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AssigneeHexcel Corporation
InventorsHao-Ming Hsiao, Shaw Ming Lee, Robert Albert Buyny, Cary Joseph Martin
Estimating the term…
A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite panel structure is provided. The prepreg comprises a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition. Typically the fabric has an areal weight of from about 180 to about 205 grams per square meter. The prepreg has an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 15.4, a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.245 mm, and a prepreg openness of at least about 1.2 percent but less than about 6.0 percent. Preferably, the resin composition is predominantly viscous in nature and has a tan δ value of between 0.9 and 2.0 at an elevated temperature between 70° C. and 140° C., and an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0. A method for evaluating core crush resistance properties of a prepreg is also provided. The method includes determining a fiber tow average aspect ratio of the prepreg, determining a prepreg thickness, and comparing said average fiber tow aspect ratio and prepreg thickness to a set of predetermined values.
A method for evaluating core crush resistance properties of a prepreg for use in a high modulus fiber reinforced composite structure comprising:
A method for evaluating core crush resistance properties of a prepreg for use in a fiber reinforced composite structure, said prepreg comprising a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition comprising an epoxy resin, said fabric having an areal weight of from about 180 to about 205 grams per square meter, each of said tow strands having a total filament count of about 3,000, said method comprising:
A method of manufacturing a high modulus fiber reinforced composite structure, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced composite structure as defined in claim wherein said selecting step further comprises selecting a fabric wherein the tow strands have a spear shape with two pointed ends.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.