Multi-sheet structures and method for manufacturing same
AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorsQi Yang, Harsha Badarinarayan, Frank Hunt, Kazutaka Okamoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for fabricating multi-sheet structures in which a first sheet is arranged on a planar support and a blowing agent is placed on at least one selected portion of the first sheet. A second sheet is positioned over the first sheet so that the second sheet overlies the selected portion of the first sheet and the first and second sheets are then secured together by friction stir welding in a pattern which encloses the selected portion of the first sheet. Additional sheets may be secured together in a like fashion. Thereafter, the sheets are heated to a temperature sufficient to decompose the blowing agent.
Claims8
A method for fabricating multi-sheet structures comprising the steps of:
- arranging a first sheet on a planar support,
- placing a blowing agent on at least one selected portion of said first sheet,
- positioning a second sheet over said first sheet so that said second sheet overlies said at least one selected portion of said first sheet,
- friction stir welding said first and second sheets together in a continuous pattern which fully encloses said selected portion of said first sheet, and
- thereafter heating said blowing agent to a temperature sufficient to decompose said blowing agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.