Composite materials
AssigneeHexcel Composites Limited
InventorsJohn L. Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
Claims24
A composite material that is made by a method comprising the steps of:
- providing a resin comprising polymeric resin and electrically conductive particles dispersed therein where the amount and size of said electrically conductive particles is such that said resin is electrically non-conductive;
- and
- combining electrically conductive fibrous layers with said resin to form a plurality of fibrous layers having a space there between that is filled with said resin, wherein the thickness of said space between said fibrous layers is such that said electrically conductive particles form electrically conductive bridges between said fibrous layers.
A cured composite material comprising:
- a plurality of fibrous layers that are electrically conductive;
- a resin layer located between said fibrous layers that comprises a cured resin which is non-electrically conductive;
- and
- a plurality of electrically conductive bridges across said resin layer wherein said conductive bridges comprise electrically conductive particles and wherein the volume resistivity of said cured composite material measured through said fibrous and resin layers is 2.1 ohm-meter or less.
A composite material comprising:
- a first conductive fibrous layer comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers;
- a second conductive fibrous layer comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers;
- a resin layer located between said first conductive fibrous layer and said second conductive fibrous layer, said resin layer comprising a polymeric resin and a plurality of electrically conductive particles;
- wherein said electrically conductive particles are present in an amount between 0.2 vol. % and 20 vol. % of the composite material.
A composite material for use in making a composite structure, said composite structure comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibrous layers that are separated from each other by an interleaf layer that comprises an electrically non-conductive resin and a plurality of electrically conductive bridges across said interleaf layer, wherein each of said electrically conductive bridges comprises an electrically conductive particle, said composite material comprising;
- an electrically conductive fibrous layer;
- and
- a resin comprising polymeric resin and electrically conductive particles having a sufficient size to form said electrically conductive bridges.
A prepreg comprising:
- a conductive fibrous layer comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers;
- a resin layer located on at least one side of said conductive fibrous layer, said resin layer comprising a polymeric resin and a plurality of electrically conductive particles;
- wherein said resin layer is configured to join with a resin layer of an adjoining prepreg and thereby define an interleaf resin layer;
- and
- wherein the volume of said conductive particles in said composite material is between 0.2 vol. % and 20 vol. %.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.