The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 25, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1999
Karin L. Gipple, Arnold, MD (US);
Dale G. Karr, Milan, MI (US);
Liming W. Salvino, Burtonsville, MD (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
The inventive composite laminate has an interface profile which describes a fractally nonlinear contour. Inventive fabrication thereof typically includes computer numerically controlled wire-cut electrical discharge machining of a metal mold, resin transfer molding of a first composite portion using the metal mold, and resin transfer molding of a second composite portion using the first composite portion as a mold so that the interfacing surfaces of the composite portions are secondarily bonded to each other in conformal fashion. The interface surface of the second composite portion approximates the geometry of the metal mold surface, while the interface surface of the first composite portion approximates the inverted geometry of the metal mold surface. Each interface surface defines a multiplicity of lengthwise parallel grooves and ridges corresponding to the widthwise disordered undulations of the fractal interfacial profile. Both through-thickness strength and fracture toughness can be significantly increased by inventive practice of a composite laminate characterized by fractality of the interfacial profile.