GB2254819A - Tooling for the manufacture of composite articles - Google Patents

Tooling for the manufacture of composite articles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2254819A
GB2254819A GB9108086A GB9108086A GB2254819A GB 2254819 A GB2254819 A GB 2254819A GB 9108086 A GB9108086 A GB 9108086A GB 9108086 A GB9108086 A GB 9108086A GB 2254819 A GB2254819 A GB 2254819A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mesh
composite
manufacture
resin
mould tool
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9108086A
Other versions
GB2254819B (en
GB9108086D0 (en
Inventor
Derrick James Booth
John Eastham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems PLC
Original Assignee
British Aerospace PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Aerospace PLC filed Critical British Aerospace PLC
Priority to GB9108086A priority Critical patent/GB2254819B/en
Publication of GB9108086D0 publication Critical patent/GB9108086D0/en
Publication of GB2254819A publication Critical patent/GB2254819A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2254819B publication Critical patent/GB2254819B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/02—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising combinations of reinforcements, e.g. non-specified reinforcements, fibrous reinforcing inserts and fillers, e.g. particulate fillers, incorporated in matrix material, forming one or more layers and with or without non-reinforced or non-filled layers
    • B29C70/021—Combinations of fibrous reinforcement and non-fibrous material
    • B29C70/023—Combinations of fibrous reinforcement and non-fibrous material with reinforcing inserts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
    • B29C33/38—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor characterised by the material or the manufacturing process
    • B29C33/40—Plastics, e.g. foam or rubber
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/68—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers, e.g. foam blocks
    • B29C70/688—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers, e.g. foam blocks the inserts being meshes or lattices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
    • B29C70/28—Shaping operations therefor
    • B29C70/30—Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core
    • B29C70/34—Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core and shaping or impregnating by compression, i.e. combined with compressing after the lay-up operation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • 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
    • B29K2705/00—Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
    • B29K2705/08—Transition metals
    • B29K2705/12—Iron

Abstract

A composite mould tool 1 e.g. of carbon fibre cloth/resin, is reinforced by incorporating a fine stainless steel, silicon or carbide mesh 4 in its outer moulding surface. The mesh 4 protects the moulding surface of the tool against shop damage and abrasive cleaning agents. The mesh may be pressed into a layer of resin (2) applied to the composite from a removable polyethylene backing (3), or the layer (2) is applied from the backing (3) onto the mesh, prior to curing. <IMAGE>

Description

TOOLING FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE ARTICLES This invention relates to tooling for the manufacture of articles from composite materials such as, for example, carbon fibre composites.
A conventional method of manufacturing articles from composite material involves laying up layers of composite material, such as carbon cloth impregnated with resin, in a metal mould tool to a desired thickness. The article is then cured under pressure in an autoclave and the finished article removed from the mould. One problem with this method, however, results from the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the metal mould tool and the composite material. This difference results in relative movement between the mould tool and the composite article being formed during the heating and cooling cycle which spoils the surface of the article.
One known solution to this problem is to use a composite mould tool, that is to say a mould made of the same (or at least similar) material as the article to be formed. This latter method avoids any problems resulting from a CTE differential, and also has further advantages.
For example, a composite mould tool is lighter than a metal equivalent and can be heated more quickly, during the curing step, to the required temperature.
However, composite mould tools are disadvantageous in that they are more susceptible to damage than comparable metal moulds. This applies particularly to the surface which may suffer degradation from various causes. These include shop damage from knife cutting, resin loss due to heat shock, and possibly solvent damage from the use of release agents. The mould surface is also often damaged by the use of inappropriate tools, for example screwdrivers, to release an article from the mould. The tools can also suffer damage from the cleaning process which is necessary for removing resin left over from previous curing stages.
These processes, such as ones which employ plastic grit, are necessarily abrasive.
This invention aims to provide a composite mould tool which has a high resistance to damage of the type described above.
According to the present invention, therefore, a mould tool for use in the manufacture of articles made from composite materials comprises a structure made from composite material and having a mesh secured to an outer surface of said structure.
Preferably, the mesh is made from stainless steel in order to give the tool surface the preferred damage-resistant properties. One alternative to stainless steel could be silicon carbide.
The mesh can be easily made to follow the contours of any curved mould tool, owing to its pliable nature.
The mesh can cover the entire surface of the tool, or can be used only in those areas most prone to damage.
The mesh is bonded to the composite tool during the curing process.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 1 which is an exploded view of a mould tool in accordance with the invention.
Pre-preg carbon fibre (i.e. composite material pre-impregnated with resin) composite 1 is laid up in accordance with normal practice. An extra layer of resin in the form of a film adhesive 2 on a polythene backing 3 is smoothed over a surface of the pre-preg composite. The polythene backing is removed and a fine stainless steel mesh 4 is pressed down into the film adhesive 2 so that all holes in the mesh 4 are filled with resin. This latter step ensures a smooth finish to the tool surface.
The composite and mesh ensemble is then cured by conventional means.
In an alternative method of fabrication, the film adhesive is laid over the mesh rather than underneath it, prior to curing.

