Method for producing a structural material stack
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsCharles William Rust, John Alfred Weidler, III, Muhammad Jawad Qarni, Niall Mannion
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Abstract
A method for producing a structural material stack includes forming a composite panel that includes a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material, and applying an interface film on an exterior composite surface of the composite panel. The interface film is electrically conductive. The method includes performing an electroplating process to form a metallic coating on the interface film such that the interface film is sandwiched between the composite panel and the metallic coating. The metallic coating has a different material composition than the interface film.
Claims20
A method for producing a lipskin of an inlet cowl of an aircraft nacelle, the method comprising:
- forming a composite panel that includes a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material, wherein the composite panel includes an exterior composite surface;
- applying an interface film on the exterior composite surface of the composite panel, wherein the interface film is electrically conductive and has an interior interface surface and an exterior interface surface;
- and
- performing an electroplating process to form a metallic coating on the exterior interface surface of the interface film such that the interface film is sandwiched between the composite panel and the metallic coating, the metallic coating having a different material composition than the interface film, thereby forming said lipskin, wherein the metallic coating defines an exterior surface of the inlet cowl along a leading edge of the inlet cowl.
A method for producing a structural material stack, the method comprising:
- forming a composite panel that includes a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material, wherein the composite panel includes an exterior composite surface;
- applying an interface film on the exterior composite surface of the composite panel, wherein the interface film is electrically conductive and has an interior interface surface and an exterior interface surface;
- performing a nickel strike chemical process on the interface film after applying the interface film;
- and
- performing an electroplating process to form a metallic coating on the exterior interface surface of the interface film after performing the nickel strike chemical process so the interface film is sandwiched between the composite panel and the metallic coating, the metallic coating having a different material composition than the interface film, thereby forming said structural material stack.
A lipskin of an inlet cowl of an aircraft nacelle, the lipskin comprising:
- a composite panel that includes a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material, wherein the composite panel includes an exterior composite surface;
- an interface film bonded via an adhesive to the exterior composite surface of the composite panel, wherein the interface film is electrically conductive and has an interior interface surface and an exterior interface surface;
- and
- a metallic coating formed on the exterior interface surface of the interface film such that the interface film is sandwiched between the composite panel and the metallic coating, the metallic coating having a different material composition than the interface film, wherein the metallic coating defines an exterior surface of the inlet cowl along a leading edge of the inlet cowl.
A method for producing an inlet cowl, the method comprising:
- forming a composite panel that includes a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material, the composite panel including an exterior composite surface and formed to have a curved contour that represents at least a portion of an annular barrel shape;
- applying an interface film on the exterior composite surface of the composite panel, wherein the interface film includes over 50% by weight of a metallic particulate;
- and
- performing an electroplating process to form a metallic coating on the interface film such that the interface film is sandwiched between the composite panel and the metallic coating, the metallic coating having a nickel alloy composition which is different from a material composition of the interface film, wherein the metallic coating defines an exterior surface of the inlet cowl along a leading edge of the inlet cowl.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.