Patent · US Expired

Manufacture of void-free laminates and use thereof

US6391436B1 · kind B1 · utility

64Cited by
7References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 20, 1999
Grant dateMay 21, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 20, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/249947
  • WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention provides a method of forming a void-free laminate, comprising the steps of:(a) enclosing a partially impregnated prepreg in a vacuum envelope, said partially impregnated prepreg comprising a fiber layer partially impregnated with a resin composition; and(b) heating said partially impregnated prepreg under vacuum to withdraw air present in said partially impregnated prepreg and to cause said resin composition (i) to fully infuse into said fiber layer and (ii) to cure thereby forming said void-free laminate.The present invention further provides novel combinations of modified epoxy resins that may be employed with the methods disclosed. The void-free laminates may be utilized for the manufacture of parts for the aerospace and aircraft industries.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.