Forming systems and methods for drape forming a composite charge are disclosed herein. The forming systems include a forming die having a forming surface configured to receive the composite charge and a collapsible support having a support surface. The forming surface has a forming surface edge that extends along a length of the forming surface, and the support surface has a die-proximate support surface edge that extends along the length of the support surface. The forming surface edge and the die-proximate support surface edge define a gap therebetween. A shape of the die-proximate support surface edge corresponds to a shape of the forming surface edge such that a gap width of the gap is at least substantially constant along a length of the gap. The collapsible support is configured to transition from an extended conformation to a collapsed conformation. The methods include methods of utilizing the systems.

Forming systems and methods for drape forming a composite charge are disclosed herein. The forming systems include a forming die having a forming surface configured to receive the composite charge and a collapsible support having a support surface. The forming surface has a forming surface edge that extends along a length of the forming surface, and the support surface has a die-proximate support surface edge that extends along the length of the support surface. The forming surface edge and the die-proximate support surface edge define a gap therebetween. A shape of the die-proximate support surface edge corresponds to a shape of the forming surface edge such that a gap width of the gap is at least substantially constant along a length of the gap. The collapsible support is configured to transition from an extended conformation to a collapsed conformation. The methods include methods of utilizing the systems.

A method for producing a fiber-reinforced resin molded article includes disposing a suction medium, a resin barrier aeration medium and a fiber base material in a cavity such that the suction medium is disposed between an end part of the fiber base material and a mold, and the resin barrier aeration medium is disposed between the suction medium and the end part of the fiber base material. The method further includes: impregnating the fiber base material with a resin by injecting the resin from an injection part, while reducing a pressure in the cavity by suction from a suction part; curing the resin with which the fiber base material is impregnated; and releasing a fiber-reinforced resin in which the fiber base material and the resin are integrated.

A method for producing a fiber-reinforced resin molded article includes disposing a suction medium, a resin barrier aeration medium and a fiber base material in a cavity such that the suction medium is disposed between an end part of the fiber base material and a mold, and the resin barrier aeration medium is disposed between the suction medium and the end part of the fiber base material. The method further includes: impregnating the fiber base material with a resin by injecting the resin from an injection part, while reducing a pressure in the cavity by suction from a suction part; curing the resin with which the fiber base material is impregnated; and releasing a fiber-reinforced resin in which the fiber base material and the resin are integrated.

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.

Disclosed is a prepreg comprising an epoxy resin composition containing [A] an epoxy resin and [B] a curing agent, and a reinforcing fiber, wherein the epoxy resin composition satisfies: (a) [A1] an epoxy resin represented by the general formula (I) is contained as the epoxy resin [A], and [A1′] an epoxy resin satisfying: n≥2 among the component [A1];

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wherein, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and n represents an integer of 1 or more; (b) the entire epoxy resin has an average epoxy equivalent of 165 to 265 g/eq; (c) a water absorption coefficient at 85° C. and 95% RH for 2 hours is 3.0% by mass or less based on 100% by mass of the epoxy resin composition; (d) [B1] an aromatic urea as [B] a curing agent; and (e) the content of [B2] dicyandiamide is 0.5 part by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the entire epoxy resin.

Systems and methods are provided for compacting objects onto tools. One embodiment is a method for compacting an object onto a rigid tool. The method includes placing an object onto a surface of a rigid tool, disposing an end effector over the object, spreading linkages of the end effector, causing a scroll of material between the linkages to be disposed atop the object while surrounding the object, and applying a negative pressure to the scroll that offsets air leaks between the scroll and the object, thereby forming a suction hold that compacts the object onto the rigid tool.

A caul plate assembly for applying compaction pressure to a composite structure includes caul plates arranged side-by-side on the surface of the composite structure. The caul plates include overlapping edges of compliant material which form a continuous face applying even pressure and shear across gaps between the caul plates.

The present invention relates to an autoclave molding apparatus for use in molding a composite material composed of a fibrous base material and a matrix and sealed together with a molding tool in a vacuum bag, using steam for heating and compressing the composite material. The present invention provides an autoclave molding apparatus capable of effectively reducing the overshoot of the temperature of the composite material caused by poor dissipation of curing heat in a curing process and thereby capable of producing a composite material molded article having uniform and sufficient strength. More specifically, an autoclave molding apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that a condensed water holder(s) configured to hold condensed water generated by heating is mounted on at least a portion of the vacuum bag and/or at least a portion of the molding tool.

The present invention relates to an autoclave molding apparatus for use in molding a composite material composed of a fibrous base material and a matrix and sealed together with a molding tool in a vacuum bag, using steam for heating and compressing the composite material. The present invention provides an autoclave molding apparatus capable of effectively reducing the overshoot of the temperature of the composite material caused by poor dissipation of curing heat in a curing process and thereby capable of producing a composite material molded article having uniform and sufficient strength. More specifically, an autoclave molding apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that a condensed water holder(s) configured to hold condensed water generated by heating is mounted on at least a portion of the vacuum bag and/or at least a portion of the molding tool.