consolidation pressure applied to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die via the pressure media bag,
- wherein the pressure media bag comprises a smart susceptor, and
- wherein said smart susceptor has a Curie temperature corresponding to the predetermined temperature.
A system for curing a thermoset composite, comprising:
- a tooling die configured to receive and support an uncured thermoset composite part and comprising a heating surface configured to heat the uncured thermoset composite part;
- a pressure media bag configured to be placed over the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die and comprising a pressure media;
- and
- a mechanical press configured to apply a consolidation pressure to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die,
- wherein the pressure media bag is configured to distribute the consolidation pressure applied by the mechanical press to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die, and
- wherein the pressure media bag comprises a smart susceptor configured to heat at least a portion of the uncured thermoset composite part to a predetermined temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.