초록 ▼

A process and system for vacuum impregnation of a fiber reinforcement, such as carbon cloth, with a resin to produce a resin-fiber composite. Liquid resin enters in arrangement or system comprising a fiber reinforcement layer on a tool or mold and is directed via a system of flow paths to impregnate

A process and system for vacuum impregnation of a fiber reinforcement, such as carbon cloth, with a resin to produce a resin-fiber composite. Liquid resin enters in arrangement or system comprising a fiber reinforcement layer on a tool or mold and is directed via a system of flow paths to impregnate the fiber reinforcement layer uniformly across the width thereof and along the length of the fiber reinforcement layer. According to one embodiment, a fiber reinforcement layer, e.g., carbon cloth, is placed on a tool. A porous paring film is applied over the fiber reinforcement layer and a bleeder layer, e.g., fiberglass, is applied over the parting film. A non-pourous film is placed over the bleeder layer, a breather cloth, e.g., fiberglass, is then applied over the non-porous film, and a vacuum bag is placed over the entire assembly and sealed to the mold surface. Liquid resin is fed to the assembly within the vacuum bag. Resin spreader means, e.g., a transverse strip of fiberglass cloth, or mechanical means, such as a slotted tube, receives the liquid resin and distributes it initially across the panel adjacent one end of the reinforcement layer after the vacuum has been applied to the assembly. The liquid resin is drawn through the bleeder cloth and through the fiber reinforcement layer from one end to the opposite thereof to completely impregnate same. The resin system is designed so that it will commence to gel when the liquid resin has completely impregnated the fiber reinforcement layer.

대표청구항 ▼

In a process for vacuum impregnation of a fiber reinforcement with a resin to produce a resin-fiber composite, the steps which comprise: applying a dry fiber reinforcement layer on a tool, positioning a bleeder layer over said fiber reinforcement layer, applying a vacuum bag over the entire assembly

In a process for vacuum impregnation of a fiber reinforcement with a resin to produce a resin-fiber composite, the steps which comprise: applying a dry fiber reinforcement layer on a tool, positioning a bleeder layer over said fiber reinforcement layer, applying a vacuum bag over the entire assembly, providing a source of liquid resin and a resin inlet line to the assembly and communicating with said bleeder layer, providing a source of vacuum communicating with said vacuum bag, drawing a vacuum to permit passage of the liquid resin through said resin inlet line, spreading the resin flow from the resin inlet line for the full width of said fiber reinforcement layer transversely from edge to edge thereof, and flowing said liquid resin along a flow path through said bleeder layer and into and through the fiber reinforcement layer longitudinally therein from one end thereof to the opposite end of the fiber reinforcement layer to impregnate same uniformly across the length and width of the fiber reinforcement layer.