Sealants for structural member joints and methods of using same
AssigneeThe Curators of the University of Missouri
InventorsDavid C. Van Aken, Yoshihide Kato
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Thermoplastic sealants and methods for forming a joint, such as a weld joint, between one or more structural members using thermoplastic sealants are provided. The thermoplastic sealants have melting temperatures lower than the melting temperature of at least one of the structural members. The thermoplastic sealants may further include fillers, and are disposed between faying surfaces of the structural members. The sealants can fill the spaces between the structural members to prevent the entry of chemicals, moisture, debris and other substances.
Claims13
A joint usable for aeronautical and aerospace structures comprising:
- at least one metallic structural member defining first and second faying surfaces in an opposed configuration and defining an interface therebetween, the interface containing one or more spaces;
- a weld nugget area extending through the interface and connecting the first and second faying surfaces of the at least one structural member, wherein the one or more spaces are located on either side of the weld nugget area;
- and
- an adhesive bond located proximate to the weld nugget area in the one or more spaces of the interface, wherein the adhesive bond comprises a thermoplastic sealant having a melting temperature lower than a melting temperature of the at least one structural member wherein the sealant is chemically inert relative to the corrosion of the at least one metallic structural member, does not induce galvanic corrosion and does not undergo a curing step or room temperature vulcanization during manufacture of the joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.