The Boeing Company

Mark Richard Brei

Kevin D Gordon

Anthony M Westren

Kay Youngdahl Blohowiak

Kjersta Lynn Larson-Smith

Jill Elisabeth Seebergh

Terrell D Riley

Alexandra Elena Corona

Thomas G Lawton

Meredith P Nix

Richard Charles Barclay

Tara Kovacs Baker

Ashley C Tracey

Caitlin Elizabeth Kerr

Tyler Jacob Zimmerman

Kimberly-Alice D Gregersen

Christopher Garnier

Yuliya Shafranyuk

David Michael Gayle

John William Adams

Jessica Offutt Fry

Heather Marie Wadsworth

David Earl Reed

Chloe E Klusman

Sondra Hennessy Miller

Kjersta Larson-Smith

Terrell Diane Riley

Marc James Froning

Dakota Summer Haines

Methods of compression resin transfer infusion are presented. A dry preform with a thermoplastic veil is placed onto a lower mold die. An upper mold die is placed over the lower mold die to create an infusion and cure tool having a sealed cavity holding the dry preform, the sealed cavity defining a gap, the gap corresponding to a cavity volume equivalent to an amount of resin to infuse the dry preform. Resin is injected into the gap of the sealed cavity while the infusion and cure tool is maintained at an infusion temperature. The upper mold die is lowered to infuse the dry preform to form a resin-infused preform. The resin-infused preform is cured within the infusion and cure tool to form a cured composite part, wherein curing occurs at a curing temperature higher than the infusion temperature.

Compression resin transfer infusion methods

A composite structure having a co-curable or co-cured coated epoxy-based composite material coated with a co-curable epoxy-based adhesive surfacing material layer and a polyurethane-based coating material layer, along with components and large objects including the co-curable or co-cured coated epoxy-based composite structures.

Composite coatings having improved UV and paint stripping resistivity and methods for making same

The present disclosure is directed to an exterior surface protective layer for protecting a composite structure from environmental conditions including: at least one curable film; such as at least two curable films, and an electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a wire-free electrically conductive material, and/or an electrically conductive polymer weave, wherein the at least one curable film includes at least one of polyurethane, polyimide, polyester or epoxy upon curing, and wherein a weight of the exterior surface protective layer ranges from about 0.02 pounds per square foot to about 0.1 pounds per square foot. An exterior surface protected composite structure and methods of forming an exterior surface protected composite structure are also provided.

Lightning strike protection

Co-curable epoxy-based composite materials coated with co-curable polyurethane-based coating materials to form co-curable and co-cured polyurethane coated epoxy-based composite materials, with the polyurethane-based coating materials comprising UV-stabilizer agents and cure control agents are disclosed, along with components and large structures comprising the co-cured materials.

Elimination of surfacing film and primer from composite substrates

The present disclosure is directed to a method for applying a multi-colored coating to a composite structure comprising applying a first co-curable film layer comprising a first color marking to a composite tool, applying a second co-curable film layer comprising a second color marking over the composite tool and at least partially over the first co-curable film layer to create a lay-up of a multi-colored marking, applying a composite structure over the lay-up of the multi-colored marking, and curing the lay-up of the multi-colored marking and the composite structure in a single curing step to create a cured multi-colored coating on the composite structure. A multi-colored coating for marking a composite structure and an aircraft part having a multi-colored marking are also provided.

Co-curable film layer application

The present disclosure is directed to a method for reactivating a co-cured film layer disposed on a composite structure, the method comprising applying a reactivation treatment composition comprising at least two solvents and a surface exchange agent comprising a metal alkoxide or chelate thereof to the co-cured film layer, and allowing the reactivation treatment composition to create a reactivated co-cured film layer, wherein the co-cured film layer was previously cured at a curing temperature greater than about 50&#xb0; C. A reactivated co-cured film layer and an aircraft part having a reactivated co-cured film layer are also provided.

Reactivation of co-cured film layers

An ultrasonic inspection system, method, and software. In one embodiment, the ultrasonic inspection system includes an ultrasonic probe that directs ultrasound waves into a structure from a front wall, and receives reflected waves to generate a response signal. The system further includes a processor that rectifies the response signal to generate a rectified signal, integrates a portion of the rectified signal within a detection time window to determine an energy sum, and generates output based on the energy sum. The detection time window is restricted to a front wall reflection and at least a portion of a near-surface dead zone following the front wall reflection.

Dead zone inspection with ultrasonic testing using signal integration

Methods for placing an indicia on a composite structure generally include printing the indicia on a first film surface of a coating film, with the coating film being in a partially cured state at the time the printing the indicia is performed, and positioning the coating film on a partially cured composite structure such that a second film surface of the coating film faces and is positioned against a surface of the composite structure, with the second film surface being opposite the first film surface. Finally, the coating film and the composite structure may then be co-cured. Systems for printing an indicia on a composite structure generally include the coating film, a printer configured to print the indicia on the first film surface of the coating film, a securement configured to secure the coating film during printing, and a curing device for co-curing the coating film and the composite structure.

Methods and systems for inkjet printing on co-curable paint film

Provided are molds, comprising non-metal base portions and protective optical layers that cover and shield these base portions from laser ablation. For example, a protective optical layer may reflect a laser beam used for ablating the mold. Methods of forming these protective optical layers on non-metal base portions are also provided. In some embodiments, this protective optical layer is the outermost layer exposed to the environment. Alternatively, the protective optical layer may be covered by a release layer. The release layer may be retained or removed during laser ablation. In some embodiments, light emitted by a mold during laser ablation is analyzed to determine performance of its protective optical layer. This feedback may be used to control the laser ablation such as to control orientation of the laser beam relative to the mold.

Processing tool cleaning using laser ablation

Provided are methods for cleaning processing tools from residue using laser ablation. Also provided are processing tools comprising non-metal base portions and protective optical layers that cover and shield these base portions from laser ablation. For example, a protective optical layer may reflect a laser beam used for ablating the tool. Methods of forming these protective optical layers on non-metal base portions are also provided. In some embodiments, this protective optical layer is the outermost layer exposed to the environment. Alternatively, the protective optical layer may be covered by a release layer. The release layer may be retained or removed during laser ablation. In some embodiments, light emitted by a processing tool during laser ablation is analyzed to determine performance of its protective optical layer. This feedback may be used to control the laser ablation such as to control orientation of the laser beam relative to the processing tool.

Growing community of inventors

Ladson, SC, United States of America

Mark Richard Brei