Hexcel Composites Limited

Hexcel Corporation

Precision Processes (textiles) Limited

John Ellis

John Leslie Cawse

Martin Richard Simmons

Philip Hadley

Emilie Fisset

Paul Mackenzie

David Allan Tilbrook

Emille Fisset

Kenneth Michael Huddlestone

Marco Arcidiacono

Isabelle Blanc

Susan Bamford

Paul MacKenzie

Fiona Binks

Andrea Caballero

Benjamin Chau

Anthony Loccisano

Lara Jabbour

Stuart Munday

Lucien Fiore

Bernadette Tizon

Thomas Blahous

Elizabeth Dosman

Achim Fischereder

Martin Simmons

There is provide a process for unwinding material from a spool () wherein the angle (&#x398;) of take off at the first contact point () for the unwind is always in the range 0&#xb1;20&#xb0;, and wherein the first contact point () for the unwind is no more than 600 mm from the axis () of rotation of the spool (). There is also provided an apparatus for the unwinding of material from a spool () comprising an axis () upon which a spool () may be rotatably mounted and a static first contact point () for the unwound material positioned no more than 600 mm from the centre of the axis (), wherein the angle (&#x398;) of take off at the first contact point () for the unwind is always in the range 0&#xb1;20&#xb0;.

Unwinding of materials

Process for forming a permanent join between two sections of fibrous material contained in a thermosetting resin matrix, said process comprising overlaying the two sections and subjecting the overlaid sections to ultrasonic welding to form a permanent join between the two sections, wherein there is no significant change in the sub-ambient Tg of the fibrous material contained in the thermosetting resin matrix in the region of the permanent join.

Ultrasonic welding of fibre reinforced thermosetting resin sections

The invention relates to a prepreg comprising a structural layer of conductive fibres comprising thermosetting resin in the interstices, and a first outer layer of resin comprising thermosetting resin, and comprising a population of conductive free filaments located at the interface between the structural layer and the outer resin layer which, when cured under elevated temperature, produces a cured composite material comprising a cured structural layer of packed conductive fibres and a first outer layer of cured resin, the outer layer of cured resin, comprising a proportion of the population of conductive free filaments dispersed therein, and to a process for manufacturing prepregs wherein the electrically conductive fibres pass a fibre disrupting means to cause a proportion of the fibres on an external face of the sheet to become free filaments.

Process for manufacturing composite materials

A method of controlling a process for the manufacture of a multicomponent sheet material having a desired pre-determined parameter comprising applying electromagnetic energy to interact with the sheet material whereby the interaction modifies the applied energy, detecting the modified energy, comparing the modified energy or data derived from it with data relating to the pre-determined parameter and modifying at least one step of the process whereby the data relating to the modified energy is modified towards the data relating to the pre-determined parameter.

Method of measuring a parameter of a composite moulding material

A strip of curable prepreg comprising unidirectional fibers aligned with the length of the strip, the fibers being at least partially impregnated with curable thermosetting resin and comprising a flexible polymeric sheet on an outer face of the strip, wherein the strip has a substantially rectangular cross-section defining a width and a thickness of the strip.

Method for making improved composite materials

A method of controlling a process for the manufacture of a multicomponent sheet material having a desired pre-determined parameter comprising applying an acoustic or an electromagnetic signal to interact with the sheet material whereby the interaction modifies the applied signal, detecting the modified signal, comparing the modified signal or data derived from it with data relating to the pre-determined parameter and modifying at least one step of the process whereby the data relating to the modified signal is modified towards the data relating to the pre-determined parameter.

Method for on-line control of a manufacturing process for a multicomponent sheet material

A tape for use in automated tape laying machines that includes a multi-layer substrate composed of a plastic layer that includes at least one plastic film having an outer film surface and an inner film surface. The plastic film is adhered to a fibrous layer so that the inner surface of the fibrous layer is bonded to the inner film surface. An uncured composite material layer composed of a fibrous reinforcement and an uncured resin matrix is releasably adhered to either the plastic layer surface or the outer fiber layer surface to provide a tape suitable for use in an automatic tape layer.

Composite tape for use in tape laying machines

A prepreg comprising a structural layer of packed unidirectional conductive fibres comprising thermosetting resin in the interstices, and a first outer layer of resin comprising thermosetting resin, and being essentially free of unidirectional conductive fibres, which when cured under elevated temperature, produces a cured composite material comprising a cured structural layer of packed unidirectional conductive fibres and a first outer layer of cured resin comprising unidirectional conductive fibres dispersed within.

Composite materials

The invention relates to a prepreg comprising a structural layer of conductive fibers comprising thermosetting resin in the interstices, and a first outer layer of resin comprising thermosetting resin, and comprising a population of conductive free filaments located at the interface between the structural layer and the outer resin layer which, when cured under elevated temperature, produces a cured composite material comprising a cured structural layer of packed conductive fibers and a first outer layer of cured resin, the outer layer of cured resin, comprising a proportion of the population of conductive free filaments dispersed therein, and to a process for manufacturing prepregs wherein the electrically conductive fibers pass a fiber disrupting means to cause a proportion of the fibers on an external face of the sheet to become free filaments.

A curable flexible electromagnetic hazard resistance laminate, comprising a layer of electrically conductive metal material and thermosetting resin, wherein an external face of the laminate comprises a releasable backing sheet in contact with resin, and the laminate further comprises a substantially non-reshapable sheet of solid material.

Electromagnetic hazard protector for composite materials

A curable flexible electromagnetic hazard resistance laminate, comprising a layer of electrically conductive metal material and thermosetting resin, wherein a first external face of the laminate comprises a releasable backing sheet in contact with resin, and a second external face of the laminate comprises resin, wherein the second external face has greater adhesiveness than the first external face with the backing sheet removed.

A process for the manufacture of a prepreg comprising feeding a layer of unidirectional conductive fibers having a defined width, bringing into contact with a first face of the fibers a first layer of resin comprising thermosetting resin, and compressing the resin and fibers together by passing over one or more impregnation rollers, wherein the pressure exerted onto the conductive fibers and resin does not exceed 40 kg per centimeter of the width of the conductive fibers, and the resin being in sufficient amount for the resin to enter the interstices of the fibers and leave a first outer layer of resin essentially free of unidirectional conductive fibers.

A curable prepreg or semipreg material comprising a layer of fibers and a substantially non-flowable curable resin having a layer of porous sheet material on an outer surface, the material allows automatic lay-up of high fiber content prepregs or semiprepregs typically used in industrial applications such as wind turbine blades.

Molding material that includes a layer of fibrous reinforcing material having one surface on which a first layer of a resin partially impregnates the fibrous material and a further resin layer located on the opposite surface which retains in position surface fibers of the fibrous material. The further resin layer is of lower weight than the first layer and is formed as an openwork structure with a solid part and spaces through which the fibrous material is exposed.

Moulding material

Moulding material that includes a layer of fibrous reinforcing material having one surface on which a first layer of a resin partially impregnates the fibrous material and a further resin layer located on the opposite surface which retains in position surface fibers of the fibrous material. The further resin layer is of lower weight than the first layer and is formed as an openwork structure with a solid part and spaces through which the fibrous material is exposed.

Growing community of inventors

Duxford, United Kingdom

John Ellis