B29C70/443

Systems and methods for forming short-fiber films, composites comprising thermosets, and other composites

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for composites, including short-fiber films and other composites. In certain aspects, composites comprising a plurality of aligned fibers are provided. The fibers may be substantially aligned, and may be present at relatively high densities within the composite. For example, the composite may include substantially aligned carbon fibers embedded within a thermoplastic substrate. The composites may be prepared, in some aspects, by dispersing fibers by neutralizing the electrostatic interactions between the fibers, for example using aqueous liquids containing the fibers that are able to neutralize the electrostatic interactions that typically occur between the fibers. The liquids may be applied to a substrate, and the fibers may be aligned using techniques such as shear flow and/or magnetism. Other aspects are generally directed to methods of using such composites, kits including such composites, or the like.

METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SPAR CAP, TRAILING EDGE AND/OR OTHER REINFORCED LAMINATE STRUCTURAL PARTS OF WIND TURBINE BLADE
20220332059 · 2022-10-20 ·

A method for producing a Spar Cap, trailing edge or other reinforced laminate structural part of wind turbine blade, the Spar Cap, trailing edge or other reinforced laminate structural part of wind turbine blade produced by the method and its use are provided. The method for producing a Spar Cap, trailing edge or other reinforced laminate structural part of wind turbine blade improves production efficiency and saves costs.

APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR CONSOLIDATING FIBER-REINFORCED RESIN MATERIAL
20230127079 · 2023-04-27 · ·

An apparatus for consolidating fiber-reinforced resin material comprises a housing, comprising a barrel and a receptacle. The receptacle comprises a base, a lid, positionable relative to the base and relative to the barrel such that the housing is in an open state or a closed state, and a de-gassing port. The apparatus comprises a gasket that is in contact with the lid, the base, and the barrel when the housing is in the closed state. The apparatus comprises a piston, movable between a retracted position, in which the piston, in its entirety, is in the barrel, and an extended position, in which a portion of the piston is in the receptacle and another portion of the piston is in the barrel. The apparatus comprises a seal, which is in contact with the piston and the barrel, and a drive system, configured to control movement of the piston.

Multilayer radar-absorbing laminate for aircraft made of polymer matrix composite material with graphene nanoplatelets, and method of manufacturing same

A multilayer radar-absorbing laminate includes three juxtaposed blocks. A first electrically conductive block is arranged toward the inside of the aircraft in use. A second electromagnetic intermediate absorber block has a layer of electrically non-conductive fiber sheets is permeated by graphene-based nanoplatelets to achieve a periodic and electromagnetically subresonant layer, the conductive layers containing graphene nanoplatelets alternating with non-conductive layers. A third block of electrically non-conductive material is arranged towards the outside and forms part of the outer surface of the aircraft. The second block is produced by depositing on the fiber sheets a suspension of graphene nanoplatelets in a polymeric mixture, with controlled penetration of the graphene nanoplatelets into the fiber sheets. A plurality of dry fiber sheets sprayed with the suspension of graphene nanoplatelets is superimposed. An unpolymerized thermosetting synthetic resin is infused into a lay-up made of the first, second and third blocks. Afterwards, the thermosetting resin is polymerized.

Composite golf club head and method for manufacturing the same

A composite golf club head and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The composite golf club head has a carbon fiber composite body and a striking face. The carbon fiber composite body is formed by multiple carbon fiber prepreg materials or multiple composite prepreg materials including carbon fiber with stacking, a positive pressure, a vacuum negative pressure, and heating. The striking face is made of a carbon fiber composite or metal material, and is fixedly glued to a front opening portion of the carbon fiber composite body. A weight of the carbon fiber composite body is reduced. Center of gravity and moment of inertia can be adjusted easily according to striking distances or feel of striking of different golf club heads for enhancing a striking performance of the composite golf club head.

