Auburn University

Roy M Broughton, Jr

David G Beale

David John Branscomb

John T Klein

Shelby Davis Worley

Hasan Basri Kocer

Wei Liu

Annelese Felmy Maddox

Preforms for open structured (lattice) composite tubular members manufactured from large (i.e. high filament count) prepreg yarns on a conventional maypole braiding machine, and subsequently cured to produce fiber reinforced composites of high strength and light weight.

Minimal weight composites using open structure

A composite prepreg yarn designed and constructed is a very large, strong yarn with resin infused throughout, which can be used to prepare composite preforms via conventional Maypole braiding or other textile processes. The invention increases the loads that can be transmitted by the cured yarn in a composite structure, decreases the stickiness that can prevent their use in braiding and other textile processes, provides protection to the high-strength fibers from abrasion that is encountered during and after composite preform manufacturing via braiding.

Robust pre-impregnated yarn for manufacturing textile composites

Porous, permeable particles of meta-aramid can be chlorinated or brominated to produce antimicrobial and detoxifying particles for use in applications such as, but not limited to, nonwoven webs, paper, textiles, absorbent articles, healthcare products, paints, filter materials, powder coatings, clear coatings, molded plastic articles, binders for fibrous materials, and the like. The particles can be charged with halogen before or after incorporation into the application medium. The particles can contain blends of meta-aramid with other polymers such as, but not limited to, cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyurethane, and the like. The particles will be effective at inactivation of pathogenic and odor-causing microorganisms and toxic chemical agents. The particles, which contain N-halamine units, have unexpected resistance to ultraviolet light degradation.

Disinfecting and detoxifying meta-aramid particles

A braiding machine which operates to deliver a first set of yarns about a vertical axis along a first plane to a braiding point and a second set of yarns about the vertical axis along a second plane located above the first plane to the braiding point and a third set of yarns stationarily arranged about the vertical axis for delivery along a third plane intermediate of the first and second planes to the braiding point. The machine includes an interlacing mechanism which is associated with each yarn of the third set of yarns and including a rotating interlacing member. The interlacing member of each interlacing mechanism is operative to successively engage and carry the first yarns out of the first plane above said third plane over a third yarn of the third yarns and to carry the second yarns out of the second plane below the third plane beneath a third yarn of the third yarns causing each of the first and second yarns to successively interlace with each of the third yarns during their movement about the vertical axis. This positioning action between the first, second, and third yarns forming a braided fabric of superior strength and stability.

Rotably driven braiding machine with third yarns carried and delivered

An axially stable tubular braided fabric comprising a longitudinal set of yarns extending longitudinally of the fabric, a first set of yarns arranged substantially along a first cylindrical plane and at an angle relative to the longitudinal yarns and a second set of yarns arranged substantially along a second cylindrical plane and transversely of the first set of yarns. The yarns of the longitudinal set are passed consecutively over one and under the other of the yarns of the first and second sets interlocking these yarns together in an axially stable position with the yarns of the first set predominating the outer surface and the yarns of the second set predominating the inner surface.

Growing community of inventors

Opelika, AL, United States of America

Roy M Broughton, Jr