Pressure transmitters for use in the production of composite components
AssigneeAdvanced Composites Group Limited
InventorRoger Mark Sloman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure transmitter for use in the curing of composite components may take the form of a caul plate, pressure intensifier or vacuum bag and is formed from a curable elastomeric material which is partially cured, normally when supported on a mould, at a temperature not exceeding 100° C. It is subsequently further cured at, for example 175° C., while unsupported. It may incorporate a reinforcing layer formed from a curable resin pre-impregnated fibrous material.
Claims2
A pressure transmitter for use in the production of composite components, the pressure transmitter comprising an inner region of a curable prepreg reinforcement in the form of resin pre-impregnated fibers defining a plurality of interstitial spaces and an outer region of an elastomeric material which enters into the interstitial spaces, the resin of the prepreg reinforcement being partially curable at a temperature not exceeding 100° C. and subsequently further cured at a temperature greater than 100° C.
A method of manufacturing a pressure transmitter for use in the production of composite components comprising providing an inner region of a curable prepreg reinforcement and an outer region of elastomeric material, the curable prepreg reinforcement being in the form of resin pre-impregnated fibers defining a plurality of interstitial spaces and the elastomeric material of the outer region covering said prepreg and entering into the interstitial spaces, supporting the transmitter on a mold during initial partial curing of the prepreg reinforcement and the elastomeric material at a temperature not exceeding 100° C., removing the transmitter from the mold and further curing the prepreg reinforcement and elastomeric material while substantially unsupported at a temperature greater than 100° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.