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US 7,758,785 B2Granted
Fiber reinforced composite and methods of forming the same
AssigneeNational University of Singapore
InventorsRenuga Gopal, Kazutoshi Fujihara, Seeram Ramakrishna, Chong-Lin Chew, Ganesh V. Kumar, Kelvin W. C. Foong, Poey-Ling Loh
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Abstract
A fiber reinforced composite is formed using a shrinkable die. A composite of fiber and resin is placed in the die and is compressed by shrinking the die to form a desired transverse cross-section. Optionally, the die is bent along its lengthwise extent to shape the composite in the die. After shrinking and optional shaping, the composite is cured to form the fiber reinforced composite.
Claims11
A method of forming an orthodontic wire, comprising, in combination, the steps of:
- placing a composite of fiber and resin in a shrinkable die having a length and a top and a bottom, wherein the die is formed of a material that shrinks in response to heat;
- shrinking a section of the die;
- placing the die containing the composite in a vacuum prior to completely shrinking the die;
- heating the die containing the composite to completely shrink the die, wherein the composite is compressed to a pre-determined transversal cross-sectional shape, and heating occurs gradually along the length of the die, such that shrinking occurs at one of the top and the bottom prior to occurring at the other of the top and the bottom;
- bending the die containing the composite to a desired profile;
- curing the composite;
- and
- separating the cured composite from the die.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.