A method for consolidating a thermoplastic component includes positioning a thermoplastic vacuum bagging film (e.g., PAEK or PEEK) over a thermoplastic preform (e.g., PPS or LM PAEK) to be consolidated, vacuum consolidating the thermoplastic component with the thermoplastic vacuum bagging film to form the thermoplastic component, and removing the thermoplastic vacuum bagging film from the consolidated thermoplastic component.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a body made of composite material such as a shell of a helmet. Said body constitutes a multilayer structure where each layer is formed by superposed strata comprising portions of fabrics preimpregnated with thermoplastic resin in which at least some of said layers are formed by woven or non-woven LFRTP-type preimpregnated fabrics. The outer layer is formed by strata of portions of “veil” type or “felt” type fabrics, with non-woven and non-oriented fibers of lengths comprised between 5 and 20 mm. In the method, the multilayer structure arranged in a mold is subjected to the action exerted by a bag that is inflated due to pressure occupying the cavity of the mold.

A method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin tube body includes: a preparing step of preparing a cylindrical expandable body having fiber wound therearound; an installing step of installing the expandable body in a mold after the preparing step; a flowing step of flowing resin into the mold, in which the expandable body is placed, after the installing step; and an expanding step of expanding the expandable body toward an inner wall of the mold after the flowing step.

A method of forming a fibre article, comprising: providing a former having a contoured forming surface; locating a fibre preform between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, the second diaphragm being offset from the forming surface; drawing a vacuum between the first and second diaphragms so as to hold the preform captive between the diaphragms; displacing the second diaphragm towards the former so as to bring the second diaphragm into partial contact with the former; drawing a vacuum between the second diaphragm and the former so as to bring at least a part of the second diaphragm adjoining the preform into conformity with the forming surface; and setting the preform in its configuration; wherein: the fibre preform comprises one or more substantially inextensible fibres extending linearly in a first direction; the forming surface comprises a concavity and prominences on either side of the concavity; and the step of bringing the second diaphragm into partial contact with the former comprises bringing the second diaphragm into contact with the prominences whilst the second diaphragm does not fully contact the concavity and with the substantially inextensible fibres extending from one of the prominences to the other.

A system for forming material includes a housing including at least one wall defining an interior space. The housing is configured to contain a pressurized fluid in the interior space. The system also includes at least one tool configured to shape the material. The at least one tool is movable along a path from a first position external to the housing to a second position at least partially within the interior space. The system further includes a membrane extending at least partially in the path of the at least one tool.

Disclosed is a liquid-impermeable air diffuser developed for use in vacuum assisted infusion methods, which are the methods for producing the fiber-reinforced polymeric composite materials for sectors such as energy, wind turbine, transportation, automotive, marine, defense, aerospace, urban goods, water slides, and sports equipment (ski, snowboard, surfing, etc.).

An apparatus for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components includes a pressurization arrangement for jointly covering, at least in a region of a joining zone, thermoplastic fiber composite components to be joined and applying pressure to the thermoplastic fiber composite components to press the thermoplastic fiber composite components against one another, at least in the joining zone, the pressurization arrangement being flexible, at least in some section or sections. A welding device is configured for welding the fiber composite components in the joining zone during pressurization. The pressurization arrangement and welding device are configured to weld the thermoplastic fiber composite components in a pressurized state in the joining zone. The pressurization arrangement is configured to maintain pressurization independently of the welding device until the joining zone solidifies. A cover is also disclosed for a pressurization device for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components.

The bonding apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus that bonds a patch containing a reinforcing fiber to a bonded section of a corner section CR of an object member. The bonding apparatus has s heater mat, a pushing member, a bag member having a decompression port, a mold releasing film, a breather, a heater mat and a sealant. A pushing member has a first cowl plate, a second cowl plate and an elastic pressuring body. A pressuring section of the pushing member has the surface shape corresponding to a corner section design value after the patch is bonded. By protruding from a gap between a first cowl plate and a second cowl plate to a direction of the corner section CR, the patch is pushed to the bonded section and the generation of a wrinkle in the reinforcing fiber can be prevented.

Disclosed is an elastomeric bladder tool and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the elastomeric bladder tool comprises an elastomeric inner layer substantially defining an inner cavity of the elastomeric bladder tool, an elastomeric outer layer substantially defining an outer surface of the elastomeric bladder tool, and a permeable middle layer positioned between the elastomeric inner layer and the elastomeric outer layer. The permeable middle layer has greater permeability than both the elastomeric outer layer and the elastomeric inner layer to allow for evacuating of gases that have entered the permeable middle layer.

A molding apparatus for manufacturing a wind turbine blade component includes a main mold body (30) and a flexible bladder (38). The main mold body includes a shape defining surface (32) for receiving composite material forming the blade component and a heat reservoir (40) for heating the blade component during curing. The flexible bladder overlays and conforms to the shape of the blade component and is configured to receive heated liquid for heating the blade component during curing. One or both of the main mold body and the flexible bladder is divided into a plurality of zones (58, 66) that are independently controlled by a controller (70) to maintain a generally uniform temperature of the blade component at each zone.