A method for bonding two parts together in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure can include providing first and second parts, placing a light curable adhesive between the first and second parts, and irradiating the light curable adhesive using a modified fiber optic filament disposed between the first and second parts.

Disclosed is a method of curing a composite article and associated curing apparatus. A heat source is provided for heating the composite article. A temperature related property is detected proximal to the heat source and the heat output is regulated to a predetermined temperature vs. time profile. Heat output vs time data is acquired and functionalised and the curing completion time is determined based on the functionalised heat output vs time data. The method provides for heating a composite article so as to follow a predetermined temperature vs. time profile (i.e. a cure profile) and avoid excessively high temperatures. The required heat output vs time has also been found to be broadly reproducible, and the curing completion time can be more readily determined from functionalised heat output vs time data, for example by identifying reproducible characteristics of the functionalised data.

A device for consolidating a fiber preform to obtain a panel made of composite material of large dimension, comprising an induction heating system configured to generate at least one electromagnetic field in a heating zone, at least one susceptor incorporated in a first die tool supporting the fiber preform and/or a cladding covering the fiber preform, each susceptor producing a uniform heating of the fiber preform when it is positioned in the electromagnetic field of the induction heating system, and a mechanism configured to induce a relative movement between the induction heating system and the first die tool so that all the fiber preform crosses the heating zone.

The disclosure relates to a preimpregnated fibrous composite material comprising, at least, one or more plies of sheetlike textile structures in the form of wovens, meshed fabrics, knitted fabrics, braided fabrics, stitch-bonded fabrics, nonwovens or felts of organic and inorganic fibers in a polymeric matrix. A method of manufacturing a fibrous composite component part and use thereof.

A matrix material dispersed with one or more susceptor structures can be formed into a feedstock for an additive manufacturing process. The one or more susceptor structures can be excited by an energy field such as an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, or any combination thereof, to produce heat. The heat that is produced can be transferred to the matrix material that surrounds the one or more susceptor structures to provide heat treatment to the matrix material. The heat treatment can improve the material and mechanical properties of three dimensional objects formed from the feedstock.

A mold for forming a flange of a wind turbine blade comprising a first flange portion including a plurality of lamina and having a generally planar shape and a second perpendicular flange including a plurality of lamina. A plurality of copper wires are disposed within the lamina for conducting heat delivered from a base portion through the first and second flange portions. The mold is free of fluid conduits with the flange portions moveable relative to the base portion.

A method of fabricating a preform is provided. The method includes disposing a veil over a first mold portion having a three-dimensional shape, the veil including a thermoplastic material and magnetic particles; disposing a fiber tow onto the veil; heating at least a portion of the veil by induction so that the fiber tow becomes coupled to the veil; compressing the fiber tow and the veil toward each other with a second mold portion that has a negative contour relative to the first mold portion; and removing the preform from the first and second mold portions. The preform has the three-dimensional shape and includes the fiber tow coupled to the veil. Preforms prepared by the method are also provided.

A method for producing a fibrous preform includes placing a fibrous mat onto a depositing surface, the depositing surface being formed by a web face of a mold core, a first support surface of a first support installation and a second support surface of a second support installation. The fibrous mat is covered by a film and is pressed in a planar manner onto the depositing surface by generating a vacuum. Bringing to bear the fibrous mat on lateral faces of the mold core that extend transversely to the web face is subsequently performed by moving the support installations and the mold core relative to one another in such a manner that a level differential between the web face of the mold core and the support surfaces of the support installations is enlarged. A device for producing a fibrous preform is furthermore described.

Methods of embedding an elongate susceptor within a thermoplastic body and systems that perform the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include extending the elongate susceptor such that an extended portion of the elongate susceptor extends between a guide structure and a body-contacting structure. The methods also include heating a segment of the elongate susceptor to produce a heated portion of the elongate susceptor. The methods further include pressing a leading region of the heated portion of the elongate susceptor through a body surface of the thermoplastic body and into the thermoplastic body. The methods also include operatively translating at least one of the guide structure, the body-contacting structure, and an application tool that includes the guide structure and the body-contacting structure along an embedment pathway for the elongate susceptor.

Disclosed is a method of curing a composite article and associated curing apparatus. A heat source is provided for heating the composite article. A temperature related property is detected proximal to the heat source and the heat output is regulated to a predetermined temperature vs. time profile. Heat output vs time data is acquired and functionalised and the curing completion time is determined based on the functionalised heat output vs time data. The method provides for heating a composite article so as to follow a predetermined temperature vs. time profile (i.e. a cure profile) and avoid excessively high temperatures. The required heat output vs time has also been found to be broadly reproducible, and the curing completion time can be more readily determined from functionalised heat output vs time data, for example by identifying reproducible characteristics of the functionalised data.