Discontinuous Molded Tape Wear Interface for Composite Components
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorChristopher Paul Tura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Composite components that include features that provide improved wear characteristics at the interface between the composite component and a second component are provided. As one example, a composite component can include an integrally formed discontinuous molded tape (DMT) that defines a wear interface between the component and a second component. The wear interface defined by the DMT may provide improved durability of the composite component and may facilitate more uniform wear at the interface, among other benefits. Methods for manufacturing composite components having discontinuous molded tape wear interfaces are also provided.
Claims20
A component for a gas turbine engine, the component comprising:
- a structural laminate formed of a plurality of plies comprised of reinforcement fibers embedded within a matrix material;
- and
- a discontinuous molded tape (DMT) attached to the structural laminate and comprising a plurality of reinforcement fragments embedded within a matrix material, wherein the DMT defines a wear interface.
A method for manufacturing a composite component, the method comprising:
- laying up one or more plies to form a structural laminate, the one or more plies comprised of reinforcement fibers embedded within a matrix material;
- and
- attaching a discontinuous molded tape (DMT) to the structural laminate, the DMT comprised of a plurality of reinforcement fragments embedded within a matrix material, wherein the DMT defines a wear interface.
A method for manufacturing a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component for a gas turbine engine, the CMC component comprising a structural laminate comprised of one of more unidirectional plies, the method comprising:
- attaching a discontinuous molded tape (DMT) to the structural laminate, the DMT comprised of a plurality of reinforcement fragments embedded within a matrix material;
- and
- curing the structural laminate and the DMT so as to integrally form the DMT with the structural laminate, wherein the DMT defines a wear interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.