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Title: Method and apparatus for producing composites of materials exhibiting thermoplastic properties

Abstract

A mobile device for the complete consolidation of layers of material which exhibit thermoplastic properties for the formation of a composite of the layers upon a complex contoured substrate. The principal of the device is to provide heating into the molten temperature range of the thermoplastic material, applying sufficient pressure to the layers to cause flow of the plastic for a time sufficient to achieve full consolidation of the layers, and quickly cooling the structure to prevent delamination or other non-consolidation action. In the preferred form, there is an element to deposit a layer of the mateiral against another layer in close proximity. The two layers are pre-heated to near the melting temperature, and then further heated into the melting temperature range as they are brought into intimate contact with sufficient pressure to cause flow of the plastic for a time sufficient to achieve the full consolidation. The structure is then cooled. The mechanism for the application of pressure is selected such that the layers can be deformed to conform to a complex contour. In the preferred form, this pressurization is produced using a compliant hood that supplies both the pressure and at least a portion of the melting temperature,more » as well as the cooling. The apparatus, and method of operation, are described relative to the use of fiber-reinforced PEEK in the making of fully-consolidated composites. Other applications are discussed.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Knoxville, TN
  2. Faragut, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
868112
Patent Number(s):
5078821
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29C - SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29K - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; apparatus; producing; composites; materials; exhibiting; thermoplastic; properties; mobile; device; complete; consolidation; layers; material; exhibit; formation; composite; complex; contoured; substrate; principal; provide; heating; molten; temperature; range; applying; sufficient; pressure; flow; plastic; time; achieve; quickly; cooling; structure; prevent; delamination; non-consolidation; action; preferred; form; element; deposit; layer; mateiral; close; proximity; pre-heated; near; melting; heated; brought; intimate; contact; cooled; mechanism; application; selected; deformed; conform; contour; pressurization; produced; compliant; hood; supplies; portion; operation; described; relative; fiber-reinforced; peek; fully-consolidated; applications; discussed; plastic material; thermoplastic material; provide heat; melting temperature; close proximity; time sufficient; temperature range; intimate contact; preferred form; sufficient pressure; applying sufficient; materials exhibiting; prevent delamination; thermoplastic properties; consolidated composite; /156/492/

Citation Formats

Garvey, Raymond E, and Grostick, Edmund T. Method and apparatus for producing composites of materials exhibiting thermoplastic properties. United States: N. p., 1992. Web.
Garvey, Raymond E, & Grostick, Edmund T. Method and apparatus for producing composites of materials exhibiting thermoplastic properties. United States.
Garvey, Raymond E, and Grostick, Edmund T. Wed . "Method and apparatus for producing composites of materials exhibiting thermoplastic properties". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868112.
@article{osti_868112,
title = {Method and apparatus for producing composites of materials exhibiting thermoplastic properties},
author = {Garvey, Raymond E and Grostick, Edmund T},
abstractNote = {A mobile device for the complete consolidation of layers of material which exhibit thermoplastic properties for the formation of a composite of the layers upon a complex contoured substrate. The principal of the device is to provide heating into the molten temperature range of the thermoplastic material, applying sufficient pressure to the layers to cause flow of the plastic for a time sufficient to achieve full consolidation of the layers, and quickly cooling the structure to prevent delamination or other non-consolidation action. In the preferred form, there is an element to deposit a layer of the mateiral against another layer in close proximity. The two layers are pre-heated to near the melting temperature, and then further heated into the melting temperature range as they are brought into intimate contact with sufficient pressure to cause flow of the plastic for a time sufficient to achieve the full consolidation. The structure is then cooled. The mechanism for the application of pressure is selected such that the layers can be deformed to conform to a complex contour. In the preferred form, this pressurization is produced using a compliant hood that supplies both the pressure and at least a portion of the melting temperature, as well as the cooling. The apparatus, and method of operation, are described relative to the use of fiber-reinforced PEEK in the making of fully-consolidated composites. Other applications are discussed.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1992},
month = {1}
}