System and apparatus for manufacturing simple curvature thermoplastic composite parts
11633927 · 2023-04-25 · ·

A system for manufacturing a composite part including a conductive flexible facesheet and an automated tape layup (ATL) machine for laying up composite tape onto the facesheet that is laid flat on a flat surface. The system also includes a curved tooling surface for transferring the facesheet with the composite material thereon to the curved tooling surface for attachment of substructures and curing into the composite part. System may also include insulation placed below the facesheet and insulation placed above the composite material, as well as a source of electricity and heat for heating the conductive facesheet to cure, melt, or fuse the composite tape and substructures without heating the tooling surface and other tooling used in the composite curing process. Heating of the facesheet may be performed using joule heat provided by a single turn transformer inducing current to conductive wires attached at opposing ends to the facesheet.

ALTERNATIVE PRIMER APPLICATION METHOD
20230119338 · 2023-04-20 ·

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a blade shell member for a wind turbine blade. The method comprising providing a blade mould for the blade shell member and arranging a number of fibre-reinforced layers on a blade moulding surface of the blade mould. A first primer layer is applied on top of the fibre-reinforced layers, at a pre-determined spar cap region. Furthermore, a pre-manufactured spar cap having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a first end surface and a second end surface is arranged in the pre-manufactured spar cap on the spar cap region, such that the lower surface of the pre-manufactured spar cap contacts the first primer layer arranged on the spar cap region. A second primer layer is also applied to the upper surface of the pre-manufactured spar cap before the step of infusing the blade moulding cavity with resin and curing it. The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade, comprising the steps of manufacturing a pressure side shell half and a suction side shell half over substantially the entire length of the wind turbine blade and subsequently closing and joining the shell halves for obtaining a closed shell.

FIBROUS TEXTURE FOR TURBINE ENGINE BLADE MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL

A fibrous texture forming the fibrous reinforcement of a turbomachine blade made of composite material which has a three-dimensional weaving between warp yarns or strands made of first fibers and weft yarns or strands made of first fibers, the texture including a blade root portion, a blade airfoil portion and a free end, the texture extending along the transverse direction between a first edge corresponding to a leading edge of the blade and a second edge corresponding to a trailing edge of the blade. The blade airfoil portion has a reinforced area extending along the longitudinal direction from the free end over a first length, and along the transverse direction from the second edge over a second length less, the reinforced area including weft yarns or strands made of second fibers different from the first fibers, the second fibers having an elongation at break greater than the first fibers.

SHELL CORE AND WIND TURBINE BLADE HAVING A BLADE SHELLCOMPRISING SUCH A SHELL CORE
20220325692 · 2022-10-13 ·

A shell core (1) configured for being incorporated in a shell of a fiber reinforced polymer composite structure wherein: the core has a first surface (2) and an opposite second surface (3), a first groove (4) is formed in the first surface (2) and divides the core into a first core part (5) and a second core part (6), the first groove (4) is defined by two opposing side walls (7a,7b) and a bottom (8), the distance T1 between the bottom (8) of the groove (4) and the second surface (3) of the core is of such a size that the core is flexible/bendable along the first groove, and the opposing walls (7a,7b) converge towards the bottom (8) forming an angle A1 of at least 45° with each other.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MIXING AND SUPPLYING PLASTIC INTO A MOLD FOR A VACUUM INFUSION
20230062758 · 2023-03-02 ·

A method and device for mixing plastic from liquid components in a mixer (8) and conveying it through a line (10) into a mould (12), in particular for vacuum infusion, characterised in that the components are each pumped by means of a pump (24) from their own respective component container (22) into a mixer (8) and are mixed therein, that these volume flows are controlled by a controller (26) in such a manner that they supply the components to the mixer (8) in a specific ratio, that the pressure loss in the line (10), between a pressure sensor in one of the component supply lines (32) leading to the mixer (8) and the mould (12), is determined, and that the pressure is measured by the pressure sensor and supplied to a controller (26) which, taking into consideration the determined pressure loss, controls the volume flows such that the pumps (24) supply the components to the mixer (8) at a pressure that is greater than the ambient pressure or than another specific pressure that should not be exceeded in the mould (12) by at most the pressure loss.