Process for complex shape formation using flexible graphite sheets
AssigneeAdvanced Energy Technology Inc.
InventorJeremy H. Klug
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Abstract
Processes are provided for formation of complex shapes by embossing of a sheet of flexible graphite material. In one approach, a sheet of material is provided with a variable resin concentration across its width, and the position of the variable resin concentration is correlated with the position of embossing features which will result in thinner areas in the embossed articles. In a second approach, recesses are provided in the embossing rollers to accommodate material flow during embossing. These recesses result in protrusions formed on the articles, which protrusions must then be removed in a machining operation.
Claims8
A process of forming articles from a graphite material, the process comprising steps of:
- (a) providing a sheet of variably impregnated flexible graphite material having a variable resin concentration across a width of the sheet;
- and
- (b) passing the variably impregnated sheet past an embossing roller having an embossing pattern of variable cross-section across the width of the sheet, the embossing pattern having a raised area which corresponds to an area of lesser resin content of the variably impregnated sheet, so that an amount of resin which must be moved in the plane of the sheet during the embossing process is reduced as compared to a sheet having uniform resin content across its width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.