Self-adhesive prepreg face sheet for sandwich panels
AssigneeHexcel Corporation
InventorsLigui Zhou, Philippe D. Christou
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Abstract
Resin compositions are provided which are used in combination with fibers to form self-adhesive prepreg sheets that are applied to core materials to form sandwich panels. The prepreg resin includes a thermoset resin, a curing agent and a viscosity control agent. The prepreg resin further includes certain thermoplastic particles which are used to control the flow characteristics of the prepreg resin and the formation of fillets during bonding of the prepreg to the core material.
Claims29
A self-adhesive prepreg for bonding to a side surface of a honeycomb, said self-adhesive prepreg comprising:
- at least one fiber layer;
- a prepreg resin which has been combined with said fiber layer to form a prepreg which includes a prepreg resin layer comprising a bonding surface which is adapted to be bonded directly to said honeycomb, said prepreg resin comprising a thermoset resin, a curing agent and a sufficient amount of a viscosity control agent to provide a prepreg resin having a viscosity which is sufficient to allow said prepreg resin to be combined with said fiber layer to form said prepreg resin layer;
- and
- thermoplastic fillet forming particles which are incorporated into said prepreg resin in an amount sufficient to make said prepreg resin layer self-adhesive and wherein said fillet forming particles are not dissolved to a substantial degree in said prepreg resin.
A method for adhesively bonding a prepreg face sheet to a honeycomb comprising the steps of:
- forming a self-adhesive prepreg comprising providing at least one fiber layer and a prepreg resin wherein said prepreg resin is combined with said fiber layer to form a prepreg resin layer comprising a bonding surface which is adapted to be bonded directly to said honeycomb, said prepreg resin comprising a thermoset resin, a curing agent and a sufficient amount of a viscosity control agent so that said prepreg resin has a viscosity which is sufficient to allow said prepreg resin to be combined with said fiber layer to form said prepreg resin layer, said step of forming a self-adhesive prepreg further including the step of incorporating thermoplastic fillet forming particles into said prepreg resin in an amount sufficient to form a prepreg layer which is self-adhesive and wherein said fillet forming particles are not dissolved to a substantial degree in said prepreg resin;
- bonding said self-adhesive prepreg to said honeycomb wherein said bonding comprises curing said self-adhesive prepreg for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to substantially dissolve said fillet forming particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.