Claims (7)

1. A mould tool for manufacture of articles made from composite materials comprising a structure made from composite material and having a mesh secured to an outer surface of said structure.
2. A mould tool as claimed in claim 1 in which the mesh is a fine, stainless steel mesh.
3. A method of manufacturing a mould tool for use in the manufacture of articles made from composite materials which includes the steps of: laying up resin pre-impregnated composite material; coating a surface of the composite material with resin; locating a mesh over said surface and in contact with the resin, and then curing.
4. A method of manufacturing a mould tool for use in the manufacture of articles made from composite materials which includes the steps of: laying up resin pre-impregnated composite material; locating a mesh over a surface of the composite material; coating the mesh with resin, and then curing.
5. A method of manufacturing a mould tool as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the mesh is a fine, stainless steel mesh.
6. A mould tool for manufacture of articles made from composite materials substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.
7. A method of manufacturing a mould tool for use in the manufacture of articles made from composite materials substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.
GB9108086A 1991-04-16 1991-04-16 Tooling for the manufacture of composite articles Expired - Fee Related GB2254819B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9108086A GB2254819B (en) 1991-04-16 1991-04-16 Tooling for the manufacture of composite articles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9108086A GB2254819B (en) 1991-04-16 1991-04-16 Tooling for the manufacture of composite articles

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9108086D0 GB9108086D0 (en) 1991-06-05
GB2254819A true GB2254819A (en) 1992-10-21
GB2254819B GB2254819B (en) 1995-07-26

Family

ID=10693368

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9108086A Expired - Fee Related GB2254819B (en) 1991-04-16 1991-04-16 Tooling for the manufacture of composite articles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2254819B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2352660A (en) * 1999-08-04 2001-02-07 Honda Motor Co Ltd Resinous Die

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB124051A (en) * 1918-03-14 1919-03-14 Oscar Thomas Improvements in the Manufacture of Boats and Ships.
GB654289A (en) * 1945-06-07 1951-06-13 John Alexander Sperry Improvements in or relating to a mold or mold part
GB725932A (en) * 1952-01-28 1955-03-16 Budd Co An improved checking fixture or model and a method of producing the same
GB835822A (en) * 1957-10-17 1960-05-25 Bakelite Ltd Improvements in or relating to moulds, jigs and like structures
GB956181A (en) * 1962-04-04 1964-04-22 Marconi Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to radio reflectors
GB983717A (en) * 1962-06-29 1965-02-17 Nl Siemens Mij N V Improvements in or relating to moulded plastics articles
GB1065073A (en) * 1963-03-27 1967-04-12 Rudolf Fissler Improvements in or related to containers
GB1154208A (en) * 1965-07-23 1969-06-04 Union Carbide Corp Thermoplastic Matrix
GB1417305A (en) * 1972-11-06 1975-12-10 Ugine Kuhlmann Reinforced tubular articles
GB1472234A (en) * 1976-02-20 1977-05-04 Balfour Beatty Ltd Metallic structures
GB1501662A (en) * 1974-03-25 1978-02-22 Haustrup Plastic As Plastics bottles

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB124051A (en) * 1918-03-14 1919-03-14 Oscar Thomas Improvements in the Manufacture of Boats and Ships.
GB654289A (en) * 1945-06-07 1951-06-13 John Alexander Sperry Improvements in or relating to a mold or mold part
GB725932A (en) * 1952-01-28 1955-03-16 Budd Co An improved checking fixture or model and a method of producing the same
GB835822A (en) * 1957-10-17 1960-05-25 Bakelite Ltd Improvements in or relating to moulds, jigs and like structures
GB956181A (en) * 1962-04-04 1964-04-22 Marconi Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to radio reflectors
GB983717A (en) * 1962-06-29 1965-02-17 Nl Siemens Mij N V Improvements in or relating to moulded plastics articles
GB1065073A (en) * 1963-03-27 1967-04-12 Rudolf Fissler Improvements in or related to containers
GB1154208A (en) * 1965-07-23 1969-06-04 Union Carbide Corp Thermoplastic Matrix
GB1417305A (en) * 1972-11-06 1975-12-10 Ugine Kuhlmann Reinforced tubular articles
GB1501662A (en) * 1974-03-25 1978-02-22 Haustrup Plastic As Plastics bottles
GB1472234A (en) * 1976-02-20 1977-05-04 Balfour Beatty Ltd Metallic structures

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2352660A (en) * 1999-08-04 2001-02-07 Honda Motor Co Ltd Resinous Die
US6513360B1 (en) 1999-08-04 2003-02-04 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Resinous die
GB2352660B (en) * 1999-08-04 2003-05-14 Honda Motor Co Ltd Resinous die

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2254819B (en) 1995-07-26
GB9108086D0 (en) 1991-06-05

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Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19970416