Reusable hard tooling for article consolidation and consolidation method

Spaced apart tooling for applying consolidating pressure to a plurality of superimposed workpiece plies there-between at spaced apart substantially opposed first and second workpiece surfaces for consolidation of the workpiece plies into an article, the tooling comprising:

• a first reusable rigid tooling member including a first inner tooling surface;
• a second reusable rigid tooling member including a second inner tooling surface;
• the first and second tooling members being spaced apart one from the other with the first inner tooling surface spaced apart from and substantially facing the second inner tooling surface;
• a first plurality of distinct, superimposed sacrificial sheets in contact one with another and disposed at the first inner tooling surface to isolate the first inner tooling surface from the first workpiece surface, the first plurality of sheets comprising a first outer sacrificial sheet at the first inner tooling surface and a first inner sacrificial sheet disposed over the first outer sacrificial sheet for contact with the first workpiece surface, the first inner sacrificial sheet being chemically substantially non-reactive with the first workpiece surface and substantially non-adherent with the first outer sacrificial sheet at a temperature of up to about 2000° F. under consolidating pressure;
• and,
• a second plurality of distinct, superimposed sacrificial sheets in contact one with another and disposed at the second inner tooling surface to isolate the second inner tooling surface from the second workpiece surface, the second plurality of sheets comprising a second outer sacrificial sheet at the second inner tooling surface and a second inner sacrificial sheet disposed over the second outer sacrificial sheet for contact with the second workpiece surface, the second inner sacrificial sheet being chemically substantially non-reactive with the second workpiece surface and substantially non-adherent with the second outer sacrificial sheet at a temperature of up to about 2000° F. under consolidating pressure.

In a method for consolidating a workpiece between spaced apart first and second substantially rigid tooling surfaces, the workpiece including spaced apart first and second workpiece surfaces in juxtaposition respectively with the first and second tooling surfaces, the steps prior to consolidation of:

• disposing a first plurality of distinct, superimposed sacrificial sheets in contact one with another between the first tooling surface and the first workpiece surface;
• and,
• disposing a second plurality of distinct, superimposed sacrificial sheets in contact one with another between the second tooling surface and the second workpiece surface;
• each of the first and second plurality of sheets including an inner sheet for disposition at and in contact with a workpiece surface and an outer sheet for disposition at and in contact with a tooling surface, the inner and outer sheets being substantially non-adherent one with another, the inner sheet being substantially chemically non-reactive with its respective workpiece surface.