Method of making composite articles
AssigneeAirfoil Textron Inc.
InventorRaymond G. Spain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite article is made by braiding a 3D article shaped preform including non-fugative braider reinforcing fibers and fugative fibers and removing the fugative fibers to form a plurality of matrix-ingress passages in the braided preform. During impregnation of the braided preform with a matrix material, matrix material is supplied to the interior of the preform via the passages. The fugative fibers typically comprise fugative monofilaments which are substantially larger in size than the non-fugative fibers to permit one or more dimensions of the preform and thus the composite article to be increased beyond the capacity of the particular braiding apparatus employed.
Claims20
A method of making a composite article, comprising:
- (a) forming a braided preform including a plurality of non-fugative braider fibers and a plurality of fugative fibers,
- (b) selectively removing the fugative fibers from the braided preform to form a plurality of elongate matrix-ingress passages in said braided preform, and
- (c) impregnating the braided preform with a matrix material, including supplying the matrix material through said passages.
A method of making a composite article, comprising:
- (a) intertwining a plurality of non- fugative braider fibers and a plurality of fugative braider monofilaments to form a braided preform,
- (b) removing the fugative braider monofilaments from the preform, and
- (c) impregnating the preform with a matrix material.
A method of making an article, comprising:
- (a) intertwining a plurality of nonfugative braider fibers about a plurality of fugative stuffer monofilaments to form a braided preform,
- (b) removing the fugative stuffer monofilaments from the preform, and
- (c) impregnating the preform with a matrix material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.