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US 5,380,480 AGranted
Process of making a consolidated part
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsRichard K. Okine, Albert S. Tam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermoplastic composite sheet is used as a tool or tool liner for thermoforming thermoplastic composite sheets into parts having uneven sections. A more uniform consolidation of the part is achieved that has not been previously attainable in open mold processing at high forming temperatures.
Claims6
A method for forming a consolidated part having interior and peripheral surfaces from a thermoplastic resin sheet having a high melt-forming temperature in an open mold press comprising:
- applying a compliant layer to at least one face of said sheet said compliant layer being a reinforced thermoplastic resin matrix having a melt-forming temperature substantially the same as said sheet and a melt viscosity less than said resin sheet;
- placing the sheet and the layer in the press, heating the sheet and the layer to the melt-forming temperature of the sheet, closing the press to form the part;
- applying pressure by means of the press to flow said compliant layer to provide uniform contact between said compliant layer, said press and said part whereby a low flow resistance of the compliant layer over the interior surface of the part allows the compliant layer to transmit said pressure against said part to consolidate the part and a high flow resistance of the compliant layer over the peripheral surface of the part allows the compliant layer to build and maintain said pressure with a minimum of compliant layer squeeze-out from the press;
- cooling the part;
- and
- removing the part from the press.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.