Prepregs for use in building lay-ups of composite materials and processes for their preparation
AssigneeHexcel Holding GmbH
InventorsStephan Kruger, Gerhard Entholzen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention concerns a process for making a scrim-reinforced prepreg for use in building low-porosity lay-ups, characterized in that a conventional prepreg is formed of a fibrous reinforcement and a heat-curable resin, the prepreg having suitable viscosity and sufficient tackiness to hold a scrim which is adhered to the prepreg by applying light pressure, so that the scrim is impressed onto the prepreg to such a degree, that less than half of the circumference of the scrim strands becomes coated by the prepreg-resin.
Claims19
A method for making a prepreg assembly having a grid of channels through which air can escape comprising the steps of:
- providing a first prepreg ply comprising a fibrous reinforcement located in a heat-curable resin matrix, said first prepreg ply having a surface;
- providing a second prepreg ply comprising a fibrous reinforcement located in a heat-curable resin matrix, said second prepreg ply having a surface;
- locating a scrim between said first prepreg ply and said second prepreg ply, said scrim comprising a plurality of strands that form a grid;
- and
- pressing the surfaces of said first and second prepreg plies against said scrim to form said prepreg assembly, said surfaces being pressed together so as to form the air escape channels that are located between the surfaces of said first and second prepreg plies and along said plurality of strands, said air escape channels forming a grid of channels through which air can escape from said prepreg assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.