Loral Vought Systems Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Alvin E Hohman, Jr

Howard M Price

Fiber reinforced composite products of enhanced interlaminar ply strength and processes of producing same. In forming the products, layers of fibrous reinforcing material and resinous matrix material are established. The matrix material contains unset resin and short fibers of an average particle length of 0.2-0.6 mm in a weight ratio of short fibers to resin in the range of 0.4-1. The reinforcing material comprises fibers of a length substantially greater than the length of the short fibers in the matrix material. The fiber and matrix layers are integrated in order to cause the resin and short fibers which comprise the strengthened matrix material to enter into the interstitial spaces of the longer fiber reinforcing material. Thereafter, the matrix resin is solidified in order to arrive at the fiber reinforced composite product. Alternate fiber and matrix layers may be built up on a surface while a pressure gradient is established from the outside of the built up layers to the surface in order to cause the resin to flow across the interfacial boundaries of the resin and fiber layers. The flow across the resin fiber interfaces promotes orientation of the short fibers in a direction across the interfaces so that the short fibers enter into the interstitial spaces between the reinforcing fibers.

Forming fiber reinforced composite product

Method for forming fiber-reinforced composite

Composite products and method of preparation

A process for establishing bonded joints in the formation of multi-component adhered structures in which chemical bonding is established between adhesive and primer layers to provide for increased interlaminar strength. Curable resin primer layers are established on surfaces which are to be joined together in forming the multi-component structure. The primer resin is heated at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to expel substantial volatile matter from the resin, but insufficient to cross-link the resin to a completely cured state, thus leaving active bonding sites in the resinous primer layers. Bonding of the two components is provided by means of an intermediate adhesive layer between the mating surfaces. The adhesive layer is formed of a curable resin having bonding sites available for reaction with bonding sites in the primer resin. After joining the mating surfaces, the structure is heated to a temperature substantially in excess of that employed in partially curing the primer resin layer for a period of time sufficient to cure the adhesive and primer resins in the joint and establish chemical bonding between the interface of the adhesive and primer resins.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Alvin E Hohman, Jr