Reusable expandable media with flexible skin for composite manufacturing and methods thereof
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsXiaoxi Wang, Jill Elisabeth Seebergh, Gary E. Georgeson
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Abstract
A material system including a plurality of expandable pellets or a monolithic flexible carrier is disclosed, each of which may include a polymer matrix configured to hold an expandable core, and a flexible skin configured to encapsulate the polymer matrix, and where the flexible skin is at least partially permeable with respect to the expandable core or a gas released by the expandable core. Implementations of the material system may include where the polymer matrix may include a thermoplastic polymer. The material system may include a charging source configured to introduce blowing agent. A method of curing a composite part is also described.
Claims20
A material system, comprising:
- a plurality of expandable pellets, comprising:
- a polymer matrix configured to hold an expandable core;
- and
- a flexible skin configured to encapsulate the polymer matrix;
- and
- wherein the flexible skin is at least partially permeable with respect to the expandable core or a gas released by the expandable core.
An expandable member system, comprising:
- an expandable member comprising:
- a polymer matrix configured to hold an expandable core;
- and
- a flexible skin configured to encapsulate the polymer matrix and the expandable core;
- and
- wherein the flexible skin is at least partially permeable with respect to the expandable core or a gas released by the expandable core.
A material system, comprising:
- a plurality of expandable pellets, comprising:
- a polymer matrix configured to hold an expandable core;
- and
- a flexible skin configured to encapsulate the polymer matrix;
- and
- wherein the flexible skin is impermeable with respect to the expandable core or a gas released by the expandable core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.