Low cost tooling material and process for graphite and Kevlar composites. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6880707

Childs, W I

An Extruded Sheet Tooling Compound (ESTC) was developed for use in quickly building low cost molds for fabricating composites. The ESTC is a very highly mineral-filled resin system formed into a 6 mm thick sheet. The sheet is laid on the pattern, vacuum (bag) is applied to remove air from the pattern surface, and the assembly is heat cured. The formed ESTC is then backed and/or framed and ready for use. The cured ESTC exhibits low coefficient of thermal expansion and maintains strength at temperatures of 180 to 200 C. Tools were made and used successfully for: Compression molding of high strength epoxy sheet molding compound, stamping of aluminum, resin transfer molding of polyester, and liquid resin molding of polyester. Several variations of ESTC can be made for specific requirements. Higher thermal conductivity can be achieved by using an aluminum particle filler. Room temperature gel is possible to allow use of foam patterns.

• Research Organization: Quantum Composites, Inc., Midland, MI (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6880707
• Report Number(s): N-90-17834; NASA-CR--179427; NAS--1.26:179427; H--1407
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
ALUMINIUM
CARBON
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CURING
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EPOXIDES
EXPANSION
FABRICATION
GRAPHITE
HEAT TREATMENTS
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALS
MOLDING MATERIALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROGRESS REPORT
SHEETS
THERMAL EXPANSION