Method for Repairing Composite Materials Via Dielectric Barrier Discharge
AssigneesThe Texas A&M University System, Essentium Ipco, LLC
InventorsAnubhav Sarmah, Micah J. Green, Smita Shivraj Dasari, Daniel Carey, Nirup Nagabandi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided herein is a method for repairing a composite material, a layup manufacturing process of a composite and a system for manufacturing a 3-dimensional composite part. The method, process and system all utilize a dielectric barrier discharge applicator to generate a plasma to cure an epoxy material to bond a patch to a composite material or to bond two or more layers of composite material together in a 3-dimensional shape to form a composite part.
Claims20
A method for repairing a composite material, comprising:
- applying an epoxy to an area of the composite material in need of repair;
- covering the area with an epoxy-filled patch;
- and
- curing the epoxy electromagnetically, thereby repairing the composite material.
A layup manufacturing process of a composite part, comprising:
- applying an epoxy to a first layer of composite material;
- laying a second layer of composite material onto the first layer to shape the composite material as a layup, said epoxy disposed between said first layer and said second layer;
- and
- heating the epoxy to cure it to bond the first layer to the second layer in the layup to form the composite part.
A system for manufacturing a 3-dimensional composite part, comprising:
- a supply of a prepreg composite material stored on a spool;
- a supply of an epoxy material;
- an extruder configured to dispense the prepreg composite material and the epoxy material;
- and
- a dielectric barrier discharge applicator positioned proximal to the extruder configured to generate a plasma to resistively heat the prepreg composite material and to cure the epoxy material as they are dispensed by the extruder, said 3-dimensional composite part formed thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.