Method of providing through-thickness reinforcement of a laminated material
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorJames Keith Lander
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laminated composite material comprising a polymeric matrix material and plurality of fiber layers is heated to a first pre-determined temperature which is defined as the temperature at which there is a first pre-determined time interval until the matrix material reaches its gel point. The first pre-determined time interval being defined as the time required to insert the required quantity of through-thickness reinforcement fibers into the laminated material. A plurality of holes is formed in the laminated material; each hole being formed by inserting a needle having a conical tip, into the laminated material. A reinforcing element is then inserted into each of a respective one of the plurality of holes.
Claims15
A method of providing through-thickness reinforcement of a laminated material, the laminated material comprising a polymeric matrix material having a gel point, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a laminated material;
- (b) heating the laminated material to a first pre-determined temperature, wherein the first pre-determined temperature is determined on the basis of the gel point of the polymeric matrix material, the first pre-determined temperature being less than a temperature at which the polymeric matrix material begins to cure;
- (c) forming a plurality of holes in the laminated material;
- and
- (d) inserting a reinforcing element into each of a respective one of the plurality of holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.