Polymer-based molds are described. The polymer-based mold includes a first portion comprising a first material having a glass transition temperature (Tg) lower than about 80 C.; and a second portion comprising a second material having a Tg higher than about 80 C., wherein the second portion at least partially covers the first portion, the second portion is thinner than the first portion and faces a cavity in the polymeric mold.

A mold capable of inhibiting supercooling is provided. The mold includes a cooling channel formed therein and has a recess formed in a cavity surface, and a heat-insulating barrier formed between the cooling channel and a bottom surface of the recess formed in the cavity surface. The heat-insulating barrier includes a space formed between the cooling channel and the bottom surface of the recess formed in the cavity surface. The space is filled with a medium (for example, air) having a thermal conductivity lower than that of other portions of the mold.

A method of adjusting a coefficient of thermal expansion of a member made of a fiber-reinforced resin, the method including: adjusting a coefficient of thermal expansion in a predetermined direction by increasing or decreasing a quantity of fiber having a grain direction in agreement with the predetermined direction. Also disclosed is a mold (100) for curing a cylindrical laminate (30) obtained by laminating prepreg. The mold includes a core die (10) and a surface die (2) outside the laminate including a plurality of partial surface dies (21 to 27). The partial surface dies are arranged to cover the entire circumferential surface of the laminate. Each of the partial surface dies is made of a fiber-reinforced resin in which a quantity of fiber having a grain direction in agreement with the circumferential direction differs from a quantity of fiber having a grain direction in agreement with an axial direction.

A mold (100) according to the present invention is a mold used when curing a cylindrical laminate (30) obtained by laminating prepreg. The mold (100) includes a core die (10) located inside the laminate (30) and a surface die (20) that is located outside the laminate (30) and includes a plurality of partial surface dies (21 to 27). The partial surface dies (21 to 27) are arranged in a circumferential direction of the laminate (30) so as to cover the entire circumferential surface of the laminate (30). Each of the partial surface dies (21 to 27) is made of a fiber-reinforced resin in which a quantity of fiber having a grain direction in agreement with the circumferential direction differs from a quantity of fiber having a grain direction in agreement with an axial direction. Each of the partial surface dies (21 to 27) is constructed so that a coefficient of thermal expansion in the circumferential direction approximates a coefficient of thermal expansion of the core die (10) as compared with a coefficient of thermal expansion in the axial direction.

A fiber reinforced composite member molding apparatus comprises a pair of mold parts which are brought nearer to and away from each other, and in a mold clamping state, clamp laminated sheets of prepreg formed of woven fiber fabric impregnated with resin, and heat sources for heating the resin in the prepreg through the pair of mold parts, wherein the two mold parts each comprise a base mold and a design mold which is detachably attached to the base mold and brought into contact with the prepreg, wherein the design molds of the mold parts are made of a metal lower in thermal expansion rate than the base molds. The mold parts having such split structure can reduce the burden on operators handling replacement of the mold parts, and also can suppress, during heating for molding, the influence of thermal expansion of the mold parts upon a to-be-molded fiber reinforced composite member.

A composite bonding tool may comprise a mold surface made from a composite material including a fibrous material and a matrix disposed about the fibrous material. The resin may be cured and have a thermal conductivity greater than about 10 watts per meter Kelvin. The fibrous material may be further metal coated or plated to increase thermal conductivity. Carbon nanomaterials may be added to the matrix or onto the surface of the fibrous material in order to further enhance thermal conductivity. The mold surface has a relatively high thermal conductivity and relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion, and a relatively low mass.

Polymer-based molds and methods of manufacturing are described. The method includes depositing two or more layers of a first material having a glass transition temperature (Tg) lower than about 70 C., in order to form a first portion of the mold and then depositing two or more layers of a second material having a Tg higher than about 80 C. to form a second portion of the mold. The method may further include depositing two or more layers of a material having a Tg lower than about 70 C. forming a third portion of the mold to cover the second portion.

A method for producing a component from a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein at least one ply of a semifinished fiber product having a peripheral contour is applied to the molding tool at a first temperature, wherein the contour lies within the peripheral edge. A compensating body, having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the molding tool, is arranged along the peripheral edge, such that the compensating body extends from the edge in the direction of the peripheral contour. After sealing the arrangement, resin is introduced, and the arrangement is heated. As a result, the compensating body expands to a greater extent than the molding tool and encloses the semifinished fiber product in a flush manner, with the result that a shape of the component can correspond to an intended final shape and no longer has to be finish-machined.

A tool system for producing a component from a fiber-reinforced plastic includes a molding tool with a tool surface having a peripheral edge, a compensating body having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the molding tool, a closure device, and a heating device for heating the molding tool. The tool surface is configured to receive, at a first temperature, at least one ply of a semifinished fiber product having a peripheral contour within the peripheral edge, and of the compensating body, along the peripheral edge, so the compensating body extends from the peripheral edge in a direction of the peripheral contour. The closure device is configured to close the molding tool to form a closed mold and, at a same time, to enclose the at least one ply of the semifinished fiber product and the compensating body. The closed mold includes a resin conduit for receiving resin.

A tool including a tool body, the tool body including a substrate having a tool-side surface, an intermediate layer positioned over the tool-side surface, and an outer layer positioned over the intermediate layer, the outer layer including a metallic material.