Method of fabricating a composite structure
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorsTimothy W. McGann, William G. Olsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of fabricating a composite structure wherein a porous laminate comprised of a plurality of plies of fibrous material in an uncured resin matrix has entrapped air expelled. In carrying out the method, the laminate is positioned in an evacuable chamber. Vacuum is applied to the chamber to create a partial vacuum environment therein. The laminate is heated to within a temperature range wherein the resin matrix exhibits a viscosity which allows air migration through the resin matrix. The laminate is maintained within the temperature range for a time duration sufficient to expell entrapped air. The laminate can then be cured using vacuum to compress the laminate.
Claims26
A method of fabricating a composite structure comprising the steps of:
- positioning in an evacuable chamber a laminate comprising a plurality of plies of fibrous material in an uncured resin matrix, the laminate having air entrapped therein;
- applying vacuum to the chamber to create a partial vacuum environment in the chamber;
- heating the laminate to within a temperature range wherein the resin matrix exhibits a viscosity which allows air migration through the resin matrix;
- and
- maintaining the laminate within the temperature range and partial vacuum environment for a time duration sufficient to cause a portion of the air entrapped in the laminate to be expelled.
A method of fabricating a composite structure comprising the steps of:
- positioning in an evacuable rigid chamber a laminate comprising a plurality of plies of fabrous material in an uncured resin matrix, the laminate having air entrapped therein;
- positioning in the chamber a flexible sheet, the sheet dividing the chamber into first and second portions, the laminate being positioned in the first chamber portion;
- applying vacuum to the first chamber portion to create a partial vacuum environment therein;
- heating the laminate to within a temperature range wherein the resin matrix exhibits a viscosity which allows air migration through the resin matrix;
- maintaining the laminate within the temperature range and partial vacuum environment for a time duration sufficient to cause a portion of the air entrapped in the laminate to be expelled;
- and
- controlling pressure in the first and second chamber portions during said maintaining step such that compressive pressure on the laminate by the flexible sheet is substantially precluded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.