Products and method of core crush prevention

A method of making a stiffness-treated fabric having an ASTM stiffness value greater than the ASTM stiffness value of an untreated fabric, which method comprises obtaining a fabric comprising a plurality of fibers and polymeric material and/or precursors of polymeric material disposed on at least some of the fibers, and treating the fabric under conditions sufficient to produce an ASTM stiffness value of the stiffness-treated fabric greater than the ASTM stiffness value of an untreated fabric.

A stiffness-treated fabric having an ASTM stiffness value greater than the ASTM stiffness value of an untreated fabric made by a method comprising obtaining a fabric comprising a plurality of fibers and polymeric material and/or precursors of polymeric material disposed on at least some of the fibers, and treating the fabric under conditions sufficient to produce an ASTM stiffness value of the stiffness-treated fabric greater than the ASTM stiffness value of an untreated fabric.

A stiffness-treated fabric raw material comprising fabric raw material, precursors of polymeric material disposed on at least some of the fabric raw material in a stiffness enhancing precursor concentration, and, optionally, polymeric material disposed on at least some of the fabric raw material.

A method of making a stiffness-treated fabric raw material comprising obtaining fabric raw material, and disposing on at least some of the fabric raw material precursors of polymeric material in a stiffness enhancing precursor concentration, and, optionally, a polymeric material.

A method of making a stiffness-treated fabric raw material comprising obtaining fabric raw material which comprises precursors of polymeric material and/or precursors of polymeric material disposed on at least some of the fabric raw material, and treating the fabric raw material with a treatment selected from the group consisting of heat treatment, ultraviolet treatment, and free radical treatment under conditions wherein an ASTM stiffness value of a stiffness-treated fabric made from the stiffness-treated fabric raw material is greater than the ASTM stiffness value of an untreated fabric.

A stiffness-treated prepreg ply comprising a stiffness-treated fabric and a resin system.

A method of making a stiffness-treated prepreg ply comprising obtaining a stiffness-treated fabric and a resin system, and disposing the resin system on the stiffness-treated fabric.

A stiffness-treated honeycomb sandwich structure precursor comprising a honeycomb core having a first surface, and a stiffness-treated prepreg ply disposed on the first surface, wherein the stiffness-treated prepreg ply comprises a resin system and a fabric selected from stiffness-treated fabrics.

A stiffness-treated honeycomb sandwich structure comprising a honeycomb core having a first surface and a second surface, a first prepreg ply disposed on and extending beyond the first surface, a second prepreg ply disposed on and extending beyond the second surface, wherein a first portion of the first prepreg ply extending beyond the first surface contacts a second portion of the second prepreg ply extending beyond the second surface to form an edgeband and, optionally, additional prepreg plies disposed on the first surface and/or the second surface and/or the edgeband, wherein the first prepreg ply comprises a resin system and a fabric selected from stiffness-treated fabrics, and wherein the second prepreg ply and each of the optional additional prepreg plies each comprise an independently selected resin system and a fabric independently selected from the group consisting of stiffness-treated fabrics and untreated fabrics.

A method of making a stiffness-treated honeycomb sandwich structure precursor comprising obtaining an assembled honeycomb sandwich precursor comprising a honeycomb core having a first surface, and a first prepreg ply disposed on the first surface, wherein the first prepreg ply comprises a resin system and a fabric selected from stiffness-treated fabrics, and treating the assembled honeycomb sandwich precursor under autoclave conditions sufficient to consolidate the assembled honeycomb sandwich precursor.

A method of making a stiffness-treated honeycomb sandwich structure comprising obtaining an assembled honeycomb sandwich comprising a honeycomb core having a first surface and a second surface, a first prepreg ply disposed on and extending beyond the first surface, a second prepreg ply disposed on and extending beyond the second surface, wherein a first portion of the first prepreg ply extending beyond the first surface contacts a second portion of the second prepreg ply extending beyond the second surface to form an edgeband and, optionally, additional prepreg plies disposed on the first surface and/or the second surface 15 and/or the edgeband, wherein the first prepreg ply comprises a resin system and a fabric selected from stiffness-treated fabrics, and wherein the second prepreg ply and each of the optional additional prepreg plies each comprises an independently selected resin system and a fabric independently selected from the group consisting of stiffness-treated fabrics and untreated fabrics, and treating the assembled honeycomb sandwich under autoclave conditions sufficient to consolidate the assembled honeycomb sandwich.