Magnetic particle integrated adhesive and associated method of repairing

Abstract

A method of repairing a composite material product by adhering a repair patch to the composite material product with an adhesive or epoxy resin that includes magnetic particles. Thus, the adhesive or epoxy resin can be cured by electromagnetically exciting the magnetic particles, such as by microwave heating. The electromagnetically excited magnetic particles internally heat the adhesive or epoxy resin to the predetermined Curie Point temperature of the magnetic particles such that the adhesive or epoxy resin cures in a uniform and inspectable fashion. The magnetic particles can be mixed into an adhesive, such as a paste adhesive, a film adhesive or a foam adhesive, to create a magnetic particle integrated adhesive. The magnetic particle integrated adhesive can then be applied between a precured repair patch and the underlying composite material product. Alternatively, the magnetic particles can be distributed within the organic resin of an uncured repair patch such that the repair patch can be simultaneously cured and adhered to the composite material product by electromagnetically exciting the magnetic particles. In either embodiment, the adhesive or the epoxy resin is adapted to cure within a predetermined range of cure temperatures. Thus, the magnetic particles, such as Ferrous Silicide, should have a predetermined Curie Point temperature within the predetermined range of cure temperatures.