Smart-fiber-reinforced matrix composites
OwnerCarolyn M. Dryinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is provided including smart fibers which are employed to deliver agents or components to a matrix before or during cure to affect matrix cure or shaping reactions and final cured structures. The delivered agents may be reactants or catalysts to initiate or modify curing, or other agents such as heat, steam, or a coolant, for example. The system may be used to simulate bone formation, growth, and repair.
Claims60
A method for making a shaped fiber-matrix composite material comprising the steps of:
- preparing a plurality of hollow fibers, each hollow fiber including a pair of opposed open end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the opposed ends, the intermediate portion having a sidewall structure permitting outward release of a reactive component through the sidewall from an interior portion of the fiber;
- surrounding the intermediate portions of the hollow fibers with a shapeable curable matrix composition;
- introducing a reactive component into the interior portion of at least one of the hollow fibers;
- releasing reactive component from the intermediate portion of the hollow fiber into the curable matrix composition;
- and
- curing the matrix composition and reactive component to form the shaped fiber matrix composite material.
A method for making a shaped fiber-matrix article comprising:
- preparing a plurality of hollow fibers, each hollow fiber including a pair of opposed open end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the opposed ends;
- surrounding the intermediate portions of the hollow fibers with a shapeable curable matrix composition;
- initiating a curing of the matrix composition;
- introducing a thermal transfer fluid into the interior portion of at least one of the hollow fibers;
- transferring thermal energy between the thermal transfer fluid and the matrix composition through the intermediate portion of the hollow fiber;
- and
- curing the matrix composition to form a shaped fiber matrix composite material.
A method for making a shaped fiber-matrix composite material comprising the steps of:
- preparing a plurality of hollow fibers, each hollow fiber including a pair of opposed open end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the opposed ends, the intermediate portion having a sidewall structure permitting outward release of an adhesive component through the sidewall from an interior portion of the fiber, the plurality of hollow fibers being bundled together in an array of fibers;
- introducing the adhesive component into the interior portion of at least one of the hollow fibers;
- releasing adhesive component from the intermediate portion of the hollow fiber between the hollow fiber and adjacent hollow fibers in the array;
- and
- curing the adhesive component in the array to form a shaped matrix-fiber composite structure.
A fiber-matrix composite material comprising:
- a cured matrix material having at least one hollow fiber disposed therein, said hollow fiber having a wall with a plurality of pores, the matrix material having a plurality of polymer formations interspersed therein, such that at least some of the formations stem from pores, the formations anchoring the fibers to the matrix material.
A method of making a fiber-matrix composite material comprising the steps of:
- preparing a curable matrix composition around one or more rods;
- initiating a curing of the matrix composition;
- removing the rod from the matrix composition after the matrix composition has set, forming a hollow channel in the set matrix composition;
- delivering a fluid through the hollow channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.