Toughened, crack resistant fiber reinforced composite article and method for making

Abstract

A composite article, for example a blading member of a gas turbine engine, comprising a plurality of stacked layers of reinforcing fibers bonded together with a matrix resin is provided with enhanced resistance to impact cracking, material loss and/or delamination though use of a matrix resin including properties comprising a tensile strain property of at least 5% and a K1c toughness of at least about 850 psi·inch1/2. A method for making such a composite article with such resin comprises providing the layers of reinforcing fibers in a substantially dry, unimpregnated condition. The dry layers are stacked as a preform in a mold cavity and impregnated with the resin to wet and impregnate the dry layers of the preform. Then the resin is cured as a matrix about the fibers and the stacked layers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.