Method for comolding property enhancing coatings to composite articles
AssigneeDow-United Technologies Composite Products, Inc.
InventorsJohn W. Carbone, Douglas M. Hoon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for producing a unitary part having a property enhancing coating strongly bonded to a core of either plastic or fiber reinforced composite is provided by applying the coating to a formed and shaped carrier substrate which is placed into the mold. Plastic is injected into the mold such that the plastic infiltrates the coating during molding and therefore locks the coating to the part after cure. Utilizing the present method substantially enhances the coating bond strength and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating a post production coating step.
Claims12
A method for comolding a property enhancing coating and a polymer composite part comprising:
- providing a mold having a mold cavity,
- providing a removable carrier substrate having a desired shape,
- applying a coating material to a surface of the carrier substrate,
- distributing metallic or ceramic particles over the coating material to produce an irregular bonding surface,
- loading the coated carrier substrate into the mold cavity,
- placing a fiber preform composed of one or more fiber layers within the mold,
- injecting flowable polymer into the mold such that the polymer fills the mold cavity and infiltrates the fiber preform and the irregular bonding surface and,
- solidifying the polymer to form the part and lock the coating to the part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.