Apparatus and methods for manufacturing and repairing fibre-reinforced composite materials are disclosed. In various embodiments, the apparatus and methods disclosed herein use a resin retaining/releasing device comprising resin having a viscosity that is temperature dependent for infusion into a region of a part. The resin retaining/releasing device may include a first sheet and an opposite second sheet at least partially enclosing the quantity of resin. The first sheet and the second sheet may be gas-permeable. The second sheet may be substantially resin-impermeable when the viscosity of the resin is above a threshold viscosity and resin-permeable when the viscosity of the resin is below the threshold viscosity.

This invention relates to a composition comprising a semisolid epoxy resin containing a curative dispersed therein. The curative has a particle size such that at least 90% of the particles have a size below 25 pm at ambient temperature of 21° C., wherein the composition further comprises a diluent containing a particulate filler. The composition is used as matrix in prepregs. The use of the diluent increases peel strength of the composition when brought into contact with metal or wood substrate.

A method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced structure includes the following. A mandrel of a first material comprises a hollow interior and an aperture that allows a fluid to enter the interior. A layer of a second material provided on the mandrel includes an uncured resin and fibers. The mandrel and the layer are placed in a mold cavity formed by a mold. A pressurized fluid is introduced into the interior of the mandrel via the aperture to generate a force acting to expand the mandrel outward. The mandrel is heated so that it becomes deformable and expand outward to press the layer against the mold. The layer is heated so that it cures. The mandrel is then heated to a temperature above its melting point of the first material so that it melts, after which it is removed.

A method is for manufacturing a honeycomb structure including a core material in which a hole is formed to penetrate in a thickness direction and is arranged in a plane direction, and a skin material that is stacked on a surface of the core material. The skin material includes a thermosetting resin. The method includes half-curing the thermosetting resin by placing the skin material in a bag and heating the skin material in a state where an inside of the bag is evacuated and an outside of the bag is under an atmospheric pressure; stacking the skin material in which the thermosetting resin is half-cured onto a side of the surface of the core material; and bonding and integrating the core material and the skin material with each other by pressurizing and heating the stacked core material and skin material with the use of a sealing pressurizing heating facility.

An additive printer dispenses filament having high volume content of axial reinforcing fibers impregnated with a partially cured thermoset material. Partial curing provides sufficient mechanical integrity for high-density fiber support and retention while maintaining tackiness necessary to allow layer by layer additive construction. The complete construction may then be heated to provide complete curing.

A mold for encapsulating a Pin-Fin type power module with resin is disclosed. The power module includes a DBC or IMS, power chips and multiple terminals provided on a first surface of the DBC or IMS and a Pin-Fin structure provided on a second surface of the DBC or IMS. The mold further includes: a cavity for containing the power module; multiple terminal protecting elements corresponding to the terminals, respectively, each for receiving at least a part of a terminal; and an injection hole provided on the bottom of the mold or on the side wall of the mold, The first surface faces the bottom of the mold and the injection hole is below the first surface when the power module is placed in the cavity. A method for manufacturing a power module is also provided.

A pipe coupling construction which can be used for coupling of a high-pressure pipe includes an inner bush of a non-metallic material and an outer bush, which bushes in axial section have parts which mesh with each other in order to transmit axial forces. The inner bush can be fused or adhered to an outer cover layer of the pipe. The coupling has a metal sleeve construction. The outer bush has an outer bush protruding end which protrudes with respect to the inner bush and the metal sleeve construction is at least partially located within the outer bush protruding end. The metal sleeve construction and outer bush in axial section have parts which mesh with each other.

A pipe coupling construction which can be used for coupling of a high-pressure pipe includes an inner bush of a non-metallic material and an outer bush, which bushes in axial section have parts which mesh with each other in order to transmit axial forces. The inner bush can be fused or adhered to an outer cover layer of the pipe. The coupling has a metal sleeve construction. The outer bush has an outer bush protruding end which protrudes with respect to the inner bush and the metal sleeve construction is at least partially located within the outer bush protruding end. The metal sleeve construction and outer bush in axial section have parts which mesh with each other.

A laminated moulded part of fibre-reinforced resin matrix composite material, the moulded part comprising a first ply comprising fibres impregnated with a resin, an outer surface of the first ply defining an outer surface of the laminated moulded part, a rope located around at least a part of a periphery of the first ply, the rope comprising a plurality of strands of fibres twisted together and impregnated with a resin, a second ply comprising fibres impregnated with a resin, the second ply at least partly covering an inner surface of the first ply, at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the second ply being located inwardly of a corresponding portion of the rope, and at least a portion of the periphery of the first ply being folded over so as to wrap around the rope and cover the corresponding peripheral edge of the second ply.

The invention discloses a carbon nanotube/polyetherimide/thermosetting resin dielectric composite and a preparation method therefor. 100 parts by weight of polyetherimide and 1-7 parts by weight of carbon nanotube are mixed uniformly in an Haake torque melt cavity to obtain a carbon nanotubes/polyetherimide composite; 20 parts of the carbon nanotube/polyetherimide composite are dissolved in 100-150 parts of dichloromethane, then the mixed solution is added in 100 parts of molten thermocurable thermosetting resin, mixing, and heat preserving, stirring are performed until a mixture is formed in a uniform state, and curing and post-treating are performed to obtain a carbon nanotube/thermosetting resin dielectric composite, wherein the substrate thereof has a typical reverse phase structure, while the carbon nanotubes are dispersed in a polyetherimide phase. The composite has a relatively low percolation threshold, a high dielectric constant and a low dielectric loss. The preparation method of the present invention has a simple process and is suitable for large-scale production.