Sprayable laminate panel stiffener

Abstract

A two-layer laminate panel stiffener is provided that may be constructed by spraying the individual layers onto substrates, such as, automotive body panels. The two-layer laminate panel stiffener reduces the amount of time and cost required for such reinforcing structures because it consists of only two layers and also because it can be sprayed (or extruded) onto the substrate. Spray application enables the laminate to be applied to any shape of substrate. The first layer is a soft, compliant layer of material (or precursor to such a material) that is sprayed (or extruded) onto the substrate. The second layer comprising a formulation capable of providing a rigid or toughened stiffener material once cured is then sprayed (or extruded) over the first layer. The two-layer laminate panel stiffener prevents oil-canning of the substrate, as well as paint read-through. When the material used to form the rigid layer cures, the compliant layer helps to shield the substrate from the strains resulting from the shrinkage of the rigid layer because the compliant layer is not rigid after cure. The second layer is rigid after cure but its shrinkage strains are blocked from getting to the substrate by the compliant layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.