Improvements in or relating to foam filled honeycomb structures
AssigneeZephyros, Inc.
InventorsFrancis Meyer, Morgan Chene
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Spherical heat foamable pellets (2) are used for reinforcing honeycomb structures (4). The pellets are preferably of average diameter from 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm and preferably at least 80% of the pellets have a diameter in this range. The pellets can form a free flowing stream which can be poured into the cells (5) of the honeycomb where they can be foamed by heating to form a reinforcing foam which can also bond the honeycomb structure to facing sheets. It is preferred that the pellets are based on a thermosetting resin and contain a curing agent that can cure the foamed resin to produce an integral rigid reinforcing foam within the cells of the honeycomb.
Claims18
The use of substantially spherical pellets for strengthening a sandwich panel comprising a honeycomb core wherein the pellets comprise a polymer and a thermally activated blowing agent.
Substantially spherical pellets of average diameter in the range of 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm wherein the pellets comprise a thermosetting resin, a thermally activated blowing agent and a thermally activated curing agent for the thermosetting resin.
A honeycomb structure in which at least some of the cells are filled by a foam obtained by providing substantially spherical pellets comprising a polymer and a thermally activated blowing agent and heating to cause the pellets to foam.
15-19. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.