Self-adhesive prepreg face sheets for sandwich panels
AssigneeHexcel Corporation
InventorsLigui Zhou, Philippe D. Christou
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Abstract
Resin compositions are provided which are used in combination with fibers to form self-adhesive prepreg sheets that are applied to core materials to form sandwich panels. The prepreg resin includes a thermoset resin, a curing agent and a viscosity control agent. The prepreg resin further includes certain thermoplastic particles which are used to control the flow characteristics of the prepreg resin and the formation of fillets during bonding of the prepreg to the core material.
Claims22
A self-adhesive prepreg for bonding to a side surface of a honeycomb, said self-adhesive prepreg comprising:
- at least one fiber layer;
- a prepreg resin which has been combined with said fiber layer to form said self-adhesive prepreg comprising a bonding surface which is adapted to be bonded directly to said honeycomb, said prepreg resin comprising a thermosetting resin, a curing agent, a thermoplastic viscosity control agent which is substantially dissolved in said thermosetting resin;
- and
- thermoplastic fillet forming particles which are not dissolved to a substantial degree in said prepreg resin and wherein the amounts of said resin dissolved thermoplastic viscosity control agent and said thermoplastic fillet forming particles are such that the minimum viscosity of said prepreg resin during curing thereof is between 150-1500 poise.
A method for adhesively bonding a prepreg face sheet to a honeycomb comprising the steps of:
- forming a self-adhesive prepreg comprising providing at least one fiber layer and a prepreg resin wherein said prepreg resin is combined with said fiber layer to form said self-adhesive prepreg comprising a bonding surface which is adapted to be bonded directly to said honeycomb, said prepreg resin comprising a thermosetting resin, a curing agent, a thermoplastic viscosity control agent which is substantially dissolved in said thermoset resin and thermoplastic fillet forming particles which are not dissolved to a substantial degree in said prepreg resin;
- bonding said self-adhesive prepreg to said honeycomb wherein said bonding comprises curing said self-adhesive prepreg for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to substantially dissolve said fillet forming particles and wherein the amounts of said resin dissolved thermoplastic viscosity control agent and said thermoplastic fillet forming particles are such that the minimum viscosity of said prepreg resin during curing thereof is between 150-1500 poise.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.