A process of bonding different constituent materials of different tensile strengths in a single step in an isostatic high pressure reactor in order to produce a composite material.

An example apparatus for fabrication of a co-cured composite assembly includes a layup tool body with a cavity, a thermal expansion insert inserted into the cavity of the layup tool body and a first uncured composite part of the composite assembly is positioned onto the thermal expansion insert, and a solid internal mandrel configured for insertion onto the first uncured composite part. During curing, the first uncured composite part compacts and reduces in thickness while the solid internal mandrel and the thermal expansion insert each increase in size to apply pressure to the first uncured composite part.

An autoclave may be reconfigured to accommodate differently shaped parts by relatively rotating portions of the autoclave.

A method for producing thermally crosslinkable polymers in a planetary roller extruder is presented. The planetary roller extruder has a filling part and a compounding part made of a roller cylinder region that comprises at least two, preferably at least three coupled roller cylinders, planetary spindles of which are driven by a common central spindle. The polymers are supplied in a plasticized state. The filling part is supplied with a vacuum. The flow temperatures of the central spindle and the at least two roller cylinders under a vacuum are set such that the polymers to be degassed remain in the plasticized state. One or more liquids, such as thermal crosslinkers, crosslinking accelerators, dye solutions, or dye dispersions, are metered to the plasticized polymers downstream of the vacuum degassing, preferably in a continuous manner. Finally, the resulting mixture is directly supplied to a coating assembly.

An autoclave may be reconfigured to accommodate differently shaped parts by relatively rotating portions of the autoclave.

A system for forming a composite component includes a close mold tool defining a cavity that corresponds to a shape of the composite component and configured to receive a composite material. The system further includes a perforated release film defining a plurality of openings and configured to be positioned on a surface of the composite material within the cavity. The system further includes a breather configured to be positioned on the perforated release film, to allow a vacuum to be applied to the composite material through the breather and the plurality of openings, and to allow pressurized fluid to be applied to the perforated release film through the breather.

Provided is a method for producing a rubber crawler capable of suppressing deformation of tension members which probably occurs during the manufacture. The method for producing a rubber crawler 1 comprises: obtaining rubber protrusions 4, 5 having half-vulcanized surfaces 4a, 5a by vulcanizing an unvulcanized rubber RR while keeping a half-vulcanized state; obtaining a main body 2 having half-vulcanized surfaces 2c, 2d by vulcanizing an unvulcanized rubber RR with tension members 3 embedded therein while keeping a half-vulcanized state; and arranging the rubber protrusions 4, 5 on the main body 2, and then integrating the rubber protrusions 4, 5 and the main body 2 by vulcanizing the same.

Systems are disclosed for curing composite parts within a container, wherein a pressurized environment may be created via a body of water. Disclosed systems may include the container, a heating system, and a mechanism for raising and/or lowering the container within the body of water. The container may include one or more rigid walls, one or more non-rigid walls, and/or one or more port holes extending through one or more of the rigid walls and/or non-rigid walls. Methods of curing composite parts using such systems are also disclosed. Methods may include providing a container having a cavity configured to receive a composite part, thermally coupling a heating system to the container, inserting the composite part into the cavity, submerging the container under a depth of external liquid, flowing a volume of fluid into the cavity, heating the volume of fluid, thereby curing the composite part.

A method of manufacturing a sealed circuit card assembly includes disposing a circuit card assembly within a volume defined by a housing and at least partially filling the volume with a curable liquid such that the curable liquid encapsulates at least a circuit card. The method may also include curing the curable liquid to form a potted circuit card assembly and, after at least partially filling the volume with the curable liquid and after curing the curable liquid, vacuum impregnating the potted circuit card assembly with a sealant to seal any exposed interfaces or cracks to form the sealed circuit card assembly. Accordingly, the sealed circuit card assembly may include a first cured material encapsulating the circuit card of the circuit card assembly and a second cured material disposed within, for example, a porosity of the first cured material.

A method and apparatus for curing a composite workpiece to form a part. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise an object, a portable structure, and a heating system. The object may have a shape selected for a part. The portable structure may comprise a retaining structure configured to hold the object. The retaining structure may have a first side and a second side. The heating system may be configured to cover the object at the first side of the retaining structure and the second side of the retaining structure. The heating system may be further configured to generate heat for use in curing a workpiece placed over the object to form the part.