Process for manufacturing composite articles, and composite articles made thereby
AssigneeCytec Industries Inc.
InventorsDominique Ponsolle, Pierre-Yves Lahary, Christiane Prebet
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a process for manufacturing composite articles, and composite articles made thereby. The processes described herein make use of curable compositions containing NCF fabrics having certain types of stitching yarns. The curable compositions and composite articles made according to the present disclosure are particularly suited to the production of composite parts for use in many applications, such as in aviation, automotive, and marine applications.
Claims20
A process for manufacturing a composite article, the process comprising:
- a) providing a curable composition, the curable composition comprising a matrix resin and a non-crimp fabric comprising at least one layer of unidirectionally oriented multifilament carbon yarns and a multifilament stitching yarn interlinking the multifilament carbon yarns, wherein the multifilament stitching yarn comprises a thermoplastic polymer and has a linear density of less than or equal to 80 dtex;
- b) heating the curable composition to a temperature T1, wherein T1 is greater than a melting temperature (Tm) of the multifilament stitching yarn and wherein a conversion of the matrix resin at Tm or at T1 is less than or equal to 30%;
- and
- c) maintaining the temperature T1 or heating to a temperature T2 for a time sufficient for the curable composition to be cured, thereby manufacturing the composite article.
A composite article made by a process comprising:
- a) providing a curable composition, the curable composition comprising a matrix resin and a non-crimp fabric comprising at least one layer of unidirectionally oriented multifilament carbon yarns and a multifilament stitching yarn interlinking the multifilament carbon yarns, wherein the multifilament stitching yarn comprises a thermoplastic polymer and has a linear density of less than or equal to 80 dtex;
- b) heating the curable composition to a temperature T1, wherein T1 is greater than a melting temperature (Tm) of the multifilament stitching yarn and wherein a conversion of the matrix resin at Tm or at T1 is less than or equal to 30%;
- and
- c) maintaining the temperature T1 or heating to a temperature T2 for a time sufficient for the curable composition to be cured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.